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Call Sign : 108-CT-226 / MM0IMC Posts : 107 Times Thanked : 3 Join date : 2023-03-10 QTH or Location : Ayrshire Equipment Used : Amstrad 901 Sidebander
Subject: Some Silver Rod Repairs... Sun Mar 19, 2023 7:44 pm
Here's some items I've posted elsewhere regarding silverrod antennas, specifically the matching transformer (coil) and how I repaired it...
Did you ever wonder what was in the base of those cheap "silver rods", that have been on the UK CB market for at least 40 years?
No doubt, something like this... This is a recently manufactured one with awful quality soldering inside. I've had to resolder a few, in my time.
The 1mm enamelled copper wire going from the centre pin of the SO-239 socket, on to the matching transformer, always has a dry or cold solder joint on it. This was probably the cause of my recent RFI problems on 12m. I have changed the base for another one, where I had already resoldered the coil.
The VSWR has improved substantially.
Note to self.. Always check which position the antenna switch is on, dummy load or antenna! I guess my cheap silverrod antenna doesn't like 1.5kW (+/-). Edit : Thankfully, the amplifier still seems to be working okay!
I've removed the burnt out transformer coil, from the 'silverrod' CB antenna. You can see the charring on the outside of the former and bubbling on the inside. I've cleaned it up and most of the charring has been removed. I'm going to try to rewind the coil with some fresh 1mm enamelled copper wire. With the carbon charring removed, I'm hoping that it will be less likely to arc over again - that and being more careful about power levels and which position the antenna switch is on!
Last edited by MM0IMC on Sat Jan 20, 2024 9:29 pm; edited 1 time in total
Victor likes this post
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 6504 Times Thanked : 397 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: Some Silver Rod Repairs... Mon Mar 20, 2023 6:23 am
I doubt you'd be the first to whack too many Watts into one, or the last either!
Thanks for posting Ian, a good graphical show & tell that everyone can appreciate.
(Did you eventually rewind it?)
rabbi and MM0IMC like this post
MM0IMC Senior contributor
Call Sign : 108-CT-226 / MM0IMC Posts : 107 Times Thanked : 3 Join date : 2023-03-10 QTH or Location : Ayrshire Equipment Used : Amstrad 901 Sidebander
Subject: Re: Some Silver Rod Repairs... Mon Mar 20, 2023 7:20 am
I did. It required six and a quarter turns of the 1mm enamelled copper wire, on to the former.
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Subject: Some Silver Rod Repairs... 
