Connecting an external antenna to an Icom handheld

[Razorfish]

Does anyone have experience of connecting an external antenna to an Icom handheld VHF (IC-M31)?

I have a couple and thought that I could set one up in the office to monitor broadcasts but given its location I would need to connect it to an external antenna. I cannot identify the connector type on the rubber duck so am scratching my head quite how to do this.

Any ideas?

Cheers,

Andy

 

[Reverend Ludd]

Does anyone have experience of connecting an external antenna to an Icom handheld VHF (IC-M31)?

I have a couple and thought that I could set one up in the office to monitor broadcasts but given its location I would need to connect it to an external antenna. I cannot identify the connector type on the rubber duck so am scratching my head quite how to do this.

Any ideas?

Cheers,

Andy

Unscrew it and measure the threaded bit.

 

[mikemanor]

Look at this page

http://www.jgtech.com/shop3page2.htm

About half way down, in the ICOM Handhelds section, you will see an adapter for what you want.

(I am sure other suppliers are available )

 

[Razorfish]

About half way down, in the ICOM Handhelds section, you will see an adapter for what you want.
)

Ah that looks hopeful. I was looking at Maplins thinking that it was a generic connector. I guess that this is an Icom specific one. £16 though, the sods.

Cheers,

Andy

 

[Salty John]

Handheld aerial connectors are usually either SMA (50 ohm) or a special proprietary connector. I believe Icom is SMA. You need to look under 'specification' in the manual and it should tell you.

 

[Boathook]

I purchased the adaptor bit when I purchased the radio from a 'radio' shop. I suspect that maplins or others do a connector and the easiest way is to take the radio and aerial in to the shop and ask.

 

[Razorfish]

Thanks Boathook, I think that you may be right. Sometimes simply going over to the shop is quicker than scratching your head and looking at the web.

Cheers,

Andy

 

[Bilgediver]

Ah that looks hopeful. I was looking at Maplins thinking that it was a generic connector. I guess that this is an Icom specific one. £16 though, the sods.

Cheers,

Andy

It is a generic connector about £3.oo in Maplins and easy enough to find on the connector stand if the same as other Icams and Yaesu


http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...nkw=sma+so239+adapt&_sacat=See-All-Categories

 

[Mistroma]

I bought an adapter recently and no problems testing it on my Cobra hand held.

Maplin are probably the best bet unless you are buying a few other connectors as well. I bought several connectors from "26hb896" (Rocket Radio Letchworth) on eBay as they happened to have all the different connectors I needed. Never used them before but feedback was 100%, prices were OK and delivery was quick.

It was listed under:
PL259 PLUG (SO239 SOCKET) to SMA MALE PLUG ADAPTOR

Sod's law, they are'nt advertising that connector just now, but plenty of others are if local Maplin don't have any either.