Mida Posted February 25 Report Posted February 25 I'm trying to make an SMA antenna perform as well as the stock Sennheiser G3/G4 antenna. Does anyone know the specific type or name of this wire? Is it steel, copper, or something else? Also, where can I buy a good replacement? Any help would be much appreciated! Quote
Paul F Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 7-strand stainless steel wire - I can't recall the diameter. It doesn't take to soldering. Don't try to make it. Buy it. They are cheap. $5 each on AliExpress. Use this item and cut to length (depending on frequency range) and then put a cable cap on top. https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832775028613.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000014.3.460b56d5Vft2UF&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.33416.213724.0&scm_id=1007.33416.213724.0&scm-url=1007.33416.213724.0&pvid=68c672a6-ea00-4656-94fb-22c1d2b44137&_t=gps-id%3ApcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller%2Cscm-url%3A1007.33416.213724.0%2Cpvid%3A68c672a6-ea00-4656-94fb-22c1d2b44137%2Ctpp_buckets%3A668%230%23131923%2318_668%23888%233325%2320_23416%230%23213724%230_23416%234721%2321967%23312_23416%234722%2321970%231_668%232846%238109%231935_668%232717%237567%23965_668%231000022185%231000066059%230_668%233422%2315392%23609_4452%230%23214000%230_4452%233474%2316498%23535_4452%234862%2324463%23899_4452%233098%239624%23992_4452%235108%2323442%23433_4452%233564%2316062%23526&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt End caps https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804718989096.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.13.46147714zaZNgd&algo_pvid=307ce6bb-fd4d-4f11-9c10-b6b953682235&algo_exp_id=307ce6bb-fd4d-4f11-9c10-b6b953682235-12&pdp_ext_f={"order"%3A"3"%2C"eval"%3A"1"}&pdp_npi=4%40dis!USD!2.69!1.80!!!2.69!1.80!%40!12000030978914453!sea!US!738145724!X&curPageLogUid=5Zu2ReFhrAlw&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch|query_from%3A Quote
DanieldH Posted March 25 Report Posted March 25 Hey Paul and Mida, Aliexpress.com or .us does not, at least currently, ship to Egypt. Apart from that, even if this trading platform allows it, individual shops or individual offers may not have this option. That may be for legislative reasons or just by random choices an individual made configuring the offer. Quote
Mida Posted July 4 Author Report Posted July 4 Thanks a lot, Paul and DanieldH, for your helpful replies! Yeah, unfortunately shipping to Egypt is a real hassle. Even if a seller does ship here, I end up paying crazy customs fees. And because it's an antenna, I have to go through the National Telecom Regulatory Authority for testing and approval, which adds even more cost and delays. That’s actually why I like to make things myself when I can — it’s just not easy (or even possible) to walk into a store here and buy a good antenna. So I really appreciate the info and suggestions! Quote
Paul F Posted July 4 Report Posted July 4 That leaves finding the SMA connector and some 7-strand stainless wire that fits into the SMA connector. You can use the SMA connectors that are meant to be soldered. You can put the wire in the pin and then crimp it by hand with pliers or a vice or even a hammer and a blunt pointed bit of metal. I've done that in the past. It's not as good as doing it with a crimping tool, but it works. Once you have it crimped, you can cover the wire with heat shrink tubing or several coats of something like this - https://www.amazon.com/Grip-Rubberized-Plastic-Coating-Green/dp/B016J1ND9I/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2ERI5CXSUL3QD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.paTNBjYHnaDjmz8YyM4S-jepXhUZgZfa8JD9tsdeQ66cL0njvEB1IVCgWrh0ydCebfo9Vub7WFj-Du7I__1Mq6fbmPYxsMsEOKP5BbJbRPxkWDmellvG8MlW0-qcZTYG2SMIyoha4eZyAMPBXFGMVUn4t8GSun-cZGayyLWIocbOoclg_DWer-FxjgIPLqBJ8FuGUhDl3djd_fC7nM7koi_GGP6vWLQjfShl-kuEjpWc0n6p0o5QEy9hr8cW1DotU3yGK8QzS3OnAWgBZTw97A.1r_WkyNV_3ZPhKW3iiFRnyqIJlej-us1ePlbL8qcof0&dib_tag=se&keywords=tool+handle+dipping+coating&qid=1751592631&sprefix=tool+handle+dipping+%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-5 Quote
LoganSound Posted July 5 Report Posted July 5 There is something hams use called “the signal stick” and it was actually homebrewed by the same guy who created HAMStudy.com - they are really awesome antennae that are flexible but always return to straight position and he revealed in a podcast he used PIANO WIRE to make it. Throw some heat shrink over the top and it should perform really well when cut to the proper length. Quote
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