Antenna lead pulled out of the connector... now what?!

[zerodb]

So in my cheapness early on I was carrying my Phantom and controller in a backpack and snapped off the S1 switch.

When I opened the controller to replace the switch (not my first time opening, but I guess it "popped open" a little fast) the antenna lead pulled clean out of the micro-sma (or whatever it is) connector which is conveniently glued to the Tx board.

I can shove it back in thru the heatshrink tube that's still there, but my range is now approximately 150 feet before the Phantom goes into failsafe, so I'm pretty sure that's not fixing the problem. I don't know if I'll be able to correctly recrimp that little connector, so I figured I could just buy a new antenna with the lead intact, but I can't find that anywhere either.

I can't be the only one this has happened to... is there any 3rd party replacement available or has anyone found a better way to repair this? I'm pretty much grounded till I figure it out!

 

[CityZen]

See reply in other thread.

(Please don't post the same question to multiple forums. I always browse by "active topics" rather than by forum.)

 

[zerodb]

Thanks, I hate to crosspost but I find the FC40 is sort of the bastard stepchild of the bunch and I'm slower to get replies in here!

 

[lake_flyer]

This is a great opportunity to install a better antenna!
There are lots of videos showing how to do that. Forget the old antenna and get a good one. It connects just with the same micro connector. You have to carefully scrape away the goo around the old connector and take it of gently.

 

[Beario]

He is right I have done 2 so far without incident. YOu will be able to add a lot of different antennas

 

[lake_flyer]

Unfortunately for me, when the same thing happened when I opened my Radio for the first time, I yanked off the connector and that damaged the soldered on connection. I had to remove the connectors all together and soldered the antenna wire straight to the board.

I always suspected I would suffer range by doing that. Never flew it beyond line of sight. But yesterday I took it out to well over 600m without control loss, (recently installed FPV and OSD/DVR) so in FCC mode it appears it's still working as it should.

 

[sohail99]

Get a u.FL to RP-SMA pigtail, like this one -http://www.amazon.com/U-FL-RP-SMA-Pigtail-Antenna-Cable/dp/B005UWD0EG

You will need to modify the Tx Housing a bit, where the stock antenna comes out.

Check this out -

 

[fhk]

And do something soon because you may burn out your transmitter without an antenna connected.