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Author Topic: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)  (Read 146578 times)

csnet

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #45 on: December 30, 2009, 10:41:01 PM »

Thank-you aslamma for starting this thread and your solution which looks great and works very well.

Another place to acquire an antenna is a portable radio device.  I found a nice black anodized antenna that I "borrowed" from a small battery operated radio to try using with the CM15A.  It fit the bill because it:

  • Includes a tilt and swivel base needed to match the range of motion of the original CM15A antenna
  • The base diameter matches the plastic antenna, so that the case clamp in the cover of the CM15A holds keeps the antenna in any position when assembled
  • Is telescoping, which allows tuning the exposed antenna length
  • Collapses to a size that does not extend beyond the length of the CM15A
  • Is retained securely by the case clip on the side of the CM15A, like the original plastic antenna

1 - Parts.jpg shows the antenna, standard 1/4" lockwasher bent flat, 4-40 bolt, ring terminal, 4-40 lock washer, and nut.



2 - DryFit.jpg shows the parts in position to make sure everything will fit and operate mechanically as desired.



3 - Installed.jpg was taken after clipping the wire to the old antenna, stripping the antenna wire, tinning it, attaching the ring terminal with a crimp tool, then soldering it for good measure, bolting the ring terminal to the antenna, and assembling it in the case with the 1/4" lock washer guiding it in the center of the slot.  No glue is required.



« Last Edit: December 31, 2009, 05:49:12 PM by csnet »
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csnet

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #46 on: December 30, 2009, 10:42:54 PM »

Here are photos of the assembled CM15A. 

The range of the CM15A with the antenna extended to the maximum 10.5" has increased to 40 feet with a Palm Pad, 23 feet with a Slimfire, and 17 feet with a SlimLine.  This is approximately a 60% improvement.  I am not getting the 100 foot range reported by others.  The coverage for a Palm Pad now appears to be a circle about 80 feet in diameter.

What exposed antenna length are others using for best results?

I am getting my best results with 10.5", which is as far as this antenna telescopes.  Now that I have the swivel adapter installed, it may be worth a try to remove the telescoping part and see if a Radio Shack 30-1/2" Replacement Telescoping Antenna Model 270-1401 will fit in the metal swivel adapter now installed.  I believe someone posted half wave is 19" and I would like to try that and other exposed lengths.

The other thing I wonder about if the remaining loop of white wire seen in photo 3 attached to the previous message is causing signal cancellation, and if a 19" exposed antenna length connected with a minimal length of white wire to the circuit board would work best.







« Last Edit: December 31, 2009, 05:51:46 PM by csnet »
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Brian H

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #47 on: December 31, 2009, 06:16:25 AM »

 #:)
Nice work csnet. 

Helpful from me.
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Bill59

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #48 on: December 31, 2009, 07:37:17 AM »

I got the Radio Shack  (whoops  "The Shack") antenna and I use 18 inches. Works really well. Nice job by the way on the conversion, and pictures.
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HA Dave

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #49 on: December 31, 2009, 10:44:10 AM »

Here are photos of the assembled CM15A. 

Those are nice! It's the pictures that really stick in people minds. Thanks for sharing!!!
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eagle

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #50 on: December 31, 2009, 12:30:37 PM »

I got the Radio Shack  (whoops  "The Shack") antenna and I use 18 inches. Works really well. Nice job by the way on the conversion, and pictures.

Hi Bill,

Would you happen to know the part number for the Shack antenna?

Is it similar to csnet's replacement antenna with a tilt/swivel base?

I'd rather get that vs. cannibalizing the TM571.

Great post csnet.

Thanks,
eagle
« Last Edit: December 31, 2009, 12:40:52 PM by eagle »
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Bill59

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #51 on: December 31, 2009, 02:30:26 PM »

Sorry I don't know the number, but they have them in stock all the time. I think they have a longer one too. They are really cheap under 10 bucks.
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Brian H

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« Last Edit: December 31, 2009, 02:56:58 PM by Brian H »
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eagle

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #53 on: December 31, 2009, 03:19:11 PM »

Thanks Brian and Bill.

I'll head out to the local Shack and check them out.

r,
eagle
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csnet

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #54 on: December 31, 2009, 06:03:05 PM »

Thank-you for the kind words!

Eagle, I looked at the Radio Shack antennas yesterday and gave up because the replacements they have require a base to which to attach them.  That's why I had to borrow the complete black anodized antenna from an old radio that you see in the photos for this project.

I am going back to Radio Shack today to see if the 270-1401 replacement telescoping 30.5" antenna rod matches the size of the opening in the swivel base of the 10.5" antenna seen in the photos.

That swivel base is needed to do this project the way it is shown.  The person at Radio Shack offered to order a replacement complete antenna assembly for one of their radios and that sounded good, but I wanted to get started yesterday.   :)

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Brian H

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #55 on: December 31, 2009, 06:22:17 PM »

Thanks for the update on the RS antennas. Was hard to see the TINY photos on the site and the descriptions where not that clear.  ???
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eagle

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #56 on: December 31, 2009, 08:21:29 PM »

Hi csnet,

I actually suspected that it doesn't have the base based on the pictures.  :(

I'll try to make it to a local shack and see if they have any that might be a good substitute.

r,
eagle
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csnet

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #57 on: December 31, 2009, 08:49:18 PM »

Back from "the Shack" with a 270-1405 replacement, the thinnest model, that telescopes out to about 28".  Even though this was the thinnest model they had, I had to grind off some of the thickness of the end for it to fit in the anodized swivel antenna base assembly seen in the photos.

I tried 18" and 19" and they were better than the full 28" of the Shack replacement and better than 10.5" of the original anodized replacement in the photos with these results:

SlimLine 20 feet
Slimfire 36 feet
PalmPad 55 feet

For some reason, 13" produces these unexpected best results:

SlimLine 24 feet
Slimfire 38 feet
PalmPad 60 feet

The ability to easily adjust the length of the antenna to find the "sweet spot" is a nice feature of telescoping antennas.
« Last Edit: December 31, 2009, 08:57:42 PM by csnet »
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eagle

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #58 on: December 31, 2009, 09:02:00 PM »

Thanks csnet!   #:)

Would you be able to post some pix for us to see?

r,
eagle
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csnet

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Re: CM15A mod to increase range using TM571 Antenna - (With Pictures)
« Reply #59 on: December 31, 2009, 09:34:15 PM »

You bet.

Here is the Shack replacement set at 13 inches:



This shows the replacement rod junction with the anodized swivel assembly borrowed from a portable radio:


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