600mW Busted antenna

[FPV LEE]

Hi Guys,
I had a little crash with my mini quad in tall grass.
No idea how it broke off, but it did.
Just want to know if it can be fixed.
In the pics, you'll see that at least one of the tracks was pulled off.
It was powered up for about 15mins without the antenna until i found it.
Send it in? Or just buy a new one?
I live in Spain.
Cheers guys.

[CAMOMAN]

Exact same thing happened to me! Doesnt look to fixable! Pulled the traces straight off the board. I just went ahead and ordered another so I could still fly hoping someone would come up with a quick fix!!

[actionplus]

Scratch the green solder mask off the gnd plane and then solder it back on. Make sure the center conductor has good solder contact to it's trace. Once that is done, if you have an IRC RF meter, go ahead and hook it up to make sure you have power levels close to 600mW or more. Then go have fun with it.

[Wearyman]

I disagree. The traces are clearly still attached. (Note the gold/brass color in the contact areas.) All you need is a fine-tipped soldering iron, a steady hand and a quick solder job. No problem.

Now, it does look like one of the traces is detached on one END. (Second photo, far right contact) Again, this is easily fixable with a bit of solder to re-attach it to the rest of the contact. Gentle and quick work with a fine soldering iron should fix that.

Of course, I am assuming that you own a soldering iron and know how to use one. If not, now is the time to learn. FPV REQUIRES knowing how to solder. You will have to repair and create many of your own solder joints in this hobby. So, go get yourself a good quality soldering iron, a selection of tips and a helping hands ASAP, then spend some time learning how to solder.

Once you have the basics down, and have made a couple practice soldering joints you are ready to repair that PCB. Go for it!

[ssassen]

Once you have the basics down, and have made a couple practice soldering joints you are ready to repair that PCB. Go for it!

With that motivational post I really feel like soldering something

[Channel 1]

I disagree. The traces are clearly still attached. (Note the gold/brass color in the contact areas.) All you need is a fine-tipped soldering iron, a steady hand and a quick solder job. No problem.

I agree, that looks like an easy repair if one knows how to solder. You are going to need to obtain a new SMA connector though as you busted off one of the ground lugs from the old one.

Now, it does look like one of the traces is detached on one END.

The trace is probably undamaged because what you are seeing is the broken off ground lug of the SMA connector which remained soldered to the board.


Also you will need to file the center pin of the new SMA to give a flat spot to solder to the PC board land.


Wayne

[swillhide]

The traces are toast but they are fixable cause I do it all the time. Scratch the green off and go, as for the grounds its been my best results to also scratch the inside green that is very close to the old element trace.

[CAMOMAN]

anyone got a part # for the sma bulkhead and are all 4 outside post common to ground of board or are they isolated as just anchors to the board? I realize the center post is the rf signal.. Im at work and not close to the vtx

[zaraja]

Make sure to put some epoxy after the soldering job. i have done it on all my EZUHF receivers and IRC transmitters after i busted the 600 mw Trx and couple of Receivers the same way.
It doesn't really effect the signal but add a lot of strength to it..

[FPV LEE]

Thanks for all the comments.
I do have "some" soldering skills but for bigger stuff than this.
The centre trace in the second photo is completely gone, so I guess the scratching off the green paint trick needs to be done.
Yes the SMA connector is broken, so i'd need a new one.
So Better soldering iron + new SMA + a bit of luck = might work, if I didn't fry anything else.
Or send it to someone with better skills than me, or buy a new one LOL