DIY fix for a broken VHF aerial

James Brooking doesn’t have to replace his handheld VHF’s aerial after doing his own DIY fix

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The VHF aerial on my handheld radio had perished after several years’ use, and repairs with PVC tape were not very successful and unsightly, writes James Brooking.

I was contemplating buying a new aerial when I thought of a repair using heat shrink tubing to encapsulate the cracked aerial.

The perished VHF aerial covered with tape, and looking a bit tatty. Credit: James Brooking

The perished VHF aerial covered with tape, and looking a bit tatty. Credit: James Brooking

I had a box of various sizes of tubing bought for electrical repairs on the boat and car.

It was a simple task to peel off the old PVC tape and select the most suitable size of heat shrink tube.

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This slides onto the aerial, is positioned correctly then shrunk using a hairdryer.

For added strength I overlaid a second piece.

The repair blends in with the original profile of the aerial and so ticks the cosmetic box.

And since I had a box of the shrink tubing it was a no cost repair for me.

This idea can also be adapted where an outer rubber casing on any component has perished as long as the tubing can be slid onto it.

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