Antenna Replacement for Sony Transmitter at DVinfo.net

Eugene Lo · July 22nd, 2010, 02:18 PM

Hi all! Does anybody know where I can just buy a replacement antenna for my Sony UTX-B2 transmitter? I went to Sony head office and they're charging me $120 JUST for an estimate for repair. That does not include parts and extra labour and I think that's too expensive. I just want to purchase the antenna and have one of my buddies who a technician to replace it for me. I live in Toronto. Can anybody help?

Jay Massengill · July 22nd, 2010, 02:42 PM

On many antennae the outer casing at the base serves only to support the internal conductors, it isn't actually part of the wiring.

A similar break happened to one of my detachable Audio-Technica antenna recently. Inspecting visually through the cracked case I decided I could just use superglue to heal the break. You can hardly tell where it was now and there seems to be no effect on the antenna's range.
(Be careful with fingerprints when using superglue or you'll have permanent white ridge marks in your plastic near where the glue and its vapors were applied. The vapors cling to the fingerprint oil, you don't actually have to slip up and spread the glue itself.)

So just confirming that your broken antenna has actually ceased working and must be replaced or is the outer shell simply cracked?

Eugene Lo · July 23rd, 2010, 07:24 AM

It's only the outer shell that has cracked. The transmitter works fine if it's just sitting there (ie. just receiving an audio feed for a sound system) But if I use it as a wireless lav, so the transmitter is being carried on a person, then I would hear crackling audio. Maybe I will try the superglue method and see how it turns out. Thanks Jay!

Mike Hanlon · March 30th, 2016, 08:41 AM

I'm now in the same boat with a broken whip antenna. I bought a replacement from Encompass that appeared to be correct, but it is a full inch shorter than my channel 42-45 unit. Encompass doesn't carry anything else and Google searches haven't helped me locate an exact replacement.

I do not want to spend $$$$ to have Sony do the repair when I can do it myself if I could just get the part.

Any ideas?

Rick Reineke · March 30th, 2016, 03:59 PM

If the antenna's inner conductor isn't broken it should be ok.
BTW, 'cracking' is usually an indication of a compromised mic cable or the connector.
This won't help Eugene but FYI, a replacement antenna for the Sennheiser G2/3 is about $5 USD Disassembly/one solder joint/reassembly is relatively easy and takes about 15 min... less if you've done a few

Brian P. Reynolds · March 30th, 2016, 04:08 PM

A half decent Techo person should be able to fashion a new antenna from some hookup wire and some heat shrink tube.
The exact length should be the same as the manufacturer has fitted or failing that it needs to be 1/4 wave length of the 'mid' frequency of the band or block used.

Jim Nogueira · April 10th, 2016, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Hanlon

I'm now in the same boat with a broken whip antenna. I bought a replacement from Encompass that appeared to be correct, but it is a full inch shorter than my channel 42-45 unit. Encompass doesn't carry anything else and Google searches haven't helped me locate an exact replacement.

I do not want to spend $$$$ to have Sony do the repair when I can do it myself if I could just get the part.

Any ideas?

Mike, here is a link to where the part is being sold:

New Genuine Original Sony 175457623 Antenna 1 754 576 23 UTX B2 UTX B2V | eBay

I ordered one yesterday.

Jim Nogueira · April 10th, 2016, 08:51 AM

So can anyone explain how to go about installing a new antenna on the Sony UTX-B2? I have the back cover of the transmitter off, and It looks simple enough to install. But how does it make contact with the board? Does it need to be soldered on?

Richard Crowley · April 10th, 2016, 08:49 PM

Isn't it simply a piece of wire soldered (or screwed?) to a pad on the PC board?
What does it look like? A photo is worth 1000 words.
These things are typically dead-simple. The only critical factor is the length (to match the wavelength).

Jim Nogueira · April 11th, 2016, 07:20 PM

Richard, If you click on the eBay link in my previous post, that's exactly what my antenna looks like except that it's separated from the pad. It is probably still usable. I just can't figure out how the wire or pad connects to the board. I will try taking a picture of the transmitter opening where the antenna is supposed to be connected and post it.

Jim Nogueira · April 13th, 2016, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Crowley

Isn't it simply a piece of wire soldered (or screwed?) to a pad on the PC board?
What does it look like? A photo is worth 1000 words.
These things are typically dead-simple. The only critical factor is the length (to match the wavelength).

Here are some photos, attached..

Richard Crowley · April 13th, 2016, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Nogueira

Richard, If you click on the eBay link in my previous post, that's exactly what my antenna looks like except that it's separated from the pad. It is probably still usable. I just can't figure out how the wire or pad connects to the board. I will try taking a picture of the transmitter opening where the antenna is supposed to be connected and post it.

I don't know what "separated from the pad" means? What does the NEW antenna look like?

What does the OTHER side of the board look like? That appears to be where the antenna connects.

Sorry, I can't tell from your photos how it connects. There is something in your last photo labeled "CN301" that looks like a sub-miniature RF coaxial connector. But it would take a mating connector on the end of a miniature coaxial cable to mate with it. Something like this...

Derek Heeps · May 11th, 2016, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eugene Lo

It's only the outer shell that has cracked. The transmitter works fine if it's just sitting there (ie. just receiving an audio feed for a sound system) But if I use it as a wireless lav, so the transmitter is being carried on a person, then I would hear crackling audio. Maybe I will try the superglue method and see how it turns out. Thanks Jay!

Another option , to strengthen it a bit more , once you have superglued it , would be to slip a piece of heat shrink sleeving over it and carefully heat it with the exhaust from a gas soldering bolt ( with which you can direct the heat quite finely ) ; failing that , go carefully and heat it above a gas cooking ring ( perhaps shielding the rest of the unit with aluminium cooking foil for protection ) .

Just an idea .

Mike Hanlon · February 16th, 2018, 10:56 AM

I ordered the part from the ebay seller that Jim Nogueira had in his post, but it's a full 1.25 inches shorter than what my unit is equipped with, so it appears to be for a different frequency range.

My experience with other (sennheiser, shure) wireless mic antennas tells me antenna length is specific to frequency and using the wrong one will result in diminished performance (or outright failure).

Please advise.

Thanks,
Mike.

Rick Reineke · February 16th, 2018, 12:34 PM

"My experience with other (sennheiser, shure) wireless mic antennas tells me antenna length is specific to frequency and using the wrong one will result in diminished performance (or outright failure)."
- That is correct. The antenna length is calculated to yield optimal performance in the specific frequency range. As the frequencies get higher, the antenna length decreases, or visa-versa.
The removable Lectro antennas are color coded for ID.. very useful when you have systems in different blocks.

July 22nd, 2010, 02:18 PM	#1
Eugene Lo New Boot Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 12	Antenna Replacement for Sony Transmitter Hi all! Does anybody know where I can just buy a replacement antenna for my Sony UTX-B2 transmitter? I went to Sony head office and they're charging me $120 JUST for an estimate for repair. That does not include parts and extra labour and I think that's too expensive. I just want to purchase the antenna and have one of my buddies who a technician to replace it for me. I live in Toronto. Can anybody help? Attached Thumbnails

March 30th, 2016, 08:41 AM	#4
Mike Hanlon Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 180	Re: Antenna Replacement for Sony Transmitter I'm now in the same boat with a broken whip antenna. I bought a replacement from Encompass that appeared to be correct, but it is a full inch shorter than my channel 42-45 unit. Encompass doesn't carry anything else and Google searches haven't helped me locate an exact replacement. I do not want to spend $$$$ to have Sony do the repair when I can do it myself if I could just get the part. Any ideas? __________________ VM Productions

March 30th, 2016, 03:59 PM	#5
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,039	Re: Antenna Replacement for Sony Transmitter If the antenna's inner conductor isn't broken it should be ok. BTW, 'cracking' is usually an indication of a compromised mic cable or the connector. This won't help Eugene but FYI, a replacement antenna for the Sennheiser G2/3 is about $5 USD Disassembly/one solder joint/reassembly is relatively easy and takes about 15 min... less if you've done a few

March 30th, 2016, 04:08 PM	#6
Brian P. Reynolds Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 466	Re: Antenna Replacement for Sony Transmitter A half decent Techo person should be able to fashion a new antenna from some hookup wire and some heat shrink tube. The exact length should be the same as the manufacturer has fitted or failing that it needs to be 1/4 wave length of the 'mid' frequency of the band or block used.

April 10th, 2016, 08:51 AM	#8
Jim Nogueira Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Milford, MA Posts: 487	Re: Antenna Replacement for Sony Transmitter So can anyone explain how to go about installing a new antenna on the Sony UTX-B2? I have the back cover of the transmitter off, and It looks simple enough to install. But how does it make contact with the board? Does it need to be soldered on? Last edited by Jim Nogueira; April 10th, 2016 at 08:52 AM. Reason: typos

July 22nd, 2010, 02:42 PM	#2
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	On many antennae the outer casing at the base serves only to support the internal conductors, it isn't actually part of the wiring. A similar break happened to one of my detachable Audio-Technica antenna recently. Inspecting visually through the cracked case I decided I could just use superglue to heal the break. You can hardly tell where it was now and there seems to be no effect on the antenna's range. (Be careful with fingerprints when using superglue or you'll have permanent white ridge marks in your plastic near where the glue and its vapors were applied. The vapors cling to the fingerprint oil, you don't actually have to slip up and spread the glue itself.) So just confirming that your broken antenna has actually ceased working and must be replaced or is the outer shell simply cracked?

July 23rd, 2010, 07:24 AM	#3
Eugene Lo New Boot Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 12	It's only the outer shell that has cracked. The transmitter works fine if it's just sitting there (ie. just receiving an audio feed for a sound system) But if I use it as a wireless lav, so the transmitter is being carried on a person, then I would hear crackling audio. Maybe I will try the superglue method and see how it turns out. Thanks Jay!

April 10th, 2016, 08:49 PM	#9
Richard Crowley Trustee Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,238	Re: Antenna Replacement for Sony Transmitter Isn't it simply a piece of wire soldered (or screwed?) to a pad on the PC board? What does it look like? A photo is worth 1000 words. These things are typically dead-simple. The only critical factor is the length (to match the wavelength).

April 11th, 2016, 07:20 PM	#10
Jim Nogueira Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Milford, MA Posts: 487	Re: Antenna Replacement for Sony Transmitter Richard, If you click on the eBay link in my previous post, that's exactly what my antenna looks like except that it's separated from the pad. It is probably still usable. I just can't figure out how the wire or pad connects to the board. I will try taking a picture of the transmitter opening where the antenna is supposed to be connected and post it.

February 16th, 2018, 10:56 AM	#14
Mike Hanlon Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 180	Re: Antenna Replacement for Sony Transmitter I ordered the part from the ebay seller that Jim Nogueira had in his post, but it's a full 1.25 inches shorter than what my unit is equipped with, so it appears to be for a different frequency range. My experience with other (sennheiser, shure) wireless mic antennas tells me antenna length is specific to frequency and using the wrong one will result in diminished performance (or outright failure). Please advise. Thanks, Mike. __________________ VM Productions

February 16th, 2018, 12:34 PM	#15
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,039	Re: Antenna Replacement for Sony Transmitter "My experience with other (sennheiser, shure) wireless mic antennas tells me antenna length is specific to frequency and using the wrong one will result in diminished performance (or outright failure)." - That is correct. The antenna length is calculated to yield optimal performance in the specific frequency range. As the frequencies get higher, the antenna length decreases, or visa-versa. The removable Lectro antennas are color coded for ID.. very useful when you have systems in different blocks.