Kid broke Cab-1 antenna- now what?

[skregal]

My sons (both denying it, of course) broke the antenna on the Cab-1 controller.  I have removed it easily from inside, but can't seem to find a source to buy a replacement antenna.   I hope I don't have to buy a whole new $65 unit.   Can't find the part on Lionel's website.  Any suggestions on replacing the antenna would be appreciated.

[csxt30]

to the forum !!  I do remember quite a while back, someone was offering the rubber duckee antenna for them. I haven't seen them advertised lately but maybe someone else knows & I will try searching for it also. Let me ask you this, did it still work at all with what was left of the old antenna ? Maybe at close range to the base it may work till you get one. If it were me, I would also try to stick a coat hanger in the old piece just to try. Not really recomending this, just a thought !!

Thanks, John      

[laz 57]

I broke one too on my Cab1 and got an Antenea at radio shack.  They have one almost identical as the cab 1 but you have to drill out the hole on the top of the cab1 to make it fit properly.  It cost about $8.00.  Easy fix.  Take your broken one with you, and match it up.

laz57

[ChiefEagles]

Epoxy if it slides inside the bigger tube.  I use windshield rope sealer.  Works great. 

[skregal]

The remote still works at moderate range, but the end is sharp and gets pushed down inside easily, making it difficult to extend it again.  It's workable, but not the best because it broke down low on the 4th of 8 tiers.  If they broke it up high I would crimp a new end on it and go, but I think I'd rather replace it.

[Pennvalley]

I had a tip break off of a radio control antenna way back when. I found a small #4 ? sheet metal screw & put it in the end of the antenna. The screw head kept the antenna from collapsing into the base.

As far as my cab-1, I could run it with the antenna down. I did eventually change over to a flex antenna.

Here is an old post about it, this was originally posted on OGR by Jim D. (Thank you JIM!!)  **** the link no longer goes to the antenna though.
Someone recently used the RS scanner antenna & it worked.

Here is how to convert a Cab 1. Get a Radio Shack BNC Jack Chassis-mount part # 278-105.Open the Cab 1 by removing the 6 screws on the back. Separate the 2 halves, but be careful a wire will hold them together. Remove the screw that holds in the antenna. The old antenna will slide out the top. You will have to make the antenna hole a little bigger to receive the BN connector. You can drill it (very slowly and carefully) or you can file it .Put the BN connector in and secure it with the nut provided. Unsolder the tab for the old antenna and solder the wire to the center terminal of the BN connector. That's it. Put the back cover on and put the screws in. The antenna I used was the Valco SA 1 - 6" antenna at this web site http://www.valcoelectronics.com/cbantenna/handheld_antennas.htm .I did not remove any coils or did any other modifications to the Cab 1. This seems like a big improvement.
Jim D.

Purchase the "Race Scanner Antenna",(Radio Shack # 20-288). It is 1.7" tall and uses a BNC connector.

[dougdagrump]

I am not familiar with the part #'s and procedure but Radio Shack carries a "Rubber Ducky" that will work. I'll check out a possible source of info to pass on.

PennValley got to it while I was originally posting. What I found was basically the same thing.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Doug, does your club in San Diego use the rubber antennas?

[dougdagrump]

Doug, does your club in San Diego use the rubber antennas?

Currently we only have one that has been converted. We plan on doing all of the club's Cab-1's this way. Since MTH has discontinued the hand held remote for the Z-4000's that means the Kid's Club will eventually use the Cab-1 and TPC for operations. We feel that for safety reasons it would be best if they were all converted to the so-called "Rubber Ducky" style. With where we have re-located the receiver you don't need to raise the antenna more than one section but with kids you have to be EXTRA careful.

[willpick]

as far as I know, the remote commander set is still being produced by MTH. there is a post about this on the "other" forum, where a poster who called MTH posted that the commander set is out of stock at MTH, and the next production run will be in a few months.

[dougdagrump]

If in fact they do make another productioon run I hope that they would be available as a seperate piece and just not as a "set". That would be cost prohibitive.

[wrmcclellan]

I have also used a small sheet metal screw to repair one of my CAB1's antenna where the button in the end fell off somehow. I agree with Doug that eliminating the "whip' that makes for impromtu eye poking is a good idea. I have never had to extend the antennas much more than its first section.