Lost signal to hand held adapter for car mounted antenna

[Ben221]

Question please. I installed a ghost antenna and ran cable inside the Bronco cab with an adapter to connect to my hand held. I don’t have a hard mounted GMRS yet. The antenna signal is good when I first plug the male cable into the female adapter to the hand held but it cuts out when I screw the outside metal housings together when the outside housings touch. If that makes sense. 
 

thoughts?

[amaff]

It usually takes at least 1 or 2 adapters to connect a normal antenna to a handheld.

I really don't know which connection you're referring to that causes it to cut out, but it sounds like once the connector is loaded up, it breaks the connection, which leads me to think one of your cables or connectors is bad. But that's WAG because I don't know what 'outside metal housings' you're referring to.

Easiest thing to try would be a different adapter cable to go from the antenna coax to your SMA (I assume) connector or the handheld.

[WRUU653]

It sounds like something might be shorting. If you have an ohm meter I would disconnect the adapter, the cable and antenna. Then test between the center pin and the outer shell of the adapter and test for a short. Test the cable by itself too. They should read open (OL).

[Ben221]

Thanks and I will test the connection and the photo is the Amazon connector. 

[amaff]

Ahh, yeah. I've had one of those come apart on me from a bad crimp. They can be finicky. 

[WSJW650]

Maybe try a thin layer of Teflon (plumber’s tape) tape wrapped around the threads…..then screw down the housing. 
 

I know this doesn’t treat the problem (possible short to ground) and is unlikely to work well….but it’s cheap…and easily removable without a trace/blemish…..but, this trial may help in diagnosing the problem.  

[Ben221]

I checked for continuity of the cable and the adapter individually and separate which was good so that is a starting point. 
 

I am returning the cheap Amazon ghost antenna and starting over. 
 

Can I do a ghost antenna on a Bronco ditch light aluminum mount? or maybe a bull bar mount onto my metal front bumper? Or hood clip is better?

just learning this stuff and understanding ground planes. 
 

thanks in advance, great group here. 
 

 

[Ben221]

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