I cannot get an extended (& fold-able) antenna to work on my Talkpod A36 Plus. Help?

[Chedz]

Hi everyone,

It has been awhile since I last posted, or took part, in the forum. The reason is that I have been unable to use my Talkpod A36 Plus radio for transmitting. It receives air-band and repeater conversations just fine, but I can't transmit at all. So it sits and I monitor the air-band and emergency traffic. But, that's an entirely different issue from what I hope to find out here, in a last-ditch effort to make it fully operational.

I used Amazon to buy a SamCom CS-47, 18-inch, fold-able antenna. It has the same frequency settings as that of the factory antenna of the Talkpod ( FM 136 - 174 / 400 - 470 Mhz ). It also has the same connector and, when attached to the Talkpod, sets completely / correctly as it should on the radio. But it kills the Talkpod in that it stops receiving (let alone transmitting). Pop the factory antenna back on and it works fine (again, with the exception of transmitting). What am I not doing right now?

I am still new to the dark arts of GMRS radio, so any help is, as always, appreciated.

WRYF568

[OffRoaderX]

There really isn't anything to 'not do right'.. It's either the correct antenna connected correctly, or it isn't.. So my first guess is that your antenna is a counterfeit/defective.. have you tested the antenna on another radio?

[SteveShannon]

18 minutes ago, Chedz said:

Hi everyone,

It has been awhile since I last posted, or took part, in the forum. The reason is that I have been unable to use my Talkpod A36 Plus radio for transmitting. It receives air-band and repeater conversations just fine, but I can't transmit at all. So it sits and I monitor the air-band and emergency traffic. But, that's an entirely different issue from what I hope to find out here, in a last-ditch effort to make it fully operational.

I used Amazon to buy a SamCom CS-47, 18-inch, fold-able antenna. It has the same frequency settings as that of the factory antenna of the Talkpod ( FM 136 - 174 / 400 - 470 Mhz ). It also has the same connector and, when attached to the Talkpod, sets completely / correctly as it should on the radio. But it kills the Talkpod in that it stops receiving (let alone transmitting). Pop the factory antenna back on and it works fine (again, with the exception of transmitting). What am I not doing right now?

I am still new to the dark arts of GMRS radio, so any help is, as always, appreciated.

WRYF568

I would return the antenna. Some poor quality antennas either short the center lead to the shield when installed or leave the center lead disconnected from the antenna element. 

[Chedz]

Thank you both for helping out. I appreciate it. I'll be sending it back.

[Chedz]

2 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

There really isn't anything to 'not do right'.. It's either the correct antenna connected correctly, or it isn't.. So my first guess is that your antenna is a counterfeit/defective.. have you tested the antenna on another radio?

I don't have another radio to test it out with. However, I certainly trust what you and Steve Shannon posted. Thank you very much.