hirshmann antenna

[sethkestenbaum]

I have two original Hirshmann antennas.  Both have working motors.  One has a bent antenna mast in the middle part so it won't raise/lower completely.  The other has a straight antenna mast (which I was able to polish into extending) with a broken nylon strap so it won't raise/lower. I'd like to frankenstein together a nice "all original" Hirshmann mast and use it with the better antenna body. To do this, I suspect I just need to remove the "h" button on the top of both antennas and then swap out the top part (which has the nylon) from one antenna with the thin part of the unbent antenna. Before I try this and potentially damage things:

1) Does the top "h" button unscrew?  Is it soldered on?
2) Has anyone else attempted this?  If so, what has worked or hasn't?



I've tried to attached photos.

Thanks, Seth

[sethkestenbaum]

So instead of pursuing the removal of the top piece of the antenna (which I am convinced would result in a damaged mast), I decided to see if I could "splice" the nylon.  I took apart the antenna body and recovered the other part of the broken nylon from inside the storage chamber (you have to take the guts of the antenna body apart to get to it and then remove a "c" clip).  I cleaned both the broken ends of the nylon, dipped them in some boiling water (I thought I would see if this was hot enough to start them melting (it wasn't), then put them adjacent a stovetop flame to try to slowly increase the heat.  One end lit on fire (unintentionally).  Based on how slow it burned and how it was globbing up, I lit the other broken end and then pushed the two flaming parts together.  I probably lost about 5MMs of length on the line but the two ends fused nicely with a BLOB of nylon where it was patched. I then cooled it all off, filed down the glob of excess nylon with a rasp, finished it with some fine grit paper, wiped things down and I now have an awesome and working original mast to install into the better of the two Hirshmanns.  Photos attached.  If you don't wear your glasses, you would never know the nylon was ever broken.  The splice seems nice and strong.



I hope this help others in their efforts to keep their Hirshmann Antenna masts original.

[daantjie]

Necessity is the mother of invention, well done !

[Americium-241]

Good work regarding the repair.

It is maddening that the masts are no longer being manufactured by Hirschmann.

Even for the newer cars they are all drying up too - once they are gone they are gone for good and the only choice is second hand or Chinese copies. They are poor quality, rust and fall to pieces. This is an unacceptable risk on cars with new paint jobs. Perhaps if the market wasn't flooded with these $7 copies there may of still been reason for Hirschmann to continue manufacturing masts but hey, the average joe always want the cheapest.

[marku]

Never would have thought of that - great job really well done.

[ptashek]

It is maddening that the masts are no longer being manufactured by Hirschmann.

The fact that Hirschmann was sliced and diced into multiple companies and sold off around 2007 might have something to do with that
But the masts can still be bought, not cheaply though: https://www.koenigs-klassik-radios.de/en/?ActionCall=WebActionArticleSearch&BranchId=91&Params%5BSearchParam%5D=Hirschmann+Telescope

[floyd111]

that s what I was about to suggest.. Check Koenings.. Also, aren't MTB selling masts on ebay for these AUTA's?

[sethkestenbaum]

Thank you to all that have suggested places that might have replacement masts.  As mentioned, my goal was to be able to fix one of the masts.  I was able to do so by melting the two parts of the broken nylon tail together.  The antenna now works well and I have a back up motor (which I may eventually sell).