How to repair Motorolla Talkabout 250 antenna

I have just repaired four of these radios, with complete success.

You need a tube of black Stixall (currently £5.81 from Tool Station), a skeleton gun and a saucer of water with a good squirt of washing up liquid.

Take the back off the radio, take out the batteries and remove the rear cover by undoing the retaining screws using a screwdriver with a star shaped bit. Unscrew the circuit board now exposed using the same screwdriver bit. Remove the damaged rubber aerial with coiled copper core, being careful not to damage or distort the copper core. It lifts off one of the screw lugs revealed when removing the circuit board. Get rid of all of the old rubber.

Now put the end of the copper coil back over the lug (where it came from) and screw the PCB back on followed by the back of the unit.

Now form a new rubber cover to the copper aerial using Stixall, squirted into place. Squirt it down into the aerial housing so that it will get mechanical purchase from the body of the radio. Put on plenty, completely coating the copper aerial. Now dip your fingers in the saucer so that they don't bond to the Stixall and mold it into a smooth aerial shape. Leave it to cure for 24 hrs and then dust it with flour. Job done.

I have tested my repaired radios and they are great, the new "aerials" have lasted well. I am especially pleased that I don't have to throw them away.

Good luck - regards SJP