The difference six months of weather exposure made on that transponder antenna

I installed a new Dorne & Margolin combo antenna on a Cessna 172 back in March, and last week i pulled it off to swap for an upgrade. The rubber gasket had already started cracking and the coax connector had a thin layer of green corrosion on the pin, nothing like how it looked fresh out of the box. Has anyone else noticed how fast these gaskets degrade on wing-mounted antennas in humid climates?

3 comments

3 Comments

smith.parker1mo ago

Funny you mention that, reminds me of the time I left a pair of hiking boots on the back porch for two months and the soles literally peeled off like a banana. Sometimes that rubber just can't handle the constant humidity and UV beating, no matter what the package says. Makes you wonder if they even test these gaskets in real-world conditions before shipping them out.

troy_price1mo ago

Can't believe the sole just came off like that after only two months? That's insane. I mean, I've had boots that sat in a damp garage for a year and the rubber was still fine. The UV and humidity combo must really mess with whatever cheap compound they're using now. Honestly, it makes me wonder if they even do a basic outdoor test before slapping a warranty on it. Stuff like that is why I'm so picky about what I leave outside now, even if the tag says it's weatherproof.

lewis.mila1mo ago

Honestly, I left a pair of work boots on the porch for a week and the rubber crumbled like chalk.