Maybe you are not like me. I like to think that while I didn’t share all the experiences of my generation, I grew up experiencing things that everyone did. I can remember getting a transistor radio for Christmas. As you probably know, radio has always been a part of my life. I would carry that radio around when I was doing stuff.

One time my brother and I were messing around. As we did, we were climbing a tree. I had the radio setup on a branch and it fell and snapped off 2/3 of the antenna. Maybe, I could have gotten a replacement through Radio Shack, that time has long passed. But the truth is, if we use our stuff at some time it is going to get damaged. Back in the 1980s, if it couldn’t be found in a store it didn’t exist.

A month or so ago, when I bought my scanner, it was missing an antenna. I purchased one that plugged into the BNC port in the back. After further inspection, I found that there was a second place for an antenna. One port is for the ‘factory’ antenna and the other is for expansion or a better antenna. I decided to order a second antenna for the factory replacement.

The first one I ordered was two for $8. What I didn’t realize was that the diameter of the antenna was 7mm and the hole was 5.5mm. I started my search again and found that most antennas do not list a diameter. This is likely because most devices don’t have a thickness restriction. In my case, the antenna is inset into the case. For a brief moment I thought about modifying the case just by drilling a larger hole but first I decided to find a better replacement.

I found an antenna that was listed for RC cars and toys that had a diameter of 4.5mm. Bingo, that works. I really wanted one antenna for $5 but I had to buy six for $8. Now, I have five spares. Not that I think I will be carrying my scanner around but I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up buying another used one at some point.

I have always taken care of my stuff. For instance, I still carry my pocketknife I purchased in high school. But stuff happened and my handheld radio fell because I was using it like it was intended. Too often, those events were the death knell without the ability to buy replacement parts. I was extremely sad when that happened and the radio got thrown in the junk pile.

Amazon in particular has become a boon for cheap and outdated accessories. As personal electronics have a lifecycle, you can’t just walk in and find a I-Pod Nano screen protector at a store. Especially not unless it is a specialty store. But, you can find that stuff on Amazon and cheap too.

I live relatively close to a mid-sized city. There is one electronics store that is pretty sparsely populated. It is kind of a mix of radio/antenna focused components and odds and ends. I would probably shop there more if they had what I wanted. The demise of Fry’s electronics took away the other semi-local options. So, really all I have is the internet.

End Your Programing Routine: If I had had the internet in the 1980s, it wouldn’t surprise me if I would be rocking that handheld radio today. That wasn’t the only device that was a victim of broken antennas either. As much as I would rather have a place to go to buy what I wanted, I am sure thankful there is a place to buy anything I can think of. It makes buying used viable.