Turning bullet on without attached antenna

[Patagoche]

I'm concerned about turning a bullet unit on without having an antenna attached to it. an the radio module get affected? Have ubiquiti products some kind of protection?
Greetings!

[compro711]

I don't see any problem but wate for one of the admins just in case.

[WHT]

I've been some Bullets for several months now without an antenna on the bench.

[Patagoche]

The thing is that i've heard about radio modules getting "deaf" after being turned on without having some kind of resistance on their radio connectors. Maybe it's just an urban myth, but I wanted to make sure before having to throw some bullet away.
If anyone can clarify this issue for me I would be very thankful. Just in the sake of not having to worry about it any more.

[WHT]

LOL...Urban myth.

Even when I powered up my 100 watt Motorola UHF radio, it would power down if the antenna was broken off. It sense the increased SWR caused by a missing RF load on the final.

With even one watt or five walkie-talkies, they won't get damaged if the user takes off the antenna.

[InoX]

LOL...Urban myth.

Even when I powered up my 100 watt Motorola UHF radio, it would power down if the antenna was broken off. It sense the increased SWR caused by a missing RF load on the final.

With even one watt or five walkie-talkies, they won't get damaged if the user takes off the antenna.
Warning: it is always advised to keep an antenna connected during high power tx to avoid
damage to the amplifier circuit.
Said Mikrotik for R52H...

[UBNT-Mike.Ford]

LOL...Urban myth.

Even when I powered up my 100 watt Motorola UHF radio, it would power down if the antenna was broken off. It sense the increased SWR caused by a missing RF load on the final.

With even one watt or five walkie-talkies, they won't get damaged if the user takes off the antenna.
Warning: it is always advised to keep an antenna connected during high power tx to avoid
damage to the amplifier circuit.
Said Mikrotik for R52H...

Hey Guys,

Its takes quite a bit to damage the amplifier circuit with the antenna off. I do not recommend prolonged use like this, but it work for short durtations without the antenna.

Thanks,

[key4078]

We burnt one of our bullets. We connected it to a 12V-1A POE injector WITHOUT antenna, and it took less than 1 min to burn it (we could smell). It was even before booting was finished. Now, it initially boots well but dies soon. All the lights go off after 20 sec (probably it is when the wireless part is turned on) and it becomes hot.

[UBNT-Mike.Ford]

Hello Key,

That is strange behavior as have Bullets running here in the lab that have not had an antenna on it for weeks on end. Please email me as I would like to see what happened to that unit.

Mike@ubnt.com

Thanks,

Mike

[WHT]

key4078...

Was that with the included UBNT power supply and power injector?

I've had a bullet running since first week in November without an antenna.

[key4078]

No. We couldn't order UBNT's POE-15(http://www.ubnt.com/products/poe15.php) injectors since they were out of stock. Today we also tried a 18V-1A injector with a rubber antenna, however the power light blinked at this time. It seems other Bullets work fine.

Mike, its MAC address is 00:15:6D:AD:02:8E. The company will send it to you so that you will be able to see it. Thank you.

[wireless12]

prevention is always better then cure.. so it would be more safe if we add antenna and then play...u see .. always play safe....without antenna if it don't got damaged then its good but if got damaged then its our loss may be of money or time.

[WHT]

That is in line with what I always say.

Yes, the coffee pot has an automatic shut off, but if you turn it off then you KNOW it will be off.

Yes, its not likely anyone will trip over that cable, but if you secure it the way I want you to then you KNOW no one will trip over it.

Yes, the dogs are not likely to tip over their water bowl while we're out of town, but if you put an extra water bowl out then you KNOW they won't be without water.

[kijoma]

LOL...Urban myth.

Even when I powered up my 100 watt Motorola UHF radio, it would power down if the antenna was broken off. It sense the increased SWR caused by a missing RF load on the final.

With even one watt or five walkie-talkies, they won't get damaged if the user takes off the antenna.
Warning: it is always advised to keep an antenna connected during high power tx to avoid
damage to the amplifier circuit.
Said Mikrotik for R52H...

putting an antenna on a r52h doesnt mean it wont go pop.. either :)

[UBNT-Mike.Ford]

LOL...Urban myth.

Even when I powered up my 100 watt Motorola UHF radio, it would power down if the antenna was broken off. It sense the increased SWR caused by a missing RF load on the final.

With even one watt or five walkie-talkies, they won't get damaged if the user takes off the antenna.
Warning: it is always advised to keep an antenna connected during high power tx to avoid
damage to the amplifier circuit.
Said Mikrotik for R52H...

putting an antenna on a r52h doesnt mean it wont go pop.. either :)

Very true!

Mike

[gizma-creator]

gut

[sampit]

I'm planning on buying 2 set of Bullet5 (For PtP) next weeks when it available.

So can anyone confirm this hoax or urban myth of turning on bullet5 without antenna will fried up the device :D

Don't wanna get a short life of Bullet5 when I try to configure it without antenna :shock:

Thanks

[WHT]

Read back to the previous post in this thread.

[sampit]

LOL...Urban myth.

Even when I powered up my 100 watt Motorola UHF radio, it would power down if the antenna was broken off. It sense the increased SWR caused by a missing RF load on the final.

With even one watt or five walkie-talkies, they won't get damaged if the user takes off the antenna.
Warning: it is always advised to keep an antenna connected during high power tx to avoid
damage to the amplifier circuit.
Said Mikrotik for R52H...

Hey Guys,

Its takes quite a bit to damage the amplifier circuit with the antenna off. I do not recommend prolonged use like this, but it work for short durtations without the antenna.

Thanks,

Thanks for the reply mike.

Are the above quotes the answer?
So only turn bullet5 without antenna for a short period of time?

Could you be more spesific about"short time" ?

Since configuring & testing device on the ground do takes times :D

Thanks in advance

[DieselPower]

Get a N Male connector and solder a 50 Ohm resistor across the connections, seal with heatshrink, and never worry again.... Might be overkill, but again worry gets old fast!

[WHT]

What I have running is a length of coax with N connector on one end and about an inch of center conductor on the other with the braid folded back.

[sampit]

Thank you all for the reply.

Will a pigtail/jumper about 30cm long do the trick also? (To make sure preventing the device get burned)

[WHT]

Will a pigtail/jumper about 30cm long do the trick also?Not as per se...you need to cut off one connector and expose about an inch of center conductor and fold back the braid. A crude but somewhat effective omni antenna.

[sampit]

Will a pigtail/jumper about 30cm long do the trick also?Not as per se...you need to cut off one connector and expose about an inch of center conductor and fold back the braid. A crude but somewhat effective omni antenna.

Nice Trick
Will do that once I got My Bullet5

Thanks & Best regard

[granlabor]

I had the Bullet5 on the test bench for 48 hours without antenna.

No problems here.

As a precaution I turned the power down to the minimum setting.

[UBNT-Mike.Ford]

Hey Guys,

Like i said, it is not recommended to power them on without the antenna, but if you do in short periods, you will not let the smoke out.

Thanks,

Mike