# RTK Surveyor SMA connector detached from board **URL:** \ **Category:** GPS/GNSS\ **Created:** [June 3, 2026, 6:48am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rtk-surveyor-sma-connector-detached-from-board/68949 "2026-06-03T06:48:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bmit0111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@bmit0111](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/bmit0111)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 6:48am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rtk-surveyor-sma-connector-detached-from-board/68949/1 "2026-06-03T06:48:21Z")
My RTK Surveyor SMA connector has come off the board. I have tried to initiate a RMA but have been informed i need to put this in the forum first. My unit is out of warranty and i purchased through Core Electronics in Australia. I am happy to pay for it to be repaired. What other information do you require from me to initiate a repair/quote to repair? Thanks, Brendon ---
**Author:** ![PaulZC](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/paulzc/32/67_2.png) [@PaulZC](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/PaulZC)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 7:10am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rtk-surveyor-sma-connector-detached-from-board/68949/2 "2026-06-03T07:10:16Z")
Hi @bmit0111 , Please have a read through the post linked below. Perhaps you can repair the unit yourself, or have it done locally? If you would still like to have the repair done by SparkFun, please let us know. (We’re aware you’re in AUS.) I hope this helps, Paul > [@RTK Surveyor SMA connector detached from board - how to fix](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rtk-surveyor-sma-connector-detached-from-board-how-to-fix/65918/3): > > Hi @fgfletcher - Sorry to hear it got damaged! You are welcome to start a [return for repair](https://www.sparkfun.com/returns). The repair price is $150. TCIII does a good job summarizing the fix we do: we’ll cut out the PCB area where the SMA was residing to make room on the panel for a new SMA connector. We’ll cut off the U.FL connector on an [SMA cable](https://www.sparkfun.com/sma-to-u-fl-cable-150mm.html), strip and then solder the inner wires to two points on the board for the RF path. The ESD protection diode is the usual spot (shown below). Then we test everything to confirm the RF is good, glue the cable down for stress relief, and then close the unit back up and do a series of checkout tests. The SMA connection ends up being just as strong, or stronger, than the original SMA, but requires a bit of SMD soldering. You are welcome to do the fix yourself, or have us do it. We’re here to help. ---
**Author:** ![bmit0111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@bmit0111](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/bmit0111)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 7:23am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rtk-surveyor-sma-connector-detached-from-board/68949/3 "2026-06-03T07:23:35Z")
Hi Paul, Thanks for the quick response. I did see the other posts but i think i would prefer to send it for repair. I actually have two units - one the SMA has broken off the other won’t get satellites and doesn’t appear to have any voltage going to the SMA. I would like to initiate repairs for both units please. Thanks, Brendon ---
**Author:** ![PaulZC](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/paulzc/32/67_2.png) [@PaulZC](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/PaulZC)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 8:04am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rtk-surveyor-sma-connector-detached-from-board/68949/4 "2026-06-03T08:04:27Z")
Hi Brendon (@bmit0111 ), Let me check with my colleagues in the office - just in case there are any shipping restrictions we both need to be aware of. But, to get the ball rolling, please start a [return](https://www.sparkfun.com/returns). You purchased from Core Electronics, so please mention that in the Order Number. Please include “Quote for repair” and a link to this conversation in the “Reason” box. Best wishes, Paul ---
**Author:** ![fgfletcher](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/fgfletcher/32/9582_2.png) [@fgfletcher](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/fgfletcher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rtk-surveyor-sma-connector-detached-from-board/68949/5 "2026-06-06T16:39:43Z")
I had the same problem: Got the repaired unit today. RF seems to be working very well - in an open field I was seeing 32 sats, using 24 of them and getting uncertainties of under 1’ (which I’ve never seen before, usually at best a bit less than 3’). However, there is a significant problem: the hole for the SMA connector was drilled out for 0.375, which is bigger than the widest part of the SMA connector which expects a 0.250" hole. See attached photo… The 2 lockwasher diameters measure 0.372 and 0.400 (two different styles), hence can’t grab both sides of the panel - as I discovered when I went to attach my antenna connector. With the connector off center in the oversized hole you do get “grab” along half the hole, but it wiggles sideways very easily and then falls out… I’ll try turning a “goof hole plug” with a flattened top to clear the clam-shell (only ~ 0.020 panel clearance) The other approach I’m sketching is making a glue-on piece. If neither works out then I could mill a complete panel out of some aluminum sheet. Which I solved by: Turned a pair of “goof hole washers” out of 1/2" Al rod, see attached picture, and the problem is solved. OD of boss is 0.360 (the .375 hole in the panel wasn’t perfectly round). Boss thickness 0.050, a bit less than the thickness of the panel OD of the washer is 0.475 with flat to clear clamshell also had to file flats on the two sides (not shown in photo) to clear the PCB Washers 0.050 thick (not counting the boss) so overall thickness ~ 0.150 had to leave out the lock washers to leave enough protrusion for the cable connector ![SparkFun washers](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/original/2X/7/75b635d74c6844669664f2d68e16e470ee219d28.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![TS-Russell](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/ts-russell/32/6092_2.png) [@TS-Russell](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/TS-Russell)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 8:45pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rtk-surveyor-sma-connector-detached-from-board/68949/6 "2026-06-08T20:45:42Z")
Nice work! I’m less dedicated and default to hot glue in situations like these lol