VHF Antenna

Walter, don't scrimp on the antenna - get the best one you can. Get one with 6db gain. When you need to talk to someone, you want to make sure you get through.
 
Walter, I have a 3 year old Antenna that was used for 2 years and sat last year in my garage. I was going to use it on my little boat, but an 8ft antenna on an 18ft boat is a bit silly. You are welcome to it if you want. Its not mint but it works perfectly
 
Walter my primary antenna is a 16' VHF made by Digital Antenna Company. BF might carry them as well. My secondary is an 8' Digital mounted on the arch.
Don't scrimp when it comes to your primary means of emergency communications.
Bill
 
Thanks guys

BC,
Thanks for the offer but I prefer a new one, it was kind of you to offer though.
 
I am thinking since Billy 3 has "Digital Antenna" it mus be a tad better than Shakespeare.

Looking at this antenna : http://www.boatfix.com/shop4/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=372

What do you all think?

Also, I saw this in the specs:

"Customers and installers love the 500 GOLD Series easy installation connector system. The gold factory-attached mini-UHF female connector with PL-259 (UHF) adapter makes connecting to the radio easy, eliminating the need to solder connectors."

Does this mean that it has a small factory connection (makes it easier to snake the wire) and then you attach a connector to convert the factory small connection to PL259?

Walter
 
Digital 8ft 6db antenna.
Made in USA
Brass radiator, Gold plated PL259,urethane finish
RG8X cable,Stainless ferrule.
Made in USA (repeated on purpose)
Very nice!!!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Cpt. Harold

Digital 8ft 6db antenna.
Made in USA
Brass radiator, Gold plated PL259,urethane finish
RG8X cable,Stainless ferrule.
Made in USA (repeated on purpose)
Very nice!!!

Click to expand...


I ordered it tonight from boatfix
 
Shoot, now I want to upgrade my VHF antenna from 3dB to 6dB. But I don't see any models less than 8' that have that gain. An 8' and antenna on my little 30' boat. Somehow I don't think that'll look right.
 
I have an 8 footer on my 23' foot trophy. Looks good on my hardtop if you ask me.
 
quote:
Originally posted by walterv

I am thinking since Billy 3 has "Digital Antenna" it mus be a tad better than Shakespeare.

Looking at this antenna : http://www.boatfix.com/shop4/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=372

What do you all think?

Also, I saw this in the specs:

"Customers and installers love the 500 GOLD Series easy installation connector system. The gold factory-attached mini-UHF female connector with PL-259 (UHF) adapter makes connecting to the radio easy, eliminating the need to solder connectors."

Does this mean that it has a small factory connection (makes it easier to snake the wire) and then you attach a connector to convert the factory small connection to PL259?

Walter

Click to expand...

Walter I have real world tested both, the Digital has better construction internally and will last and perform better. You made a good choice. I have cut the two manufactures units to see the internals the Digital's construction is higher quality.
I only use 1 Shakespeare antenna on the boat it is my TV UFO.
Best,
Bill
 
Yes, always get the best antenna you can buy - you're life may depend on it. However, watch the dB numbers game. Yes, the higher the number the better, but one 3dB gain antenna may be another's 6dB gain. Here's why. The term 'dB' or 'decibel', requires a point of reference. Without knowing this reference, the dB number is meaningless. Having said that, many dB statements are understood to have a standard reference depending on the industry that is using the number. The audio industry uses the term dBm (to signify a power level greater than 1 milliwat at 600 ohms). The radio industry typically uses two dB references: gain over isotropic (dBi) or gain over dipole (dBd). As an isotrpic antenna is only a theoretical one and cannot exist, most reputable antenna manufacturers will normally state 'gain over a dipole' but often not use the correct term of dBd and just use dB - confusing everyone. A dipole antenna nominally has a 3dB gain over isotropic. Hence, if you have a 3dB gain antenna (3dB gain over a dipole), then it could be written as also being 6dB gain.
Lastly, antenna physical dimensions are very much limited by the laws of physics. generally, the only way to get higher gain from an antenna is to add elements. In a marine antenna, these elements are typically encased in the nice white fiberglass outer covering. In order to get higher gain, multiple dipoles are not used in marine applications, but rather a slotted design known as a 'colinear' antenna. At VHF frequencies, these are going to be large (long). Given that VHF tends to be a line-of-sight communications medium, the higher you can get the antenna elements above the water, the better the range will be.
 
Having cruised 13 times with Carnival, I can say a long wire antenna is used at least for one means of long range communication; I'm sure there are backups, however. They also have backups for VHF 9Db gain.
 
dbd = real gain over a dipole (a real antenna)
dbi = 2db fake gain (gain over an isotropic radiator theoretical perfect world that doesn't exist)
Compare dbi to dbi or dbd to dbd and you are making the correct comparison.
This has been gone over in detail in a previous thread recently.
Proper antenna mounting (height) is more important than almost anything else other than an antenna's quality.
Bill
 
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