VHF "tinny"

G

Good Grief

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Friend of mine replaced his VHF on his "new to him" Larson. Went w/ a WM DSC unit - pretty typical, no frills unit. He's using the original antenna.

Last weekend, he hails me, and his signal comes in very metalic/tinny sounding - even at close range.

He's thinking the problem may be in the antenna. Any suggestions?
 
A lot of times, it is the antenna connection. He should make sure that it is clean and tight. I believe in our area, he can do a radio check on channel 24, and hear for himself exactly how the radio sounds.
 
Many don't realize the actual microphone is a tiny hole on the hand (mike/speaker)unit, they cover it with their fingers and it gives a muffled or tinny sound. Also if he got water in the mike he might have to shack it. It only takes a small amount of condensation to give the radio horrible sounding audio.
Another often overlooked point is the power leads in high power the VHF radio outputs 25 watts. I have seen numerous installations where the wire and connection (both ground & positive) are of poor quality. Most just splice the power leads into the old radios power leads.
He should check his signal out by using the local SeaTow repeating system found from channels 24 through 28. You can check for the local repeater by using SeaTow's website.
Bill
 
He should check out his signal on the SeaTow repeater any changes will become obvious.
I still suggest he pay attention to the way the microphone is held.
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by Good Grief

Last weekend, he hails me, and his signal comes in very metalic/tinny sounding - even at close range.

He's thinking the problem may be in the antenna. Any suggestions?

Click to expand...


The antenna cannot change the sound or make it "tinny". The antenna transmits what is delivered to it. Nothing more, nothing less. Besides, he didn't change the antenna, just the radio. It's a microphone problem or he's not using the microphone correctly.

Since he bought the radio at West Marine, he can take it back and exchange it for another if he thinks it's defective.

FYI: The sound of a VHF radio is designed to emphasize the sound spectrum where the "intelligence" of the voice is. No VHF radio will make someone sound like the late night FM radio DJ.
 
Ron you have the sound quality correct. I still have a feeling the mike element
is being blocked.
The antenna wouldn't make it sound tinny but I have heard VHF antennas cause RF
feedback in TX audio but the sound is anything but tinny. This is usually the result
of a dead short at the antenna connector. Many of the newer VHF radios will actually shut
down if the VSWR is that poor to preserve the final amplifier.
Since the antenna wasn't changed or tampered with I doubt it's the antenna.
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by Billylll

Ron you have the sound quality correct. I still have a feeling the mike element
is being blocked.
The antenna wouldn't make it sound tinny but I have heard VHF antennas cause RF
feedback in TX audio but the sound is anything but tinny. This is usually the result
of a dead short at the antenna connector. Many of the newer VHF radios will actually shut
down if the VSWR is that poor to preserve the final amplifier.
Since the antenna wasn't changed or tampered with I doubt it's the antenna.
Bill

Click to expand...

I think if you're hearing "feedback" (or an echo) in a VHF transmission it is because the signal from the sending radio is being picked up by a nearby radio and the audio from that radio is being picked up by the sending radio's microphone.
 
No RF feedback is not an echo it is raspy sounding audio superimposed on the carrier it's were the transmitter (RF) actually gets into the microphones audio amplifier. Just clarifying my previous post. I doubt that is the original posters problem.
Bill
 
Gene did your buddy ever figure out why his audio didn't sound right? Were you sucessful with
finding a SeaTow repeater so he could listen to his own signal?
Bill
 
Thanks for the feedback. I haven't spoken to him, hope to get in touch this week. He's on the Hudson, but further north (Chelsea/New Hamburg area - not sure the SeaTow auto radio check will work that far up -- but I'll let him know.

My knee-jerk reaction was a mike issue. He just may need to return it!
 
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