VHF?

+1 about that link I too went through that entire site and it's packed with good info! None the less I ordered a replacement as not to play around for the price of a new antenna it's not worth the grief. If it still doesn't work I will be scratching my head but it least I will have eliminated this as the issue.
 
You are both very welcome.

Good luck with the new antenna. And let us know if that cures the issue.
 
That's a good link Capt Bill, but I thought most of it was common sense. Then again I have been in the radio business almost my entire adult life. I disagree with a 3 to 1 VSWR that to me would be a fail. Anything worse than 13 db of return loss or 1.5 to 1 is what I would call good. The WX channel test is a good one I have done many times to to see if further testing is warranted if I don't have my Anritsu site master test equipment with me. I prefer using a return loss bridge over a VSWR meter but either will work just fine for testing marine VHF antennas. Having both is nice because I can verify the transmit output power from the VHF radio. I have seen low output power from units that have a sub standard power connection as well as a bad antenna circuit. A bad antenna circuit will cause the VHF radio to fold back it's power to keep from destroying the power output devices in the transmitter.
Bill
 
To my surprise my new antenna arrived today I hope to get a chance to install it either tomorrow or over the weekend. I haven't even looked at it just put it in my truck to bring up to the boat.
 
I installed the new antenna today and discovered that a 20' cable is about 3' to short! Clearly the last person to install an antenna on the boat realized this too and installed a 3' extension with a coupler, I never knew this was there. I removed the old wire and pulled a drag line with it I was hoping it was only 15' and this was the reason for the extension but when I pulled the new cable through it was clear they where the same length. After carefully examining the extension I think this may have been the problem all along one of the ends didn't not look so good, I tried to tighten the crimp and then used a meter to test the cable and it seems fine but I would like to replace this as well removing anything old from the equation. I tested the radio while in my slip and it seems great but I really won't know if I still have an issue until I have another problem, hopefully never!
 
If you know anybody with a VSWR bridge meter you should check even your new installation. I have one but we are not close. VSWR you are checking transmitted power vs reflected power. What actually leaves the antenna is the difference between them, which may be near none. VSWR effects the receive side as well. One bad connection can put you in the crapper.
I installed marine VHF's and radars many years ago. One of my part time jobs in my navy days.

Ken
 
I just pulled a 25' cat5 cable from where you antenna is to just the other side of the helm (where the stereo cabinet is) and had about a foot to spare. Sorry, I did not realize that until now when you just posted it or I would have mentioned it before hand.
 
I knew it was going to be close, I'm not sure why the antenna is on this side of the arch it would make more sense to be the other way around but it is what it is.

I don't know anyone with a meter or I would have tested the old antenna first.

I wish I knew you had a meter before you came for your road trip:)
 
If it were my boat I'd swap the ROGUE position with the VHF antenna position. Wouldn't that shorten up the VHF run so you could use the new cable only Dave? CAT5 for the ROGUE is an easy cheap pull.
Bill
 
I have a meter I could send and lend to you Dave. We'll talk once I get back in the office next Tuesday.
I would seriously consider swapping the ROGUE and VHF antenna positions.
Bill
 
I thought about swapping them but decided I don't want to, at this point it's a major PITA. I would have to completely remove the antenna run in order to rerun the cable. If I knew it wouldn't be long enough when I started I would have considered swapping them but now I don't want to start both the installs over again. I don't have enough spare cable to move the Rogue and I don't want to start from scratch with this install as well. The easiest and simplest solution it this point is to just pick up a decent jumper for the VHF all I need it about 2' but a 3' length leaves me a little wiggle room.
 
I'll make you a decent quality jumper for the VHF Dave.
Bill
 
Bill that would be great I really only need 3'.

Thank You
Bill
 
I am going to try and use the mating connector to the mini-PL (female) on the end of the Digital VHF antenna and a mini-PL on the radio side so you can use the supplied mini-PL female to PL-259 connector that came with the antenna at the radio. I'll use the same white RG8X cable as well Dave give me a few days.
Bill
 
That sounds like a good plan Bill, I like the way you think!
 
Channels that are affected when not in the US channel mode. The A after the channel as in 22A is an indication you are on US frequencies and in simplex mode. If by chance you mistakenly are set to international channels you will be heard but will not hear the stations replying because on many international channels the RX/ TX frequencies offesets are in use.
Channels that would be affected are 1,3,5,7,18,19,20,21,22,23,61,63,64,65,66,78,79,80,81,82,83 & 88. They all should have an A after them if you are in the US frequency mode. In addition other channels like 2 & 4 would show up that have no legal use in the US.
Actually most channels have an offet meaning different TX & RX frequency. Most channels in the US other than the Radio Telephone channels use only the simplex or the A or lower frequency in the offset to transmit and receive also known as simplex or talk around.
Bill
 
I think the new antenna did the trick! My friend said I sounded loader and clearer then I did with the old antenna. Hopefully this was the problem I will still feel better changing out the jumper/extension.
Bill I'm going away for a couple of weeks without the boat so there is no rush whenever you get a chance would be great thanks again!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top