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Seeking VHF and Shakespeare ART-3//ART-2 guidance
- Thread starter williamabernathy
- Start date
Hi Billy,
I tested all three antennas and get the same readings. At this point I think I need a new radio. Do you have a recommendation? Thanks for the offer to call you, but I wouldn't bother you on a Saturday night over this.
Billy K.
I tested all three antennas and get the same readings. At this point I think I need a new radio. Do you have a recommendation? Thanks for the offer to call you, but I wouldn't bother you on a Saturday night over this.
Billy K.
The SeaTow automated response system is a wonderful tool. It not only quickly made apparent a transmission problem on the lower station Simrad black box vhf handset( easily fixed with a swap with a good used spare that transmits just fine just as the upper station always has done and still does) , it also taught me what a difference speaking in just slightly louder voice right into the microphone spot makes compared to the former tendency to speak normally a scosh farther way from the mic and at slight angle thinking I was avoiding speaking/breathing "pops" and distant impression of yelling.
It might possibly be worth testing your technique before replacement.
Keep in mind, the SeaTow antenna most always will be higher than yours and in some cases they ...may... even have a special permit for stronger TX wattage on their equipment than on your boat.In most cases, I would suspect it would not be abnormal at all for a station such as yours or mine hailing for an automated radio-check at even a semi- marginal distance to have a less audible playback-to-us message from Seatow (ch 28 nearby here) than their usually quite loud -sounding greeting/prelude message. Just my impression.
Antennas, particularly less expensive cheaper construction ones, do deteriorate with time and wave impact reaction abuse, but FWIW I believe bad/corroded PL-259 or similar connectors is a much more common culprit for low VSWR readings in typical rec boat VHF systems.
It might possibly be worth testing your technique before replacement.
Keep in mind, the SeaTow antenna most always will be higher than yours and in some cases they ...may... even have a special permit for stronger TX wattage on their equipment than on your boat.In most cases, I would suspect it would not be abnormal at all for a station such as yours or mine hailing for an automated radio-check at even a semi- marginal distance to have a less audible playback-to-us message from Seatow (ch 28 nearby here) than their usually quite loud -sounding greeting/prelude message. Just my impression.
Antennas, particularly less expensive cheaper construction ones, do deteriorate with time and wave impact reaction abuse, but FWIW I believe bad/corroded PL-259 or similar connectors is a much more common culprit for low VSWR readings in typical rec boat VHF systems.
Sandy,
I'm in the process of rewiring my 1977 Chris Craft Commander and am at the bridge stage. I have three antennas and had to cut all the pl-259 connectors off to reroute them, so they are all new. I want to pick the best antenna for the bridge and the next best for the lower helm. It might be easier to just go get two new antennas, but if its the radio I would be wasting money. I know I have bad reception on the bridge radio and it looks like it has some years on it. I am looking for suggestions for a new radio, if you have one I would appreciate it.
Billy K.
I'm in the process of rewiring my 1977 Chris Craft Commander and am at the bridge stage. I have three antennas and had to cut all the pl-259 connectors off to reroute them, so they are all new. I want to pick the best antenna for the bridge and the next best for the lower helm. It might be easier to just go get two new antennas, but if its the radio I would be wasting money. I know I have bad reception on the bridge radio and it looks like it has some years on it. I am looking for suggestions for a new radio, if you have one I would appreciate it.
Billy K.
BillyK I wouldn't even consider using a non DSC equipped VHF radio for either steering position in your vessel.
Many of the modern radio's have superior receive performance compared to the older units. I'm a huge fan of the Garmin VHF200 and followed by the older Lowrance LVR880.
Both of these radio's support NMEA2000 so getting GPS position data and having them talk to an MFD or Plotter that is NMEA2000 compliant is a must have feature for me.
The best antennas I used during my testing and constant upgrades on the old Mainship were VHF antennas made my Digital Inc. My 16' 9dbi antenna was by far the best performer. Also I used an AR2(squared) marine VHF GASFet switching pre-amplifier this gave me a really hot set up at the helm of the Mainship. I'm duplicating this set up on the GS.
Bill
Many of the modern radio's have superior receive performance compared to the older units. I'm a huge fan of the Garmin VHF200 and followed by the older Lowrance LVR880.
Both of these radio's support NMEA2000 so getting GPS position data and having them talk to an MFD or Plotter that is NMEA2000 compliant is a must have feature for me.
The best antennas I used during my testing and constant upgrades on the old Mainship were VHF antennas made my Digital Inc. My 16' 9dbi antenna was by far the best performer. Also I used an AR2(squared) marine VHF GASFet switching pre-amplifier this gave me a really hot set up at the helm of the Mainship. I'm duplicating this set up on the GS.
Bill
quote:
Originally posted by BillyK
Sandy,
.... I am looking for suggestions for a new radio, if you have one I would appreciate it.
Billy K.
Since I haven't shopped for a new permanent mount VHF since about 1995, I'm sure you will have better ideas about that than I. I will throw out 2 thoughts for consideration on that though.
Over the years my hearing has really degraded and I find my old Simrad RS8300 and RS 8400 full-function comfortable handsets (plus complementary waterproof remote speakers) at each station to be a huge benefit to me in terms of comprehensible clarity of incoming correspondence. Having the handset speaker right at my ear makes all the difference in comprehension because I can so much easier make out the correct consonants to pinpoint which of similar-sounding words I heard over all the boat's ambient noise.
Hopefully that may not be an issue for you at all, but there certainly are a lot of remote-mic options available these days that might possibly have similar level of quality audio-reception benefits .
The other consideration IF you do not already have a separate AIS setup, is to perhaps look at VHF's with that feature built -in.
It may be more primitive target display than with the stand-alone AIS units or the AIS display on multi-function chartplotters, but much or most of the same target information is made available... plus there is the wonderful fact they use the existing VHF antenna with no interference or degradation of primary VHF use.
Most separate units or multifunction add-on modules require yet another dedicated VHF antenna on often crowded mounting-area real estate.
The mikes on the Garmin VHF200's also contain speakers so you can hold the mike up to your ear if in a noisy environment. The remote handsets either the GHS10 (Wired) or GHS20 (Wireless) also have good loudspeakers in them and they have the ability to power remote speakers. The Garmin units do NMEA2000 so GPS and AIS/ MMSI information is available to them and they are a 20 watt hailer/ fog signalling device if needed. I'm pretty bias towards the Garmin VHF200 or VHF300 series of marine radios.
Bill
Bill
quote:
Originally posted by BillyK
Thanks guys, I'm in the market for a Garmin 200.
Thanks again,
Billy K.
BillyK you won't regret it. The wireless remote system is nice if you have a large vessel where wires are difficult to run.
Bill
I have the Garmin hooked up and read in the middle of the Shakespeare Art-2 meter 1.25, 1.5 and 1.75 with three antennas. Which of the antennas is the strongest and does it matter if one of them is 16'.
Thanks,
Billy K.
Thanks,
Billy K.
quote:
Originally posted by BillyK
Will do, over and out for this thread.
Billy k.
BillyK, let me know how it works out for you.
Bill
As with most transmitters the lower the swr is the more power is transmitted to the ant.
Dont be afraid to cut the wire wile checking the reading. wavelength is very close to 1.8 meters, If cutting the coax raises the swr ,keep cutting intill your on the downside of the wavelength, Make small cuts while testing.
If your going upwards you can add a 1.8M length and cut back from there.
Dont be afraid to cut the wire wile checking the reading. wavelength is very close to 1.8 meters, If cutting the coax raises the swr ,keep cutting intill your on the downside of the wavelength, Make small cuts while testing.
If your going upwards you can add a 1.8M length and cut back from there.