Quote:
Originally Posted by geoleo
Thanks. Im used to sailboat VHF range--which is multiple times better - last sailboat had antenna atop 61ft mast . current trawler about 18ft range diff probably 15 : 50+ miles. Would get CG at 150 miles sometimes. So best I can do here is get a 8ft extension (with a brace). Maybe get a new ss ratchet type base with a nylon hold off brace . Will HD cable help the situation ? Those long cable runs up the masts would lose a lot of energy. Here cable runs would be under 20ft.
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RG213 will provide least loss. I don't disagree about the advantages of height (and have my antennas on 16' extensions with the antenna tops almost 40' above water level), but the distance to the horizon varies in proportion to the square root of height. So if you can get the top of your antenna to 26', you will have more than half of the range you got on your sail boat.
Getting to the coast guard is probably more reflective of their antenna height than anything else. Even so, with proper conditions (that allow tropospheric ducting), I have talked to boats almost 200nm south, with surprisingly good reception.