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01-02-2019, 04:15 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: Norfolk, VA
Vessel Name: Slow Bells
Vessel Model: Marine Trader 38
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 311
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vhf antenna question
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01-02-2019, 04:20 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Never Say Never
Vessel Model: President 41 DC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 10,531
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Personally I would replace it. It is the primary safety resource on your boat so I want a reliable antenna. I would also replace the plastic mount with a stainless steel mount.
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01-02-2019, 04:22 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: Gloucester, MA
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 6,179
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I would just replace it. If the cable is that bad, I would be concerned about the rest of the antenna too. And even if you could cut and install a connector, it will be exposed to the elements. Antennas aren't too expensive, so I would just replace the whole darn thing.
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MVTanglewood.com
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01-02-2019, 04:29 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: hawaii
Vessel Name: #31
Vessel Model: ex-Navy MUB 50 fish/cruise
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 659
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Since you’re obviously going to have to replace, why not upgrade to a better antenna?
Google Gam antennas, they’re the commercial boat standard in these parts, and performance is clearly superior to standard fiberglass masts.
Maybe you could treat the cable with some uv resistant coating or wrap, yours certainly looks to have taken a beating!
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You can lead a horse to water,
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01-02-2019, 04:30 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Inside Passage Summer/Columbia River Winter
Vessel Name: Alaskan Sea-Duction
Vessel Model: 1988 M/Y Camargue YachtFisher
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 6,379
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Comodave
Personally I would replace it. It is the primary safety resource on your boat so I want a reliable antenna. I would also replace the plastic mount with a stainless steel mount.
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01-02-2019, 04:36 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Z
Vessel Model: Beneteau Swift Trawler 44
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 827
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Time for a new antenna and coax, may be even worth considering a new VHF depending what you have.
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01-02-2019, 05:14 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: St Augustine,Fl
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,241
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kapnd
Since you’re obviously going to have to replace, why not upgrade to a better antenna?
Google Gam antennas, they’re the commercial boat standard in these parts, and performance is clearly superior to standard fiberglass masts.
Maybe you could treat the cable with some uv resistant coating or wrap, yours certainly looks to have taken a beating!
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I have never heard of GAM antennas before. Which model do you use?
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Jack ...Chicken of the sea! 1600 ton Master of towing/Oceans. 1600 ton Master/Oceans.
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01-02-2019, 06:17 PM
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#8
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 11,727
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A new one. Not a fan of extra drill holes Swiss cheese style,so suggest reusing the base unless you find the same hole pattern on a new one.
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BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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01-02-2019, 06:24 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Cape May, NJ and Englewood, FL
Vessel Name: Irish Lady
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,615
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Yep they are both toast.
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Archie
Irish Lady
1984 Monk 36 Hull #46
Currently in Englewood Florida.
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01-02-2019, 08:20 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,719
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New. That is a standard mount so replacing it with a stainless version is easy. The old one looks serviceable though, might not be necessary. If you can, replace the cable with the large diameter mil spec stuff, your reception will improve a lot, especially if the cable has a long run. Just did that on two of my antennae and the difference is like night and day: "5 X 5."
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01-02-2019, 09:29 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Gibsons, B.C.
Vessel Name: Island Pride
Vessel Model: xxxx
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,189
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Maybe good for a pennant holder. But get a new one.
I did the pennant thing with my old one and it works well at that.
My radio liked it too, uh the new one, not the pennant holder.
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01-03-2019, 09:59 AM
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#12
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Guru
City: Tampa, FL
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 567
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Whenever possible, I prefer antennas that do NOT have an attached pigtail. Then you don't run into this problem.
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01-03-2019, 11:26 AM
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#13
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Guru
City: Palm Coast, FL
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,891
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Quote:
Originally Posted by denverd0n
Whenever possible, I prefer antennas that do NOT have an attached pigtail. Then you don't run into this problem.
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That is certainly the case for most professional, fixed antennas and a few marine mobile antennas. However, and it is a big however, untrained folks do a notoriously bad job at connector installs. Further, when you put that connector in harms way (sea spray), I would predict the reliability will tumble. And, this is from a guy that has two marine antennas on my current boat, each with a UHF base connector!
To the OP situation, there should be a consideration of the internals of that antenna. They do succumb to conductor fatigue and internal corrosion. Plus, these antennas are virtually non-inspect-able. All told, it all should be replaced. Mount, antenna, cable.
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01-03-2019, 01:53 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: hawaii
Vessel Name: #31
Vessel Model: ex-Navy MUB 50 fish/cruise
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 659
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor of Fortune
I have never heard of GAM antennas before. Which model do you use?
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Mine is a tg3, which is a little pricey as compared to WM standard, but I often operate in fringe areas, and need every ounce of performance available.
They offer other lower priced options, that are great antennas, many of which offer ais capabilities too, if you need that.
Their website spells it all out for you.
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You can lead a horse to water,
But you can't make him ski...
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01-03-2019, 03:56 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Beaverton, Ontario
Vessel Name: Looking Glass
Vessel Model: Carver 370 Voyager
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,240
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I think I have had to replace the antenna for the same reason on every boat I have ever owned and that's been a bunch. Such a drag when the cable is done but the rest of the antenna seems in perfect shape but nevertheless I have always replaced the whole thing. Feel your pain but as has been said they are not that expensive, unless you are paying in Canadian $$
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Allan
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01-04-2019, 12:47 AM
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#16
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Guru
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,719
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Read the specs and use them to decide, not looks.
Also, how high will you mount it? You need those numbers for the correct gain and wavelength.
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Don't believe everything that you think.
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01-11-2019, 05:32 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
City: port orchard, wa
Vessel Name: skybird
Vessel Model: skookum/one off
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 135
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hallo seattle guy,,,i went thru several shitty vhf antennas, with the built in coax, got tired of the sun eating the coax, so went to the MORAD MARINE VHF marine set up, their made in seattle, factory is just west of leary way in ballard! 99% of all commercial fishing boats use them! they have everything for them to work on any boat! and they work WONDERFUL!! they`re also available at fisheries supply, gut you need to know what to buy! i use RG8X coax, use a plastic wire cover, with the split onening on one side...protects the coax from the sun! anything more, garbge7@wavecable.com, clyde...former east greelake guy, now port orchard guy!
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01-11-2019, 06:47 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Palm Coast, FL
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,891
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the FL guys tend to like Digital antennas, tested and office in Ft Lauderdale. Maybe, location does matter!
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01-12-2019, 12:24 PM
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#19
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Newbie
City: Ontario
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 1
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Hi, damaged coax will leak transmit signal. The outer shield is actually a ground.
An optimal radio setup (radio at a given frequency, coax, and antenna) should have a standing wave ratio of 1:1. This rarely occurs. Anything greater than 1:1 the transmit signal reflects back into the radio setup. Another issue is the type of coax used. The longer the coax, the greater the transmit signal loss. At higher frequencies, this is not as much of an issue. However, if you are transmitting 25 watts, if your radio setup is not optimal, your output at the antenna will be less. VHF is essentially line of site transmission. Your output signal does not hit the atmosphere run along it then randomly come down (that's why you hear long distance am stations at night) So getting the optimal radio setup is important. You need to be skilled to properly solder a PL 259 connector. It takes enough heat for the solder to melt, but not melt the inner solid wire core, which is encapsulated in plastic.
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