VHF Radio Questions

So Wade at Jolly Anne set me up with a radio, he mentioned someone had posted some picts on hooking up the antenna? Specifically, I’ve heard mention that this should be soldered? Also, any advice on mounting the radio itself, I have a plan to put the antenna on the starboard side gunwall back by the white light post. Lastly, can I use this antenna for the AM/FM too? Really lastly, I promise, any channels (as in radio, I know about the others!) to be aware of on the Croix? Thanks!

MAke sure to solder the antenna wire connection to the pl-259 connector plug. I can post pix later. Do not put the antenna near the light pole. If you need to use both at the same time, you may run into problems. You need a seperate AM/FM antenna for the radio,

-J.

Thanks Jon, Wade said he though it was you that had some picts. If the light and antenna are both functional at the same time, is that ok? I’d like to keep the port side open.

It’s the fact that you are putting an antenna right next to a metal pole. Funny things can happen. See if Rootski will chime in here. I know at higher watt outputs, you could have an electrical arch between the two.

-J.

Jacob’s ladder kind of arc

Ahhh….makes sense now. It’s a 25W 8 footer on a 17′ Trophy Alum if that matters.

Jon’s right….you could upset the tuning of that antenna by putting it right next to another piece of metal that looks like an antenna. If you need to solder the connector onto the coax, let me know. I’ve done that job a lot of times and I’d be happy to help. If you connect your AM/FM radio to the same antenna that’s hooked up to the VHF radio, you might send all of your transmitter power into the AM/FM radio, which would destroy it. Not a good idea.

Rootski

Quote:

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Jacob’s ladder kind of arc

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Your transmitter would have to be running thousands of watts to make an arc. The problem is tuning…the antenna is tuned like a tuning fork to work at the right frequencies. Putting it right next to another piece of metal will change the tuning and it won’t work as well as it should. Most transmitters are designed to reduce power to protect itsel if the antenna isn’t tuned right . That makes you harder to hear…. running less power.

Rootski

Thanks all, great info as usual! Root, expect a PM, maybe I’ll see you again at the 494 ramp this weekend if it’s open.

There is an am/fm/vhf separator. http://www.rocktheboataudio.com/html/25072.html
I have used it since last fall with no problems.

Terry Filkins
NPAA #180

your am fm stereo radio wont need much for a antenna. fm will need about a 24″ wire. am needs more. your fish finder will bug the fm. study a car antenna. another thing about the xmitter yes the lamp pole will do weird things to the xmtr it can make the antenna directional. for example if the lamp pole is in back of the antenna it will split the signal into a figure 8 pattern pushing more signal towards the direction of the pole. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yagi_antenna better to have the xmitter antenna a few feet away