Best VHF aerial

catmandoo

catmandoo

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I note that in an earlier post the Metz manta antenna was recommended for all the right reasons . Whip , no ground plane , SWR of 1.2:1 etc but it is relatively expensive and does seem to have some electronics in a can at the base of the whip which is also much longer than my existing installation . I also think that the angle bracket connection might involve some tricky work at the top of the mast

I too am considering replacing my current aerial cable because of corrosion and a poor connection at the fitting at coach roof originally put in to facilitate mast removal . I intend to replace it with a continuous run from mast head to radio . As I suspect that the existing installation has a bonded/ crimped fitting at the mast head I expect to replace the aerial hopefully reusing the existing bracket . So that I can satisfy myself that the replacement aerial is the best are there any others cheaper on the market as good as or better than the Metz with its 3 foot whip and Duraglit can base ?
 
sailing today tested a group of antennas about a year ago.

I might still have it, though SWMBO has been clearing out and the paper bin was finally collected a few weeks back.

I will have a search later and see if it is in my now smaller pile of mags.
 
The Metz will fit most existing offset brackets - they usually have a 20mm hole in them through which the socket on the antenna base fits. The bracket that comes with the Metz holds the antenna close to the mast face, OK for most installations. If you want an offset bracket to avoid other masthead items the Glomex RA106 works. The Duraglit can (like it!) is the loaded coil which is a vital element of the antenna, all 3dBi whips have such a thing. The whip is 0.9m long, also a requirement of this type of antenna.
 
Contrary to all advice I have fitted a home made VHF antenna to the pushpit of my boat and so far all reports have it working extremely well. It certainly solves the problem of deck joint for mast that gets removed occasionally. (to explain up until now I have a 27mhz marine radio peculiar to Australia but now have both VHF and 27meg certainly the VHF is far better in range than 27meg) olewill
 
I'd be astounded if there were any material performance difference between the common reasonable quality aerials. Maybe a difference could be measured in the lab, but would you hear a difference at sea, over the usual boaty type noises? I doubt it.
 
The Metz hasn't been available here long enough to be subjected to comparisons, and such testing would be laboratory based anyway, as you suggest. I'm sure the other antennas available all give excellent results.
The Metz has very recently been compared to top end S&R type antennas in the field, however, and we received the following a few months ago:

"I mentioned that I and a radio specialist colleague were going to conduct some tests on the effectiveness of the Metz Antennas you supplied to us recently.

You will be pleased to hear that the results were excellent.

The antenna was compared in field trials to the Brand B Antenna and a Brand C Antenna. In every test the Metz achieved equally good results over distance, difficult terrain (wooded & village) and in undulating terrain where it seemed to out perform the Type C and be equal to the Type B.

Taking into consideration that the Metz is a third of the price of the Brand C and a quarter of the price of the Brand B - we were delighted in every respect.

Regards

xxxxxxxxx
Search Manager (MRC)
xxxxxxxxxSearch & Rescue"

I've deleted the names of the two comparison antennas and the name of the S&R service that did the tests.
I don't want to be perceived in the same light as some of the anchor salesmen on here, so I'll leave it at that!
 
Well, i'm not an aerial expert but I've fitted 3 new ones recently and the Metz is far superior in both use and quality of manufacture.

The other two weren't cheapies but they both suffered from UV light damage to their bases; also, the the method of cable connection was rubbish which proved difficult to seal and allowed water to penetrate into the cable, it quickly corroded and disintegrated.

In use the Metz, so far, appears to have a much better range and I'm very pleased with its performance. I only comment from personal experience, it's amazing how much of the products sold to us for use in the marine environment is just poor quality.
 
Hi All

I need to change my mast head aerial and thnking of one of these but I have a question - can I fit my existing windex to this aerial?
 
You confirm something I've often suspected - wouldn't the simplicity and short cable run of a pushpit ariel offer advantages over the masthead type. You don't need much surface corrosion over a masthead cable with a run of say 12 -15 meters and with a deck gland to offset any advantage of it being higher up. Since much of our vhf contact is with land stations it really wouldn't help much if the antenna was a few meters higher. This will no doubt get the radio know alls keyboards burning.
 
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