Detached VHF GRP antenna

[Dellbouy]

My VHF masthead antenna has detached totally from it's housing. Before I venture up the mast to investigate,can anybody please advise if it is a matter of trying to refit the GRP whip antenna into it's housing perhaps using what looks like some sort of retaining screw or is it a moulded one piece assembly which will have to be replaced? Thanks in anticipation.

 

[William_H]

At a guess the GRP is in the form of a rod. Around the rod and under the skin will be a coil of wire which is the actual antenna. You need to ensure that this is connected before repairing with epoxy. Other GRP antennas will have a foil conductor inside. Either way you have to have an electrical connection inside.
Does the radio apper to function normally ie with full range? If you are not sure then antenna can be checked with a VSWR meter perhaps from a friendly radio ham or enthusiat. If the antenna is not good then you perhaps should resign yourself to needing a new one before you ascend.
olewill

 

[MrFish]

A more robust antenna for a masthead is the stainless steel whip, rather than the fibreglass pole. My SS whip is about 80 to 90cm, and is fixed to a stainless steel bracket with a threaded ferrull and a nut - it is pretty much indestructable. Less windage as well. Been up there 3 years now. Mast is 12m above the deck. VHF transmit range is good, reception clear, and good also. I had a fibreglass pole on the push pit, but after being grabbed a few times mistaken as a handhold, performance droped off - I noticed it rattled also. A new one improved things but the masthead SS version is the best.
Let us know what you find, and how you fix it
Cheers
Ian

 

[hightech]

VHF antennas are seen by many as a "buy once" item, unfortunately they wear out over time. If it is broken then buy a new one.

Your VHF could save your life one day, just think how you would feel if you were sat out at sea in an emergency one day looking up at the repair you made, know full well that you could hear no-one and doubted if anyone could hear you!

Hightech.