alant
Well-Known Member
How many on here, have got one, or even know how to use one?
Emergency VHF antenna?
- Thread starter alant
- Start date
NorthUp
Well-Known Member
Not got one.
If I ever need one, I will strip the core from the outer braid and suspend it vertically from whatevers left!
17 1/4" length from memory for VHF?
Here it is-
http://pocketmariner.com/aisaerial/
If I ever need one, I will strip the core from the outer braid and suspend it vertically from whatevers left!
17 1/4" length from memory for VHF?
Here it is-
http://pocketmariner.com/aisaerial/
[3889]
...
Had one on my last boat (pre-plb era)
but not convinced the cost/benefit now warrants carrying one.
but not convinced the cost/benefit now warrants carrying one.
alant
Well-Known Member
Bit Blue Peter innit?
langstonelayabout
Well-Known Member
On my last boat I has a 5' Glomex antenna fitted to the starboard pushpit with the cable taken into the boat via a skin fitting. The cable end was long enough to reach the VHF across the cabin and could be plugged in or coiled up and tucked away at will.
Cost = £50 including cable and plug.
Pleased to report it worked correctly but was never needed!
Cost = £50 including cable and plug.
Pleased to report it worked correctly but was never needed!
westhinder
Well-Known Member
I have a separate AIS antenna on a pole at the pushpit that could be used as an emergency VHF antenna.
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
Same here, bought it for my first boat back in 1998.
These days if the mast fell down on coastal waters I suspect I would be reach for a mobile phone rather than mess around with connecting the emergency antenna.
NorthUp
Well-Known Member
I always watched Blue Peter! Much better than How?
johnalison
Well-Known Member
I have one. I bought it about 30yrs ago after a friend was dismasted. although I have a H/H radio, its limited battery makes it less desirable in an emergency.
Medway Matt
Well-Known Member
It might seem a "bit blue Peter" but it's right, although for marine VHF comms ~47.7 cm would be the correct 1/4 wavelength.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
I had a spare 1/4 wavelength whip antenna bought from a boat jumble many years ago which I mounted on a mtr length plastic tube.
When I went AIS I mounted the whip on top of the mizzen and use it for my AIS. I have made up an extension coax to reach the VHF if the need ever arises but it is probably a bit overkill as I also have a HH.
A HH with a removable stub antenna, so I could connect it to one of the masthead whips to give more range if the fixed VHF packed up would be nice.
When I went AIS I mounted the whip on top of the mizzen and use it for my AIS. I have made up an extension coax to reach the VHF if the need ever arises but it is probably a bit overkill as I also have a HH.
A HH with a removable stub antenna, so I could connect it to one of the masthead whips to give more range if the fixed VHF packed up would be nice.
Robin
Well-Known Member
Last boat in the USA I carried the old masthead aerial, after it was replaced for corrosion when mast was down, to string up Also kept old non-DSC set too. Last UK boat had two antennas mounted, one at masthead, second on the goalposts at the stern. BOAT prior to that I had a little rubber stubby as a spare and did use one time when all went quiet on a bank hol weekend and got me wunderin why my brand new masthead one was not working/receiving anything mid Channel. Also had handhelds of course which is how I initially determined the new masthead one was faulty ( V-tronix replaced it FOC. It worked for an initial radiocheck in harbour but had no range)
NOT that I rely on VHF that much( I sailed many years before even having it, but once on the band wagon just like to use what is available affordably to provide backup..
NOT that I rely on VHF that much( I sailed many years before even having it, but once on the band wagon just like to use what is available affordably to provide backup..
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Slycat
Well-Known Member
Got one. Lots of reports on yachting incidents include the line:
'The yacht lost it's mast and therefore could not call for assistance as the aerial was damaged'
Considering the kind of coastalisg sailing a lot of us do being able to call for help will get you out of a lot of tricky spots
'The yacht lost it's mast and therefore could not call for assistance as the aerial was damaged'
Considering the kind of coastalisg sailing a lot of us do being able to call for help will get you out of a lot of tricky spots
greggron
Well-Known Member
Yes, we have one. It usually sits there in it's little canister minding its own business, but it came in incredibly useful last season to diagnose a fault with our VHF set up. In brief, we were not getting a response from a standard radio check. By swapping to the emergency antenna it was easy to eliminate the radio as the problem. We identified a poor connection at the through deck joint which was not immediately obvious.
As we are not one of those boats that calls for a radio check every outing it would have come in very handy if we had needed comms
As we are not one of those boats that calls for a radio check every outing it would have come in very handy if we had needed comms
Iminei
Well-Known Member
AIS Antenna on the pushpit - if the need arises (& the handheld isn't up to the job) it will be connected to the VHF instead
wizard
Well-Known Member
I have one - still in its tube since I bought it 4 boats ago!
You never know, one day ........
You never know, one day ........
ltcom
Well-Known Member
I have one and know how to use it (simply screws into radio).
It also extends the range of my handheld radio (with an adapter).
Cheaper than a liferaft and never needs servicing.
The "Blue Peter" ones work too (giving a similar vswr to the £60 ones - I measured the vswr).
Sgeir
Well-Known Member
Perhaps. We did use the emergency aerial once on the old boat, for several weeks in fact - our masthead antenna cable became unreliable while sailing round Ireland a few years ago. The problem was caused by water ingress over a long period which had corroded the inside of the cable.
Not sure what alant means about knowing how to use one. Am I missing something?
alant
Well-Known Member
Well, people buy them, particularly charter boats, but wonder how many people have actually taken them out of their 'wrapping' & found out how to fit/use if required.
