Marine VHF Car aerial

[iangrant]

I like to listen in and do the odd radio check on a regular basis. Living on the coast it's fun.
What is the best aerial to connect up a marine unit in the car?
cheers

Ian

 

[Sans Bateau]

Ian

You will need a mast on top of your car, about 30ft should do it, then one of those aerials with a windex, should work a treat.

Good luck.

 

[jhr]

A coathanger always does it for me.

As well as doing radio checks, have you considered calling up one of the Wightlink ferries, and pretending to be an irate yachtsman?

 

[tome]

Hee hee

Pop by the office and Ed will fix you up with a mag-mount antenna!

 

[oceanfroggie]

You may not be aware, but it is illegal to use a marine VHF from a car! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[jhr]

Quite right. I always get out of the car to use mine!

 

[iangrant]

I thought that they had relaxed that with the free licenses?

 

[iangrant]

Thanks tome - will the cable be ok - I was a bit worried about putting out a constant carrier if it gets trapped in the window?

 

[tome]

No probs, Ed can fix you up with a constant carrier also. Any partic channel in mind?

 

[iangrant]

what's that one the coastguard uses -
and can I have it tuned to channel 0 so I can talk to the lifeboats too.

 

[tome]

Coastguard channel no probs, but we just sold channel 0 to a local taxi company

 

[iangrant]

This is a serious post - please do not drag it off track
Thank you.

Ian

 

[tome]

Sorry, quite right /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Yes, the antenna will cover ch 0 and has 3dB gain, 5m RG58 cable and terminated in a PL259 connector. We recommend drilling a hole in the bodywork, but understand that some customers may not want to do this

We can also supply a power boosters up to 2kW, but you may not need it if only using it for marine hobby work and being close to the coast

 

[oldharry]

. sorry Tome, beat you to it, we just sold Ch 0 to the NHS for cut price ambulance comms....

 

[tome]

This is good news indeed, and means I can probably flog the 2kW PA to those mugs at the taxi company

 

[iangrant]

what about the vp of the coax, is RG58 the correct impedance with that conector - I was wondering about using silver plated N series?

 

[tome]

We can supply an optional RG213 feed with N types, but I wouldn't go for silver plate as it oxidises in certain waterside pub car parks. Also, you'll need an adaptor for your VHF as it's an SO239 and the adaptor negates the low-loss characteristics of the RG213

Whatever you decide, we can fit you up

 

[oceanfroggie]

[ QUOTE ]
Quite right. I always get out of the car to use mine!

[/ QUOTE ]I didn't mean the road traffic act, rather marine VHF regulations. Only licensed base stations and all that, etc. E.g: it is supposedly illegal to use a hand held VHF from shore to call up family dingy to collect you from restaurant /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[tome]

I think you're a bit behind with legislation here, Ofcom has relinquished control of the marine band from October this year.

We're thinking of a dedicated line of sight link from boat to the house using ch69 as it's largely free except for some French stuff and some idiot up at the Folly

 

[phatcat1]

Thats OK, I getting an American VHF, its cheaper, has lots more channels & doesn't need a UK Licence - cause its American!!!!!!!!!!



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