Masthead VHF antena cable replacement to antena itself

[Refueler]

Like many others - my masthead antena is with supplied antena cable.

Couple year ago - while mast was down - I clipped a harbour wall and lost the antena, but bracket / cable survived.
So in good radio amateur fashion spliced the cable joint to a spare antena I had from my office. It all works fine and SWR check seems ok.

Now that I'm going to change to a new radio - I thought I would give xmas treat to the boat. Connect new cable.

Has anyone successfully opened up a sealed VHF antena base to renew a cable ? Mine's the bog standard base loaded job with cable going in centre base via a gland, that has threaded exterior to take the nut to fix to bracket.

Seems a shame to have to buy a completely new antena / cable set when this one only needs cable connecting.

 

[rogerdog]

Have tried (not on marine equip) but dare say construction simerlar - the plastic on the one i tried with was moulded actually around the connections and to the coax - looked like the connections were made and then the plastic injected around it .

I gave up as the level of cutting sawing was going to destroy the base before I could get clearly at the connectors etc.

 

[pmyatt]

Seems a shame not to give a new radio a new coax and antenna - ha'p'th of tar and all that.

 

[Refueler]

[ QUOTE ]
Seems a shame not to give a new radio a new coax and antenna - ha'p'th of tar and all that.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd agree if I had choice of chandlers here in latvia to buy from, but consider there's only one in Riga ... guess what - you think UK prices can be bad !
I asked them about antena's, radio etc. Cheaper for me to Ryanair back to UK and buy ... return.

 

[pmyatt]

UK (mailspeed), Germany(SVB) or USA(West Marine) mail order?

 

[Beadle]

Must confess that I tend to the view of changing the whole thing, but if you must change the cable this is how I would recommend making the splice.

Strip about 2" of outer insulation from each cable end.

Carefully slide the outer conductor mesh back down the insulation exposing the inner insulated conductor on each cable end.

On each cable, about 1 1/2" from the end carefully cut round the inner insulation and slide the insulation off the conductor keep hold of it.

If the inner conductor is multistrand overlap the two conductors for about 1/2" and twist the conductors together leaving the end 1 1/2" spread apart.

Carefully solder the twisted parts using plenty of heat and the minimim solder.

Trim off the loose spread of wires at each end

If you have single solid conductors, cut to about 1/2" length, clampt them together with smallest pliars you own and solder them carefully together, cut off unsoldered ends and carry on.

Take the piece of insulation from the new cable and cut it to the length of the soldered joint so it forms an unbroken length of insulation. slit it along its length so as to be able to slip it over the soldered joint.

Fix it in place with insulating tape - or even sellotape.

Slide the outer conductor of the new cable over the insulated joint, smooth it so as to make it as tight as posible over the insulation, then trim it to length so that it covers the whole length of the joint.

Slide the outer of the old cable over the new cable outer for about 1 inch and smooth as tight as possible. Do not solder.

Tape over the whole joint with self amalgamating tape with at least 1" overlap at each end.

Find some rigid non conducting object about 4-6" long, maybe a ball pen body, and tape that over the whole joing with insulating tape so as to act as a splint which will protect the joint from any mechanical stress

Plug in and hope for the best.

 

[Refueler]

It's already spliced and working OK with my lab-techn's torpedo joint that he reckoned is designed for jobs like that ... SWR'd and seems ok.

Just don't like the idea of a joint right up there at masthead !

Mail-order looked at it ... decided that if I can't fit cable to present antena - then would pick up replacement antena next time back visiting in UK. But was hoping to do it before mast stepped ....
There are antena's that you can buy without cable - to fit own. IMHO a better option than the pre-fitted one. Providing you fit it properly ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Dave_Rolfe]

Does anyone know of any companies that still produce the antenna with coax cable connected and all sealed. Whenever I have tried to find one I can only find an antenna with separate cable, some even having to have the terminal end made up before fitting. Have to admit I would much prefer a complete sealed unit at the masthead when you know the connections will be good and no moisure can get in.

 

[Refueler]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone know of any companies that still produce the antenna with coax cable connected and all sealed. Whenever I have tried to find one I can only find an antenna with separate cable, some even having to have the terminal end made up before fitting. Have to admit I would much prefer a complete sealed unit at the masthead when you know the connections will be good and no moisure can get in.

[/ QUOTE ]

Every catalogue I have shows sealed already fitted - in fact NONE show the type I would like to have - that I can fit my own cable to. I have Mailspeed, Compass24, Force 4 cat's in front of me.

I e-mailed for mail-order quotes for replacement antena's ... forget it ... 30 quid min fee. It's a joke considering that a chart tube would be good enough to post one in ...

 

[whipper_snapper]

[ QUOTE ]
Every catalogue I have shows sealed already fitted - in fact NONE show the type I would like to have - that I can fit my own cable to. I have Mailspeed, Compass24, Force 4 cat's in front of me.

[/ QUOTE ]

You mean like this ? From our own SaltyJohn.