Metz Antenna Whip

[RunAgroundHard]

Working on my mast today, the whip pulled out the top of my antenna. I pushed it back in.

Do you think the antenna is now junk and needs replaced? The reason I am asking is that I have stubby antennas that screw in and out, just metal to metal contact when screwed in, nothing special about the connection.

The whip pulled when running a cleaning cloth along it from base to top.

 

[Refueler]

If I remember rightly ... the base has a collar that you tighten to grip the antenna whip ...

Sounds like you never tightened the collar.

 

[TSB240]

A Metz has a nut that screws down onto a small ferrule underneath a red plastic cover at the top of the base mount. It probably had not been tightened enough when originally fitted. The current uk agent offers a replacement kit for those unfortunate enough to lose the whip or wanting to cut it to tune to the ais frequency.

Metz Manta-6 VHF Marine Antenna (whip kit only) | Seas The Day Marine Ltd

 

[RunAgroundHard]

That’s good news. The whip came out of the red cover. Drawing the cleaning cloth along the whip created a good force to slip the whip through the nut.

I’ll lift the red over, check the whip insertion, then tighten the nut.

Thanks @Refueler and & @TSB240 for your insights.

 

[PetiteFleur]

This happened to me a few yrs ago, wondered why my vhf wasn't contacting the marina, then noticed my whip was missing...(we had been through some rough seas earlier). I didn't know at the time you can get a spare whip so just bought a complete antenna. After removing the original I found you could buy a new whip, now sitting in my shed.

 

[Cerebus]

Good result.

The Metz certainly is a good antenna and this thread shows it is cleverly engineered to.

Long guarantee on the ‘coil’ / base / body of antenna.

Best SWR I have ever measured on a lot of antennas.

I never got around to fitting my Metz after purchase for some reason. Tested it indoors and then stored it for fitting as and when…

 

[Refueler]

I found no difference SWR between the Metz and my other usual all in one cheaper antenna ...

The actual range of your VHF on a yacht is more affected by height of antenna than the SWR .. I agree that you should get best reading possible to maximise efficiency ...

I had trouble a few years back with that collar fitting of the whip ... which I made tighter ...

The whip itself is just a plain stainless steel rod ...

 

[Cerebus]

I found no difference SWR between the Metz and my other usual all in one cheaper antenna ...

The actual range of your VHF on a yacht is more affected by height of antenna than the SWR .. I agree that you should get best reading possible to maximise efficiency ...

I had trouble a few years back with that collar fitting of the whip ... which I made tighter ...

The whip itself is just a plain stainless steel rod ...

I did find differences. Spent a long time studying and comparing antennas a few years ago. The Metz outperformed all. (I used good co-ax of course).

There must be a reason the US coast guard prefer Metz, surely?

And why they cost so much (£150 in the uk)?

The body is substantial and guaranteed. Not sure what is inside the stainless body.

I took a broken Vtronix whip antenna apart and the body was practically EMPTY.

I think this is a case of “you get what you pay for”.

Metz VHF & AIS Antennas

 

[Refueler]

The body is a Base Loader coil ... that's it.

Why do company's / groups use an item ? Often due to the manufacturer offering good deals to get their gear used - so they can then advertise the fact that XXXXXX uses their gear ...
During the many years of blending and use of Additives - I had various manufacturers offer me deals to use their products .. near all were inferior to the one I was using. The incentives to use theirs though were 'interesting' ....

 

[Cerebus]

The base loader coil is certainly more substantial than the empty shell of the V tronix I took apart.

The whole antenna is pretty substantial.

Yes, companies are certainly ‘incentive-ised’ as you say; yachting companies giving experiences of racing around the globe may be given HenriLloyd or some other kit for free.

but the US coast guard is part of the military if I am correct; pretty unlimited budget and will therefore buy the best for their purposes.

That is what I think anyway.

 

[Refueler]

The base loader coil is certainly more substantial than the empty shell of the V tronix I took apart.

The whole antenna is pretty substantial.

Yes, companies are certainly ‘incentive-ised’ as you say; yachting companies giving experiences of racing around the globe may be given HenriLloyd or some other kit for free.

but the US coast guard is part of the military if I am correct; pretty unlimited budget and will therefore buy the best for their purposes.

That is what I think anyway.

USCG ... mmmmm had a few moments of them ... and I say honestly - definitely not impressed ...

I was told by many I worked with in USA ....

Top of the list to join is USAF ... if not - then Marines. Then regular Army. If those 3 wont take you - then there's the US Navy ... if they wont - then its USCG ... and bottom of the barrel if all else fails ... National Guard ! Given the USCG and NG officers I met - I can easily agree !!

 

[Boathook]

I had a metz aerial purchased via Salty John who used to post here. Found it a nice bit of kit, and I used a "heavier" coax cable that Salty John also supplied. This combined with the icom radio meant I always received the French GC and the transmission range also seemed good.
It also seemed to work well with AIS that used the main aerial via the built in splitter.

Looking at a 'new to me' boat and I will likely renew the aerial and wire as I suspect the mast will be down for new rigging to keep the insurance happy.