Metz antenna

[UK-WOOZY]

For my boat which i got last year. The mast is currently off the boat laying down, I had new standing rigging installed. I have also replaced all the lights and added a new metz antenna. I used RG58 cable and a supergain PL259 plug. I soldered the center core coax into the middle pin and just had the brain on the back of the connector. With the mast laying down and antenna at the top in line i tried the Icom MC-411 which came with the boat. I seem to be able to received when testing with a friend using a handheld vhf but I cannot transmit, nothing goes through. Could it be the VHF (the buttons on the mic work for u down and hi-lo)? or I may have used the wrong cable or wired in wrong to the metz? thanks in advance

 

[Plum]

For my boat which i got last year. The mast is currently off the boat laying down, I had new standing rigging installed. I have also replaced all the lights and added a new metz antenna. I used RG58 cable and a supergain PL259 plug. I soldered the center core coax into the middle pin and just had the brain on the back of the connector. With the mast laying down and antenna at the top in line i tried the Icom MC-411 which came with the boat. I seem to be able to received when testing with a friend using a handheld vhf but I cannot transmit, nothing goes through. Could it be the VHF (the buttons on the mic work for u down and hi-lo)? or I may have used the wrong cable or wired in wrong to the metz? thanks in advance

Bear in mind that the aerial is designed to be vertical to transmit correctly. If horizontal it will only transmit in limited directions. If the mast is near the ground and you are surrounded by other boats or buildings then your transmissions will be further restricted.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[lw395]

Bear in mind that the aerial is designed to be vertical to transmit correctly. If horizontal it will only transmit in limited directions. If the mast is near the ground and you are surrounded by other boats or buildings then your transmissions will be further restricted.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

The antenna is a reciprocal device.
Yes being horizontal and close to the earth will affect its performance, but that is the same in transmit as receive.

 

[lw395]

For my boat which i got last year. The mast is currently off the boat laying down, I had new standing rigging installed. I have also replaced all the lights and added a new metz antenna. I used RG58 cable and a supergain PL259 plug. I soldered the center core coax into the middle pin and just had the brain on the back of the connector. With the mast laying down and antenna at the top in line i tried the Icom MC-411 which came with the boat. I seem to be able to received when testing with a friend using a handheld vhf but I cannot transmit, nothing goes through. Could it be the VHF (the buttons on the mic work for u down and hi-lo)? or I may have used the wrong cable or wired in wrong to the metz? thanks in advance

The VHF set normally has a light which comes on to show it's try to transmit? or a Tx flag in the LCD screen?
If this is not coming on, then maybe the PTT swtch is not working? On a simplex channel does it stop receiving when you press to talk?

I would firstly try a different aerial to check out the VHF set.
The coax braid must make good contact to the connector shell, ideally all around while maintaining the dimensions of the insulation.
The braid must be kept dry.
That PL259 plug looks like a low quality item not really suitable for exterior use.
Check the braid is still shiny and connected properly at both ends.

 

[UK-WOOZY]

maybe its better that i buy a pre-made cable from saltyjohn.. ££££££

i did use adhesive heatshrink on the coax i put together with the plug, only did it last weekend, antenna was inside the boat until then

 

[Daverw]

maybe its better that i buy a pre-made cable from saltyjohn.. ££££££

i did use adhesive heatshrink on the coax i put together with the plug, only did it last weekend, antenna was inside the boat until then

Either use a proper crimped PL259 plug or solder the braid to the plug body, that’s often the issue with bad conection, to work properly both core and braid need to be good

 

[ghostlymoron]

The problem with soldering aerial connections is that, whilst it provides the best continuity, it is almost impossible to re do up the mast with anything more than still conditions. I prefer to sacrifice a bit of initial performance by not soldering in the knowledge that I can remove, re do or replace with no difficulty if I get a problem. My radios have always worked ok but I have had to replace one aerial whilst afloat.

 

[Pete7]

maybe its better that i buy a pre-made cable from saltyjohn.. ££££££

Yes, but not RG58, there is much better coax. Try RG8x which he also sells. It won't transmit any further but with half the losses of RG58 then the clarity at maximum range will be much better. Do it once now and job done for a decade.

Pete

 

[UK-WOOZY]

i ended up buying RG8x from salty john