SSB/HF antenna - where to buy?

[cpthook]

Hi,
Anyone know a good place to source these at all please? I've looked
on the net and can only find sources in US. UK chandlers don't seem
to stock.
Many thanks.

 

[philip_stevens]

Contact Mark Hawkins at mh@atlantis-sailing.org

He has a website, and may be able to point you in the right direction. He has just bought a new HF receiver from the Netherlands, so should know what he is talking about.

Also try franksingleton@clara.net
Have a look at his site at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.franksingleton.clara.net/>http://www.franksingleton.clara.net/</A>
he may be able to show you the way.

regards,
Philip

 

[PaulJ]

There is an excellent Amateur Radio supplies called "Nevada" just outside Portsmouth that should be able to help.......... www.nevada.co.uk

 

[charles_reed]

Marine Electronic Services Ltd
01179 830730
01179 830777

Contact Nick Heyes

 

[philip_stevens]

Also have a look at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.communicationaerials.com/a_marine_catalogue.shtml>http://www.communicationaerials.com/a_marine_catalogue.shtml</A>

this is the marine section, but there is also a land section.

regards,
Philip

 

[cpthook]

hi, unusually Nevada does not do any marine HF Antennas...
There seem to be some good ones at www.moonraker.com.au
Just waiting for them to tell me if they have any UK distributors.

 

[Guest]

if you have a sailboat, then the best option is to install insulators in one of the backstays, and feed to that from an internally mounted aerial tuning unit. i use a manual atu (an MFJ from a ham shop) but if i had my time again i would buy an auto unit to save the knob twiddling.

if you are nervous about installing insulators (no reason to be - they are a dead easy diy projet) then you can always hoist an insulated long wire aerial up the mast on a halliard when you want to us the ssb. in all honesty, i have doubts about the use of ssb as an emergency contact system - better get a good epirb- so using a wire as suggested is reasonably practical.

if you have a tart trap (ie motorboat) then be cautious about using a ham whip aerial. i suspect they are not designed for salt water environments, and corrosion will soon make them uselesss.

the earth or grounding plate is very important, as is the suppression of things like fridges. that said, the uk maritime mobile net is really useful, but you will need your ham license.

any queries - p m me