VHF aerial

[noname]

hj,i fitted a windex type aerial(italian make from pumpkin marine ) during re-fit and was a little puzzled that the connecting wire which had to be placed in the base of the aerial has no apparent physical connection as the instructions just state remove 8mm of sleeving and push into base then tighten gland nut.
unfortunately i don t have make as packing on boat.
my question is does the power from the transmitter when keyed to talk radiate to what looks like a base loaded coil on the aerial therefore bridging what otherwise seems to be an air gap!
or in my case not as i don t seem to get anything out on transmit but it seems to receive,will be trying transmitter on another boat in case fault lies there as set came with boat and old aerial was corroded.
many thanks for input(pun intended)regards dave

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[Trevor_swfyc]

I posted a problem I had some with an aerial connection about a month ago, I was receiving when I tested the aerial reception with a handheld transmitting 200 yds away but then found it would receive just the same with the aerial disconnected. It soon became obvious something was wrong when the handheld picked up Thames Coastguard but the main radio didn't. When I eventually tracked down the problem with the prompt help from communicationaerials.com the suppliers I found that no preparation of the cable prior to a bullet being connected to the wire and crimped on, so the signal would have had to jump an air gap. I was not happy as by now my boat had been launched and fixing the problem with the cable now up the mast was not easy. I have since been to two chandlers and all of the stock of the Wind Hawk aerial look the same.
Trevor



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[cindersailor]

I had the same concerns when I fitted a new whip masthead aerial this winter when the mast was down. Having followed the instructions and sealed everything up with self amalgamating tape I thought I would test it before putting the mast back up - it did not work! Like you I could not see how the central conductor could be making contact inside the aerial as the instructions clearly show that the central insulation should not be stripped off. The guy in the electronics outfit I bought the aerial from told me that there is a spike inside the connector that penetrates the centre of the conductor/insulator as the cable is screwed in. If you do not screw it in far enough it does not reach the spike and there is no connection. Note that I am refering to screwing in the cable with its outer braid folded back, not the nut. The nut/o-ring is simply screwed in afterwards to hold it all in place and provide a seal.

Hope this helps, it worked for me!

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[Vascojc]

All sounds very familiar - have resorted to an emergency aerial until I can be bothered to get the mast down.
Phoned the distributors who stated 'just screw it in!'
Of course it worked in the yard before the mast went up! Out on the river -different mater.
Emergency aerial works fine!

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[Mhvoiceuk]

Sounds as though it might be a Glomex. I am just fitting one at present, so have made note of the comments in this thread.

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[ayms]

I had exactly the same problem when installing an aerial / windex combo. The instructions were really poor and after installation the handheld had better reception.

After many attempts making and remaking the connection while up the mast I came to the same conclusion about the spike penetrating the wire. Used more length inside the aerial and hey presto worked like a charm.

Ayms


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