Vhf antenna

[JIM_TEAL]

Grr.. Afloat and the wind hawk is fouling the antenna just. (over hasty mast stepping). VHF no or very intermittent signal on Radio Check with adjacent boat. Question: is the antenna being Grounded by contact with the wind hawk or is the problem more likely to be downstream in the antenna cable? Cabling untouched from last season when working OK. Comment advice please.

 

[Channel Ribs]

If you are getting a poor signal to a boat within shouting distance then I would suggest that the cable has a break in it.

Sadly none of the tests which spring to mind involve staying at the bottom of your mast. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Salty John]

No, the wind hawk is doing nothing. You need to take the radio to another antenna or bring another radio to this antenna to determine if it's radio or antenna. Alternatively beg, borrow or steal an SWR meter. If it's the antenna it's more than likely a connection somewhere. Check everything at deck level. If that all looks OK, I'm afraid it's an up the mast job.

 

[captncruise]

I was having intermittant VHF problems last year. Purchased a whip aerial that solved the problem. In march i had to take mast out and found antenna cable was chafed inside bottom of mast. Replaced cable inside mast and now can talk to the world and have spare emergency antenna.