VHF antennas - Metz vs AlphaOne vs ???

[Boo2]

Hi,

Sunrunner (UFO34) currently has a glass fibre pole type VHF antenna mounted on the pushpit top rail and I was thinking of changing over to one mounted on the top of the main mast because reception is a bif iffy with the current arrangement and I am moving to a new fixed radio anyway so I may as well do it all at once...

I see from SaltyJohn's website here http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/boat-products-antennas.htm that there are a couple of alternatives available and wondered if anyone has an opinion as to which is the better type between the Metz and the AlphaOne ? The £10 difference in the price is neither here nor there and I would prefer to buy whichever is the most reliable. Any other makes I should be aware of ?

I will also need cable to run down inside the mast (old Proctor section dating from 1994 so no internal cable routing that I am aware of). From SJ's site I see RG8X is preferred for my size of boat, but can anyone tell me how much effort and expense is likely to be incurred running it down the mast (currently stepped)? (AFAIK there is no VHF cable in situ in the mast).

Also, is the Windex attachment worth going for ? Do people who have one of these use it in practice ? Or is it a skippable option (I will be cruising not racing).

Many thanks,

Boo2

 

[pvb]

The Metz is generally considered to be very good.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I went for the Metz complete with the better quality cable all from Salty John. The previous setup had only the much thinner cable which had rotted through in a couple of places. Well pleased, and I also have a seperate windex which was already on the boat.

 

[arawa]

I cannot speak for the AlphaOne but I took SaltyJohn's advice and fitted a Metz when I broke my previous aerial. There was a substantial improvement in reception and it must all be down to the Metz as I used the old cable.

 

[Tintin]

Hi,

......

I will also need cable to run down the mast (old Proctor section dating from 1994 so no internal cable routing that I am aware of). From SJ's site I see RG8X is preferred for my size of boat, but can anyone tell me how much effort and expense is likely to be incurred running it down the mast (currently stepped)? (AFAIK there is no VHF cable in situ in the mast).......

Boo2

I used this on my last boat

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_In...Aluminium_Index/Dline_30_15_Alumin/index.html

stuck and rivetted down the mast. It blended in well.

 

[lw395]

I definitely like the windex for cruising, particularly the sort that is illuminated a little by the white sector of a tricolour.
Most antennas are as good as the worst bit of the installation. Generally connecting the RF cable properly and keep the water out of the coax is the key.

 

[Boo2]

I used this on my last boat

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_In...Aluminium_Index/Dline_30_15_Alumin/index.html

stuck and rivetted down the mast. It blended in well.

Interesting idea but I'd much prefer to take it down the inside of the mast since I need to get it below decks anyway and it would mean I can just drill below the mast step for the exit point. Anyone here done this and have any suggestions about going about it ?

Boo2

 

[prv]

Interesting idea but I'd much prefer to take it down the inside of the mast since I need to get it below decks anyway and it would mean I can just drill below the mast step for the exit point.

Not quite sure what you mean here. How can you drill a hole in a mast below where it ends?

Do you have a deck- or keel-stepped mast?

Pete

 

[Boo2]

Not quite sure what you mean here. How can you drill a hole in a mast below where it ends?

Do you have a deck- or keel-stepped mast?

Keel-stepped. My intention was to drill a hole below decks near the headlining. I did say mast step but I meant the rubber plug thing in the deck through which the mast passes on its way to the keel

Boo2

 

[prv]

Keel-stepped. My intention was to drill a hole below decks near the headlining. I did say mast step but I meant the rubber plug thing in the deck through which the mast passes on its way to the keel

Gotcha, makes sense and a neat way of doing it.

(The general area where the mast passes through the deck is called the partners, but I'm not sure I'd apply that term specifically to a rubber plug.)

Pete

 

[pmagowan]

Got the Metz one along with the good cable from SaltyJohns. No probs attached to a Garmin VHF with AIS.