VHF Radio

jrn

New member
Joined
24 Oct 2001
Messages
41
Location
Norfolk
Visit site
My fixed VHF has broken and is waiting for repairs. Is it possible to connect a handheld VHF to the main ariel and if so what is the likely range compared with a fixed VHF. Also where can you buy a suitable connector - the handheld is an ICOM. Any help would be appreciated as I do not want to stay in the marina waiting for the radio to be fixed.
 

Fr J Hackett

Well-known member
Joined
26 Dec 2001
Messages
66,999
Location
Saou
Visit site
Its most likely that the handheld is a BNC connector the main radio a PL259 you could make up a patch lead its possible that you could get a coupling connector try Maplin or Radiospares which is where you would get the connectors and cable for the patch lead. The likley range will be line of sight about 20 miles depending on the hight of the recieving station and your transmitting ariel. But do you really need to do this? when your handheld will suffice for most of your needs certainly up to 10 miles offshore.
 

Bilgediver

Well-known member
Joined
6 Jun 2001
Messages
8,203
Location
Scotland
Visit site
Maplin have adaptors for the various handhelds as they are the sam as Ham Radio connectors...Just take the radio or its antenna to the shop..


John
 

lw395

Well-known member
Joined
16 May 2007
Messages
41,949
Visit site
Most Icom hanhelds (well ours at least) have a stud connector for the antenna, with no real ground outer . Difficult to connect a cable to these.. Some HH's have BNC, e.g older swiftech. Easy to connect to these, you should be able to Rx just as well as main set and HMCG will hear you on 4W unless you are overspoken.
Suggest buy new VHF and sell the old one on ebay when its fixed, quickest way back on water.
 

Salty John

Active member
Joined
6 Sep 2004
Messages
4,563
Location
UK
www.saltyjohn.co.uk
As Petehb says. The patch lead would have a BNC at one end, to fit onto the handheld, (you need to confirm with Icom that this is the connector they use for the stub antenna, or compare it to a picture of a BNC) and PL259 at the other end, plus a PL258 male to male barrel connector to connect to the PL259 on the end of the antenna cable. Or you can get a BNC to SO239 adaptor which will directly connect the handheld to the antenna cable - BNC female on one side, SO239 (socket to receive PL259) on the other side.
 

Salty John

Active member
Joined
6 Sep 2004
Messages
4,563
Location
UK
www.saltyjohn.co.uk
That's the one. Actually an SMA -SO239, or if it's an older handheld with a BNC connection you need an SO239-BNC. All available at RF supplies places for about £4.
 

cliff

Active member
Joined
15 Apr 2004
Messages
9,468
Location
various
Visit site
Foot In Mouth?
--------------------
hammer.thumb.gif
"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
 

lw395

Well-known member
Joined
16 May 2007
Messages
41,949
Visit site
Not at all. Many handhelds do not have sma's.
I'm not saying no icoms do, but mine doesn't or I would have sorted an adaptor lead myself, I think its a good idea where feasible, and its good value.
Check the set in question before ordering parts!
you could buy a new vhf for about £150 be on the water this w/e, and you've then got a new vhf in warranty.
If you do go the adaptor route, beware that sma's aren't that strong, try not to hang the set from it.
Be interested to know cost and effectiveness of VHF repair, got a dead one myself (spare).
Have a good weekend, I hope to be dinghy racing.
 

Searush

New member
Joined
14 Oct 2006
Messages
26,779
Location
- up to my neck in it.
back2bikes.org.uk
I can't remember when I last used mine for anything other than listening out for other people asking for a forecast!

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 

webcraft

Well-known member
Joined
8 Jul 2001
Messages
40,198
Location
Cyberspace
www.bluemoment.com
[ QUOTE ]
Why would lack of VHF mean you have to stay in the marina?

It is more a 'nice to have' than 'essential to have' IMHO

[/ QUOTE ] Second this.

Our VHF has died and we still have 2000 miles to sail back to Scotland. Should we abandon the boat? I think not.

We also have a HH ICOM M31 - it has a screw type connector for the stub aerial and I doubt we will be able to get an adaptor for it.

- Nick
 

RobBrown

Active member
Joined
3 Nov 2005
Messages
1,071
Location
Oxford,UK.
Visit site
Icom M31 aerial adaptor. Yes Icom do sell these, as I purchased one last year, tho not cheapest- I think it was around £10 inc postage. Ordered directly from them from HO in Herne Bay. They do work as have used it on my main VHF set aerial.
 

JonBrooks

New member
Joined
5 Sep 2003
Messages
722
Location
Kent
www.yaesu.co.uk
Icom do have an adaptor for this very use.
It converts the SMA to a BNC you will then need to convert the BNC to Pl259/SO239.

You will then be able to use your main VHF antenna.

One thing to keep in mind it that this will not be as good as the fix set but will work.

The RX range of you hand held will be improved by a greater degree than the TX range.
This is due to low TX power and loss through both the cable and the bundle of adaptors on the hand held.

Best regards
 

mr_bosun

New member
Joined
17 Jan 2007
Messages
26
Location
Kent
Visit site
Had a quick look in Maplin whilst collecting a cake of CDs this morning. They seem to have a fair selection of RF connectors, and specifically BNC to SO239 (Part Number YW04E) and TNC to BNC (Part Number FE83E) about a £5 for the pair IRC. Bit heath robinson TNC to BNC to SO239 but probably better transmission range even allowing for the attenuation
 

JonBrooks

New member
Joined
5 Sep 2003
Messages
722
Location
Kent
www.yaesu.co.uk
TNC is NOT used on modern radio's really.
SMA is by far the most popular choice.

No matter how good the connector you will still get loss.
As a rule of thumb it is 1dB for everyone and 1dB for every 10M of thin co-ax.
3dB loss can be taken as halving you ERP (Effective Radiated Power)

Hope that helps a bit

Cheers
 
Top