antenna wire

[jim phillips]

I was given a marine raido by one person and a antenna by some one else the coax is shot and i need to know if there is a proper lenght i need to get, the raido is only about 2 feet from the antenna can i just get what i need to go from point A to point B

 

[ncwest39]

Re: antenna wire

You need it long enough to get from point A to point B.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: antenna wire

It's best if the wire is at least a little strong of 3' long. Even better would be close to 6' 3" long. Just coil up the excess you don't need.<br /><br />EDIT: Boatist has the better answer below.

 

[Boatist]

Re: antenna wire

Lucky Jim<br />How sure are you that it is the coax and not the Antenna??<br />How does your coax attach to your Antenna??<br /><br />If your Antenna is a Marine 1/2 wave with 50 ohms impedence, and most are, then feed line does not need to be tuned and you can use any length. I would not use less than one wave length or about 6.5 feet.<br /><br />I would not try and splice the coax, but instead install a good PL259 connector or connector made for the type coax you get. For short runs you can use RG58 but RG8X much better and still cheap.<br /><br />When running the coax do not make any sharp bends as it will damage the inter core. When you go to buy it if the salesman folds it up with sharp bends walk away and get it somewhere else.

 

[jim phillips]

Re: antenna wire

thanks guys that is what i was looking for<br /><br /> jim

 

[ThomWV]

Re: antenna wire

If you got to the web site for Shakespeare antennas they will tell you not to cut them down below 3 feet. That's not what I wanted to say though. Look, a radio is a serious piece of equipment. No radio is any better than the antenna its hooked up to and it sounds like you have a junk antenna that I wouldn't trust to beat a dog with. You could splice into the cable by using a set of 3 fittings, but they would cost almost as much as a new cheap antenna. That's what I'd be thinking if I were you, just toss the one you have now and buy an inexpensive new one.

 

[jim phillips]

Re: antenna wire

The antenna is a good S/S 3' vhf, the coax is connected to the antenna and the radio with a PL259 connector and is about 6' long but has a crack in the outer casing and i thought i would replace it rather then put tape on it to just get by... seeing as a radio is a serious piece of equipment, and no radio is any better than the antenna its hooked up to

 

[Boatist]

Re: antenna wire

Lucky Jim<br />You can just replace the Coax then. Many coax wires run right into the antenna with no connector and that is why I ask how the coax attaches. That antenna is really made for sailboat to put at the top of the mast. It will be 3 DB gain and mounted down low on the boat will only be good for short range, about 5 miles from boat to boat.<br /><br />Before you put your PL259 on get some heat shrink tubing that will fit over the coax and the back of your PL259 slide it on the coax first then put your PL259 conector on. Get a good marine PL259 or connector made for your size new coax. After you make a perfect connection coat the base with silcon grease then slide your heat shrink tubing up and shrink it. Keeping water out is a must.<br /><br />Boat to boat range will be about 5 miles if your antenna top is 5 feet above the water. This is because VHF communication is line of site plus about 10 percent. Still communication with the Coast Guard could be 40 miles as many of their antenna out here are 3000 feet high. On my boat with a antenna top about 16 feet above the water and a top grade 6DB 8 foot antenna I have talked with the Coast Guard at over 80 miles with no problem. Also over 100 miles from a lake with a elevation 460 feet. Still my boat to boat range is 10 to 15 miles.

 

[jim phillips]

Re: antenna wire

Thanks again guys i now have a working raido and feel a little better on the water

 

[ncwest39]

Re: antenna wire

Mine runs from point A to point B and has never sounded better.