Help with VHF, signal and antenna

[carboncow+iboats]

Going through a new used boat (1997 Pursuit 2460) and getting familiar with the older Cobra GPS Radio. Prob OEM for this boat. It had DSC and other minimum needs...just got the MMSI setup.

It has a self test for tx power (pass), voltage (pass) and antenna (fail). Doing some reading on ending a meter to test but not fully understand how that works yet, so...

Got out my handheld and since we are nowhere near water I had todo a land test. I was able to get a mile from home with both on HIGH before the static started to be equal with the legibility. Seems like it's working for and with building, trees and some mild hills in the way.

What do you make of this self test? I check in the connection of the coax at the back of the radio (removed and not corroded), the lead looks good enough and the Shakespeare (6ft ?) looks tired but intact.

Since new attends of 6-8ft are not cheap and I don't like to throw money away what are your thoughts since I'm a few weeks away from getting this on Lake Erie.

Does it seem to work? Maybe weak or is the Cobra test on such an old unit garbage to trust?

 

[Tassie 1]

If the VHF has DSC it ain't ancient
i would bite the bullet and buy a new aerial though

Never tried to test a aerial

 

[mike_i]

Is the pl 259 connector soldered on the coax both the shield and center conductor? Hold the coax next to the connector and try to twist the connector, does the coax spin at all? The only way to test your radio power output and the antenna system is with a thru line watt meter or swr meter. Do not rely on a radio check or your self test to confirm proper operation of the radio. You could buy another antenna to see if you have the same result, if you do return the antenna and continue troubleshooting. One problem doing this is you'll have to install the new pl259 connector onto the new coax. It's not difficult to do if you're mechanically incline and watch a few youtube videos.

 

[dingbat]

If the VHF has DSC it ain't ancient

Depends on "ancient" as in age or "ancient" as in unsuitable for service?

The big question.....is it USCG compliant?

The following notice is from the United States Coast Guard regarding federal regulations covering the manufacture and sale of VHF Marine Band radios and their qualification for digital selective calling (DSC) operation:

--NOTICE FROM USCG WEBSITE---

[Manufacture], importation, sale or installation of RTCM SC101 radios prohibited on March 25, 2011.

The Federal Communications Commission has prohibited the [manufacture], importation, sale or installation of non-portable DSC-equipped radios that do not meet either ITU-R Rec. M.493-11 or IEC 62238 Class D standards effective March 25, 2011. This regulation effectively bans the sale of radios built to the RTCM SC101 standard on that date. A similar prohibition will apply to portable radios effective March 25, 2015 . See 47 CFR 80.225(a)(4).

 

[Scott Danforth]

check to make sure the coax connector was properly soldered in place.

 

[dingbat]

Since new attends of 6-8ft are not cheap and I don't like to throw money away what are your thoughts since I'm a few weeks away from getting this on Lake Erie.

Antennas are one of those things that you get what you pay for.

I gave up on anything short of Shakespeare's Galaxy or Digital's 500 Gold series antennas. Just don't last more than a couple of years before they rattle themselves to pieces internally.

Using a meter is the ultimate test, but I've relayed on radio checks for as long as I owned a boat.

Either call for a radio check or try contacting a colleague on the way out of the inlet.

A radio check also gives you an idea of the "skip" that day. Not unheard of to get a response announcing your "loud and clear" from 25-30 miles away. Most days in the 7-8 mile range. 8 foot sticks, 6 dB gain, mounted on top of hard, ~10' above the water line

 

[Tassie 1]

Depends on "ancient" as in age or "ancient" as in unsuitable for service?

The big question.....is it USCG compliant?

The following notice is from the United States Coast Guard regarding federal regulations covering the manufacture and sale of VHF Marine Band radios and their qualification for digital selective calling (DSC) operation:

--NOTICE FROM USCG WEBSITE---

[Manufacture], importation, sale or installation of RTCM SC101 radios prohibited on March 25, 2011.

The Federal Communications Commission has prohibited the [manufacture], importation, sale or installation of non-portable DSC-equipped radios that do not meet either ITU-R Rec. M.493-11 or IEC 62238 Class D standards effective March 25, 2011. This regulation effectively bans the sale of radios built to the RTCM SC101 standard on that date. A similar prohibition will apply to portable radios effective March 25, 2015 . See 47 CFR 80.225(a)(4).

Wasn't aware of that...
Thanks for that,

 

[Wavewarrior]

Get an 8' Shakespeare for Erie , and the $10 gold coax connector , it's non solder fitting

 

[mike_i]

I respectfully disagree with this. The color of the connector does not matter, don't pay extra for a pretty PL 259 and you absolutely want a solder on connector.

Get an 8' Shakespeare for Erie , and the $10 gold coax connector , it's non solder fitting