Purchased a VHF marine radio, what antenna?

[franco802]

I figured this would be one of the most important thing sto have on a boat, especially this being my first boat.

I purchased an icom M502 vhf marine radio. I guess this should be adequate enough for where I am going. I will only be out 5 miles at the most. Now I need to buy an antenna to match this radio. Which antenna would be good for this radio? My boat is 16 ft. long and is a speed/ski boat, closed bow.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Purchased a VHF marine radio, what antenna?

Good antenna more inportant than a good radio in my book. You picked a great radio. I like the Shakespeare 5225 Galaxy. It is 8 foot and 6db gain. Mounted on your bow in open water can expect about 10 miles boat to boat. Much greater range talking to Coast Guard as their antenna are usually mounted up high.

My boat a 21 foot close bow runabout I have taked to the coast Guard at over 80 Miles.

Any of the Shakespeare Galaxy series are good antennas.

Stay away from and 8 foot small diameter very flexable antennas. They are useing coax cable for the radiator and do not hold up well. My first antenna was this type. When I changed to the Shakespeare 5225 I could here twice as many boats and they could here me.

 

[jurgenscraft]

Re: Purchased a VHF marine radio, what antenna?

The Shakespeare 5525 is a good antenna I have one mounted as high as possible on my 24 foot cabin boat, (tip of antenna is 16 foot above water line) all I added was two 1/4 radials 180 deg. to each other across the antenna mounting, I am able to contact Durban radio , Cape town radio and other harbour stations from 15 nautrical miles out to sea. the mounting is the swivel type.
To ensure good consistant performance I regularly check the coaxial cable as well as all connections including the SO239 on the radio as well as the PLl259 on the coaxial cable, from time to time I clean the coaxial cable plugs with a electrical contact spray, I run my radio at high power all the time and keep the squelch set at a level where the recieved noise is just cut out, weak signals may require the squelch to be fully opened.I also check speaker leads and power leads as well right the way back to the batteries.For regular distances further than 10 to 15 nautical miles I use HF. marine radio,here in South Africa both types of radio require a licence which we have to write a examination for,kind regards William Wright.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Purchased a VHF marine radio, what antenna?

Ouch, if you were only going out 5 miles any VHF would have done fine. I saw a really nice one with DSC for 99.99. Spending 300 bucks to talk 5 miles is a bit much in my opinion.

Any antenna 3' or over should work. Go to 8 feet for guarenteed reception no matter what.

To figure out your range, use the following formula:

The square root of the height in feet of your antenna above the water and multiply that times 1.42. That will be your range in miles.

Note: This formula does not change depending on the price of the VHF radio.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Purchased a VHF marine radio, what antenna?

Radio is a major safety iteam. You might feel different if you out 5 miles and hit something and the boat is takeing on water. In general you get what you pay for.
When you need the radio it needs to work wheather it damp or even covered in water. If you take care of a good radio it will last a very long time so buy good quality. Likely buy a new one because your is outdated rather than it does not work.

ICOM M502 is a fine radio.