vhf radio problem

[bosavy]

i recieve broadcast from weather stations i try to ask for radio checks but have no responce. i checked the antenea wires look good. i bought the boat last year so i did not no if it worked then ty

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: vhf radio problem

It's possible that people are ignoring you or have their squelch turned up high and don't hear you. Turn yours up so that you only hear strong signals. Then you know somebody is close enough to hear you. You can tune a police scanner to receive the signal if you happen to have one.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: vhf radio problem

There are some channels that are receive only. Make sure you are not trying to transmit on a receive only channel. Here's the channel guide if you don't have one.

http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/vhfchanl.html

 

[Boatist]

Re: vhf radio problem

If you have a VHF SWR bridge hook it up and see what type of Standing wave your have. Should be way below 1.5 to 1. As other have said Coast Guard will not respond to a radio check on channel 16 and if they do likely only to tell you it illegal and you could be sited.

Most of the time the problem is in the antenna or the coax to the antenna. Look for cuts in the coax where it goes thru the deck or any place it flexes or makes a sharp bend. If the antenna lays down check the area where it bends closely. Another common place is the PL259 connector. People either do not make a good solder connection or they apply way too much heat and melt the center insulator and the cable shorts out.
Cheap small diameter antennas that flex a lot also break the connection or radiator inside.

 

[Big_Squeeze]

Re: vhf radio problem

What type antina (how ever you spell it) do you have I had the same problem and found the coax wasn't connected from the factory. Too late to return so I have to get another.

 

[danmcg]

Re: vhf radio problem

Willy is right. Get a scanner and monitor the channel you are testing on. Key the mic and speak a 5 count, (example, TESTING 1 2 3 4 5 ). You should hear your voice through the scanner. If you don't hear your voice, but just a dead carrier, then your mic element is defective. Since you can receive far off stations, your antenna is probably ok.