VHF antennas -- do they have to stay on the boat?

[rmitchel]

Perhaps a silly question, but you never know sometimes.

I assume that whatever antenna is used, that it will unscrew (or come off) so that it would not always have to be on the boat. I will only need a marine radio infrequently. Ideally, I would be able to remove the radio and antenna when not needed.

Does it work this way?

Thanks.

[Gary B]

If nothing else, mounting brackets are available(or could be modified) that attach to railing or clamp on to some other part of the boat. A can of beer or two and a little "quality time" in the boat has led to many inventions and innovations over the years.

[Robertp]

It depends on how you mount the antenna to start with. You are correct that you can unscrew it from the mount but many mounts have a hole in them to route the antenna cable through. If you run the cable through the hole in the mount then you have to take off the mount along with the antenna. Pick up a mount a marine store and you will see what I mean. Of course you could simply avoid routing the cable through the mount and you will be able to remove the antenna as you suggest. I mounted using the RAM antenna mount. Like other RAM products you simply loosen the mount from the RAM ball and take the hole thing off, leaving, of course the ball where it is mounted to the boat. The antenna is an 8 footer and the RAM mount holds it very securely.

[punch1]

RobertP

But don't you still have to take the cable off with the antenna? I believe my Shakespeare's cable is fixed to the antenna and a person would have to disconnect it from the radio yet to take the antenna off the boat. Unless there is a way to splice it near the mount? Any ideas?

[Robertp]

Absolutely, the cable must go with the antenna. You will definitely have to disconnect it from the radio, removing both cable and antenna. My point is that with most mounting brackets you cant get both antenna and cable off without also removing the mount if you have routed the cable through the hole in the mount. With the ram removing the mount, along with the antenna and cable is no problem because the mount, like all RAM products, just unscrews from the ball.

I don't know about splicing the antenna cable. I don't think I would want to do that, assuming a splice is even available. That question I'll leave for one of the antenna gurus here.

[Kaz]

Well guys, this the perfect application for the 5/8 Maxrad and the NMO mount. Unscrew the base loaded antenna and you have a flat washer like mount that does't get in the way...No disconnecting the coax, just unscrew it and stow it. Plus it works like an 8'er too. Take all of 10 seconds to attach or remove!!!! Good luck ANTENNAIZING....Kaz

[glen-kans.]

This is very interesting cause I was thinking of mounting an antenna to the top of my house to talk to my boat on the lake.(Distance approx.15miles.I'd need probably 40-50ft. of coax to reach the downstairs kitchen where I'd like the base radio to be.Is this doable or reasonable to you guys?Can I buy coax in appropriate lengths?Thanks in advance.Glen

[redrnger]

You can splice your radio antannas. I cut about 3 feet of cable off of my Shakespear antanna, I then went to radio shack bought the same connectors, with a double ended female connecter, solderd one end as per directions that came with antanna, attached this end to radio under dash. I next ran unsoldered end through same size hole as cable through the front part of dash so it came out in bottom gunnel corner where dash and front deck meet on my 619. On this end I put the 2nd male adapter soldering it on same as one attached to radio.You next screw the female into male that you just soldered. Now my attannas mounted about 2 feet in front of dash on gunnel with ratchet mount. I put the remaining male connecter on the end of antanna cable and screw onto other end of female connecter makeing one complete route from antanna to radio,bunching up extra antanna wire with ties.Now if you want to take your antanna off just unscrew from female connecter and unscrew antanna from mount.Make sure you solder the cables together as instrucktions say for best reseption(my bud LARRY did mine). I have done this with my last three boats no problem...redrnger

[Kaz]

Glen: If you are going to make a run 40/50 feet, then you need a low loss coax. I would use RG8 from RadioShack. You will need a barrel conector to connect the coax together to the antenna feed, and you should tape it too so weather will not get into the connection. I have a run fo 75' at LOTW and it works fine. I would suggest a 8' antenna so you can get the maxium gain from the base station. Keep the run as short as possibe by trimming off any excess before you solder on the PL259 connector at the radio end. Never coil the coax as that is a balun and works against you. Keep the antenna as high on the house as possible, the higher the better even if you need a longer run to it. Mine is on a 40' tower and it gets out very well. Good luck ANTENNAIZING....Kaz