VHF RADIO Question

[RANGER]

I have a Shakespeare SE2001-EX radio with a Shakespeare 5206-C 8ft antenna. What is the best method to check, and keep, the "match" (tuning) on this setup?

With CBs one has the SWR meter for tuning but I have yet to find something similar for the VHF. Additionally, if I do manage to get something to tune this with, how do I tune it? Doesn't appear to have the ability to trim or lenghten the antenna. Is my head up my butt??

RANGER

"KEEP YOUR LINES WET, YOUR POWDER DRY and THE BEER COLD"!

[MR.Pike]

No, head sounds OK. Laugh at this one though, I installed ray 52 on my boat. I still don't know if it works yet! I can receive the NOAA weather channel just great. Nobody that I know in the area has a vhf on their boat. How ( without a hand held or a different radio in another boat) can I test the rig???? Now who sounds like their head is up the dupa??? LOL. <;{{{{<<( Mr.Pike

[Hans]

The 8' antennae are all "colinear" designs which are factory tuned for best operation. Unlike CB antennas, they are not detuned by the "ground plane" effect of nearby metal.

If you want to check your setup, contact a nearby ham radio operator to see if you can borrow a VHF SWR bridge/meter (CB versions won't work).

Where do you live? Maybe I know a nearby ham (and maybe I don't!).

Hans

--
"There is nothing; absolutely nothing; half so much worth doing,
as simply messing about in boats." :-)

[RANGER]

Mr. Pike,
Hans,

I live near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and I generally fish Erie in the Pa. waters. Sometimes Ohio and N.Y.

Thanks for explaining that the antenna is factory tuned. Because I am an Engineer I have this fetish about NEEDING TO KNOW how and if my equipment is working, and, if it is, is it working at optimum. This is a personality quirk and, sometimes, I hate it!

Anyway, I will be happy to do whatever I can to find out. Like Mr. Pike, I know the thing works but not how well. For instance; I teamed up with another boat at Erie last year and we both had VHFs. When he was nearer to me he couldn't hear me but, put distance between us, and he always could, that bothered me. And, I HATE "radio checks". I seem to be intruding the airwaves.

RANGER

[jeff reed]

The reason he couldn't hear you at close range is because you need to switch to low power (1 watt). There is a meter that sells for about 40 bucks that will check out the operation of your VHF radio. Check with West Marine, Boaters World, or the big marine supply houses. Worth their weight in gold.

[RANGER]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-07-00 AT 06:52AM (CST)[p]Thanks, Jeff. I tried to get one at "electronics" stores (Radio Shack, etc.) and they looked at me like I was crazy! I'll give the marine stores a try. I have an SWR meter for my CBs, guess I'll add to my "toys"! Wife won't mind, she is the one who insisted that when I got the boat I needed to get a marine radio!

In the scenario above, I was at 1 watt. That's why it bugged me so. I had made sure I was not at 25 watts. But, see, then again, was it my radio or his. This is what I don't know and why I NEED TO KNOW. Quirky?? Yeah! But it is my nature! The last thing I need is to REALLY have an emergency, mine or someone elses, and find out the thing doesn't work properly.

I'll drive over to a marine dealer tonight. Apparently, I'm am not alone in this. The lament of Mr. Pike has been heard time and time again.

RANGER

"KEEP YOUR LINES WET, YOUR POWDER DRY and THE BEER COLD"!

[MR.Pike]

Thanks jeff. Do you know the name of the GIZMO?? Just hoping for a starting place. <;{{{{<<( Mr.Pike

[MR.Pike]

mayday,mayday------ anyone====blub blub, stupid #$%#%$# radio . ( short excerpt from last nights dream/nightmare) <;{{{{{<<(