View Full Version : VHF and shortened coax
Reelmn
05-15-2001, 02:42 AM
Just ordered a Raytheon 45 VHF radio with a 5102 Shakespeare antenna. It comes with a 20 foot coax, but I only need to use 10 feet. Can I cut off the extra coax, resolder the end and not have any adverse effects on the system?
Team Alto
05-15-2001, 08:34 PM
Cut away - I have put in business band radios that are in the same frequency range and I have cut the coax as short as 1 1/2 foot. But I would leave it full length until you test it, you might get interference from a locator and have to move the antenna farther away. That happened with mine - a Raytheon radio and the Vexilar Edge locator.
Grey Wolf
05-16-2001, 04:38 AM
Agreed you may want to wait to cvut it, but most anteneas come without the connector, you have to solder it on yourself.
Try to leave at least a wavelength (about 7 feet or so) of coax between the transmitter and the antenna.
Hans
Did you know that you can purchase a solderless connector for vhf cable,they kind of squeeze on and they do work. Try a store like boat u.s., or similar.
I just put in another new marine radio and in reading the manual for the antenna it said you need at least 3ft of cable between the where the coax comes out of the antenna and the radio. I got that information from Shakespeare manual for the antenna and also the Raytheon manual for the radio.