Where do you mount your fixed VHF antenna

[Pouw Geuzebroek]

I am installing a fixed VHF and want to know where most of you mount the antenna. If your answer is 'Other position not mentioned before', can you then explain where.

[Moe]

We'll probably start out with a handheld, and install a fixed mount VHF with mast antenna later, but I'm also considering putting the bimini up on struts, like on our Whaler, and mounting the antenna on the bimini frame.





That's a 4.5db Digital brand model 528 on a ratchet mount, so it lowers when the bimini is folded all the way down. Barb was one tooth off when she raised it, so it isn't completely vertical in these pictures, like it usually is. We've gotten a good radio check from the USCG station 20 miles out with this setup (25W Icom 402S).

--
Moe

[mark,97x]

port side aft if only because it is straight back from where vhf is mounted

[norbert]

i have been the first to vote in that poll and i have hit the wrong button ! in fact my antenna is on the starboard aft rail. i decided to mount it there when i sailed on inshore lakes and had frequently to lower the mast (which will be the same in the netherlands i suppose). now laying on the baltic sea i plan to install a masthead antenna too for better range. i ll keep the rail mount one for bridge passing and emergency.

[Casey]

We had the dealer mount ours on the top of the mast. Once a year, I have to clean the occasional corrosion on the connector at the deck. We also bought a west marine emergency antenna that has a suction cup that we use when motoring with the mast down. I have its packing tube stuck to the liner with velcro, located in the space between the aft head bulkhead and the hatch for convenient storage.

[Jack O'Brien]

I voted for mast top as that is the one I use most but, only when the mast is up. It is a 3-foot stainless rod, base-loaded. I also have a six foot fiberglass antenna mounted aft (so the raised helm seat does not hit it) and below the the port aft rail. It is normally folded down along the side and bungied to the bottom of the center rail. It is useful when the mast is down or as a spare. The radio is mounted below the fuse panel.

[Kevin]

On my M I have the antena mounted with a ratchet style on the mast support arch. Mounts it relatively high and works sailing or motoring with the mast up or down.

On the Ensenada trip it seemed to have adequate range.

All else equal I would want the antena at the masthead, but since the transom mount works well enough and drilling the mast foam is such a pain, this will be my solution for some time.

[richandlori]

I also mounted my 8ft antenna on the mast holding arch on my 26M. I too used a ratching bracket and it was a relatively easy instal. Here are some photos and more details from the Mac Mod page.

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/cgi-bin ... record=461


Rich

[richandlori]

Kevin,
Great Photo from the Ensanata (sp) trip. How did you get the photo to appear in the thread? I have photos of my radio antanna instal in the MAc Mod page, but couldn't figure out how to past them in the thread?

Thanks for the help.


Rich

[Jesse Days Pacific Star 2]

Starboard side aft rail.

[Kevin]

Rich,

To get the photo to show inside your message you have to have it loaded someplace where it is accessible from the web, then you use the <img> tag to reference that url.

Since your picture is on the mods page, you can reference that picture by right clicking on the picutre and in the properties section find the picture's url, in this case http://www.macgregorsailors.com/mods/thumpics/534.jpg

use the img button in the edit form to put

Code: Select all

<img>http://www.macgregorsailors.com/mods/thumpics/534.jpg </img>

into your message and voila!

It looks like this

[richandlori]

Thanks Kevin. I have been trying to figure this out for some time!

Thanks Again!

Rich

[kmclemore]

...We also bought a west marine emergency antenna that has a suction cup that we use when motoring with the mast down...

Hey Casey - is this the one you got?



I've been considering getting one... how well does it work?

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Kevin, I have one like in the picture. It is my emergency spare and I also use it for the rare occasion I am out with my mast down.

It certainly works about as well as I would expect it. No problem for things like bridge openings, etc. If I had to guess, I would say that you can easily get a 5 mile range with it. Of course, with my mast-top antenna, I receive transmissions from all over the Bay area...probably 20-30 miles...but that would just be another guess.

[MarkStanton]

We used to just go with a handheld VHF for sheltered UK Waters (The Solent area, UK) but wanted the safety of extra range for when we went accross the UK Channel to France so installed a 25W mast top VHF.

For info, we could hear Solent, Brixham and even Falmouth Coast Guard in the UK when we were in Cherbourg, France.

The must be a range of at least 90 miles - probably more I would have to check on a chart BUT

This can be dependant on atmospheric conditions and we only heard these far off stations. Being the coastguard they are likely to have large aerials and powerful transmitters.

I don't really know our transmission range but obviously vastly superior to a lower mounted aerial.

DSC(GMDSS) would probably increase the likely "mayday" range as well.

But if you stick to "local waters" I can see no problem with a rail/lower mounted install.

We found our handheld to have VERY limited range.

Cheers, Mark

I am on an by the way - not that the couple of feet difference in mast height is likely to make much difference !