Recommend for me a new VHF antenna

[ramiroflores]

I'm doing some winter upgrades on my C-Dory 22 and I need a new antenna. The one that came with it looks like a 2.5' car antenna I don't know how many dBs it is but for Tx we often do not get responses on a radio check even when we can see other boats in the area. On the Rx side, we often can not receive NOAA broadcasts on the boat antenna but we CAN receive them with our handheld.

Vessel: C-Dory Cruiser 22

Top of cabin height: ~7'

Radio: iCOM M330 purchased brand new last year

Cruising Grounds: Lake Superior. Sometimes in pretty remote areas overnight.

Thanks!

[jkidd]

Best tuned out of the box Morad VHF Hotrod 4-1/2' and put it on a 2' extension. They are not cheap and they last better than any antenna I've ever had.

https://www.morad.com/products/vhf-antenna-156-hot-rod

[thataway]

I am going to second Jody's Morad "hot rod" antenna. This is commercial grade antenna. Each antenna is factory tuned and checked. You will need to know how much cable you will need. Do not cut they cable, it comes with a Mini FME/PL-259 fitting on the other end, which goes thru very small holes and makes certain, that there is no loss of signal because of a bad crimp or solder joint. Also there is a special ratchet base necessary I believe.

The PL 259 joint with the VHF is a point of failure in many antennas, especially with the crimped PL259.

If you want a less expensive whip antenna, then I suggest the Metz Manta 6 VHF antenna. I would add a 2' extension of SS pipe between the Metz and the SS ratchet mount (The plastic or nylon mounts don't stand up in the long run (pun intended)

Unfortunately other boaters often do not respond to a request for a "radio Check". I also like to have a portable hand held--that gives you the ability to constantly monitor a second channel. That may or may not be important in the Great Lakes; it is on the ICWs, and busy harbors. Plus it is a safety feature. I recommend the Standard Horizon HX 890.

Be sure and get a MMSI number and program that into your base Icom and any hand held which has DSC (the DSC will not work unless the MMSI number-- free with a Boat US membership (also worthwhile). If you are going into Canada on a frequent basis, it is probably best to get the FCC official MMSI number (A bit more expensive, since you have to have a ship's radio license). I have gone into Canada a few times without the official, but in our 46 sailboat, I did have an official ship's Radio License (but at that time there was no DSC). We were went in to a number of "foreign" nations in that boat.

[doc]

Morad all the way. They aren't really all that expensive.

[colbysmith]

I'm going a different direction. I have the Shakespeare mid range 8' antenna. By mid range, I mean cost. I think I paid about $165 each for my two antennas. The Morad may be better. It's definitely going to cost you more. VHF antennas work on line of sight. The higher they are, the farther they will reach out for Transmit and Receive. With the Morad, you will have to pay out more to get the extensions to raise it. Hit something, your replacement cost is going to be more than another Shakespear. In all honesty, I'm considering switching to Morad myself next time I have to replace my antenna(s). Yet, expense is a factor. I currently am happy with the reach of my radio(s). I'm not convinced a Morad will improve that reach. Perhaps it will. (I will need more proof it's better before I shell out the bucks.) But I wouldn't poo poo a decent Shakespeare antenna. They've been around quite some time, and are on a lot of boats. Fitting a connection isn't all that hard. But like anything electrical, connectors can make or break the system. If you can get a good connection, that's going to make a big difference. Oh, and BTW, the USCG also uses Shakespeare VHF antennas. I suspect they (like most military and LE vessels) will use the lowest bidding contract! )

[thataway]

Since this is a simple whip--which the Morad is, there will not be likely serious damage even if hitting a tree branch. If a whip is destroyed, Morad has replacement whips.

I have taken my Ham antenna testing gear in times past and found SWR to be out of specs on a number of the fiberglass tube (just a wire inside the tube basically)antennas.

If you have a radar arch and put the antenna on top of that, it will be in the 12 feet off the water arena. A foot or two really makes very little in range. You can plug in your height of antenna and the receiving antenna's height and get the range: distance in statute miles= 1.23 * (√h1 + √h2) (h = antenna height in feet.)

The other weak point is the crimp connector--it often is good at first, but with time there is corrosion and then loss of signal. If you are skilled at soldering then you can make a good connector--here is a tutorial I posted a few years back on properly soldering a VHF antenna fitting.

There is an argument for the SS pipe base on an antenna. Little tubes (fiberglass, plastic and SS Pipe, all tend to be grabbed by well meaning folks to help the boat dock etc. This can be a source of damaged fiberglass antennas. The SS base can take this abuse, although it should never happen.

You will find Morad antennas on some Coast Guard vessels, on many commercial fishing vessels, harbor patrol, etc. My experience in the Military was not that the cheapest, but the one which met government Specs was chosen--and there is some corruption unfortunately.

[jkidd]

The biggest reason why is Shakespeare tunes their antenna to 1.5:1 and Morad tunes theirs to 1.15:1 and just that little difference will deliver more power to the antenna. The antenna and the cable and connectors are probably more important than the radio is. For the additional cost of $50 to $75 is it worth the extra cost to get the maximum distance that you can talk. In an emergency would rather have the one that can reach the other person or the one that won't? Makes me think of Armageddon when their sitting in the rocket and Steve Buscemi says How do you feel sitting on a million pounds of explosive built buy the cheapest bid.

[colbysmith]

Ah, you’re going to be paying more than an additional $50-$70 to get the antenna to 8’ (not everyone has an arch to mount it on), and the mount is going to run a little more expensive as well. It would be interesting to compare a Morad to a Shakespeare in actual operation and then decide if the cost is worth it.

[jkidd]

A 4 foot station is $54 but, you could use 3/4" PVC pipe if you wan"t to do it the cheap way. I used PVC with my 2 Meter and just put it a rod holder. If you are happy with the Shakespeare that's all that matters. If you want a better tuned and longer lasting antenna buy the Morad mine is over 10 years old now. I paid $100 for it on Ebay. The Morad replaced a Shakespeare that the sun got at less than 5 years old. The Morad is all Aluminum and Stainless construction.

[CPlay]

I'll suggest another option. I replaced my antenna about a year ago with a Digital 528-VW. Good quality, 4' long, made in usa, fiberglass whip. This antenna is not going to have range of the prior suggestions and not likely the longevity of the Morad. I liked it because it seemed a good quality antenna that when folded does not overhang the cabin top. I rarely boat where maximum range is a goal for me. I liked the balance of quality, fit, and range.
-Jeff-

[jkidd]

Another option would be to have Ed Fong make you one and tune it for the frequency that you want. It is a half wave j-pole that you can slide it inside of a piece 3/4" class 200 pvc pipe. It has a lifetime warranty and they are right around 50 bucks. I carry one of these for a spare in my truck just in case something happens. Just Google Ed Fong Antennas. He doesn't list the MB-1 on his web site so you have to call him or order it from www.kbcubed.com

[colbysmith]

As I mentioned earlier, I have considered going to the Morad, although I have been happy with my Shakespeare. This thread brought up my consideration again. I can get the 156 Hotrod from Ebay for $215. Everywhere else goes with Morad's pricing of $225. Earlier I was thinking about the V5 extension, but considering that the Hotrod already sits 4.5' high, the V2 would probably suffice. That with the M87 adapter which adds another 4", would put me only about a foot shorter than where I'm at with my Shakespeare, and perhaps the quality of the Morad would make up for that... Going to Morad (cheapest place I've found the extension and adaptor, adds another $92. ($44, $38 and $10shipping). At one time I thought the antenna came with cable, but it appears not. And if I want the connectors already installed, the regular PL259 at one end and the smaller one at the other end, a 9' cable from Morad adds another $26. ($32 if I go with 15', but I think the 9' would suffice. Actually, probably better to go with the 15' in case I ever move my mount or my radio.) So in all, to replace my $165 Shakespeare with a Morad, I'm looking at about $340. Double the cost. I keep asking myself is it worth it. So far, my Shakespeare appears to be holding up fine. I have more issue with breaking them off than anything else. (I've never had one that has just deteriorated due to age.) I'm assuming a Morad would also break, but replacing an extension, adapter or mount is probably cheaper than having to replace the antenna. Although, I assume the bottom of the Morad antenna could also break. Or is it much more likely any break would be in the extension or adaptor?

[thataway]

Put a tab on the steering wheel of the truck: "check antenna".

Fabricate a circuit where if the antenna is up, that there is a red LED on the dash which illuminates, if the antenna is left up, or better yet, an interlock, that prevents starting when the antenna is up....

Most likely is to bend the whip--and it can be straightened.