Amateur Radio Antennas/Rigs

@ C · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:06 pm Post subject: Amateur Radio Antennas/Rigs

What kind of rigs and antennas do you hams use on your boats?
VHF or HF. While I don't do this on my current boat, I would like to on my someday (soon) CD.
Thanks - WD4GOZ
Bill

Captains Cat · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:11 pm Post subject:

Hi Bill, I haven't done it either but have HF/VHF and UHF in the truck and may move it to the boat. Several of us will be at Langford, hope you can join us.

Charlie K4KBA

@ C · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:15 pm Post subject:

WOW That must be cool.
Where are you. I'd like to make a road trip, if you don't mind.
Bill

Stanley-J · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:51 am Post subject:

On Sirena our Tayana 37 I used the backstay with a Icom AH-4.
I'm thinking about hooking up my Icom 706 Mk-ll to our CD. The AH-4 only needs a 16' length of wire to have an HF antenna for all 9 bands plus 6 meter. It has a second antenna hook up for 2 meters.

Captains Cat · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:55 am Post subject:

If I put HF on, I'll just use my FT-100 and the ATAS 100 automatic tuning antenna.

Charlie

Pat Anderson · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:20 am Post subject:

Yaesu FT-1500 2 meter, little mag mount that lives on top of the microwave (yes, Bill, I have FINALLY found something that the microwave is good for!). I get surprisingly good range with this setup. HF when/if they ever let us have HF privileges without the dang code test (I know, this is heresy to the "real" hams).

Alyssa Jean · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:20 am Post subject:

jlsparks · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:38 am Post subject: Ham Radio in da boat

I just did some checking on this and Diamond Antenna makes a HF antenna for boats, and Comet makes the 2 meter antenna which needs no ground plane. N9UHK

Captains Cat · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:57 am Post subject:

FYI, there is NO code requirement any more except for the Amateur Extra Class. You can get a General Class license just by passing the written test. That has full HF priviliges except for a few KHZ that only the Extra's can use...

Charlie K4KBA (Since 1956)

Sawdust · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:02 pm Post subject:

Charlie -

What a bummer! All the fun in ham radio is in the CW!!! Rolling Eyes

Dusty (ex W7BQX, W1SAW, W4SAW, K6RSR... and four or five more)

Sneaks · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:23 pm Post subject:

I've got an old Alinco 110 2 meter rig I modified so it also transmits and receives on marine VHF freqs. Eventually It'll go on the boat.

Dusty, CW was my first love. Got a kick out of working tons of russkies on 20 back in the early '60's in contests. (sigh) Too long off the air now, doubt if I can copy 13 wpm solid anymore. Had a friend who was a Navy spook (CT) He could copy 55 wpm in cyrillic while paging through Playboy mag and drinkin coffee. Awesome. Now even Navy radiomen don't have code requirements.

Don WA6WKL ex KJ0P ex WA3LKH

Captains Cat · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:45 pm Post subject:

Now here's an antenna I'd like to have on the boat, only the boom was 8 feet longer than the boat is and the longest element was 36 ft long. It's a log periodic good for 10-30MHZ and was on our home in Downeast Maine until a winter storm and 80 knots of wind brought the whole thing down in December 2003.

This pix was taken from the water about a half mile away with a 2500MM telephoto lens.

Charlie

Sawdust · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 5:22 pm Post subject:

Hey Charlie -

Dare ya! Now show them the LAST picture of that beautiful log periodic!!!

Dusty

Captains Cat · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:24 pm Post subject:

OK, you asked. It broke my heart and my checkbook too. no insurance of any kind...

charlie

Sawdust · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:13 pm Post subject:

Charlie,

I cry! And it wasn't even mine. Any ham I know would kill for an antenna like that - me included!!

Duster