Good deal on Morad VHF antenna

Google: Morad antenna reviews.

The Morad antennas are widely used on commercial fish boats, USCG and many commercial boats.

The antennas are made in Ballard, of aluminium and stainless steel. No fiberglass. I think Tim Flannigan reviewed them. I have visited the factory and got a tour. Nice folks, making a quality product. Also sold by Fisheries.

A mounting pole, mount, and cable are also required.

Google: Morad antenna reviews.

I now have two, one of which has been in service for several years. I will buy another when I get an AIS transceiver.

Link to Morad http://www.morad.com/

The price on e-bay is about 1/2 of retail.

Again, I have no commercial connection to this company.
 
I have had two on my 25, one for VHF Marine and one for 2Meter ham. I also had them on my 22. They are 6 Db antennas and at only 4+ feet out perform a 8" fiberglass.
 
Tom,

I have 2 VHF and 1 AIS antenna from Morad and cannot fault their performance.
My only critique would be the metal adaptor which goes between the antenna and the rail mount. Two of mine have blistering and flaking of the powder coating which admittedly can be simply resolved by sanding and re-painting but is annoying. PLus, the adaptor tensd to seize on the mount and become non removable.
I believe they make a later version which is non metallic and tried to order two but when they came they were the same as the ones I already had.

Otherwise an excellent product.

Merv
 
I had one on the CD25 and one on the current boat. Just bought two more, to replace a glass one and one for a spare. They have worked well for me.
 
AIS is Channel A 161.975Mhz (87B) Channel B 162.025Mhz (88B) These frequencies are just above the standard VHF spectrum and just below the Weather channels (reception only). I find that standard antennas work fine on the usual VHF antennas. Morad will make you a specific antenna tuned for 162 MHz--and that will perfect for the AIS transmitter. For most AIS transceivers, the standard VHF will work, but may be slightly off on the SWR. Since the Morad antennas, have low SWR--it should be OK on AIS.
 
Would this work for an AIS receiver?
Click to expand...

If the receiver is a stand alone unit, an antenna tuned to the specific frequency as stated by Dr Bob would be best.

Morad does sell an antenna tuned specifically for AIS.

If the AIS receiver is part of a VHF radio, (Standard Horizon), the antenna should be a normal VHF antenna. This info came from technical support at Standard Horizon.
 
I've got a question for you all who have more C-Dory experience than I do. I looked at this antenna, and if I read the info correctly, it's a 6db antenna.

I'm used to using 3db antennas, but that's because on sailboats, at the top of the mast, the 3db pattern is clearly the right one (less focused). I wondered if the C-Dory would handle the 6db, so I did some searching and reading of older threads, but I didn't come away with anything conclusive.

Is there a consensus on 3db vs. 6db for our boats? Or is it a case of either one works?

Thanks,
Sunbeam

PS: I don't want an 8' antenna in any case, so I'd be looking at one of the shorter ones.
 
I think either one works. Probably more boats with 3db than 6db. I've had both and think I get better reception with the 6db. Our boats are so low to the water that the swing one gets up on a sailboat antenna isn't such an issue. The antennas Larry is talking about have a very good reputation. I'm not sure whether they come with coax and connector or not.
 
That sounds reasonable and logical, thanks!

I would have thought 6db would work, since as you say the antenna is relatively close to the water (so less bobbing and weaving), but then it looked like quite a few (maybe most?) were using 3db versions, so I thought I'd ask.

Perhaps it's because 6db antennae are more commonly 8 feet long, so inconvenient? (This may not be true; I just got that feeling reading in the archives.) Are shorter 6db antennae new or much less common?

Sunbeam
 
colobear":23k7qyth said:
I'm not sure whether they come with coax and connector or not.
Click to expand...

The Morad antenna has a connector inside the base of the antenna, so you have to buy a mount, mount adapter or pole, and a cable. The cable has to have the PL259 connector added to both ends.

The antenna is designed to mount on top of a 1" dia aluminum pole or adapter. The adapter is a short section of 1" tube with the 1"-14 thread at the bottom and a hole in the side for the cable. A pole of various lengths is available as well as lay-down mounts and deck mounts. The cable is threaded thru the pole or adapter and the PL259 fitting is then attached to the cable. Then screw the PL259 to the antenna, and mount the antenna on the tub. The antenna is secured to the tube with three set screws.

This arrangement allows for many different mounts, makes the antenna removable, and the cable can be replaced if needed.

Check out the Morad website for more info.
 
Sunbeam,

If you are looking to only have a 4ft antenna, then you might want to look at those Morads because they are putting out (I think it is) twice the power and/or have twice the reception gain of the standard 3db (usually 4ft antenna). I'm not a radio guy, but from what I understand, the 3db has a shorter working range, even if mounted at the same height as the 6db. I think the 3db for the sailboats has a greater vertical angle, (angle of radiation), facilitating function while sailing healed over to 45 degrees or whatever it takes to keep the rails under. The sailboats get their range from adding elevation to the antenna.

As a side note, I was at Sequim Bay State Park one morning talking with some folks who were leaving for Friday Harbor, through Cattle Pass (about 25 miles with no obstructions). They had just installed a new radio and antenna and were interested in checking it out. We were able to talk at 5 mile increments up to just before they went in through the pass. My antenna was a 6db, 8ft Commrod, mounted on the cabin roof, and they were on a 4ft Shakespeare 3db but it was about 60ft above sea level. We were both at high power by the time they got there.

On another day, Dave on PlanC and I were headed back from Cattle Pass. He to Point Wilson and me to Sequim Bay. As our paths diverged over time, we were at about 8-9 miles when we were unable to maintain radio contact. That was after I lost him on the radar. I don't remember the radio particulars from that day though. Just seemed like it was to soon to not be able to keep contact.

Just curious why no 8ft antenna?

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

SunSet_MystryBay_SleepyC_2009_177.sized.jpg
 
hardee":3bsoayy2 said:
Just curious why no 8ft antenna?
Click to expand...

Just seems like it would be a pain to manage, and I was under the impression that a shorter one would do the job. OTOH, if only an 8-footer would do the job, well then I would just deal with it.

Sunbeam
 
A very complex subject is being perhaps overly simplified. Antenna gain is not as important as being made to be. Already mentioned is radiation pattern, amount of roll and pitch of the boat; antenna height is extremely important--no antenna will defy the laws of physics--although there can be Tropospheric ducting, which will allow hundred of miles of communication on 25 watts in the Marine VHF frequencies. "Sporadic E" ; ducting in the E layer of Ionosphere is rarer.

SWR is extremely important--Morad hand tests their antennas to be sure they are have SWR of less than 1.5 across the spectrum I test an antenna before I buy it--and pick the best--to get that SWR or less. I have seen some antennas in the store which have SWR greater than 2.

Doubling the gain will not usually double the range. Effective radiated power is the watch word vs "power". You have to increase the gain by at least 3 dB to notice any difference in reception. But that is not necessarily a doubling of the signal. With base loaded antennas there is a fair amount of manufacture hype. Half wave, 5/8 wave or full wavelength antennas are gong to be better. Antennas are in some ways better related to a standard--and measurement in dBi (theoretical isotropic radiator) or dBd(reference dipole antenna standard).

For me there is a very good reason to choose an antenna like this Morad--I would have purchased two if they were this price and were easily available when I was outfitting "Thisaway". The 8 foot glass antennas, are subject to being damaged with the relatively short cabin of the 22. I much prefer a short antenna (in my case the 36" base loaded whip by Metz or Shakesphere) so that it will not be used as a hand hold and broken or damaged in trailering. If any one grabs the short 1" SS tubing, it will hold up because of the sturdy ratchet base, and backing plate inside of the cabin.

This is a photo of one of my two VHF antennas folded down--same type of 1" SS tube base as the Morad would use.

DSC00825.jpg
 
Thanks for the explanation and photo. It helps me to visualize the tube mounting base. I like the look of your antenna and mounting. Currently mine is mounted on the starboard cabinside just aft of the running light, but I think I would prefer a cabin-top location as this seems to really get in the way when going forward.

I'm curious (maybe this is too much of a tangent?): For anyone who has the rail mounted antenna base on the cabin-top handrails -- do you like it? At first I thought this seemed like a slick idea, but then as I thought about it more I wondered if it would tend to interfere with your "one hand for the boat" when going forward (with hand on the rail). If so then I might go to a mount like on Thisaway instead.

Appreciate the expanded discussion.

Sunbeam
 
Sunbeam":3aspui0o said:
hardee":3aspui0o said:
Just curious why no 8ft antenna?
Click to expand...

Just seems like it would be a pain to manage, and I was under the impression that a shorter one would do the job. OTOH, if only an 8-footer would do the job, well then I would just deal with it.

Sunbeam
Click to expand...
What's to "manage"? You put it up when you're on the water, you fold it down when you trailer or need to sleep under a low bridge. Not much effort at all. 8' will get the antenna slightly higher and get you a little more range. In this case, bigger is actually better (but only a little).
 
rogerbum":3i6uxkrj said:
What's to "manage"? You put it up when you're on the water, you fold it down when you trailer or need to sleep under a low bridge. Not much effort at all.
Click to expand...

Perhaps I'm imagining a hassle that doesn't exist. I was picturing lowering an 8' antenna and then having it overlap the cockpit on one side. I thought it might be in the way when getting on and off the boat when it's on the trailer - and/or possibly flapping/bouncing/needing to be secured on the road. It might also be that I'm just accustomed to the look of the shorter antenna.

But again, if an 8-footer did a much better job than a smaller one, okay, I could certainly live with it. OTOH, if a 4-footer works as well or nearly as well..... I think I'd prefer it.

Sunbeam
 
On my 22, the antenna was mounted as yours is - starboard side just aft of the running light. The advantage of that location is that you can raise or lower the antenna from the helm just by reaching out the window. The disadvantage is that it's slightly in the way going forward. However, when you need to go forward, the antenna is almost always up (or can be put up prior to going forward). So it's only getting around the vertical antenna that's the issue and it's not much of an issue. If you have a camper back, I found that an 8' antenna in that position would lay nicely on the walk around and tuck in under the canvas. When trailering with the canvas off, my bow line came down the side and I looped it around the antenna a couple of times and secured it to a cleat.

On my Tomcat, the antenna is on the top of the cabin, forward and to the starboard side. Up there, I have to be out of the boat to put it up. But that's usually done at launch or while I'm on the dock. It's not in the way as I go forward. For trailering, I lay it down on the cabin top and I use a couple of strips of velcro to secure it to the handrail (it lies parallel to the hand rail). On a 22, an 8' antenna in that location will hang over into the cockpit a bit but that's not really a big deal.
 
Back
Top