"Katmai" has an ICOM M422 VHF radio installed with a 4' antenna mounted on a "rocket launcher" atop the cabin.
On my recent "circumnavigation" of south Florida the VHF worked perfectly in the reception mode. On various attempts over several days I met with only marginal success getting a "radio check" along my route, and that made me think I wasn't transmitting very well, or at all. At one of the locks on the St. Lucie Canal the lock operator advised that my transmission was nearly unreadable. Some transmissions were better than others. I switched to "Hi" power, but it didn't help.
I know there are several C-Brat HAMS (no pun intended...), so I need your suggestions on a protocol for isolating my problem. (I checked with a local CB shop yesterday, and they won't even touch Marine VHF radio stuff.) For some reason I suspect the problem may be in the antenna, not the radio, but that's just my impression (it's not founded on anything...). The radio and antenna appear ok, with no obvious problem - and it receives fine, so I'm hopeful it's a relatively simple fix.
Ideas?
Best,
Casey
On my recent "circumnavigation" of south Florida the VHF worked perfectly in the reception mode. On various attempts over several days I met with only marginal success getting a "radio check" along my route, and that made me think I wasn't transmitting very well, or at all. At one of the locks on the St. Lucie Canal the lock operator advised that my transmission was nearly unreadable. Some transmissions were better than others. I switched to "Hi" power, but it didn't help.
I know there are several C-Brat HAMS (no pun intended...), so I need your suggestions on a protocol for isolating my problem. (I checked with a local CB shop yesterday, and they won't even touch Marine VHF radio stuff.) For some reason I suspect the problem may be in the antenna, not the radio, but that's just my impression (it's not founded on anything...). The radio and antenna appear ok, with no obvious problem - and it receives fine, so I'm hopeful it's a relatively simple fix.
Ideas?
Best,
Casey