VHF antenna replacement ?

R

Rooster 27509

New member
While backing the boat into my sideyard drive I made the 8 ft. antenna into two 4 ft. antennas. You guessed it half of an 8 ft. antenna just isn't quite right.

Question is what what would you use for a replacement?

The salmon fishing was great just south of Bodega Bay Ca.

Jim from
the Catch 22
 
I recently became acquainted with that feeling you had when you heard the noise.

My busted one was the Shakespeare 5202, and the replacement is a Shakespeare 5101 for about half the price. They are both 8 footers. The new one is not as stout as the old one, but it seems to work just as good, although I don't use the radio enough to be a critic. And I trimmed the branches from the trees that overhang the driveway in case I forget to lower it again.

Here's Shakespeare's price list, but you can usually get them a little cheaper at a retailer.
 
If you're gonna keep up the habit of busting antennas, stay with Shakespeare. If this experience has cured you, get a Digital Antenna Folks around here swear by them. I've found the SWR is lower and the antenna itself is more rugged than the "S" word.

Don
 
We used a Shakespeare 5800 on Dreamer's ICOM 602 Radio. Recently, I forgot to use the checklist when retrieving the boat. We whacked the tree pretty good, sending branches flying. The antenna has minor bruising. The Stainless antenna mount was bent about 15-20 degrees! Any antenna that will take that abuse is OK in my book. Well worth the extra $50 or so to upgrade. It's reception is terrific as would be expected.

Now if I can only remember to read the checklist.....read the checklist....read the checklist....
 
All righty then! DoD is in FINE form today!! :lol:

dogon dory":1yg7nnah said:
Aw c'mon, Mike. Don't let a little thing like a lack of firsthand information stop you from critisizing something. No one else around here does....least of all your truly
Click to expand...
 
Antennas, shore power cords, etc. are all problems in motorhomes, campers and boats. Yes, going down a checklist is recommended...... BUT it seems the only way I can keep out of trouble on these things is to walk all the way around the boat/motorhome/camper and look over and under and around to be sure nothing is deployed, sticking out, sticking up, etc.. This habit seems to cover most of the problem areas. John
 
I replaced an ageing Shakespeare 8 ft with a Digital Antenna 4.5 ft.

It has better reception even though it is shorter. The antenna is well finished with a SS sleeve base, and the connector is a two part fitting with one part already attached to the cable.(no soldering!)

I bought it online at Defender Industries.
 
Our solution with the C Dory 22 was to get a 36" base loaded SS whip. Then put it on a 2 foot SS extension. When we had the fiberglass antenna, it was always in the way overhanging the cockpit when down, and people grabbing it when it was up. The SS rig is very sturdy, and when it is down, it does not come aft as far as the cockpit.

There are definately differences in VHF antennas. I take an antenna analyzer (ham gear) with me when I buy a VHF antenna and check the antenna in the store--SWR varies all over the place.

The Digital antennas have a better reputation than Shakespeare. The question of if an 8 foot antenna is all that much better than a 4 foot antenna also comes to mind. Talking to another C Dory whose antenna is 10 feet off the water, the range of an 8 foot (on top of 5 feet of boat) is 9 miles Vs 8 miles with a 4 foot antenna (on top of 5 feet of boat). Not enough to really tell much of a difference. The construction of the antenna may well make up the difference in signal strength, interference rejection and clarity of signal.
 
Thanks for all the input from everyone.
It's good to know I'm not the onlyone that has had the sensation of hearing a (POP) while backing the rig into the drive. That sound of (POP) gets your attention and your wallet.
I'll go with the shakespeare and save a few buck$$$$.

Thanks :beer
Jim
 
I too left my antenna up and caught a tree. About 1' got broken off, which I was able to retrieve; the fiberglass also splintered somewhat at another point, about 2' down.

Currently, I have it taped back together.

What I would really like is a shorter antenna that doesn't extend back into the cockpit. The lead on the Digital Antenna is helpful to me.

But my question is: Can I simply cut my 8' antenna down to the desired length? Will it still work? Since it is already broken, would it be worth a try, before buying a new one?
 
Wayne, short answer -- NOOOOOOO! Your VSWR will go to pot, practically no reception and no transmission. Shakespeare (and others I believe) make a 6db 3ft SS antenna that a lot of sailboats use. The waveshape 'donut' is compressed though to get that extra 3db of gain which means a rolling boat will not get optimum distance at all times.
 
Speaking of antenna problems, has anyone else ever experienced fiberglass delamination at the surface of an antenna, resulting in exposure to myriads of fine "needles' of glass fibers pointed along the antenna axis which cause incredible skin penetration and the associated itching/irritation to no end?

My regular VHF and CB antennas, which are also Shakespeare brand, don't seem to do this, but another Shakespeare antenna, a loran set up (which I probably should disconnect and remove, as it is somewhat obsolete, though still functional, doesn't seem to be retaining it's outer skin/coating integrity, and is a source of trouble.

It's only about four years old. I realize I could probably could re-coat it with clear polyurethane, or sheath it with clear Tygon tubing. Just wondering if this is a common problem?

Joe.
 
Just a note for the person from Rochester NY & others. The question was could you just tape your antenna back up and would it work. ---- I gave it a try with my busted 8500 shakespeare, which is now 5 ft. not 8ft anymore. I cut it off smooth and put a rubber cap over the cut off part and IT WORKS. --- I did replace it with a new one and will keep the 5 ft. for who knows what.

Jim :beer
 
Had exactly the same thing on a Loran Antenna on an 86 Tolly. Can't tell you how old it was but I certainly can attest to how long the itching takes to go away !! (and you don't notice until after you handle it !!

Merv
 
Bascially the marine vhf antennas are a piece of wire, inside of the fiberglass tapered 8' tube. This is held in place with pieces of foam, and pulled in during manufacture. If you cut the wire, it will no longer be a good antenna, and the SWR will increase--a high SWR will shut down the final output transisters on the radio, to prevent damage, and you will be transmitting on a much lower power, if at all.

The antennas them selves are made of wire--and may be a 1/2 wave or 5/8 wave antenna, some may have a tuned stub and some have filters to reject spurious signals. Some are end fed; some are center fed. So if you try and resurect a broken antenna, you have to know how it was designed--and probably will need an antenna anaylizer to make sure you get it right when you solder it back together.

I have had the antennas splinter, in a boat which was used a lot in rough weather. I have delt with this in a temporary fashion either by splinting the antenna, with a piece of PVCP pipe over the broken area, or spiral wrapping it with 2" fiberglass and epoxy, after sanding.

The 36" whip I described in my earlier post, is a 3 db gain, and made by Shapespeare or Metz. The 2' SS extension screwd on the base, gets it a little ligher, and makes it less likely that a person will grab the actual antenna.
 
Back
Top