[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Blu_Lunch

CB SWR meter is not accurate at marine bands frequencies 155 MHZ vs 27 MHZ for CB they usually good for up to 30 MHZ. Buy a good quality UHF/VHF coax, CB/ham HF coax has line loss at VHF frequencies, I use mil-spec silver-Teflon pl-259/n connectors on all my ham/marine radio's. High SWR conditions radios have self protection to save the final TX transistors will cut back power by over 90% . Ask a ham operator to help with a SWR meter if you do not have the correct meter, if you do not know one look here www.qrz.com/db/?cmd=1
type you zip code and a list of local hams will come up we are more than happy to help.

Blu, this is a much shortened reply. I lost the long version to a programming glitch, and I don't have the time to redo it all.

I agree with you and I know that a CB SWR meter is not as accurate as a VHF SWR meter for checking VHF rigs. I said as much in my previous posts. My point was that there was a cute trick that someone could use to do a quickie check of their VHF radio using a CB SWR meter. While it's not nearly as accurate as using a VHF/UHF SWR meter, it's a lot cheaper and as a spot check it works just fine. Reread the post to see how it's done, then give it a try. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how well it works.

My father built his first crystal radio in 1927. He was an avid ham (W2PY) and only used code, sending and receiving at well over a hundred words a minute with the use of a bug. (Semi-automatic key) I swear that he was teaching us (his 6 kids) about radios before we could walk. I know that I soldered my first joint before I was 6.

He died on Jan 1, 2000.

A gentleman named Mike (Amateur Extra class) who lives in Scottsdale, Az picked up his call sign, so while my dad is dead, at least W2PY is still on the air. So all in all, I have a fair background in ham and CB radio and have in fact built several of my own CB beam and ground plane antennas.

I completely agree with you that silver plated connectors are the way to go, and said as much in my other post. (and please buy ones made in the USA) As to the cable, that's another story. Don't forget that most VHF antennas come with the RG58 cable already attached on the antenna side and cut to the proper length for the antenna's wave form. Also, on a V20 boat, the normal physical length of the run for the cable is less than 6' from the mounting point of the antenna to the radio. My point is that a good cable like RG8U or RG213 would be pointless to run since it's length and bulk would simple get it in the way, and unless the antenna had a SO239 connector at the bottom would not be able to be used anyways.

Thanks for including that link to local hams. I didn't have that one and it's a good thing to keep handy.