vhf antenna connector - Page 2

Destroyer · #11 01-02-2011, 06:55 PM

Well, if all you really wanted to do was check your VHF SWR's there's a really neat trick you can do to use a CB SWR meter to do it. As mentioned I still have my SWR meter(s) from CB days One is a Micronta (Radio Shack) 3 dial (power/modulation/swr) unit and the other is a cheapie $5 special CB SWR meter. They really don***8217;t work all that well on VHF but there***8217;s a trick you can do that will net a reasonably accurate SWR reading. What you do is connect up the meter as usual, key the mike with the switch in the forward power position, then set the adjustment for full scale. Now, without touching anything, swap the coax connections so that the radio is connected to the ***8220;antenna***8221; side of the meter, and the antenna is connected to the ***8220;transciever***8221; side. The reading you'll then see on the meter will be very close to your real SWR's. The closer to 1:1 your SWR is, the more accurate it will be. It would be more accurate to have a real VHF/UHF SWR meter but they can cost $50-100. For a quick antenna check after an install or if you have doubts about your system the $5 CB meters work OK.

Blu_Lunch · #12 01-04-2011, 08:17 AM

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.

Destroyer · #13 01-04-2011, 01:19 PM

MJ .... WHY does the server log you out after you log in? I just spent the better part of an hour answering Blu_Lunch's post, only to loose it all because the server logged me out, and when I retyped my name and password to log in again it said that my post could not be processed because I was previously logged in??? What the hell does that mean??? What a complete waste of time. Now I have to retype the entire post again.

macojoe · #14 01-04-2011, 02:21 PM

The server is acting funny today?? We have done all we can on are end, the slowness and stuff is on the server end.
We have complained and moved servers but this is what we can afford and have not found a good server??
Its like a cell phone you never know how it will work unless you buy and find out

if any one knows of a good server out there for cheap let me know!!

Destroyer · #15 01-04-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macojoe

The server is acting funny today?? We have done all we can on are end, the slowness and stuff is on the server end.
We have complained and moved servers but this is what we can afford and have not found a good server??
Its like a cell phone you never know how it will work unless you buy and find out

if any one knows of a good server out there for cheap let me know!!

Naaa... I don't think it's the server itself.... more like a setting in the program. I know that when I'm at home at my computer I join the site and since I have it set to remember me there's no problem, I can take as long as I want and I'll still be logged in. But here at work I don't have it set to remember me, so after I log in it doesn't remember me and logs me out after a certain amount of minutes. Wierd. I apologise btw... I didn't mean it to sound like I was yelling .. it was just frustrating to use your lunch hour answering a post, only to loose it all because of some programming glitch.

macojoe · #16 01-04-2011, 03:24 PM

nope you not a pain, we have been having some issues for a while, just nothing i can do about it

Destroyer · #17 01-04-2011, 03:39 PM

Quote:

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.

spanishmak · #18 01-06-2011, 03:32 PM

Man you guys justgave me a bigtime 70's flashback wit the cb's and the 1/2 wave antennas and the d 104 mike WOW!!GOOD OLD DAYS HUH??

Destroyer · #19 01-06-2011, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spanishmak

Man you guys justgave me a bigtime 70's flashback wit the cb's and the 1/2 wave antennas and the d 104 mike WOW!!GOOD OLD DAYS HUH??

For the most part it was a great time. Be careful Spanish... you're dating yourself..lol cheers!!

Blue_Runner · #20 01-07-2011, 01:00 PM

Destoyer could it be something in your browser settings are different b/t work and home?

Whenever I'm typing a long response I normally open a text editor such as wordpad or notepad and copy/paste (control + c = copy and control + p = paste) into it while I am writing. That way if something happens to the browser or server when I hit "submit" I still have it. Been burned too many times with exactly what happened to you! Or you can just type it in the text editor to begin with, THEN paste it into the forum thread.