Antennas...

[Blu_Lunch]

I read the ad for the antenna, they state there "hand tuned" I've been a ham for over 20 years and you need to check your SWR with a VHF 144MHZ meter it's really important you want a 1:1 to 1:3 reading, the higher it gets more RF is reflected back in to the radio and will burn your TX finals out. I would be careful of the placement antenna close to electronics, it will play hell when you TX. Don't use a splitter they do cause losses and with a 4db gain you could save money and use a coathanger instead.

[Bygracealone]

Blu, given your comment about the gain, I take it your saying I should stick with an 8 foot antenna? Whether digital or not, I believe I can't do better than 4db with a 4 foot antenna...

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated. I'm clueless when it comes to this stuff.

[jjjtronics]

BGAlone,
Your VHF radio and its antenna, are the most important gadget in any boat.
In case of an emergency, your Marine VHF is the best chance of getting help from boaters in the area, and those boaters are the only ones who can reach your boat quickly. A cell phone is great, but our friends on land can not do much without a boat.
As already said, ANYTHING you install between the radio and the antenna, ( besides the needed coax cable of course ), induces losses in signal strenght and, adds chances for connection problems, etc.
The best and most expensive radio unit, is worthless without a good and properly installed and tuned antenna system. An improperly installed antenna, specially a shorted connector/cable install, renders the antenna useless and will damage the radio.
I recommend getting an 8 foot, 6db gain Shakespeare unit. They are long lasting and VERY reliable. Then have a local Ham radio guy or radio tech do an SWR check after the install.
I think antennas make a boat look good if installed with style and properly.
Your music radio antenna can even be hidden inside the hull and still work because of the high power from local radio stations.
Also, I never leave the Marina until I do a radio check ( on low RF power ) and verify my VHF radio. If my boat ever starts sinking, I will reach someone to haul my Family and me out of the "Blue Pool" with sharks and else...

[Blu_Lunch]

Ham operator can help you out. Try this link for QRZ database type you town and state hit search and all the hams in your town will be displayed, click there names and addresses will be displayed.. Buy the best attenna with the highest gain possible
Ted KE1DK look me up in the database

http://www.qrz.com/db/?cmd=1

[Blu_Lunch]

Here is a excellent really informative marine antenna page; anybody needs a clarification on something I could try to help make sense of it............

http://members.toast.net/boatguy/vhfant.htm

[Bygracealone]

Originally Posted by Blu_Lunch

Here is a excellent easy to understand marine antenna basics

http://members.toast.net/boatguy/vhfant.htm

Thanks for this Blu. I'll give it a read.

[jjjtronics]

BGAlone,
The SP 5101 or 02 are both great, and not expensive. There are other brands also good but SP I have installed many and they are simply a standard on quality and price. The 6db gain SP are all good. The more expensive ones have better looking finish and looks, but are electrically similar. S.P. normally come with the connector NOT installed, to allow you to easily route the thin coax via a small hole. Installing the COAX connector ( CB type PL-259 ) is NOT easy, you will need a GOOD and powerfull solder iron or gun, so the HAM radio guy idea is what you want, besides, they are ALL great and very friendly guys/gals.
An 8' AM/FM is OK if you want more range, and that way you will match both sides and the boat will look even, that is what I have, but if you have strong local stations for FM, you won`t need a big AM/FM antenna. With my 8' FM antenna I can receive St. Thomas stations which play AWESOME Reggae music, from 40+ miles away, with a shorty one, that will not be possible for me.

[Blu_Lunch]

Am Fm antenna will not interfere because you can't TX on them. Remember every 3 DB of gain, you double your ERP {Effective Radiated Power} of your radio. Hams are always willing to help out, use The QRZ database to find someone . I case your wondering QRZ in the old amateur radio Q signal's that date back to Morse code days stands for "Who's calling me"

[Bygracealone]

Originally Posted by jjjtronics

BGAlone,
The SP 5101 or 02 are both great, and not expensive. There are other brands also good but SP I have installed many and they are simply a standard on quality and price. The 6db gain SP are all good. The more expensive ones have better looking finish and looks, but are electrically similar. S.P. normally come with the connector NOT installed, to allow you to easily route the thin coax via a small hole. Installing the COAX connector ( CB type PL-259 ) is NOT easy, you will need a GOOD and powerfull solder iron or gun, so the HAM radio guy idea is what you want, besides, they are ALL great and very friendly guys/gals.
An 8' AM/FM is OK if you want more range, and that way you will match both sides and the boat will look even, that is what I have, but if you have strong local stations for FM, you won`t need a big AM/FM antenna. With my 8' FM antenna I can receive St. Thomas stations which play AWESOME Reggae music, from 40+ miles away, with a shorty one, that will not be possible for me.

JJ, have you ever seen these? I think they're new and were probably made because of the many complaints people have made about the difficulty of installing the connector:

http://shakespeare-marine.com/connec...ck=pl-259-cp-g

Do you think this will do the trick?

[Bygracealone]

Gracias hermano (JJ)...

Okay, I'll go with the 8 foot Shakespeare. Is there really that much difference between the models? I understand the 5225 XP is the top of the line, but would a 5101 or a 5202 get the job done well?

Also, do AM/FM antennas interfere with electronics too? Would it be okay to put a short AM/FM antenna on the console or should that also be an 8 footer installed on the opposite side of the boat?