Re: [Paddlewise] VHF antennas [was: Weather radios]

From: James Lofton <n5yyx_at_etsc.net>
Date: Sun, 01 Mar 1998 18:21:29 -0800
TomTotem... wrote:
> 
>         Well...  as far as "VHF" goes, I have this neat Yeasu HT that puts out
> about 6.5 watts...  -Oh... You mean "Marine VHF"??? <sorry, couldn't
> resist>  I just bought a Standard, it's five watts also though.
> 
>         -Seems to me when I think about it, that the difference between 5 and 7
> watts from a *practical* stand point [note the word "practical"] is not
> that great.  The math escapes me right now, but I do remember the old
> principle that the antenna is the real key.
> 
>         Anyone rigged up a J-pole for marine VHF and used it on a kayak?  I really
> doubt that if one was in severe need of that extra gain, hooking one up
> would be, practical, but <shrug> who knows?  I'm just a no-code
> technician... [KB8UZD] <g>
> 
>                 Take care,
> 
>                         Tom

Twice the power only ='s 1 "s" unit on the radio or 3db.


No Tom, I havn't tried a J-pole on a kayak(which would work very nicely 
as it needs no ground plane), but you can improve any HT's preformance as 
you said by changing the antenna. I would think that the 5/8th wave 2M 
antenna's would work for marine VHF by just shortning the thing a tad. 
Lets face it, about anything will beat the rubber duck!
I have two folding kayaks. One an old "super" folbot. That model is 17.5 
feet long and I have made a mount on it that allows me to attach a HF 
mobile antenna to and work all over the world while only using 5W's(QRP). 
By changing antenna's(ham sticks) I work 15M through 75M while on the 
water! A simple 1/4 wave antenna with a ground plane will work good on 2M 
or the marine VHF band as well!
BTW: Tom, there is no such thing as "only" a no code tech!!

73
James

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Received on Sun Mar 01 1998 - 17:26:53 PST

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