Re antenna performance: You can make sure that the power you send into the
cable actually end out in the air and not just being reflected to the radio.
To meassure this use a "SWR meter" that can be bought in any HAM shop for
approx 50 dollar (low end but quite OK to meassure a boat antenna).

Eksample: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/produc...rodid=MFJ-812B (maybe
to cheap, ask for advise in a shop or in a ham newsgroup)

Bjarke





"luc" wrote in message
oups.com...
What is the difference between AIS and DSC? They seem very similar,
use VHF etc. Also, is it possible to test a VHF antenna for optimal
performance?

thanks,

Luc