wrote:
Sorry Chuck, but with frequency modulation (used with marine VHF
radios), the 'loudness' of a received signal has *nothing to do* with
the transmitter's power output or quality of the antenna system. Asking
"can you hear me now?" of a fellow mariner in the same harbor seems a
dubious way of checking the integrity of a vital communications system.

Disagree, Mike. My recommendation was
that the squelch be turned down so that
hiss could be heard. FM carriers of
different strengths will differ in the
amount of quieting they produce. It's
pretty intuitive. Even with the squelch
on, weaker signals may not break the
squelch. You're probably thinking of the
limiter function in an FM receiver which
irons out changes in amplitude from the
modulation. But that's not involved in
the weak signal test I suggested.

But I sure agree that "can you hear me
now?" won't do it.

Remember the objective as you yourself
correctly stated it: looking for more
range than the handheld (or,is the Quest
louder than the handheld). With the
squelch down and a distant station
cooperating, I see no reason a simple
and positive comparison of the two
radios can't be made.

Regarding coax, usually there is no
deterioration of the copper itself,
although braids are sometimes eaten away
in a marine environment. What happens is
that the dielectric changes as it
becomes contaminated. Measure the
capacitance of a piece of coax that's
been in a boat for ten years. Additional
shunt capacitance will attenuate
signals. Measure the leakage resistance
between the center conductor and the
braid and compare that to a new cable.

Many sailboats have coax connectors in
or near the bilge at the base of the
mast to facilitate dismasting, and these
connectors tend to be contaminated after
many years.

Chuck

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