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#1
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posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Hi, y'all,
I've been active on the cruiser's net here in Abaco, and this morning one of the neighboring boats with a radio and antenna guru aboard called me after to say that after about a minute of continuous transmission I got faint, though still very clear. Another station chimed into the conversation to say they had the same result. The original boat is right next to me, so distance or atmospheric stuff was not a factor His opinion was either corrosion in the cable which might have an effect, or the radio heating up from continuous tx. As I'm heading back to the states with a pretty big to-do list shortly, for a month, I could send it off to Uniden for a look. Wilbur, here, isn't a great fan of this particular radio, citing other problems which increased over time. Anyone else have this experience with this or other radios, identified it as something other than the radio, and have the solution? My antenna feed for the current installation runs in our bilge, and our rudder post is currently in need of repacking, sending a constant stream of water down the bilge/limberholes, where I expect there's at least one connection. While that and any other connex are professionally done, I expect some water COULD have penetrated. I'll have a look at that, first, but would appreciate experienced input. Thanks, y'all L8R Skip, in the Bahamas for another few days before a month ashore -- Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig KI4MPC See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery ! Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog "You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it however." (and) "There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hand (Richard Bach) |
#2
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posted to rec.boats.cruising
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![]() "Flying Pig" wrote in message ... My antenna feed for the current installation runs in our bilge, Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe! |
#3
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posted to rec.boats.cruising
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On Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:53:52 -0500, "Flying Pig"
wrote: My antenna feed for the current installation runs in our bilge, and our rudder post is currently in need of repacking, sending a constant stream of water down the bilge/limberholes, where I expect there's at least one connection. While that and any other connex are professionally done, I expect some water COULD have penetrated. I'll have a look at that, first, but would appreciate experienced input. IMHO the only wiring of any kind that belongs in the bilge is the circuit for the bilge pump. Everything else will be much happier in a dry location, especially if there are connectors involved. Just about all wiring insulation develops pin hole leaks over time and salt water intrusion will turn the finest copper into green powder in no time at all. I am not a big fan of Uniden electronics, preferring ICOM and Standard for VHF radios. That said, the first step is to eliminate the feedline and masthead antenna as possible suspects. Since we are talking about short range, just about any kind of test antenna will do, even a stub of wire about 18 inches long. Connect a test antenna right at the radio and see if the problem recurs. If so you've got a Uniden problem or a 12 volt power problem. You can eliminate power as an issue with a voltmeter connected near the radio. |
#4
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posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Hi, Wayne, and future viewers.
It should be noted that I have termed the path for the water which comes from the rudder post down the Vee in the hull, well above any usual bilge, as the bilge in this case. Any water which could enter the lazarette area also flows on this path. So, it's not a standing water situation, and there was no practical route to get the antenna from the helm to the arch other than that - and, that's where it was when we got the boat - so, that's where it is, still. It's a Shakespeare stick so has their pigtail of whatever length it was, then a connector to the cable to the helm. If it weren't for that, I'd probably replace that cable at the same time I'm doing the mast one. I'll try to find someone with a SWR meter here tomorrow morning before we head out to our anchorage prior to going into the dock where we'll be leaving Flying Pig, and give it a whirl. I also have the little cable and the mast-top antenna which proved the cable at fault in the original explorations; it will be easy for me to get a boat buddy to listen while I read some story or something on a remote channel and see if that cured it. That shortie, BTW, is LMR400, so should be fine for the test. I don't expect it's got much in the way of SWR issues :{)) As to sagging power, with an 880AH bank, I doubt that's a problem, BICBW :{)) That said, this radio has, regardless of source, often given a "low battery" display long before I'd have expected it in terms of the "ambient" (under load) voltage, and without transmission, so perhaps that's a radio issue... L8R Skip Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig KI4MPC See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery ! Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog "You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it however." (and) "There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hand (Richard Bach) |
#5
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posted to rec.boats.cruising
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On Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:14:31 -0500, "Flying Pig"
wrote: I'll try to find someone with a SWR meter here tomorrow morning before we head out to our anchorage prior to going into the dock where we'll be leaving Flying Pig, and give it a whirl. One of the quirks of waterlogged coax is that it can exhibit a perfect 1:1 SWR ratio while transmitting little or no power because the signal loss is so high that nothing gets reflected back to the SWR meter. I also have the little cable and the mast-top antenna which proved the cable at fault in the original explorations; it will be easy for me to get a boat buddy to listen while I read some story or something on a remote channel and see if that cured it. That shortie, BTW, is LMR400, so should be fine for the test. I don't expect it's got much in the way of SWR issues :{)) OK As to sagging power, with an 880AH bank, I doubt that's a problem, Agreed but you could have a bad connection which is heating up under load. |
#6
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posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Wayne.B wrote:
On Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:14:31 -0500, "Flying Pig" wrote: I'll try to find someone with a SWR meter here tomorrow morning before we head out to our anchorage prior to going into the dock where we'll be leaving Flying Pig, and give it a whirl. One of the quirks of waterlogged coax is that it can exhibit a perfect 1:1 SWR ratio while transmitting little or no power because the signal loss is so high that nothing gets reflected back to the SWR meter. I also have the little cable and the mast-top antenna which proved the cable at fault in the original explorations; it will be easy for me to get a boat buddy to listen while I read some story or something on a remote channel and see if that cured it. That shortie, BTW, is LMR400, so should be fine for the test. I don't expect it's got much in the way of SWR issues :{)) OK As to sagging power, with an 880AH bank, I doubt that's a problem, Agreed but you could have a bad connection which is heating up under load. What Wayne said... From what I've seen of "professional" work (unless you did it yourself and know), it would be worth checking. |
#7
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posted to rec.boats.cruising
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In article ,
cavelamb wrote: What Wayne said... From what I've seen of "professional" work (unless you did it yourself and know), it would be worth checking. I think this whole discussion ,is just about as funny a thread ,as I have read, in months. If you don't have the right tools, and know what you are doing, you just "****ing into the Wind"... Yes, there are a few "Professionals" around who don't have Clue One, and there are some that can't afford to buy the "Correct Tools" to do the job. If you want a real Marine Radioman, you need to pay for his Knowledge, Service, and his Test Equipment.... or you can stumble around and learn it yourself, after much Trial and Error..... SaltyDog isn't even close to being a REAL Marine Radioman..... and his attempt to sidetrack the discussion, by introducing a Trivial, and for all Practical Purposes, irrelevant factor into the thread, is so silly as to show a lack of intelligence in the field. Oh well, folks can believe what they will, but it doesn't change the FACTS... and the issues at hand.... Wilbur, Well we all know about Wilbur... Enough said on that front.... -- Bruce in alaska add path after fast to reply |
#8
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On Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:48:25 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote: On Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:14:31 -0500, "Flying Pig" wrote: I'll try to find someone with a SWR meter here tomorrow morning before we head out to our anchorage prior to going into the dock where we'll be leaving Flying Pig, and give it a whirl. One of the quirks of waterlogged coax is that it can exhibit a perfect 1:1 SWR ratio while transmitting little or no power because the signal loss is so high that nothing gets reflected back to the SWR meter. I also have the little cable and the mast-top antenna which proved the cable at fault in the original explorations; it will be easy for me to get a boat buddy to listen while I read some story or something on a remote channel and see if that cured it. That shortie, BTW, is LMR400, so should be fine for the test. I don't expect it's got much in the way of SWR issues :{)) OK As to sagging power, with an 880AH bank, I doubt that's a problem, Agreed but you could have a bad connection which is heating up under load. Accurate SWR measurements also require clear dry conditions. An overcast day will affect the readings. |
#9
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#10
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