Want to be able to lower my VHF and raise it back to overhead
 

Greetings -

I have an overhead-mounted VHF which works fine in that position, but I want to
be able to lower it to eye-height for certain things, such as using the Digital
Selective Calling menu. The normal screen is LCD sort of gray on lighter gray
and difficult for these old eyes to see with bifocals etc.

I looked at an arm sort of thing from Fisheries Supply and it was too short and
cumbersome. I wonder about a scissors-type lift. I would only need up/down,
not in-between.

I have tried to Google but apparently don't know how to ask the correct
question. I hope someone in this group has solved the problem and will share it
with me.

gm

Want to be able to lower my VHF and raise it back to overhead
 

On Sat, 20 Aug 2011 09:45:04 -0700, Gualtier Malde
wrote:

Greetings -

I have an overhead-mounted VHF which works fine in that position, but I want to
be able to lower it to eye-height for certain things, such as using the Digital
Selective Calling menu. The normal screen is LCD sort of gray on lighter gray
and difficult for these old eyes to see with bifocals etc.

I looked at an arm sort of thing from Fisheries Supply and it was too short and
cumbersome. I wonder about a scissors-type lift. I would only need up/down,
not in-between.

I have tried to Google but apparently don't know how to ask the correct
question. I hope someone in this group has solved the problem and will share it
with me.

====

You might be able to adapt one of those swing-out arms with the elbow
that they sell for HDTVs. Just turn it sideways and attach your VHF
bracket.

http://www.mountsmadesimple.com/products/MMS-MP-1025-%252d-Single-Arm-Articulating-Mount-for-10%22%252d25%22.html

In addition to getting it the right height, you also need to get the
right angle so you are looking directly at the display. Removing your
sun glasses might help also.

Want to be able to lower my VHF and raise it back to overhead
 

On Sat, 20 Aug 2011 09:45:04 -0700, Gualtier Malde
wrote:

Greetings -

I have an overhead-mounted VHF which works fine in that position, but I want to
be able to lower it to eye-height for certain things, such as using the Digital
Selective Calling menu. The normal screen is LCD sort of gray on lighter gray
and difficult for these old eyes to see with bifocals etc.

I looked at an arm sort of thing from Fisheries Supply and it was too short and
cumbersome. I wonder about a scissors-type lift. I would only need up/down,
not in-between.

I have tried to Google but apparently don't know how to ask the correct
question. I hope someone in this group has solved the problem and will share it
with me.

gm


I suspect that the main problem is whether the various wires going to
the radio are long enough to move it up and down. As far as the
mechanics I would think that one or another of the various television
wall mounts might be adapted. Another possibility might be to re-mount
the radio at an angle so that it is still over head but the screen and
controls are facing downward, at an angle, to be directly facing you
when you looked up.

Cheers,

Bruce

Want to be able to lower my VHF and raise it back to overhead
 

"Gualtier Malde" wrote in message
...
Greetings -

I have an overhead-mounted VHF which works fine in that position, but I
want to be able to lower it to eye-height for certain things, such as
using the Digital Selective Calling menu. The normal screen is LCD sort
of gray on lighter gray and difficult for these old eyes to see with
bifocals etc.

I looked at an arm sort of thing from Fisheries Supply and it was too
short and cumbersome. I wonder about a scissors-type lift. I would only
need up/down, not in-between.

I have tried to Google but apparently don't know how to ask the correct
question. I hope someone in this group has solved the problem and will
share it with me.

gm



You should consider making your own variable mount out of teak. It wouldn't
be all that difficult and it would look so spiffy.

Wilbur Hubbard

Want to be able to lower my VHF and raise it back to overhead
 

On 8/20/2011 5:09 PM, Wayne B wrote:
On Sat, 20 Aug 2011 09:45:04 -0700, Gualtier
wrote:

Greetings -

I have an overhead-mounted VHF which works fine in that position, but I want to
be able to lower it to eye-height for certain things, such as using the Digital
Selective Calling menu. The normal screen is LCD sort of gray on lighter gray
and difficult for these old eyes to see with bifocals etc.

I looked at an arm sort of thing from Fisheries Supply and it was too short and
cumbersome. I wonder about a scissors-type lift. I would only need up/down,
not in-between.

I have tried to Google but apparently don't know how to ask the correct
question. I hope someone in this group has solved the problem and will share it
with me.

====

You might be able to adapt one of those swing-out arms with the elbow
that they sell for HDTVs. Just turn it sideways and attach your VHF
bracket.

http://www.mountsmadesimple.com/products/MMS-MP-1025-%252d-Single-Arm-Articulating-Mount-for-10%22%252d25%22.html

In addition to getting it the right height, you also need to get the
right angle so you are looking directly at the display. Removing your
sun glasses might help also.

I tried that but there wasn't anyplace to mount the arm without having to do a
total reinstall.
Thanks

Want to be able to lower my VHF and raise it back to overhead
 

On 8/21/2011 5:27 AM, Bruce wrote:
On Sat, 20 Aug 2011 09:45:04 -0700, Gualtier
wrote:

Greetings -

I have an overhead-mounted VHF which works fine in that position, but I want to
be able to lower it to eye-height for certain things, such as using the Digital
Selective Calling menu. The normal screen is LCD sort of gray on lighter gray
and difficult for these old eyes to see with bifocals etc.

I looked at an arm sort of thing from Fisheries Supply and it was too short and
cumbersome. I wonder about a scissors-type lift. I would only need up/down,
not in-between.

I have tried to Google but apparently don't know how to ask the correct
question. I hope someone in this group has solved the problem and will share it
with me.

gm


I suspect that the main problem is whether the various wires going to
the radio are long enough to move it up and down. As far as the
mechanics I would think that one or another of the various television
wall mounts might be adapted. Another possibility might be to re-mount
the radio at an angle so that it is still over head but the screen and
controls are facing downward, at an angle, to be directly facing you
when you looked up.

Cheers,

Bruce
I do have a moderate amount of room and the cables can be extended some. Today
I undid the radio and lowered it manually to see what could settle for. I
found that if I could lower it 6", and with a tilt down, it should be visible,
and in that position we found no intolerable encroachment on our visibility
forward (After all, we have two other large windows which, in fact, we use more
than the one at the steering station itself.
I am thinking I will build a small box to act as a spacer.

Thanks for your reply.

Want to be able to lower my VHF and raise it back to overhead
 

On 8/21/2011 2:26 PM, Wilbur Hubbard wrote:
"Gualtier wrote in message
...
Greetings -

I have an overhead-mounted VHF which works fine in that position, but I
want to be able to lower it to eye-height for certain things, such as
using the Digital Selective Calling menu. The normal screen is LCD sort
of gray on lighter gray and difficult for these old eyes to see with
bifocals etc.

I looked at an arm sort of thing from Fisheries Supply and it was too
short and cumbersome. I wonder about a scissors-type lift. I would only
need up/down, not in-between.

I have tried to Google but apparently don't know how to ask the correct
question. I hope someone in this group has solved the problem and will
share it with me.

gm



You should consider making your own variable mount out of teak. It wouldn't
be all that difficult and it would look so spiffy.

Wilbur Hubbard
\
Exactly. See above. I had developed a fixed idea about a lower/raise device
that I had not actually checked to see what I needed: less drop and no need for
raising it from that position. I have some light teak boards - here goes!

Thank you.

Want to be able to lower my VHF and raise it back to overhead
 

You should consider making your own variable mount out of teak. It
wouldn't be all that difficult and it would look so spiffy.

Wilbur Hubbard

This from the guy who recommended making a piece of furniture (cockpit
table, another thread) from Starboard...

Cheers, Wilbur :{)) You battened down, yet?

L8R

Skip and crew


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Want to be able to lower my VHF and raise it back to overhead
 

On Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:17:20 -0400, "Flying Pig"
wrote:

You should consider making your own variable mount out of teak. It
wouldn't be all that difficult and it would look so spiffy.

Wilbur Hubbard

This from the guy who recommended making a piece of furniture (cockpit
table, another thread) from Starboard...

====

Actually I've had reasonably good success making things out of
starboard. The stuff is easy to work, hell for stout, durable, and
looks pretty good if polished up and/or faced with teak.

Want to be able to lower my VHF and raise it back to overhead
 

"Gualtier Malde" wrote in message
...
On 8/21/2011 5:27 AM, Bruce wrote:
On Sat, 20 Aug 2011 09:45:04 -0700, Gualtier
wrote:

Greetings -

I have an overhead-mounted VHF which works fine in that position, but I
want to
be able to lower it to eye-height for certain things, such as using the
Digital
Selective Calling menu. The normal screen is LCD sort of gray on
lighter gray
and difficult for these old eyes to see with bifocals etc.

I looked at an arm sort of thing from Fisheries Supply and it was too
short and
cumbersome. I wonder about a scissors-type lift. I would only need
up/down,
not in-between.

I have tried to Google but apparently don't know how to ask the correct
question. I hope someone in this group has solved the problem and will
share it
with me.

gm


I suspect that the main problem is whether the various wires going to
the radio are long enough to move it up and down. As far as the
mechanics I would think that one or another of the various television
wall mounts might be adapted. Another possibility might be to re-mount
the radio at an angle so that it is still over head but the screen and
controls are facing downward, at an angle, to be directly facing you
when you looked up.

Cheers,

Bruce
I do have a moderate amount of room and the cables can be extended some.
Today I undid the radio and lowered it manually to see what could settle
for. I found that if I could lower it 6", and with a tilt down, it should
be visible, and in that position we found no intolerable encroachment on
our visibility forward (After all, we have two other large windows which,
in fact, we use more than the one at the steering station itself.
I am thinking I will build a small box to act as a spacer.

Thanks for your reply.




Maybe you should get a wireless remote microphone that you can just hold in
your hand to see what you need to see. I have one of these (older model than
shown) and it works great.

http://www.uniden.com/marine-electro...os/invt/whamg/

Wilbur Hubbard