HK wrote:
Eisboch wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..
Eisboch wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..

You're kidding about the difficulty in putting a connector on
properly, aren't you? I've done it at least a dozen times over the
years the old fashioned way (never used one of the quickie "crimp"
connectors).
Harry, the connector is not the issue (assuming it's done in a
decent manner).
The proper loading of any RF antenna is a complex relationship of
the designed output impedance of the radio, the characteristic
impedance of the transmission line (cable) and the impedance of the
antenna.

Higher powered RF transmitters have tuning boxes between the radio
output and the transmission line/antenna arrangement that
effectively changes the length with capacitors and inductors to
optimize power transfer.

I agree that at 25 watts and a on typical boat installation it isn't
going to make much difference.
To an RF engineer, it will all look and operate like trash anyway.

Eisboch
As I said, so long as I can reach the Coast Guard, I don't really
care much about VHF communication. We have really good cell coverage
most everywhere on the Bay.


Until that Yamaha coughs, you drop your cell phone overboard, the wind
is picking up, water splashing over that LT, and your radio's output
stage sizzles because the SWR ratio is 4 to 1 or something. :-)


I am a nerd about this stuff and set the boat's radio systems up with
SWR meters because I can't help it. The result though is that I can
communicate easily with boats 20 miles away.

Eisboch



I've listened to the usual channels on VHF for hours at a time and
hardly ever hear much conversation. I can call the CG on my VHF, and
maybe with all the breaks some other boater within range will come by
for a look see. But unless you are in one of the higher boater density
areas, you're mostly all along out there. Where I fish for flounder, I
can go half the day without seeing another boat.

Frankly, I think we need something a lot better than VHF, some variant
of marine cell (not satellite) for in shore and near shore. The bigger
offshore boats that sink, well, we need more fishing reefs anyway, right?

Harry how often do you fish for flounder. It is one of my favorites,
and if I had founder available, I might just take up fishing.

Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:
HK wrote:
Eisboch wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..
Eisboch wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..

You're kidding about the difficulty in putting a connector on
properly, aren't you? I've done it at least a dozen times over the
years the old fashioned way (never used one of the quickie "crimp"
connectors).
Harry, the connector is not the issue (assuming it's done in a
decent manner).
The proper loading of any RF antenna is a complex relationship of
the designed output impedance of the radio, the characteristic
impedance of the transmission line (cable) and the impedance of the
antenna.

Higher powered RF transmitters have tuning boxes between the radio
output and the transmission line/antenna arrangement that
effectively changes the length with capacitors and inductors to
optimize power transfer.

I agree that at 25 watts and a on typical boat installation it
isn't going to make much difference.
To an RF engineer, it will all look and operate like trash anyway.

Eisboch
As I said, so long as I can reach the Coast Guard, I don't really
care much about VHF communication. We have really good cell coverage
most everywhere on the Bay.


Until that Yamaha coughs, you drop your cell phone overboard, the
wind is picking up, water splashing over that LT, and your radio's
output stage sizzles because the SWR ratio is 4 to 1 or something.
:-)


I am a nerd about this stuff and set the boat's radio systems up with
SWR meters because I can't help it. The result though is that I can
communicate easily with boats 20 miles away.

Eisboch



I've listened to the usual channels on VHF for hours at a time and
hardly ever hear much conversation. I can call the CG on my VHF, and
maybe with all the breaks some other boater within range will come by
for a look see. But unless you are in one of the higher boater density
areas, you're mostly all along out there. Where I fish for flounder, I
can go half the day without seeing another boat.

Frankly, I think we need something a lot better than VHF, some variant
of marine cell (not satellite) for in shore and near shore. The bigger
offshore boats that sink, well, we need more fishing reefs anyway, right?

Harry how often do you fish for flounder. It is one of my favorites,
and if I had founder available, I might just take up fishing.



If the Bay is calm or at least absent hard chop, I run the nine miles
over to the other side (the western shore of the Eastern Shore, as it
were), and fish the drop-offs (where the underwater depth transitions
sharply from 20' to 30' usually with live bait, such as minnows. I'd
love to try live shrimp, but there aren't any that I've been able to
locate for sale up here. If I go out four or five times a month, I'll
try for flounder two or three times, assuming appropriate conditions.

The flounder fishing in NE Florida is about 1000% better in the ICW and
in its creeks and under its docks. The fishing in the Bay up here is no
better than mediocre, compared to Florida. It's significantly better
down at the mouth of the Bay, near Virginia Beach, where the Bay flows
into the Atlantic Ocean.

On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:09:22 -0400, HK wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:44:13 -0400, HK wrote:

VHF is just a clunky way to communicate when you have cell
phones and friends out in boats with cell phones.

Tell me, just out of curiosity, what is your understanding of how cell
phones work?


Let's see. I dial a phone number on my cell, I hear ringing, and either
the person I am calling answers, or I get his voice mail. The Bay
shoreline is peppered with cell towers; the only dead spot I have
encountered in years here is in the marina.

Do I need to know more about how cell phones work? Do I need a SWR meter
for my built in cell antenna? Directions in pushing the number keys?

Keys? I always call them buttons. I better find the cell manual.
This is one of those so far f**ked up threads with no answer for me
yet, but we'll get there.
There's at least 2 eccentrics with radio backgrounds slinging ****,
and one seemingly normal guy who stated the only useful info - he
commonly talks 20 miles with his VHF. But even he has some kind
of wave gizmo to constantly check that his signals are "tuned."
Bunch of weirdos. And us cell phone guys have to rely on them?

--Vic

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:58:32 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

I am a nerd about this stuff and set the boat's radio systems up with SWR
meters because I can't help it.

Amen brother - amen.

I have an antenna tuner under the console so if I need to retune to
get the best match, I can.

Now that's obcessive. :)

Putting on a connector without the proper tools can also suck. I can
install connectors, but after doing a thousand or two in the USAF, you get
fairly good. But people nick the center conductor and and install the radio
without an SWR meter. You can adjust the SWR on any fixed mount Icom from
what I know. My M45 has a screw in the back to adjust to the impedence.
The major problem I have with most of the fixed radios is the lack of a
decent speaker. I have a remote speaker and that is also to small to be
heard clearly while running.

On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:09:22 -0400, HK wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:44:13 -0400, HK wrote:

VHF is just a clunky way to communicate when you have cell
phones and friends out in boats with cell phones.

Tell me, just out of curiosity, what is your understanding of how cell
phones work?


Let's see. I dial a phone number on my cell, I hear ringing, and either
the person I am calling answers, or I get his voice mail. The Bay
shoreline is peppered with cell towers; the only dead spot I have
encountered in years here is in the marina.

Do I need to know more about how cell phones work? Do I need a SWR meter
for my built in cell antenna? Directions in pushing the number keys?

I was just curious - that's all.

On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:33:34 -0500, John H.
wrote:



Well, it's not beat to death yet. I'm getting conflicting views on this
antenna cable length. I really don't like having 20' of cable coiled up in
the console. There's not much space there already.

But, I'll do what I have to do.

Hang in there John. It'll wash out. Maybe.

--Vic

John H. wrote:
On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:53:20 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:37:27 +0000, Larry wrote:

It's not on larger boats, either. At 55' atop the mainmast of an Amel
Sharki 40 ketch, the Metz easily outperforms the 8' monsters, which must
be mounted lower.
What - you work for them or something?

Metz antennas are crap - always have been, always will be.

Junk.

Tom, according to the Metz website, they are used by the Coast Guard. This
is also said on other sites I've visited. See: http://tinyurl.com/22m7sy

Is there a specific reason you don't like them, the Metz Manta 6
specifically?


I had a Metz on one of my Seapros. It disintegrated. Replaced it with a
Shakespeare that was problem-free. Had a Digital brand antenna on Father
Yo Ho.

"John H." wrote in message
...


Well, it's not beat to death yet. I'm getting conflicting views on this
antenna cable length. I really don't like having 20' of cable coiled up in
the console. There's not much space there already.

But, I'll do what I have to do.


Don't worry about it. Cut it, but leave about 12 feet total.

Eisboch

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...

Keys? I always call them buttons. I better find the cell manual.
This is one of those so far f**ked up threads with no answer for me
yet, but we'll get there.
There's at least 2 eccentrics with radio backgrounds slinging ****,
and one seemingly normal guy who stated the only useful info - he
commonly talks 20 miles with his VHF. But even he has some kind
of wave gizmo to constantly check that his signals are "tuned."
Bunch of weirdos. And us cell phone guys have to rely on them?

--Vic

If I sound "seemingly normal", you need to have a chat with Mrs.E. :-)

Eisboch

On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:36:58 -0500, John H.
wrote:

On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:53:20 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:37:27 +0000, Larry wrote:

It's not on larger boats, either. At 55' atop the mainmast of an Amel
Sharki 40 ketch, the Metz easily outperforms the 8' monsters, which must
be mounted lower.

What - you work for them or something?

Metz antennas are crap - always have been, always will be.

Junk.

Tom, according to the Metz website, they are used by the Coast Guard. This
is also said on other sites I've visited. See: http://tinyurl.com/22m7sy

Is there a specific reason you don't like them, the Metz Manta 6
specifically?

Yes - they are junk.

End of story.

And their warranty sucks.

Oh - did I mention they are junk?