One of my two ship to shore radios doesn't seem to transmit more than a few
miles on high power. Within that range I'm told it is loud and clear. I
suspect I'm not receiving as much with it either which makes me suspect the
problem is in the antenna or connection. Is there a way to test this short
of investing a fortune? The antenna is a 15 year old Shakespeare. Other
things to consider? Thanks in advance,

Bob Kassal
Chateau de Mer

When you say ship to shore, are you talking about VHF or Marine High
Frequency Single Side Band?  If VH, you could mount one of this emergency
antennas (little roll-up deals, you should carry one just in case you loose
the main antennae anyway) and see if the radio does any better.  If your
signal gets better, it's the antennae.  The other is a bit more of a bother.

If Marine SSB, I'd also suspect a grounding problem in the antennae system,
depending on exactly how things are hooked up.

Frankly, I wouldn't waste a lot of time trouble shooting this.  Nothing
lasts forever, particularly fiberglass whip antennas.  How many bridges have
you smacked the antennas on when you run under?  Are the tips shattered and
frayed?  Has water migrated down the old cheap coax that came with a lot of
older installations to the radio?  I opened up a radio not long ago where
this had happened.

Although I usually go for a bit more testing, since the radio is working I
think I'd junk the antenna and restring with quality waterproof Ancor coax
right off the bat. It's time.  It's not expensive.  And it's in this case I
think it's probably a good first step that has about a 100% chance of curing
your problems.  If it's Marine SSB, we'll need to talk more.

Rick

Rick the Mouseherder - nh2f
Westsail 32 Xapic, Hull #438
Cabo San Juan, Puerto Rico

A small boat and a suitcase full of money
beats a 40 footer tied to the Bank.

Creative graphic solutions in vinyl for your boat lettering & designs
http://www.mouseherder.com

Visit our Westsail 32 Xapic
http://www.mouseherder.com/xapic

The Westsail Owners Assn. Homepage
http://www.westsail.org

=-----Original Message-----
=From: owner-trawler-world-list@samurai.com
=[mailto:owner-trawler-world-list@samurai.com]On Behalf Of Robert Kassal
=Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2001 00:28
=To: TW List
=Subject: TWL: SS radios

=
=One of my two ship to shore radios doesn't seem to transmit more than a few
=miles on high power. Within that range I'm told it is loud and clear. I
=suspect I'm not receiving as much with it either which makes me suspect the
=problem is in the antenna or connection. Is there a way to test this short
=of investing a fortune? The antenna is a 15 year old Shakespeare. Other
=things to consider? Thanks in advance,

=Bob Kassal
=Chateau de Mer

=