Will my VHF antenna still work if the tip broke off? Its about 3 feet shorter now. I thought I remember reading that the main form of transmission comes from the tip. Is this correct?
The top end is the radiant end. Your stick is doing more damage than good rite now. Time to replace. On some 2 piece antennas, the top section is available by itself. Lots of the regular outlets do not have the big sticks in inventory. Been replacing antennas all around and the prices (then shipping) on the big sticks are outrageous. Don't forget to bring a defibrillator for your checkbook. Thought I was going to need CPR, when I got a shipping bill.
Just replaced two of the 19 ft Shakespeare antennas as the old ones had lost most of their finish and touching them usually resulted on a handful of fiberglass splinters. The shipping to my installer which had to be by truck was $265.00.
Drop ship from Shakespeare to Jax, for 4 big sticks taped together, $573. 1) 393 1) 5309-R 2) 4018 It's the big one Elizabeth !!
Just curious, what sort of range can you get out of a 19' stick? With just a roll bar mounted 5', the last time I tried a radio check with the CG, I had a loud and clear signal from almost 80Nm offshore. I would think that even a much better and more expensive antenna would struggle to do much better, on VHF band...?
I replaced my 19ft sticks with commercial 4ft SS from Morad out of Seattle I think. They provided me with 15ft aluminum extrusions that were 2 PC's , this made the shipping standard and not oversize. This very reasonable in price and Morad antennas are THE antenna for the west coast fishing fleet. They said they were going to add my custom build to there regular inventory since it's now engineered. I'll look for a picture of my install. This is my contacts info. This was started in 2019 finished in2020. Dan Hisey Morad Antenna Co. 3125 Mercer Ave., #106 Bellingham, WA 98225 (206) 789-2525 www.Morad.com Sales@Morad.com
The bigger the stick, the better the DB gain and signal envelope. Keeping mind the VHF signal is line of sight plus 2% maybe. That CG station must have had a very tall tower themselves. This last order also included the 23' sticks.
This is my install. The aft 2 are 8 ft masts with 4 ft antenna and are not in use at this time but replaced 2 that were there. One an old gps which was not used and the other an old cell phone antenna again not used either.
I agree with maybe a little more than line of site unless talking to a freighter or with the coast guard with really tall antenna at a regional sector location or with repeater stations on the Great Lakes.
Well, general rule of thumb I've always understood is the line of sight to the horizon from the tip of the antenna, perhaps just beyond if all is working well.
Generally but it depends on the set up and atmospheric conditions. When I used to live on South Bimini, now and then we could speak to various Marine Operators. Homestead, Miami, & Ft. Lauderdale and no way were any line of site despite either the 10 db gain antenna top of Tuna Tower or one at similar height hooked to the VHF in the house. The best connections were typically during nasty whether. In those days I had a 5th floor condo with an antenna on the roof but was never able to speak with anyone on S. Bimini.
Rule #2, Altitude is your friend. Radiation pattern helps big time also. Good power (FM riding good and strong VHF freq) could be rule #3. I have examples of my (far inland) wife calling me (far off shore) out of Jax. Both sticks could tickle the moon. Scared the heck out of me the first time it happened. Became the norm later. No more ch 28.
Certainly power boosts the travel of the wave from the tip, allowing it to move a greater distance prior to beginning its gravitational drop. But height of the tip is king.
