calling all hams: SiTex receiver question

[chrislab]

Can anyone point me in the right direction for the correct antenna for our SiTex 200 receiver? The instructions say to use a long wire antenna, which does not work well on a 34 foot boat. I connected the antenna to the chainplates to try and use the shroud, but this did not work.

Is there a whip antenna out there? Thanks, Chris

[Bermuda]

Chris-
Any of the Shakespeare 1, 2 or 3 piece whips will do the job for that receiver. Keep in mind though that it is 23'' long once assembled, cost of a 2 piece is around $200. You said you tried to connect the longwire antenna to a shroud? Are we talking a shroud or backstay?

If a backstay (or a shroud) you must make sure that there is no bonding wire (usually green in color) attached to the chain plate and you will also need to have a wire insulator swaged into the stay near the top connection and in that way you will have isolated the backstay from the rest of the boats electrical bonding and DC ground systems. You can put an insulator on the backstay yourself by using one of the popular swageless fitting insulators which will cost you half of what the whip antenna will cost and the antenna will be out of sight. Oh and I forgot, if you go with a whip you will also have to purchase a pretty stout antenna support bracket which will also set you back a pretty penny.

Once you have created this isolated backstay antenna you can clamp the center conductor of a length of RG-58 to the backstay (or shroud) and then the other end to antenna connector on the back of the SiTex SI NAV-FAX 200 receiver.

Do not use the longwire antenna that came with the receiver to attach the receiver to the backstay, use shielded RG-58 coaxial instead, very inexpensive at your local Radio or Ham shack. Make sure the connector is a soldered and not crimped type which will improve performance. Once you figure how much coax you need, your ham shack will be glad to solder on the connector for a nominal fee if you can''t do it yourself.

Have fun listening and more importantly and I am sure the reason you bought the radio, a great way to find out about weather and sea states in your future while you make passage.

Capt. Bruce
www.boatskipper.com