[i_amcdn]

I have inherited an old West Marine Zephyer VHF radio from a friend who upgraded on his Cal-27.

He has a mast antenna. I have none on my bare bones Edel 665. I don't even have a battery yet so this "freebie" is going to cost me at least that plus $90 for my VHF license...$200 approx total.

I have read that operating a VHF without the external antenna can damage the VHF. If I have to get some sort of external antenna I may just stay VHF-less. We are never out of reach of cell phone reception where we sail.

Do I need an antenna or not?

Thanks

 

[NautiG]

You need an antenna. The vhf might barely work without it. You might receive some strong signals from the coast guard or a nearby ship, but you won't be able to transmit more than a short distance without an antenna. If you want a cheap vhf, I would go with a handheld unit. Find one used or on clearance, and sell the one you have on ebay.

Scott
Gemini Catamaran Split Decision

 

[celenoglu]

VHF needs an antenna. You can connect an antenna directly to the unit or very close to it but the antenna is a must. Transmission and receipt is much better if the antenna is at higher levels but you can receive and transmit with an antenna inside the boat, but the antenna should be connected to the radio. It is very probable to burn the unit without an antenna specially during transmitting.

 

[denverd0n]

Do not transmit without an antenna attached. It can damage your radio. Shop around and you can find a marine VHF antenna for around $15. Of course, you will also need some coaxial cable to attach it to the radio.

Or, you could do as suggested above, sell this one, and buy a cheap handheld.

 

[MarkSF]

Yes, don't try to transmit without an antenna, you will probably blow the output transistors.

Options are, in descending order of performance,

1) Do it properly, VHF antenna at the top of the mast. Sailboat antennas are 3db gain.

2) Do it half properly, VHF antenna on the stern pulpit rail. Not too bad an option, certainly much better performance than a handheld. Again, you want a sailboat 3db antenna, NOT a powerboat one.

3) Emergency quarter wave antenna inside the cabin. Might as well get a handheld at that point.

A VHF radio with decent antenna is about the best and most cost-efficient piece of safety equipment you can have.

 

[MarkSF]

You need an antenna. The vhf might barely work without it. You might receive some strong signals from the coast guard or a nearby ship, but you won't be able to transmit more than a short distance without an antenna. If you want a cheap vhf, I would go with a handheld unit. Find one used or on clearance, and sell the one you have on ebay.

Scott
Gemini Catamaran Split Decision

You won't be able to transmit, at all.

 

[MarkofSeaLife]

This is the cheapest opiton $55 total incl cable.
Amazon.com: Shakespeare 5218 VHF Magnetic Mount Antenna: Sports & [email protected]@[email protected]@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/[email protected]@[email protected]@21P02y8CN2L

Or this and buy a bit on antenna cable Amazon.com: Shakespeare 5215-C-X 3-Feet VHF Antenna: Sports & [email protected]@[email protected]@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/[email protected]@[email protected]@21v8hlgkgQL

 

[CLucas]

I have inherited an old West Marine Zephyer VHF radio from a friend who upgraded on his Cal-27.

He has a mast antenna. I have none on my bare bones Edel 665. I don't even have a battery yet so this "freebie" is going to cost me at least that plus $90 for my VHF license...$200 approx total.

I have read that operating a VHF without the external antenna can damage the VHF. If I have to get some sort of external antenna I may just stay VHF-less. We are never out of reach of cell phone reception where we sail.

Do I need an antenna or not?

Thanks

Yes, you definitely need and antenna. As others have stated, if you try to transmit with an antenna connected you might fry your radio. It will be best if it is an external antenna, but there are several good solutions. Here's one that I have onboard for emergencies: SHAKESPEARE Stowaway Emergency VHF Antenna | West Marine

There are some good sales going on at Defender and elsewhere for a decent handheld, but be aware that the range with a handheld is likely to be less than a mounted VHF with a good masthead-mounted antenna.

Chris

 

[NautiG]

You won't be able to transmit, at all.

When I bought my boat, the vhf didn't have much more than a coat hanger sticking out of the antenna socket. It transmitted, but just barely. Maybe 100 yds or so.

The other consideration is that the poster doesn't have a battery or other electric aboard and is trying to add a vhf. He has to add an antenna and electric! The budget solution is to get a cheap handheld he can charge at home.

Scott
Gemini Catamaran Split Decision

 

[Arioso]

I prefer to have both a wired in and hand held VHF , belt and suspenders, yup.

 

[SHNOOL]

Just for the record, OP is on a 22 foot sailboat... to put things in perspective.

However, ideally on any kind of large body of water, both a fixed VHF, and a portable (ditch bag that runs on AAs) are best. That being said, OP might not even had standard NAV lights... so maybe start easy, sell the fixed VHF, get a quality portable VHF instead, and at least have 1 simple functioning communications device onboard. This is especially smart if you ever solo sail.

 

[Donna_F]

We kept both a fixed and handheld on our 22 footer. I'd much prefer any one of them alone than to rely on only cell service.

 

[Maine Sail]

Unless you know the cell number of every other boat on the water a cell phone is useless for on-water communication with other vessel traffic...

If you want to stay cheap then sell the fixed mount and just pony up for an inexpensive hand held.

 

[Jaramaz]

There are many advantages with a VHF even when there is good cellular coverage.
- it is essential free to use
- in emergency all ships around you will respond
- radio range is much superior to cellular, as a fixed station has 25 W output power and low frequency ( ~150 MHz) giving good radio range.

Trying to sell this thing is probably rather fruitless as it is an old radio. Don't. Keep it.

The issue with antenna is simple, you can make one yourself. Just get a bit of coax cable, some few meters, and peel away the first plastic layer + metal conductor for about 19". This will cost you ... max $5. A more elaborated solution on eg http://www.repeater-builder.com/antenna/pdf/coaxial-dipole.pdf (just google and you will find).

An optimal installation is another potato. Then we are talking mast mounted antenna - at the top. + a good coax cable in the mast. Can be done, I would recommend, but is more costly. Also here can the antenna be DIY, but cable has to be bought.
With a mast mounted antenna and a fixed unit you will reach far beyond the horizon ( not unusual to be able to contact a ground station 60 nm away).

The VHF is a piece of security equipment.

Good luck

/J

 

[Donna_F]

Just for the record, OP is on a 22 foot sailboat... to put things in perspective.
...

That's less of an excuse. Just drop the mast and plop it on top.

 

[hellosailor]

Just to clarify, you CANNOT use a magnetic-mount antenna without a large metal surface to mount it on. For a marine VHF that would be something like a magnetic (so it sticks on) metal sheet about one meter square or in diameter. Not very practical unless you've got an air conditioner or oven at the top of the mast.

If you want reliable communications, permanently installing a mast-mounted antenna (with a loading coil in its base) is the way to go. If the investment (good cable & fittings cost money too) overall is not immediately justified, then even using an "emergency" antenna or a home-made one beats nothing at all.

Inland, in sheltered waters? That's still way better than nothing.

Note that from Canadian web sources, it seems legal to install the radio on the boat, and even to receive with it (monitor the distress channel, the weather, etc.) without any license, so the money doesn't all have to go up front. Traditionally radios had a removable microphone cable, so the microphone could be "secured" elsewhere, ensuring the radio was not being used as a transmitter.

 

[OPossumTX]

Some people go to a lot of trouble to make this antenna stuff look like magic. Some of it is but a foot and a half (about 457mm) of wire stuck into the center of the antenna connector will work as an antenna. It won't be great and you may get a nasty burn if you touch it while transmitting. Find a "banana plug" at just about any electronics store and solder it to your wire and you have an instant 1/4 wave antenna. This solution uses the case and chassis of the radio as the other half of the antenna so touching any metal part of the radio while transmitting may bite you. It will transmit better than a hand held but may not receive any better.

Here are a couple of links to home made antennas that do not require grounding plates or radials and can be used for 157MHz (Marine Band):

<

>
<http://www.hamuniverse.com/jpole.html>

Have FUN!
O'

p.s. The antenna will generally work better if it is sticking straight up. It will more than likely be less better at any other angle. If it is under water, you are already in trouble!

 

[Gladrags1]

Since you received a bunch of responses about an antenna, I will comment on your other item: "need to layout $90 for a vhf license". If you live in the US, you do not need to be licensed to operate a marine band vhf. There, I saved you $90 which you can spend on a handheld vhf or antenna. Go buy it!

Tod

 

[Maine Sail]

Since you received a bunch of responses about an antenna, I will comment on your other item: "need to layout $90 for a vhf license". If you live in the US, you do not need to be licensed to operate a marine band vhf. There, I saved you $90 which you can spend on a handheld vhf or antenna. Go buy it!

Tod

Except that the OP's screen name is I_AMCDN (I am Canadian) and he hails from TORONTO.....

 

[Gladrags1]

Oops, I guess I missed that! Not so easy to see on a mobile device.