| Author |
Message |
    
Pike16
New member
Username: Pike16
Post Number: 1
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 11:05 pm: | 
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Hello All,
I am searching info on what is or what should work best for antenna if I am going to use the CB in the boat?I need communication between the cottage and while out on the water and I need to cover at least 10 to 15 miles with hills,island,trees and bends all kinds of obstruction.
VHF marine radio is out of the question because its not allow for ship to shore usage and its not suitable for this types of terrain anyway.
So any input will be very much appreciated.One person mention something about a DC grounded fiberglass antenna for CB (made by shakespear) and I was told ground plane is a must on CB antenna, so what is the proper way to setup an antenna to perform well enough while cover the distance I needed?
Thank you in advance! |
Alsworld
Advanced Member
Username: Alsworld
Post Number: 781
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 8:20 am: |
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Pike16,
I have used the Shakespeare 8ft Marine CB antenna with okay results. It is a "no'Ground" type antenna like you would use on a fiberglass motorhome. The water is the "groundplane" (I hope I've worded that right), but it does not require an actual ground. Hmmm, doing a bad job of explaining this.
I'll try this: A mobile vehicle antenna needs to be grounded, whereas this one does not. Sound clearer?
They make an 8ft and either a 3 or 4 ft'er also.
Bad points are the 8ft is quite expensive, roughly around $80. Also, SWR runs around a 2-2.5:1 so additional power would be out of the question. I believe they give that information on their website. Also, the coax is short, roughly 9 ft long.
Mine is quite old so the coax and SWR may have changed.
More later.
Alsworld |
Alsworld
Advanced Member
Username: Alsworld
Post Number: 782
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 8:54 am: |
|
Second post as a followup. If you have a metal boat, there is a good chance that a standard 102" whip may work while on the water, being the boat can use the water as it's ground. Once on the trailer, SWR's would expected to be high as you have lost that boat/water contact (ground).
This second post pertains to metal boats only. For wood and fiberglass, see my first post. Chances are any "no ground" antenna would work for either situation.
One thing for sure, you can get some good range when using a radio on the water for the situation you mentioned, just get the antenna as high (or long) as possible.
Alsworld |
Ozzie
Intermediate Member
Username: Ozzie
Post Number: 161
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 10:37 am: |
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Any ground independant antenna will work on a boat. Somewhere around here I have instructions for amking a couple fo different types and I even have a fibreglass blank to make one on.
By the way the coax is generally around 9 or 18ft for a reason - it forms part of the matching network to get the antenna to load up properly. Coax has a capacitance and an inductance and by choosing the right type and length you can use it to form a tuned circuit. Both the ground independant antennas I have built in the past used this fact. |
Gezus306
Junior Member
Username: Gezus306
Post Number: 43
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 1:22 pm: |
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SHAKESPEARE : I have had the 8 footer also.
Worked very well. Can't go wrong.
( you should also get the bracket that
allows you to fold the antt down. It locks
and unlocks to almost any position you
could want. ) |
