Does anyone know of a commercial 2 meter antenna made for boats? Fresh
water exclusively, but this would be mounted on a T-top of a center
console which is towed, so it would have to be able to be tilted down
just like the VHF marine antenna. Thanks.
--

Larry W1HJF
rapp at lmr dot com

Larry wrote:
Does anyone know of a commercial 2 meter antenna made for boats? Fresh
water exclusively, but this would be mounted on a T-top of a center
console which is towed, so it would have to be able to be tilted down
just like the VHF marine antenna. Thanks.
I just use 1/4 wave whips on mine - one for 2 meters and a longer one
for FM broadcast, mounted on the T-top's antenna mounting plates. Just
something to consider if you cannot find the longer marine antenna that
you're looking for.

73,
bob

Bob Baldwin wrote:

I just use 1/4 wave whips on mine - one for 2 meters and a longer one
for FM broadcast, mounted on the T-top's antenna mounting plates. Just
something to consider if you cannot find the longer marine antenna that
you're looking for.

73,
bob

Thanks, Bob,

I've thought about doing just that. A 1/4 wave on 2m is about 19" and
would not require folding down. I was kinda hoping to find some gain
which would also match the VHF Marine band antenna next to where it
would be, but I can't find anything so far.

--

Larry W1HJF
rapp at lmr dot com

Larry wrote:
Bob Baldwin wrote:

I just use 1/4 wave whips on mine - one for 2 meters and a longer one
for FM broadcast, mounted on the T-top's antenna mounting plates. Just
something to consider if you cannot find the longer marine antenna
that you're looking for.

73,
bob

Thanks, Bob,

I've thought about doing just that. A 1/4 wave on 2m is about 19" and
would not require folding down. I was kinda hoping to find some gain
which would also match the VHF Marine band antenna next to where it
would be, but I can't find anything so far.

Larry,
Those marine antennas are really pretty, and I figured you wanted one
to compliment the existing one. I found at least one guy that uses his
VHF marine antenna on 2 meters, and says the match is better on 2 than
marine. Check
"http://cruisenews.net/cgi-bin/mmham/webbbs_config.pl/noframes/read/1372"
and maybe you can contact him for more info.
73,
bob wa5jot
Power Cat CC / Tops-N-Towers T-Top

Hi Larry

Cant help you with a specific choice. Be aware though that considering
the boat thumps around in the water the antenna will never be always
quite vertical. If you run a "gain" device you may find you'll get a
more choppy signal and max radiation lobe that never quite line up with
the optimum. As an indicator a 5/8 (car mobile) whip in rolling country
can actually work worse than a 1/4 wave. (And also in a city/skyscraper
area, but for a different reason)

FWIW I do remember a 5/8 over 1/4 wave design some years ago where you
could remove the phasing section and above. A handy feature.

Of course if the boat motor is broken and there is no swell it may be
good to have gain!

Cheers Bob VK2YQA

Larry wrote:

I've thought about doing just that. A 1/4 wave on 2m is about 19" and
would not require folding down. I was kinda hoping to find some gain
which would also match the VHF Marine band antenna next to where it
would be, but I can't find anything so far.

Bob Bob wrote:
Hi Larry

Cant help you with a specific choice. Be aware though that considering
the boat thumps around in the water the antenna will never be always
quite vertical. If you run a "gain" device you may find you'll get a
more choppy signal and max radiation lobe that never quite line up with
the optimum. As an indicator a 5/8 (car mobile) whip in rolling country
can actually work worse than a 1/4 wave. (And also in a city/skyscraper
area, but for a different reason)

FWIW I do remember a 5/8 over 1/4 wave design some years ago where you
could remove the phasing section and above. A handy feature.

Of course if the boat motor is broken and there is no swell it may be
good to have gain!

Cheers Bob VK2YQA

Larry wrote:

I've thought about doing just that. A 1/4 wave on 2m is about 19" and
would not require folding down. I was kinda hoping to find some gain
which would also match the VHF Marine band antenna next to where it
would be, but I can't find anything so far.


Actually, I remembered in the shower this morning that a 1/4 wave must
have a ground plane to work against and the hardtop on which it would be
installed is all fiberglass - no metal. Whoops! I guess I have to have
some kind of antenna which does not require a ground plane - maybe a 1/2
wave or something similar. Now we're talking enough height that it has
to fold down.

I'll follow the link that Bob gave and see what the guy is using. I
suppose I could disconnect the marine VHF antenna and hook it up to the
ICOM and a SWR meter and see what I get. I guess I should give that a
try. I don't need to do anything to try that.

I know that I'd lose some of whatever gain those things claim, as the
antenna would seldom be completely vertical, but I've never found that
to be all that significant anyway. I just need to have an antenna which
does not rely on a ground plane. Since I'm only fishing on lakes, I
don't think that is all that significant anyway. I've found that marine
VHF gets almost nowhere (nobody around) so I think I'd do better with 2
meters.
--

Larry W1HJF
rapp at lmr dot com

In article ,
Larry wrote:

Does anyone know of a commercial 2 meter antenna made for boats? Fresh
water exclusively, but this would be mounted on a T-top of a center
console which is towed, so it would have to be able to be tilted down
just like the VHF marine antenna. Thanks.

Morad Electronics in Seattle, Washington makes the 156HD Marine Antenna
that is used on better than 90% of the High Seas Fishing Fleet that
fish the North Pacific and Bering Sea. (Deadliest Catch vessels)

Morad also makes a Ham version of the SAME antenna, called the 146HD.

All the Morad Antennas were designed by the legendary Marine
Communications Engineer Eddie Zanbergen (RIP)

I am not affiliated with Morad Electronics, but have installed and
used their products for the last 35 years. There isn't a more
rugged and weather survivable Marine Antenna than those in the
Morad Product line.

Bruce in alaska (AL7AQ) longtime Marine Radioman,
and ex-FCC Inspecter
--
add a 2 before @

"merlin-7" wrote in message
...
I like lakeviews ...
http://www.hamstick.com/9007.htm

lots of gain with a pattern great for boats. you may need the ground plane
kit but I can tell you, this is a great antenna for the price.
Besides, I have not killed mine yet. It's a brute.. I also get great
reports in areas where a 1/4 wave cannot even (key up the repeater)

Just an idea...


Hi Merlin

Do you have any suggestions about how the manufacture rates the power
handling capability of that hamstick?

Jerry

Bruce in Alaska wrote:
In article ,
Larry wrote:

Does anyone know of a commercial 2 meter antenna made for boats? Fresh
water exclusively, but this would be mounted on a T-top of a center
console which is towed, so it would have to be able to be tilted down
just like the VHF marine antenna. Thanks.

Morad Electronics in Seattle, Washington makes the 156HD Marine Antenna
that is used on better than 90% of the High Seas Fishing Fleet that
fish the North Pacific and Bering Sea. (Deadliest Catch vessels)

Morad also makes a Ham version of the SAME antenna, called the 146HD.

All the Morad Antennas were designed by the legendary Marine
Communications Engineer Eddie Zanbergen (RIP)

I am not affiliated with Morad Electronics, but have installed and
used their products for the last 35 years. There isn't a more
rugged and weather survivable Marine Antenna than those in the
Morad Product line.

Bruce in alaska (AL7AQ) longtime Marine Radioman,
and ex-FCC Inspecter

Thanks, Bruce, I'll take a look. It sounds perfect.

--

Larry W1HJF
rapp at lmr dot com

"merlin-7" wrote in message
...

"Jerry Martes" wrote in message
news:ZmZJi.5019$Nn4.3376@trnddc02...

"merlin-7" wrote in message
...
I like lakeviews ...
http://www.hamstick.com/9007.htm

lots of gain with a pattern great for boats. you may need the ground
plane
kit but I can tell you, this is a great antenna for the price.
Besides, I have not killed mine yet. It's a brute.. I also get great
reports in areas where a 1/4 wave cannot even (key up the repeater)

Just an idea...


Hi Merlin

Do you have any suggestions about how the manufacture rates the power
handling capability of that hamstick?

Jerry

I do not, sorry ..
I only pump 65 watts into mine but from looking at the way it's made, I
bet
it could take 1,500 watts.
However, I do not think that I would like 1,500 watts output That close to
me...

It is a 7 foot antenna, stacked 5/8-5/8-1/4, I think. I do know that it
puts out a really flat pattern (I do not chat much on 2 meters with
airplanes)

Hi Merlin

I was actually curious about the meaning of the "DC" they use to define
the power rating of the 2 meter hamstick.

Jerry