are the long white plastic arials ok for ribs?

Hugh Jardon · 09 December 2005, 23:23

long white plastic type ariel or springy metal arial

i quite like the long white plastic arials but have been told they break easily on ribs at the knuckle joint piece, can anyone vouch if this is the case or do they usually last a good long time

i quite fancy an arial that looks like an arial rather than a coathanger affair but looking for advice on this one

Hightower · 09 December 2005, 23:29

The smaller the better IMHO Chris. Base loaded with springy steel whip. There is a Rolls Royce of antenna but can't think of it right now, but it is very expensive.

Hugh Jardon · 09 December 2005, 23:34

is it a YRR Raider in black stainless? that is what i was thinking and advised to get?

Hightower · 09 December 2005, 23:35

Yeh, though of Raider. Didn't wanna post it just in case I got it wrong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

is it a YRR Raider in black stainless? that is what i was thinking and advised to get?

Shaggy · 09 December 2005, 23:45

Hi
Yep I had the long PVC one, it broke after 1 season at the base where the loading coil is, so if it breaks and you don’t notice transmitting into a miss matched antenna will result in the RF energy bing reflected back into the PA stage and could damage the radio

Nice whippy ones are better

Shaggy

Mollers · 09 December 2005, 23:45

[QUOTE=Hugh Jardon] long white plastic type ariel or springy metal arial

i quite like the long white plastic arials.

I used to have a pair like that on an old Bedford Rascal I once had . I used to use the roof for Shggn. It was all bent in and ideal. The prob was the arials,they would start wavin' around and whip my arse!! It all got a bit nasty and I had to go to the doctors. He said it was the worst case of " Van arial" disease he'd seen in years!

Shaggy · 09 December 2005, 23:51

[QUOTE=Mollulnan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

He said it was the worst case of " Van arial" disease he'd seen in years!

I think you need help !!

Shaggy

Mollers · 09 December 2005, 23:53

You still in Boggy land Shaggy?

Richard B · 09 December 2005, 23:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

I had to go to the doctors. He said it was the worst case of " Van arial" disease he'd seen in years!

Hope you didn't transmit it to anyone!

Hugh Jardon · 09 December 2005, 23:58

debs liked that one

Mollers · 09 December 2005, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

Hope you didn't transmit it to anyone!

Transmit?!! I could barely walk! Those were the AM days, didn't have enough power to make it out of the carpark. Couldn't "spread me' lurv around" so to speak.

Sorry, that's CB radio AM for those non-Good Buddies.

Hugh Jardon · 10 December 2005, 00:01

so a little whippy spring arial is better than two nice long see me girls white arials then?

Richard B · 10 December 2005, 00:19

Quite a lot of people use those white aerials, but I've broken one on a boat similar to your Shetland - there's a lot of weight and leverage on the plastic base.

The raider type seem good - allegedly designed specially for RIBs. Ours is just a plain steel whip type and we get really clear reception. They used to suffer from failure due to fatigue at the base (if you had looked behind when we were at speed around St Catherine's Point last month, you would have seen how much wobble the aerial gets) but the new versions have a plastic coating over the lower half to damp vibration. Our current one is two-and-a-half years old and going strong.

VTronics web site is down at the moment, but I think this is the model: http://www.force4.co.uk/ProductDetai...4-6af131974522 I'm sure I paid less at Shamrock though!

Here's the "Raider": http://www.force4.co.uk/ProductDetai...egoryID/119/v/

If my radio aerial theory is correct, the straight aerial should out-perform the coiled one.

We also carry a spare aerial like this: http://www.force4.co.uk/ProductDetai...4-6af131974522 Or at least we did until I lent it to Andy Stevens!

roycruse · 10 December 2005, 00:22

Ive had V-Tronix Rib Raider on my current and my last boat - great but quite expensive i feel for what it is.

DJL · 10 December 2005, 00:26

I've broken more than my fair share of Vtronix RIB raiders. They changed the design and now instead of the whips snapping the stupid things just fall out the base.

On a 6m boat I suspect you won't have any trouble with the RIB raider aerial, however they aren’t particularly efficient. I would at least try the SS whip version which is longer - the difference is significant.

As to plastic/fibre glass - I’ve seen a number of RIBs with them and they seem to survive. The Jackeens have one on Merlin and I guess that’s done a fair few miles now. As to performance benefits I have no idea.

bogib · 10 December 2005, 00:36

I will have plastic antennas on mine and rather higher than lower.

Bogi

Mike B · 10 December 2005, 18:30

Glomex white thing for me.
http://www.glomex.it/details.asp?idprod=RA112

Supposedly has a lifetime warranty but not had to use it yet.

Mike

Rogue Wave · 10 December 2005, 18:43

I am only going to say this once

when you mount your ariels don't mount them directly through the A frame if you can help it. They usually come with some form of mounting barcket use that amd mount the bracket onto the A frame,

It reduces the shock being transmitted through the Aeriels base

Hugh Jardon · 10 December 2005, 20:23

purchased a rib raider today for 42 quid

Charles · 11 December 2005, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike B

Glomex white thing for me.
http://www.glomex.it/details.asp?idprod=RA112
Supposedly has a lifetime warranty but not had to use it yet.
Mike

I have two of these, no problems thus far - 3 years and many sea miles later!