Range of Vtroinx Antenna

ciaranp · 19 April 2008, 21:23

what is the range of the Vtronix raider antenna's?

Limey Linda · 19 April 2008, 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciaranp

what is the range of the Vtronix raider antenna's?

No antennas have ranges. Google some stuff like "marine vhf range" and you will learn all about it. Sorry to say you have the cheapest bottom end and I would not give it boat room.

Limey Linda · 19 April 2008, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciaranp

what is the range of the Vtronix raider antenna's?

No antennas have ranges. Google some stuff like "marine vhf range" and you will learn all about it. Sorry to say you have the cheapest bottom end and I would not give it boat room.

Hightower · 19 April 2008, 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

No antennas have ranges. Google some stuff like "marine vhf range" and you will learn all about it. Sorry to say you have the cheapest bottom end and I would not give it boat room.

OK! I think you made your point

Limey Linda · 20 April 2008, 01:07

Sorry, did not mean to be so blunt. However, I never understand why some folks spend so little on such an important safety item.

Hightower · 20 April 2008, 09:43

But surley the type of aerial you have onboard would depend upon your hunting grounds. Me in the Solent, with France only 60 miles away. I wouldn't be any further than about 30 miles from land at any time. A VHF handheld would almost do, certainly a fixed VHF with a cheap aerial mounted on an A frame would be OK in this circumstance.

Of course if you where venturing out from a more remote location then a better aerial might be needed, however I would start exploring satelite phones and EPIRBs as well, as most know that the range of a VHF transmission is line of sight and at 6' from Sea level the horizon is only about 3 miles away. So communication with a similar boat is 6 miles and you're relying upon coastgaurds and other radio stations having a much higher aerial than yours.

Hightower · 20 April 2008, 09:49

This is an interesting calculator, increasing the hight significantly doesn't have much effect on the range. A bit of an eye opener I think.

http://boatsafe.com/tools/horizon.htm

ciaranp · 20 April 2008, 11:58

fitted the Vtronix the other day. will never be more than 1 1/2 or 2 miles from shore where i will be. On land the other day after fitting called up someone 8miles away and didn't work. it worked to someone 1 1/2 miles away. Was just wondering how far would it work to another boat at sea.have a handheld as well

martini · 20 April 2008, 13:22

I tried to call a CG station with a raider once. It was 10 miles away, line of sight and probably 250ft elevation. I could see them but I couldn't talk to them!

Limey Linda · 20 April 2008, 17:03

Here is a good article
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...HFAntennas.htm

Hightower · 20 April 2008, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

Here is a good article
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...HFAntennas.htm

That's a nice little picture that shows the radiated signals for the different db gains very well.

It also shows a graph showing distances that one can transmit and recieve.

Hightower · 20 April 2008, 17:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciaranp

fitted the Vtronix the other day. will never be more than 1 1/2 or 2 miles from shore where i will be. On land the other day after fitting called up someone 8miles away and didn't work. it worked to someone 1 1/2 miles away. Was just wondering how far would it work to another boat at sea.have a handheld as well

Read my earlier post!

Limey Linda · 20 April 2008, 17:49

Just got this following report from a friend in Mexico which includes a test performed on the new repeater. Quite impressive.

"Went out Wed. with steve 43.7 nm on a 180 at 36 to 41 warm blue water 72.7 highest had two peanut knockdowns and yes fish where seen very small like 16 inch so they are coming water was green till about 32 and was getting green past 43 also had great test on repeater talked with dick at 43 miles on his hand held at marias pizza and his home so looks great for tourney ch. or hailing from land or hand held"

Top banana · 20 April 2008, 18:31

Sorry to say you have the cheapest bottom end and I would not give it boat room. [/QUOTE]

Have you a suggestion on a top quallity aerial for a rib, the rib raider is by no means a cheap bottom end aerial in the uk. around £60.00.lots of aerials cheaper.

matt h · 20 April 2008, 18:35

i had a v tronix coily thing, didnt work swapped it (at dealer cost) to v tronix s/s whip. works superby,

Limey Linda · 20 April 2008, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top banana

Sorry to say you have the cheapest bottom end and I would not give it boat room.

Have you a suggestion on a top quallity aerial for a rib, the rib raider is by no means a cheap bottom end aerial in the uk. around £60.00.lots of aerials cheaper. [/QUOTE]

I have on order the 8ft/ 6db one and the stainless ratchet mount. These are very rugged and well made

See: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...362&id=0000870

Chris · 20 April 2008, 19:40

I have gone for one of these Pacific P6182 aerials, they are not that expensive but they appear to be well made. I have gone for the option of a mount with the cable built in and then the aerial part unscrews. If it does break then its easy to just unscrew and fit a new wip part for £25.00

I also have a RibRaider on the A frame which I will leave on for when the Pacific one breaks, best of both worlds

Top banana · 20 April 2008, 20:19

I also have a RibRaider on the A frame which I will leave on for when the Pacific one breaks, best of both worlds

[/QUOTE]

Thats what i will end up doing, just bought the v tronix raider but havent had time to test it properly yet, but may fit the fibreglass whip as well.

ciaranp · 20 April 2008, 21:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt h

i had a v tronix coily thing, didnt work swapped it (at dealer cost) to v tronix s/s whip. works superby,

any idea how far from another boat it works?

Chris · 20 April 2008, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciaranp

any idea how far from another boat it works?

Matt and i both had raiders at one point and were finding that reception started failing even whilst we were still in site of each other.

However.....

I think Matt may have had a dodgy aerial cause mine does not seem to bad when trying to contact coast guard stations for radio checks. even if I use the low power setting (1Watt) I can be heard by the coast guard several miles away.

I think its worth checking how good the connection is at the bottom of the aerial, I am not overly keen on the way its done and I think Matts might not have been too well connected.