Which 'Budget' VHF Aerial to buy?

[Wahoo!]

Hi, I have an Icom fixed vhf radio and a hand held as back up, just in case of emergency. However I snapped my aerial when fitting my cover in a hurry!
So many out there I don't know which to get. I mostly cruise around south coast and rivers (lots of high cliffs) with the occasional foray out to sea, no more than 3 miles off shore. I know VHF aerial height affects the chances of reception so would mount on top of my A frame and would prefer removable type for ease when fitting cover. Can afford to spend up to £60 on this.

Any guidance or recommendations would be appreciated.

[spartacus]

Metz antenna should be on your list. I had it on my console hand rail but on an A frame is probably ideal location. Salty John: Metz Manta Marine VHF Antenna plus Metz AIS antenna and other fine boat and yacht chandlery products.

[Nos4r2]

Seconded. I have a Glomex on the Searider, but the Metz did just as good a job and is far less bulky.

[Leapy]

Just bought a Metz from Salty John to replace a Ribraider. The Metz certainly looks the part (although I've not tested it yet) and John Schofield was extremely helpful.

The Ribraider was useless

If I was you, I'd change my search for a "budget" aerial to a "good value" aerial.

[Ian M]

I am interested in the Metz.
Can you remove the whip from the base assembly?

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by Ian M

I am interested in the Metz.
Can you remove the whip from the base assembly?

Yes, but ... the whip is secured using a nut and olive (compression fitting). Whilst it can be removed it is not designed for regular or frequent removal as the compression fitting will lose effectiveness.

So Salty John just told me ...

[Copinsay]

Hi all. Just to say I've recently replaced my Rib Raider antenna with the Metz from Salty John and the improvement is amazing. Coast stations I'd not heard before all come in all the time now.

Exactly the same setup and location apart from the antenna. I'd question whether it was worth getting anything cheaper, especially for those times when you want your signal to be as strong as possible. Seriously thinking about replacing my AIS antenna with a Metz too now.

Hope this helps

Steve

[9D280]

FWIW I believe the early raiders were a little less robustly constructed than the current offering.

I have 2 antennae - more as a result of a silly deal at a chandlers one afternoon than any buying policy, but my raider has survived 2 attacks by the garage door & still functions. On the other end of the frame I have a 1.3(?)m glomex whip - both on folding brackets (as a result of the garage door incident!)

Glomex is currently hooked up - the two are patchable in the console in case something takes out the "using" one. Can't say I've noticed a performance difference between them , but my raider is the "MK2", if that makes a difference.

[Chris]

We fitted one of these to Landlords Vipermax....

Glomex 1.5m Fibreglass VHF Antenna - Only £33.95 - Force 4 Chandlery

I was amazed that despite being in a metal clad workshop about 5 miles from Lyme Regis that Brixham coast guard came in loud and clear.!

At 1.5 meters you need a big rib to carry it off but definately worth looking at and well within your budget even with a stainless mount

[treerat]

Originally Posted by Chris

We fitted one of these to Landlords Vipermax....

Glomex 1.5m Fibreglass VHF Antenna - Only £33.95 - Force 4 Chandlery

I was amazed that despite being in a metal clad workshop about 5 miles from Lyme Regis that Brixham coast guard came in loud and clear.!

At 1.5 meters you need a big rib to carry it off but definately worth looking at and well within your budget even with a stainless mount

Is it just the end of the Antenna that transmits / receives?

Reason I ask is I'd like to add one at the base of the A frame so that is sticks above no more than 12". Reason being the boat is height restricted in store, if it's just the end than happy days, if all of it then the A frame will block it

Ta

Andy

[Nos4r2]

No, it's all of it.

[treerat]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

No, it's all of it.

Bugger - that won't work then.

Plan B it'll have to be - just got to work out what that is - new thread time me thinks.

Thank you

[Nos4r2]

You might be ok though-try it-you can always change to a detachable base.

The one on my Searider is halfway up the A-frame and it's fine.

[treerat]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

You might be ok though-try it-you can always change to a detachable base.

The one on my Searider is halfway up the A-frame and it's fine.

okey dokey - only ever really had them on the console or the top of the A-frame before.

I'll get the Glomax and mount so it's as high as it can be.

Ta

[Low Flyer]

Longer antennas have more “gain.” There is the same amount of energy in the radiation doughnut, but the pattern is flattened to focus the energy towards the horizon. So while a 3-foot antenna might be described as 3dBi gain, with most of its energy transmitted within about 40 degrees of horizontal, an 8-foot version typically has 6dBi gain, and directs most of its energy within about 20 degrees of horizontal, and a 16-foot model has 9dBi gain, focusing its energy within about ten degrees of horizontal. Fitting a 9dBi antenna instead of a 3dBi antenna could—entirely legally—quadruple the effective output of your radio and potentially double its range, so long as it’s within 10 degrees of truly vertical. But lean that antenna back to match the angle of your tower’s leg and you could be talking to the sky instead of your buddy at water level.

[treerat]

Originally Posted by Low Flyer

Fitting a 9dBi antenna instead of a 3dBi antenna could—entirely legally—quadruple the effective output of your radio and potentially double its range, so long as it’s within 10 degrees of truly vertical. But lean that antenna back to match the angle of your tower’s leg and you could be talking to the sky instead of your buddy at water level.

I think that translates to don't lean it back to follow the shape of the a frame

Ta