Which VHF Antenna

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Chris

Pacific make ideal rib aerials. Unfortunately no one imports them anymore.

These folks do -

Buy VHF Antenna / Aerial at Marine Megastore Chandlery 15% off orders over £300!*

I think it's where my last one came from. I have a mount on the A frame, a 30cm "rubber duck" which I use most of the time, and a 1m Seamaster which I have available if needed.

[Salty John]

Just a word about Marine Megastore. This is one of dozens of thhreads about them at the YBW forum. Buyer beware. aka Marine Megastore

Nothing to do with Pacific Aerials, just a heads up bout MM, who operate as many, many other names. Their plan appears to be to host many wholesalers catalogues and when someone buys anything then go and source the product.

[Deekus]

Originally Posted by Salty John

Just a word about Marine Megastore. This is one of dozens of thhreads about them at the YBW forum. Buyer beware. aka Marine Megastore

Nothing to do with Pacific Aerials, just a heads up bout MM, who operate as many, many other names. Their plan appears to be to host many wholesalers catalogues and when someone buys anything then go and source the product.

PM Sent

[matt h]

Could do with a high quality coax connector so that the A frame stays removable. which ones would you recommend?

[Salty John]

If your vhf antenna has a PL259 connector at the base, as with Metz and some others, then you just unscrew that. If you want to make a joint in the cable you can use a barrel connector and two PL259s - a bit chunky but has good mechanical integrity.

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Salty John

Just a word about Marine Megastore. This is one of dozens of thhreads about them at the YBW forum. Buyer beware. aka Marine Megastore

Nothing to do with Pacific Aerials, just a heads up bout MM, who operate as many, many other names. Their plan appears to be to host many wholesalers catalogues and when someone buys anything then go and source the product.

Fair enough - and anyway when I looked back I lied - it was actually from Force 4 at the time (February last year) though they still list it:

Pacific Aerials Seamaster Pro VHF Helical Antenna - 1.0m

Of the three types I have tried (Rib Raider x 2, Metz and the Pacific) I would say the Metz probably had the edge on actual VHF performance, I only changed mine because I wanted something removable without tools, and the Pacific fitted that requirement. I also found that you can remove it with a garage door, which was why I bought the shorter one to leave on most of the time

[Chris]

Marine Megastore only have a few items left, I think it will come off their website soon. Force 4 do have some stock I believe.

[ShinyShoe]

There is a bit of a need for a RibNet Aerial Test Day like was suggested for SibTest.

Tested vs another Rib, HH and a tower...

[Pikey Dave]

I was nudged towards Procomm antennas at the boat show, I'd never heard of them until then, big in the commercial world apparently. Not the cheapest, but not extortionate either. Sub £100 for a good setup. I always use a ratchet mount & mount on top of the "A" frame for maximum height. On a RIB, every scrap of height matters.

[neil.mccrirrick]

Always used Shakespeare

http://www.shakespeare-marine.uk.com

Like everything loads and loads of choice all making claims re gain and direction and reception and so on and so on

A test would be good but connection, conditions, wave height would all come into it. In the end I think it comes down to your budget and whether you think you will be a long way out so need the longest antenna for a better chance of picking up a signal, whether you want to be able to drop it or unscrew it etc


Sent from my iPad using my finger

[mick]

Metz for me connectors treated with ACF50 and wrapped in silicon tape

[Deekus]

Originally Posted by mick

Metz for me connectors treated with ACF50 and wrapped in silicon tape

ACF50......nice touch