Insulated Shrouds

[Sonosailor]

Got the ticket, Exposure. I'm VE9RUM. I am chasing down a leak in my fresh water that keeps my mattress wet, but after that, I hope to hook up. My primary objective is to begin monitoring the Mississauga Maritime Net on 20 metres. They are up at 7:45 AM, I think. Best laid plans... though.

I just heard I should have asked for a VE0 designation. If I need both, I might go for VE0FD. Before picking the name CAT TALES, I was going to name her FogDucker, in honour of the Bay of Fundy fog. Admiral said no.

[svJasmine]

I met a guy on a cat that had a separate (non structural antenna running up to a small halyard block and then to a padeye on deck.

It seemed to work great. The long wire antenna does not have to be a stay. I can actually be alot smaller diameter than your stays.

His was on the bow outboard of the headstay.

Rich

SV Jasmine

[exposure]

Sonosailor, Congrats on the ticket and I like the call sign.

I am afraid you won't catch me on that net. 14.122.5 MHz is a CW only frequency in the US.

[GordMay]

Cruising with ham radio - an antenna alternative - by Jim Johnson:
”This month I (Jim Johnson) would like to provide an alternative ham radio antenna installation for a sailboat other than an insulated backstay ...”
http://www.southwindssailing.com/art...HamRadio.shtml

And see also the excellent article:
Your Antenna, the Radio's Link to the World - By Gary Jensen (Pag. 24)
http://www.southwindssailing.com/pdf...eptember04.pdf

[Talbot]

Woody, when I looked at rigging my SSB on twin backstay rig, I was advised by Icom that I should insulate the other backstay as well, otherwise it would have a reduction in range due to bleed off onto the other backstay.

From Jon Brooks of Icom UK Twin back stay's right here we go:- Best only to use one of them for the antenna although you will need to insulate both. If you don't you will get induction problems.

[Talbot]

exposure once whispered in the wind:
There is also a mod to make this radio suitable for email, I'll do that down the road when I get a Pactor modem.
Woody (AA7HN)

Looked into the cost of the email + pactor for my old M700Uk and was advised that it would probably not work very well. I then realised that the cost of the pactor was more than an Iridium from ebay - no contest!

others have spoken earlier about the emergency aspects of SSB. Good way of getting help from other cruisers and of discussing things when the shore authorities know you have a problem, but the Epirb is the best system for raising the alarm, and an iridium makes a good back up to that (especially as you can take it into the liferaft, and have a small solar panel to keep it going!)

SSB is the only way to have a sociable chat with other cruisers, and a good way of getting the weather.

[sv_makai]

We have seen several in the Caribbean that have used standoffs and ran the antenna cable alongs side the shrouds. They seem to have no problems with Tx/Rx.