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06-09-2011, 06:00
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Beautiful South West Western Australia
Boat: Catalina 42 Pacific cruise to Australia
Posts: 223
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SSB Tranceiver- Antenna Options?
The accepted antenna for ssb traceivers is usually the insulated backstay.
Question is is that the only option.....replace the original, perfectly serviceable backstay with an insulated one? Is there no cheaper simpler way that functions adequately?
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06-09-2011, 06:09
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: St. Louis, MO; Grenada
Boat: Lagoon 420
Posts: 144
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Re: SSB Tranceiver- Antenna Options?
One easy solution is to just cut in a swageless insulator using the existing back stay.
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06-09-2011, 06:13
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Ft. Pierce, FL - Bislig, Philippines - Gladstone QLD
Boat: 1968 Alberg 30 #329
Posts: 451
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Install a secondary backstay to one of the corners
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06-09-2011, 06:14
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Lakewood Ranch, FLORIDA
Boat: Alden 50, Sarasota, Florida
Posts: 3,467
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Re: SSB Tranceiver- Antenna Options?
You could run a parallel antenna set off the backstay. There are commercial adaptations of that, one of which is called a Gap or Gam antenna (forgot which) but anyone could easily make a better constructed version for far less money. There are a myriad of alternatives from temporary wires pulled up on a halyard to separate wires strung along shrouds; each has it's followers but the point being there is no "best" option.
For permanent installations, the insulated backstay is the traditional favorite for obvious reasons.
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06-09-2011, 06:18
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#5
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Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 20,301
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Re: SSB Tranceiver- Antenna Options?
There are other options, it possible to use the backstay uninsulated, try a google search of CF, there is a lot of info here.
I am sorry but I don't have time to go into details tonight and I am away for a few days. Hopefully some of the resident HF experts will tune in or at least point to the relevant threads.
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
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06-09-2011, 06:28
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#6
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Eternal Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,046
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Re: SSB Tranceiver- Antenna Options?
Asked and answered dozens of times on this and other Boards.
Search "alternate backstay antenna".
Here's one way to make them:
DSC_0343ps
Use insulated s/s lifeline .... 3/16" diameter s/s is sufficient. Hoist with spare halyard or dedicated line. Tie off to pushpit on either side.
Feed with GTO-15 wire from the tuner located under the deck. Use any of several RF grounds.
Here are other marine antenna options:
MarineAntennaChoices2
Bill
WA6CCA
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06-09-2011, 12:12
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,420
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Re: SSB Tranceiver- Antenna Options?
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06-09-2011, 12:39
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#8
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Eternal Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,046
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Re: SSB Tranceiver- Antenna Options?
Sure, that'll work. It's just a 23' long whip antenna, similar to those made by Shakespeare and very common on power boats.
You still need a tuner, of course, and a good RF ground system.
Bill
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07-10-2011, 15:26
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Beautiful South West Western Australia
Boat: Catalina 42 Pacific cruise to Australia
Posts: 223
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Re: SSB Tranceiver- Antenna Options?
Quote:
Originally Posted by btrayfors
Sure, that'll work. It's just a 23' long whip antenna, similar to those made by Shakespeare and very common on power boats.
You still need a tuner, of course, and a good RF ground system.
Bill
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Thanks everyone, Bill, the 23' whip antenna has been sugested to me( still there despite rig failure). Question is how to attach to stern of 42' sailboat, 23' long sounds huge! Could double as a flag pole I suppose?
As these antennas are usually on the side of powerboat flybridges would it not be a little low location on a yacht at deck height for receive/transmission?
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07-10-2011, 15:33
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,420
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Re: SSB Tranceiver- Antenna Options?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamel
Thanks everyone, Bill, the 23' whip antenna has been sugested to me( still there despite rig failure). Question is how to attach to stern of 42' sailboat, 23' long sounds huge! Could double as a flag pole I suppose?
As these antennas are usually on the side of powerboat flybridges would it not be a little low location on a yacht at deck height for receive/transmission?
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I think what you see on power boats will be outrigs - rods to fish deep sea game things, etc.. No reason to have a 23' on a power boat unless they too have a ham.
23' whip for SSB is a long stick but I have seen them on boats even smaller than 40'. All issue of deck layout. The whip does not have to be attached to the deck. It can be sitting on the rail, etc, it is quite light but sure thing must be attached adequately. The cable will be thick and stiff so make sure there is a way to lead it to the tuner and then on to the radio.
b.
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07-10-2011, 15:54
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wherever the boat is!
Boat: Marine Trader 34DC
Posts: 4,619
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Re: SSB Tranceiver- Antenna Options?
Will there is a perfectly good reason to have a 23' on a power boat, The Trawler Beach House: Is It Hard To Install A Single Side Band Radio? , to have a good rig. It does not matter whether it is SSB or Ham. But I can not imagine this thing hanging on the stern rail. I suppose if it where hung and supported along the backstay, that could be an option. Chuck
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07-10-2011, 16:24
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#12
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Eternal Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,046
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Re: SSB Tranceiver- Antenna Options?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamel
Thanks everyone, Bill, the 23' whip antenna has been sugested to me( still there despite rig failure). Question is how to attach to stern of 42' sailboat, 23' long sounds huge! Could double as a flag pole I suppose?
As these antennas are usually on the side of powerboat flybridges would it not be a little low location on a yacht at deck height for receive/transmission?
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On a Catalina 42 I'd not install a vertical whip antenna, unless absolutely necessary, for the very reason you mentioned. It IS huge, unwieldy, and somewhat of a challenge to mount correctly. Instead, I'd use an alternate backstay antenna as described above. Or, bite the bullet and insulate the backstay.
Vertical antennas for SSB work best when they're mounted low down, near the deck, rather than high up like a VHF antenna.
Bill
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07-10-2011, 17:03
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#13
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Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 20,301
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Re: SSB Tranceiver- Antenna Options?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamel
Thanks everyone, Bill, the 23' whip antenna has been sugested to me( still there despite rig failure). Question is how to attach to stern of 42' sailboat, 23' long sounds huge! Could double as a flag pole I suppose?
As these antennas are usually on the side of powerboat flybridges would it not be a little low location on a yacht at deck height for receive/transmission?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by btrayfors
On a Catalina 42 I'd not install a vertical whip antenna, unless absolutely necessary, for the very reason you mentioned. It IS huge, unwieldy, and somewhat of a challenge to mount correctly. Instead, I'd use an alternate backstay antenna as described above. Or, bite the bullet and insulate the backstay.
Vertical antennas for SSB work best when they're mounted low down, near the deck, rather than high up like a VHF antenna.
Bill
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I have to agree with both of you however for a vertical whip, perhaps the 18 series Moonraker antennas may be an option; especially the deck mounted 18D. Its 18' of course and designed for deck mounting on yachts.
See moonraker australia communications systems
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
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07-10-2011, 17:05
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#14
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cat herder, extreme blacksheep
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
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Re: SSB Tranceiver- Antenna Options?
why not an antenna hauled up mast by a halyard---not gonna use a spinny halyard all the time, o r add an extra one if you are----if your mast is down=-- go for it-- that way ye can remove it and /or keep it--would that work ?? and ye can place it wherever you want--along a stay, alone, along the mast, wherever........ye think???
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