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Old 21-02-2009, 19:01   #1
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What is this thing at the top of the mast?

Can anyone identify what this is?

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Old 21-02-2009, 19:22   #2
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I have seen stubby cell phone antennas that looked like that. It could also be a loran antenna, does it extend down the mast at all?
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Old 21-02-2009, 19:22   #3
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Cell phone antenna?
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Old 21-02-2009, 19:30   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith' View Post
I have seen stubby cell phone antennas that looked like that. It could also be a loran antenna, does it extend down the mast at all?
Not sure, haven't been up there yet.
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Old 21-02-2009, 19:31   #5
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I have seen stubby cell phone antennas that looked like that. It could also be a loran antenna, does it extend down the mast at all?
There's no loran onboard currently. (Maybe there was one earlier?)

I'm thinking it's a cell phone antenna. Actually hoping, since we coastal cruise. I'll have to look at the connection on the other end.
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Old 22-02-2009, 01:37   #6
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I thought, but could be wrong, that LORAN antennas were all about 8' long.
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Old 22-02-2009, 02:14   #7
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It can also be a wifistick antenna.
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Old 22-02-2009, 06:02   #8
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It can also be a wifistick antenna.

Nice antenna. That would be probably good for pulling in that wifi across the way.
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Old 22-02-2009, 08:51   #9
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It looks to me that it's an old mounting for a long gone windex
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Old 22-02-2009, 09:32   #10
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Quote:
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It can also be a wifistick antenna.
Unlikely to be WiFi antenna. The attenuation @ 2.4Ghz of such a long cable run would be too great I would have thought. But maybe someone just put it there anyway
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Old 22-02-2009, 10:02   #11
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I'm going to the boat shortly. I see about getting a picture of the connector on the end of the antenna cable, to see if we can solve this mystery.
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Old 22-02-2009, 10:40   #12
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Would you like another one of those?...

Quote:
Originally Posted by bene505 View Post
Can anyone identify what this is?


My boat came with an antenna just like that and it was a (Nokia) cell antenna for - if I remember correctly - 800MHz service. I replaced it with a dual band wireless set up to be able to keep my Verizon Wireless card and Blackberry reception/transmission working. You should have an amplifier back behind your nav station panel - You may want check the "marine" tab of Cell Phone Antennas and Cell Phone Boosters at Wilson Electronics - that's the type of equipment I installed on Layla.

Good luck!

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Old 22-02-2009, 10:53   #13
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Since you mentioned wanting cell service (going coastal cruising) ... You may want to verify that frequency of your cell service provider and this set up on your boat are compatible. Since I telecommute from Layla, I had to upgrade my set up to include 1900 MHz for PCS service. The Wilson link that I posted earlier lists providers and frequencies.

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Old 22-02-2009, 15:31   #14
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Thanks SailnDive, I'll have to check that all out.

The mystery continues. The antenna wire coming down the mast goes to behind a nav staion panel. The connector was cut off and the cable was crudely spliced to a Sirius-ready AM/FM radio.

Right near that spot, there's a 12v power switch that I didn't notice before. It goes to a little power plug.

All we have now is the power plug that probably went into the unit, and the 2 left over mounting holes (one is 1 3/4 inches above the other one). Also, the antenna cable had a small pin soldered onto the center wire. Finally, we know that it was desirable to have a separate switch to turn it off -- it probably used some amps in standby, even when it was turned off fro mthe front panel.

I'll post a picture of the plug as soon as possible. Good mystery.
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Old 22-02-2009, 16:13   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bene505 View Post
Thanks SailnDive, I'll have to check that all out.

The mystery continues. The antenna wire coming down the mast goes to behind a nav staion panel. The connector was cut off and the cable was crudely spliced to a Sirius-ready AM/FM radio.

Right near that spot, there's a 12v power switch that I didn't notice before. It goes to a little power plug.

All we have now is the power plug that probably went into the unit, and the 2 left over mounting holes (one is 1 3/4 inches above the other one). Also, the antenna cable had a small pin soldered onto the center wire. Finally, we know that it was desirable to have a separate switch to turn it off -- it probably used some amps in standby, even when it was turned off fro mthe front panel.

I'll post a picture of the plug as soon as possible. Good mystery.
From way out here in frozen Minnetonka, MN, it seems as if someone decided they did not want the cell phone amplifier (definitely uses a few amps on standby - I have a panel breaker for it) any more and converted the system to a AM/FM radio antenna... It was probably too much hassle to remove the coax and masthead antenna where the amplifier removal was all too simple.... Not so sure this set up would work for the satellite radio reception, however...

Let us know, this is much better than watching TV

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