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Old 03-12-2012, 05:53   #1
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HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

Need to get our heads around setting up a basic HF/SSB Radio set so we can economically receive and send email's at sea.

Understanding the backstay option is out and maybe a wire strung near the mast isn't ideal is a majority of owners going for a whip?

If so what type and set-up?

Idea's?

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Old 03-12-2012, 06:30   #2
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

I have had great success with my HAM radio in the past using a mount that truckers use to attach a CB antenna to the support tubing holding their mirrors in place. These clamp nicely onto boat railings. Then get the screw in type loaded whip antennas for each freq. band. Takes only seconds to swap them our. When you are over water, it is not necessary to ground the antenna. The ground plane from the water all around is about as good a ground plane as ever.
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Old 03-12-2012, 06:53   #3
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

Ok we are not into ham so maybe our req's would be fewer antennas, is there a set band for emails or do you need to change to find one that works at the time??

I'd have no issue setting up as you suggest.

Are horizontal wires ever used say about 15ft strung between two poles?

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Old 03-12-2012, 07:05   #4
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

My monohull has a 23 foot whip antenna from the previous owner. Not my first choice, but I added a KISS counterpoise to the Icom 802 and AT-140 tuner and get good signal reports and no problem with PACTOR emails. As such, I decided to leave it in place instead of adding insulators to the backstay.

Believe it or not, West Marine has a 23 foot Shakespeare listed at $199 for the 2-section version that can be truck shipped to a WM store free.

Here's a previous thread that may answer some questions.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tay-48482.html

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Old 03-12-2012, 07:11   #5
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

Horizontal antennas are not practical on a boat because there is a minimum height above ground clearance required and wires on a boat could be a big PITA. Imagine a wire breaking and getting caught in your prop.
I am not familiar with e-mail frequencies but I'm sure it is close enough to one of the HAM bands to work. Even better, get a HAM radio license. They have e-mail frequencies, HAM radio is used by most cruisers I know and I never personally met anyone that used the Marine SSB frequencies although I'm sure they exist. HAMs also have 'missionary' frequencies that you can call into as often as you like during the day. They will take your course, weather, destination etc. info and put you on Shiptrack.org. People on land can get on the internet and go into shiptrack.org and see where you are with any messages you need to relay. They will also try to patch phone calls for you or at a minimum, make calls for you. There are lots of other advantages of going HAM. I would rather have a hundred HAM's plus the Coast Guard know where I am if I run into trouble than the Coast Guard alone. They will pressure the Coast Guard to act.
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Old 03-12-2012, 07:24   #6
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

Most multihullers use a "Gam" antenna run up one of the shrouds,they work very well.Long whip antennas usually break inside after a a couple of years on a sailboat.
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Old 03-12-2012, 07:44   #7
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

Our 28' freestanding whip has worked fine for 14yrs with no breakage. I don't know why you think they break - the design is wires glassed into the tube. The fiberglass tube is honeycomb cored and is very light and stiff. As long as the tube itself doesn't break in half, the antenna is good.

I have never seen a broken whip antenna. Also, multihulls do not roll and snap, so the antenna does not see a lot of high and sharp momentum changes.

Besides a GAM antenna, many multis use a long wire - either pull up with a halyard when used or mount permanently (best to run it inside a rope for this). The only other reasonable option beside these three is to cut a shroud and install an isolator.

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Old 03-12-2012, 07:55   #8
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

I think the long whip may be the solution as we don't want to cut a wire.

We looked at the HAM License years ago when we got our Restricted Radio Operators Cert, our thoughts then were that you'd need to be very interested in radio to get through it, as in enthusiast so to speak.

We noted that the ARC require the ability to send emails at sea and that all communication is via emails/SSB hence the question.
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Old 03-12-2012, 08:03   #9
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

So a whip or a temporary wire is better?A GAM requires no cutting of rigging.
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Old 03-12-2012, 08:47   #10
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

I made an "alternate backstay antenna" as described by Bill Trayfors, but I strung it from a line attached to the mast to the outside of the port hull. Kind of an "alternate capshroud antenna" I suppose. It is 40' long, made of lifeline wire and permanent so I don't have to mess with a halyard every time I use the radio.
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Old 03-12-2012, 08:53   #11
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

From reading all the bits i could i came to the conclusion running wires near the mast or existing stays caused interference, obviously this isn't as big a deal as they alluded to?
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Old 03-12-2012, 08:57   #12
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

Down here in Mexico,through observation,apart from insulated backstays,I see many more boats with GAM than any other type.Mono or multi.There must be a reason.I use a monel longwire near backstay,not saying it's perfect but price was right and it works.
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Old 03-12-2012, 09:05   #13
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

So a GAM is a seperate aerial that slides up an existing stay?
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Old 03-12-2012, 09:11   #14
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

That is correct.
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Old 03-12-2012, 09:15   #15
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Re: HF Aerials To Suit Multi-hulls

Ok thanks i just googled this :- The Gam / McKim Split Lead (SSB) backstay antenna / The Mad Dogs, Exploring to Inspire...™

Some reading to do now.
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