Allan,
There is no "right answer" to your question!
Whatever anyone else tells you, this is a fact....there is no right answer here...
Okay, now that I got that out of the way, how about I try to give you something useful?
1) In general, the father away the better....as any metallic conductors running parallel to an antenna
will couple-to the antenna...
And, this coupling can be a bad thing....but can also be inconsequential...
(you see one reason why there is no "right answer" here?)
{Heck, there are expensive, store-bought
marine SSB antennas (GAM Split-Lead) that actually couple-to your backstay (and entire rig), in order to perform....and in some circumstances they do
work well, but most users are disappointed.....fyi, "shunt'fed". "slant-fed", and "coupled" HF verticals have been tried since the 1920's, and even today with 21st Century computer modeling, these are generally not good wide-band/multi-band antennas, and as such they are generally a "crap-shoot"....}
2) Remember, that it's a sailboat.....and the
rigging is the necessity, not the antenna...
Getting you antenna out in the clear is usually an impossible task on our boats....so, we just deal with weird antenna patterns, and occasional transmit RFI, etc...
But, as I wrote above:
In general, the farther away - the better...
3) Before you go out and start trying to figure out this, piece-by-piece....please take some time and read the stickies above and watch the videos, etc....(that I just linked to in your other thread...)
You will find that in order to save yourself
money ($$$$) and time (!!!!), you should approach this as a "system", not bits and pieces...
Quote:
Originally Posted by ka4wja
Allan,
Yes, they are power/swr meters...
The long answer is:
These specific meters are Daiwa CN-410M and CN-460M, for my HF and VHF radios (respectively).
https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=3094
https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=7368
Although, those particular meters are no longer manufactured, you can occasionally find them for sale used, on ebay, etc...
Or, you can look at similar small-sized / mobile-type meters, made by Diamond....the Diamond SX-20c and the Diamond SX-40c...
https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=3424
https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=5236
https://www.dxengineering.com/search/product-line/diamond-antenna-sx20c-power-meters?autoview=SKU&keyword=diamond%20meter&sortby =BestKeywordMatch&sortorder=Ascending
https://www.dxengineering.com/search/product-line/diamond-antenna-sx40c-power-meters?autoview=SKU&keyword=diamond%20meter&sortby =BestKeywordMatch&sortorder=Ascending
Or, you may decide on a full-sized power/swr meters, such as Daiwa CN-901 series....
https://www.dxengineering.com/search/brand/daiwa-products/department/meters-and-test-equipment/part-type/swr-wattmeters/product-line/daiwa-cn-901-professional-series-bench-meters?autoview=SKU&sortby=Default&sortorder=Ascen ding
But, I prefer the "mobile" meters, as they have a bit easier resolution for use with 100-150 watt radios, as well as being smaller and easier to find good mounting location on-board...
BUT....
But, before you choose/decide, please read this thread here:
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f13/recommended-swr-meter-for-ssb-panel-meter-158526-2.html
And, have a look at these video playlists, where in addition to learning a lot about HF communications / marine HF comms, DSC comms, offshore weather, etc....you'll see these meters in operation...
Maritime HF Communications
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnN6ygtZ3h2nPNdApNsZDo_Jk3NB_Bt1y
HF-DSC Comms
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnN6ygtZ3h2n3z5nlv-ga2zYuPozhUXZX
Icom M-802 Instruction Videos
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnN6ygtZ3h2npivDjoFrC-8QKVyMb4tVr
Offshore Weather
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnN6ygtZ3h2mPZAx2vWzdjTJjHlChruyY
And, just for fun:
Offshore Sailing
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnN6ygtZ3h2nbwAGh5DKgTCj15iyl6qoY
And, last but not least....have a look at the stickies at the top of the Marine Electronics page here....where, you'll find not only the answer to your specific question here, but a wealth of HF / Radio communications info / reference material, and answers to many "Marine SSB" questions...
Marine SSB Stuff (how-to better use / properly-install SSB, & troubleshoot RFI, etc.)
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f13/marine-ssb-stuff-how-to-better-use-properly-install-ssb-and-troubleshoot-rfi-etc-133496.html
HF-SSB Radio, Proper Installation Tips/Techniques, etc.
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f13/hf-ssb-radio-proper-installation-tips-techniques-etc-198305.html
I do hope this helps?
Fair winds.
John
|
Fair winds.
John