Troubleshooting VHF, receive, but not transmitting

[modernviking]

Hey Guys!
As the title says, I have an VHF (Shipmate RS 8000) that not will transmit but receive loud and clear. What can be the reason for this. I doubt it's the VHF. How likely is the chance that the cable is at fault. The VHF cable is in three pieces connected together. I recently bought a VHF cable from ebay because the cable from the mast to cable in the boat wasn't long enough (link in the bottom). So i bought that one to connect the two other cables. Is it possible that the cable from ebay doesn't support transmitting? Is there vhf cables that doesn't support transmitting either but just receiving?
Thank you in advance!
-ModernViking

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Marine-AIS-....c100005.m1851

[ka4wja]

Modernviking,
Well, it could be the cable....but, without knowing a LOT more info, it's impossible to know....(usually, in cases like this, it is the radio....not the cable....but since we don't know where / to whom you attempted to transmit, nor even if the radio actually went into "transmit" mode?? there is no way to be certain of anything...except...)


Except that the Shipmate RS8000 is an old, non-DSC VHF radio....and because of its age, I'm more apt to suspect the radio, and/or microphone, and/or microphone cord, than the actual antenna cable...
But, I assume the antenna and antenna (coaxial) cables are also old....so, they (and their connectors) are also suspect...

Bottom line:
You really need to spend the money on a modern VHF-DSC-FM Marine Radio....
And, spend the money of new cable/connectors....

I'm sure the cable from ebay is fine....although not really my choice, it should still work okay...
(Just my advice....but don't purchase these things thru ebay unless necessary.)



If you wish more specific answers, then please provide more specific information....these are only the first steps / basic questions....there are more!!

How do you know it isn't transmitting??
Does it actually go into transmit mode??
Do you see any additional current draw when it does attempt transmit??
What do you hear, when you're receiving?? Where are these stations? Shore stations? Ships? Other small boats?
Where and to whom did you attempt to transmit to? How far away are they??
Has this radio ever worked well for you?? When??
How old is this particular radio?
How does the microphone cord look?
How old is your antenna?
What antenna do you have? Brand and model?
What type of antenna cable do you have?? (RG-58 ??)
How long is it?
You have 3 pieces now?? one up the mast and one from mast base to radio, and now this new piece??
What condition is the cable?
What condition are all the connectors?
Have you tested the antenna and cables with another radio?
Have you tested the radio with another antenna? (you can just stick an 18" long piece of wire into the center of the radio's antenna connector, and try that)

Gosh, there are more questions and tests that you can do...
But, considering the age of that radio (and I assume the antenna and cables), it would easier and probably just as cheap, to just replace it!


Hope this helps.

fair winds.

John

[modernviking]

How do you know it isn't transmitting??
When pushing transmit button i hear a click and squelch can't be heard

Does it actually go into transmit mode??
yeah i think so..see above

Do you see any additional current draw when it does attempt transmit??
idk, i have a multimeter. I'f a friend is watching/using the multimeter while i'm trying to transmit there should be a change in the current?

What do you hear, when you're receiving?? Where are these stations? Shore stations? Ships? Other small boats?

everything, coastguard, commercial ships, a local fisherman bragging about his cod... with that I mean how big the fish was of course.


Where and to whom did you attempt to transmit to? How far away are they??
National guard on ch 16, distance idk, but when i'm recieving from them they i can hear them clearly. Some friends on another boat, they also have a fixed antenna around 2 NM away

Has this radio ever worked well for you?? When??
no got the boat last year, still trying to figure it all out.

How old is this particular radio?
quite old probably around the '90, the radio got in production around 1985

How does the microphone cord look?
there is like 7 small pins sticking out of the cord

How old is your antenna?
it's look quite new, look like it have never been used.

What antenna do you have? Brand and model?
uff can't remember and of course i didn't took a picture of it before mounting it on the mast

What type of antenna cable do you have?? (RG-58 ??)
pretty sure it's RG-213

How long is it?
9.4m through the mast, 5m from the radio to the mast, and 1m connecting the two pieces

You have 3 pieces now?? one up the mast and one from mast base to radio, and now this new piece??
yes, one piece from radio through the boat, it cannot reach the cable from the mast therefore a cable connecting cable from radio and cable from antenna

What condition is the cable?
hard to say with the on inside the mast, but them inside the boat are more then okey

What condition are all the connectors?
connectors inside the boat are in good shape, installed new ones not long ago. the one on top of the mast is okey but not great

Have you tested the antenna and cables with another radio?
not yet, can one connect a handheld VHF to the cables?

Have you tested the radio with another antenna? (you can just stick an 18" long piece of wire into the center of the radio's antenna connector, and try that)
not yet