Catalina 28 Question - VHF radio cable

[Surfside]

Our VHF radio just gets static. To my knowledge the coax for the antenna runs up the mast. I am not going aloft to check the antenna. How is the coax routed to the core of the mast? I can't figure this out.
I am thinking of running a new coax to the transom but not sure how to snake it aft from the com panel. My guess is the head panels have to come out in order to get the cable into the aft deck hatch location.

We do have handheld VHF radios, but I would like he onboard radio to work properly.

Thank you

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Do the easy stuff first.

1. Measure the SWR of the antenna and coax

2. visually inspect coax connector(s) at the radio and mast base

3. connect a different radio ( you said you have a handheld) to the existing coax and see if that works.

 

[Surfside]

Do the easy stuff first.

1. Measure the SWR of the antenna and coax

2. visually inspect coax connector(s) at the radio and mast base

3. connect a different radio ( you said you have a handheld) to the existing coax and see if that works.

Thank you - I did try number 3. I did check the connector at the radio but the mast head antenna is out of reach.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Thank you - I did try number 3. I did check the connector at the radio but the mast head antenna is out of reach.

Let us know what happens.

Most masthead antennas are “out of reach”.

If you transmit with a handheld into a shorted antenna, you can easily destroy the handheld. That’s why I didnt list that as the #1 thing to try.

 

[Tally Ho]

You could use some binoculars to take a look at the antenna/cable connection to see if it looks connected. Won’t tell you if it is tight, but will tell you if the cable is missing or hanging loose.

Do you get any comms over the radio? Try calling yourself on a no -emergency channel from one of your handhelds (or get someone to walk 500 feet from your boat with a handheld).

On my O’Day 322, the cable runs to the outboard hull “flange“ and then along the flange to the nav-station where my radio is mounted.

Greg