What can I expect in performance gain VHF?

[BAD ORCA]

I recently redid my mast top VHF. Rewired with LMR-400, new 'Digital Antennae' antennae, All new high quality solder fittings. I'm not noticing any real difference from the old crap setup i tore out now that i'm finished connecting everything up. In fact, the only station i can get is WX channel 1. It comes in crystal clear always but i expected i'd be able to get more WX stations and just much longer range general VHF chatter.

My little handheld gets WX channel 1 and i can sometimes hear WX channel 5 on it when my mast top new setup can not get channel 5.

I'm starting to think my solder fittings, although very good quality fittings, i did not do correctly and probably negated all of the gains in the upgraded gear with poor soldering technique. Does this sound likely? I dont have enough experience to know what sort of improvement the better gear would give me realistically.

Would it be unreasonable to expect that I should be getting some fairly long range VHF conversations from 50+ miles away or more? I'm in Los Angeles and figured i'd possibly occasionally get some Navy chatter from San Diego. Not hearing a peep.

Do you think I botched my soldering? Before I redo with crimp fittings figured i'd get some experienced opinions first.

 

[BrianQ]

You can't change physics, so it would be unreasonable to expect VHF LOS communications over the distance you're expecting.

 

[dlochner]

VHF is line of sight, so you won't get greater distance from improved cabling and fittings. About the best you can get is 20-25 miles to another boat and that depends in part on how high their antenna is.

What you get is more transmitting power, or perhaps more accurately less loss in you transmitting power and less loss in receiving. This means someone 20 or 25 miles out (about the limit for VHF) will hear you more clearly and you will hear them more clearly. That doesn't matter until it matters, for instance if you are having an emergency and need help. It is also less frustrating when trying to connect to someone.

6.5: Line-of-Sight Transmission

eng.libretexts.org

 

[BAD ORCA]

Ok thank you. Good to know. I will have to spend more time with it then and see. Maybe all is good. Hard to judge have been sitting in the marina last few weeks so nothing but WX station to hear.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

while it can be fun to guess whether or not you have a problem, it’s better to know….

Find/borrow/ buy a VHF SWR meter or antenna analyzer. It will then be readily apparent whether you have a problem with the antenna or coax or coax connectors. There is no other definitive way - simply checking continuity with a VOM is misleading.

 

[BigEasy]

Bad, this is ”water under the bridge” advice; however, you should have checked your old setup with a SWR meter before replacement. The old equipment may have been satisfactory. I purchase a SWR meter 10 years ago for approximately $20 on Amazon/Ebay when working on my rig. As @Don S/V ILLusion advised, you’re really going to have to check your rig with a SWR meter to determine if there are problems with the cable, antenna, & connectors.

 

[BAD ORCA]

while it can be fun to guess whether or not you have a problem, it’s better to know….

Find/borrow/ buy a VHF SWR meter or antenna analyzer. It will then be readily apparent whether you have a problem with the antenna or coax or coax connectors. There is no other definitive way - simply checking continuity with a VOM is misleading.

Ok, thanks. I was not aware of those meters. Will definitely be getting one.

 

[BAD ORCA]

Bad, this is ”water under the bridge” advice; however, you should have checked your old setup with a SWR meter before replacement. The old equipment may have been satisfactory. I purchase a SWR meter 10 years ago for approximately $20 on Amazon/Ebay when working on my rig. As @Don S/V ILLusion advised, you’re really going to have to check your rig with a SWR meter to determine if there are problems with the cable, antenna, & connectors.

Thank you. I didnt replace it for that reason. It was 40+ years old corroded setup and the mast was being pulled so redid everything while it was down.

 

[Calif. Ted]

I'm in Dana Point, I receive Coast Guard San Diego and Los Angeles, 50-60 miles to each, while I listen to Wx San Diego I can still pick up WX Ventura. Your range sounds limited but I could be mistaken. This is a new ant. a couple years old and is the same as the 20 nyear old one it replaced.

 

[dlochner]

I'm in Dana Point, I receive Coast Guard San Diego and Los Angeles, 50-60 miles to each, while I listen to Wx San Diego I can still pick up WX Ventura. Your range sounds limited but I could be mistaken. This is a new ant. a couple years old and is the same as the 20 nyear old one it replaced.

The CG uses repeater stations along the coast and broadcasts at a higher wattage than the 25 watts we are limited to. That is why we can hear them across the sector each station covers. On Lake Ontario the Eastern Great Lakes Sector (formally Buffalo sector) can be heard anywhere on the Lake.

 

[Richard19068]

Would it be unreasonable to expect that I should be getting some fairly long range VHF conversations from 50+ miles away or more? I'm in Los Angeles and figured i'd possibly occasionally get some Navy chatter from San Diego. Not hearing a peep.

For what it's worth I regularly receive VHF from the San Diego Coast Guard station and San Diego based naval vessels when I am between Palos Verdes and the west end of Catalina. That's 60 miles or so. I also regularly receive naval ships from out around San Clemente island. I assume the Coast Guard is transmitting from a high elevation, not sure about the navy ships.

My setup is nothing special. 15 year old antenna, 40 year old wire.

Edit: Are you in San Pedro or Marina del Rey. Both are Los Angeles but there is quite a difference in range and obstruction between those two places and San Diego.

 

[BAD ORCA]

For what it's worth I regularly receive VHF from the San Diego Coast Guard station and San Diego based naval vessels when I am between Palos Verdes and the west end of Catalina. That's 60 miles or so. I also regularly receive naval ships from out around San Clemente island. I assume the Coast Guard is transmitting from a high elevation, not sure about the navy ships.

My setup is nothing special. 15 year old antenna, 40 year old wire.

Edit: Are you in San Pedro or Marina del Rey. Both are Los Angeles but there is quite a difference in range and obstruction between those two places and San Diego.

Marina Del Rey all the way back in the back of the harbor. Could just be my location plus Palos Verdes sticks out quite a bit. I just thought i remember picking them up before on the old radio but never paid it that much attention. Could have been when i was slipped closer to the main channel in a different part of the marina. I will get an SWR meter to verify. They are not that expensive.

 

[jssailem]

Know that VHF radios are line of sight.
How far should you be able to talk/listen?

VHF Radio Range Calculator

Use this tool to calculate how far a VHF radio can transmit. Enter the antenna height and pick the units (meters or feet). Formula d = 4.12 * √h where h is the antenna height in metres and d is the d

3roam.com

 

[BigEasy]

mast was being pulled so redid everything while it was down.

Understood. I replaced my antenna & cable several years ago when the mast was down.

 

[BAD ORCA]

Know that VHF radios are line of sight.
How far should you be able to talk/listen?

VHF Radio Range Calculator

Use this tool to calculate how far a VHF radio can transmit. Enter the antenna height and pick the units (meters or feet). Formula d = 4.12 * √h where h is the antenna height in metres and d is the d

3roam.com

View attachment 230097

10 miles

 

[kappykaplan]

10 miles

 

[dlochner]

The line of sight distance is 10 miles to the horizon. An antenna on a masthead 20 miles away can just see your masthead at the horizon level. This works unless you are member of the Flat Earth Society in which case LOS is infinity.

 

[Richard19068]

The line of sight distance is 10 miles to the horizon. An antenna on a masthead 20 miles away can just see your masthead at the horizon level. This works unless you are member of the Flat Earth Society in which case LOS is infinity.

I'm not sure where the 10 or the 20 come from but I think I get what you are trying to say. Are you trying to explain that you have to factor in the line of sight from the antenna height of each of the radios and add them together?

 

[dlochner]

I'm not sure where the 10 or the 20 come from but I think I get what you are trying to say. Are you trying to explain that you have to factor in the line of sight from the antenna height of each of the radios and add them together?

Yes. It has to do with the curvature of the earth. Other things can shorten line of sight, such as buildings and mountains.

 

[MFD]

Pretty much the same as being able to see a lighthouse.

Geographic range of a light - Ocean Navigator

Lighthouse visibility is available on charts, both paper and digital, and is stated in terms of nominal range.

oceannavigator.com