Backup for fixed VHF radio

[DanW9494]

The recent fixed VHF radio options thread brought this to mind. A ham radio friend shared this idea. Using a flexible 18 inch SMA to SO-239 jumper, you can operate with your higher gain, greater range masthead antenna with a handheld if your fixed VHF should fail. The flexible cord is important to prevent breaking off the SMA connector on your handheld, as you could buy an adapter with the same connectors instead.The connector on my ICOM 72 handheld is SMA, which looks like a half size coax cable connector, like on the back of a old TV. Tech support for your handheld can help if yours looks different.Ham Radio Outlet, www.hamradio.com, model HS-05, about 20 bucks bought mine.Seems like a great safety backup idea to me.

 

[T J Furstenau]

VHF Backup

Dan -I like the idea, and a relatively low cost piece of insurance. Along with that, my bigger concern than the fixed radio ending up DOA, is to run into a dismasting situation (weather, rig failure, etc) that would end up resulting in a loss of my mast head antenna. For that, I have the insurance of a emergency antenna, which combined with your advice would provide a full complement of radio/antenna combinations to meet just about any emergency.T J