Looking for vhf cockpit mounting ideas.

Don S/V ILLusion · Jul 13, 2017

njlarry said:
Finally getting around to installing my permanent mount Standard Horizon gx1600 vhf. I could mount it in the cabin and run cable to a remote in the cockpit but I am thinking it would be better to just mount it in the cockpit preferably low between the rails on either side of the pedistal.
Has anyone done this? Any special hardware or enclosures needed? If I keep the old vhf in the cabin, can the same antenna serve both?

Don't understand what you mean by "between the rails". Binnacle (pedestal) guard?

Most typical marine VHF radios aren't really weatherproof.

You could use two radios with one antenna if you use a splitter but they create loss as well as are prone to fail so not a good idea. You must avoid transmitting directly into another radio which is best done with a separate antenna. Redundancy isn't a bad thing...

Mark Maulden · Jul 13, 2017

Just to clarify, a splitter will allow a path directly between two radios and one radio will lose when the other is keyed assuming the splitter can handle the power.. Mount the radio below and spend the $100 for the RAM mic. One of the best things I did. Especially when in fog

mcrow33 · Jul 13, 2017

I concur with Mark. The RAM mic work great. You have full control of the radio.

kloudie1 · Jul 13, 2017

Yup.. After fighting with handhelds in the cockpit, the RAM microphone is great.. I mounted the plug in a cockpit cubby by the helm.

Tally Ho · Jul 13, 2017

I had VHF's on my boat when I bought it. A newer Lowrance Link8 at the helm, mounted in a box low on the pedestal. Not covered, but we do have a canvas cover over the pedestal, when not in use.

The other radio, some ancient thing that did not really work at the nav station. The radios used the mast antenna, but you had to select which radio you wanted to use on a switch box. Not sure how much signal loss there was with this set up.

When the Link 8 bit the dust recently, I purchased a B&G V50 radio and the H50 wireless mic. I mounted the base unit at the Nav station, hooked directly to the mast antenna. The wireless mic has a cool induction charging base station. I chose to mount mine in the cabin (prevent it from being stolen, and being out in the weather (although it meets the latest waterproof standards). I will create a mount at the helm to hold wireless mic when I am sailing.

I have the radio networked to my Garmin Chartplotter so I can share GPS and AIS data between the 2 using NMEA 2K.

I tested the wireless out last weekend. Signal was loud and clear, the unit was loud enough to hear clearly and my radio check was responded to my another boat 10-20 miles away.

Greg

bawlmer · Jul 13, 2017

I vote for the remote mic also. I installed one when I upgraded my VHF. SH has one for 100.00 plus you will probably need the 40.00 extension cable. That was one of the smartest things I ever did on the boat. Every function of the radio is available on the mic. Plus the main radio is in the cabin protected from the weather. I can't help thinking it is worth 140.00 to not have to tear into your antenna line and extend it. Also you can't have one antenna serve two transceivers without filters of ridiculous size and cost.

Meriachee · Jul 13, 2017

The Ram mic is the only way to do this. I put the plug on the underside of the NavPod, and routed the cable though the binnacle rail with the Ray cables.. so there's no cables hanging about.

seadaddler · Jul 14, 2017

Love the Ram Mic is the best thing ever so easy with out that big radio.

Parsons · Jul 14, 2017

In addition to the comments about RAM remote mike being useful, here's another few reasons that most people do not mount the actual VHF radio above decks: (1) It's more exposed to theft as you can get the actual radio. Any remote mike is removable, if you're concerned. (2) It's subject to sun-load heat, which fries micro electronics. All Standard Horizons VHF's are only rated to 140 F (60 C), which may be near where the sun load brings the internal temperature. (3) It's subject to shock damage by people knocking into it during normal moving around the cockpit, more pronounced the lower you go vertically. (4) The internal speaker has a magnetic field, and there may be other transient magnetic fields during operations, so keep it away from the binnacle compass. I don't think that @bawlmer is correct that you will need an additional cable to connect to a RAM remote mike because the RAM comes with a 23' extension and waterproof panel fitting, so that should reach between cabin and cockpit on a 34' boat. http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|344|2028693|2028957&id=3103704

On the topic of rain, your particular radio is submersible, so occasional splashing in the cockpit will not damage it.

bawlmer · Jul 14, 2017

To clarify my comment on the extension cable, I did not think I needed one either until I ran out of cable and had to order the extension later in the project. I needed more than 23 feet on my Cat 270 because I mounted the RAM on the navpod and had to fish the cable up through the pedestal guard. You may not need one depending on where you want to mount it. The option is there however. Also boat show season is creeping up. I would check the sales at GPS Store, Defender, etc. There is some really cool stuff out there with GPS and AIS. Sounds like a good excuse for a serious VHF upgrade.

jssailem · Jul 14, 2017

The RAM mike is a great accessory.. You have full control of the radio and all of the functions like AIS/GPS info should your radio have these features.

cymeyer · Jul 16, 2017

njlarry said:
Finally getting around to installing my permanent mount Standard Horizon gx1600 vhf. I could mount it in the cabin and run cable to a remote in the cockpit but I am thinking it would be better to just mount it in the cockpit preferably low between the rails on either side of the pedistal.
Has anyone done this? Any special hardware or enclosures needed? If I keep the old vhf in the cabin, can the same antenna serve both?

What about a hand held VHF? We have two radios: one down below which is fixed and the other is handheld. Nice to have a back up.

Meriachee · Jul 16, 2017

Here's where we put the plug.

Tally Ho · Jul 16, 2017

I had a hand-held in the cockpit when my fixed-mount bit the dust. I just don't think you get nearly the range as a mast-mounted antenna.

I went with this combo as I wanted the AIS, and wanted to network it with my Garmin Chartplotter. I prefer the "plug and play" of a NMEA2000 network.
http://search.defender.com/?expression=b&g v50&s=1&Trigger=ac

The wireless mic works great.

Greg

Parsons · Jul 16, 2017

Meriachee said:
View attachment 138778
Here's where we put the plug.

Nice location. Did you have problems running the remote mike cable up the binnacle rail and inside the nav pod with all the other cables? Where did you mount the mike clip?

Meriachee · Jul 16, 2017

I ran the Ray cables first, then this one, ad I cut the cable and soldered the ends back together.
The clip is mounted to a 1" rail mount. It's worked well for two years now.

Pat · Jul 17, 2017

We have a vhf below but I prefer the handheld...I just keep it in the teak drink holder on the pedestal.....it's safe
there, will not fall and it has acquired a taste for Moscow Mules....Pat

Ken Cross · Jul 18, 2017

NO NO NO to the splitter. It will put half the transmitter power into the input of the other radio. This will destroy the first amplifier stage of the non-transmitting radio, if not some small inductors as well. Never transmit into the input of another radio. Radios that use a shared antenna have a method of switching off the input of the other radio when the other is transmitting (such as HF radios on commercial airplanes) but it's more than just powering down the other radio. You need to isolate the high level of RF from sensitive components.

Ken

Looking for vhf cockpit mounting ideas.

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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