I have a 2000, Hunter 460. I want to install a single side band radio. Since I have no back stay on my boat, the installer suggested a 26' whip antenna. I will not put a 26'whip antenna on my Sail boat, It looks dumb! Has anyone out there seen or had an alternative to this? I would be most grateful for a response. Thanks
SingleSide Band Antennas
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TonyB
Maybe TonyB will read and respond to this. He has/had an antenna on his boat that was about an 8' base loaded, stainless antenna, mounted on the stern rail. If I remember correctly it had some different taps, for different wave lengths, and the taps were tunable.
Maybe TonyB will read and respond to this. He has/had an antenna on his boat that was about an 8' base loaded, stainless antenna, mounted on the stern rail. If I remember correctly it had some different taps, for different wave lengths, and the taps were tunable.
SSB Antenna
Rig up a stainless steel wire about 1/8 inch diameter from the stern quarter up to the masthead with insulators a foot from each end. Put the ATU as near s possible and connect the RF out to the insulated section and the RF earth to the guardwires. Mine works really well.
Rig up a stainless steel wire about 1/8 inch diameter from the stern quarter up to the masthead with insulators a foot from each end. Put the ATU as near s possible and connect the RF out to the insulated section and the RF earth to the guardwires. Mine works really well.
alternatives
Rick As NiceNEasy said, there are short whip antenna with loading coil which may suffice but there is an inherent loss in the coil regardless of how well it is tuned so that is a compromise you may or may not want. Another option is to isolate and feed one of the uppers which are probably longer than 23 feet but that means insulators on both ends and a long feed line which is also a compromise in terms of both feeding it and integrity of the shroud. Another option is a dedicated center fed vertical dipole raised on a spare halyard which makes an excellent HF antenna but is complicated by the logistics. I'm sure there are others as well. If you want to search for shortened verticals with coils, a couple of companies which make quality products are Hustler and Outback.
Rick As NiceNEasy said, there are short whip antenna with loading coil which may suffice but there is an inherent loss in the coil regardless of how well it is tuned so that is a compromise you may or may not want. Another option is to isolate and feed one of the uppers which are probably longer than 23 feet but that means insulators on both ends and a long feed line which is also a compromise in terms of both feeding it and integrity of the shroud. Another option is a dedicated center fed vertical dipole raised on a spare halyard which makes an excellent HF antenna but is complicated by the logistics. I'm sure there are others as well. If you want to search for shortened verticals with coils, a couple of companies which make quality products are Hustler and Outback.
SSB Ant.
I have a 2000 H460 and used a SGC 7ft whip ant. with a tuner and it works fine and looks good. I put it on the aft starboard rail. The cost of the ant. was about $400. (www.sgcworld.com) The cost of the autmatic tuner is separate.
I have a 2000 H460 and used a SGC 7ft whip ant. with a tuner and it works fine and looks good. I put it on the aft starboard rail. The cost of the ant. was about $400. (www.sgcworld.com) The cost of the autmatic tuner is separate.
102" Stainess Whip
Setting mine up now. Will be using ICOM 706MkIIG, ICOM AH-4 tuner and a $25 CB antenna (102" Stainess Whip) from Radio Shack. Will tune 7-54Mhz. Add 15' of wire (lifted with a halyard) and tune down to 3.5Mhz. Works fine mbile and here in the back room. Should work fine on the boat. Ernie
Setting mine up now. Will be using ICOM 706MkIIG, ICOM AH-4 tuner and a $25 CB antenna (102" Stainess Whip) from Radio Shack. Will tune 7-54Mhz. Add 15' of wire (lifted with a halyard) and tune down to 3.5Mhz. Works fine mbile and here in the back room. Should work fine on the boat. Ernie
It was my intent...
To run an inverted V from the mast head to the bow and stern. I was going to feed it with coax to the shack. Rig is a Kenwood TS50 with MFJ tuner. I haven't done this yet, but that was what I was going to do. You have no back stay, right? Then make one as your antenna. Put a block on the top of the mast with the halyard double length to the deck. When you want to use the radio, raise your "long wire" to the top of the mast and clip off at the stern. Connect your lead and you have your antenna. Don't forget to use a tuner.
To run an inverted V from the mast head to the bow and stern. I was going to feed it with coax to the shack. Rig is a Kenwood TS50 with MFJ tuner. I haven't done this yet, but that was what I was going to do. You have no back stay, right? Then make one as your antenna. Put a block on the top of the mast with the halyard double length to the deck. When you want to use the radio, raise your "long wire" to the top of the mast and clip off at the stern. Connect your lead and you have your antenna. Don't forget to use a tuner.
Arch ?
Rick, Two years ago while we were at the Hunter Rendezvous at the Isthmus on Catalina Island there was a Hunter 46, that had added a second stainless steel arch over the transom with davits. The arch was high enough to walk under to get down the transom steps. In addition to other antenna's, they had added a SSB antenna wire (isolated) from atop the arch to the masthead. I'm not sure if this will work for you, but it's an alternative to the long whip. Let us know what you finally decide to do, as we are also going to install a SSB on our 45 Hunter Center Cockpit. Best Regards, Jeff
Rick, Two years ago while we were at the Hunter Rendezvous at the Isthmus on Catalina Island there was a Hunter 46, that had added a second stainless steel arch over the transom with davits. The arch was high enough to walk under to get down the transom steps. In addition to other antenna's, they had added a SSB antenna wire (isolated) from atop the arch to the masthead. I'm not sure if this will work for you, but it's an alternative to the long whip. Let us know what you finally decide to do, as we are also going to install a SSB on our 45 Hunter Center Cockpit. Best Regards, Jeff
How about a GAM type antenna ......
and attached to the cap shrouds since you have no backstay. Would not affect the integrity of the cap shroud .... all depends if it would meet with your eyeball sense of beauty if an antenna hanging onto on of the caps would be visually unobstrusive. www.panbo.com/archives/2005/06/ssb_backstay_antenna_a_new_way.html
and attached to the cap shrouds since you have no backstay. Would not affect the integrity of the cap shroud .... all depends if it would meet with your eyeball sense of beauty if an antenna hanging onto on of the caps would be visually unobstrusive. www.panbo.com/archives/2005/06/ssb_backstay_antenna_a_new_way.html
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