Does anyone have any suggestions for a SSB antenna. I've been thinking of a Shakespeare 23' model. But, I'm looking for alternatives and comments. This will be for a Hunter 44. Thanks in advance for the help.
SSB Antenna
- Thread starter Bud Harris
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I assume you are looking at the whip since you have no backstay? I had the same issue and went with the Shakespeare 24'. I mounted a crossbar on the rear portion of the bimini top to give a place to mount the upper support. I have an Icom 710 + AT130 tuner and I have great results with voice and HF email. The other option is adding a temporary (you can make it permanent) stay. Basically a shroud with insulators that you hoist with a halyard..I have seen them for about $100 on Ebay and have heard good things and they are somewhat less intrusive than the whip... Even though i have had good results with the Shakespear, some "experts" tell me the Digital whip is better and does a better job with the signal,,, for what it is worth... I have some pics of my setup in the photo forum if you are intererested. Brian
I assume you are looking at the whip since you have no backstay? I had the same issue and went with the Shakespeare 24'. I mounted a crossbar on the rear portion of the bimini top to give a place to mount the upper support. I have an Icom 710 + AT130 tuner and I have great results with voice and HF email. The other option is adding a temporary (you can make it permanent) stay. Basically a shroud with insulators that you hoist with a halyard..I have seen them for about $100 on Ebay and have heard good things and they are somewhat less intrusive than the whip... Even though i have had good results with the Shakespear, some "experts" tell me the Digital whip is better and does a better job with the signal,,, for what it is worth... I have some pics of my setup in the photo forum if you are intererested. Brian
Shroud was used on our boat
Bud, When we bought our boat I thought a SSB was a necessity. The people commissioning the boat added five insulators up the port shroud. One on each side of the two spreaders and another mid way up the highest shroud as it approaches the masthead. A ground plate was installed on the bottom. However, this was as far as I went. At the time I couldn't justify the $5600 they quoted to add the actual ICOM. Good thing, because I doubt that I would have ever used it, and in retrospect, unless you plan to do a lot of off shore cruising, they are a "nice to have" but not a necessity. I remember having to wait three weeks for the insulators to arrive in San Diego from some place in Austrailia. I was told that using the shroud on a boat without a backstay was a proven method. John Richard s/v Jack's Place
Bud, When we bought our boat I thought a SSB was a necessity. The people commissioning the boat added five insulators up the port shroud. One on each side of the two spreaders and another mid way up the highest shroud as it approaches the masthead. A ground plate was installed on the bottom. However, this was as far as I went. At the time I couldn't justify the $5600 they quoted to add the actual ICOM. Good thing, because I doubt that I would have ever used it, and in retrospect, unless you plan to do a lot of off shore cruising, they are a "nice to have" but not a necessity. I remember having to wait three weeks for the insulators to arrive in San Diego from some place in Austrailia. I was told that using the shroud on a boat without a backstay was a proven method. John Richard s/v Jack's Place
Rope/Halyard Antenna
We made a "rope antenna" and it works great. We decored a length of 1/4" double braid line for most of the length of the line and replaced the core with 14 gauge Anchor brand primary wire. We mounted an eye bolt and small block to the aft of the mast head. We hoist the rope antenna like a halyard. We tie the lower end of the rope antenna to the stern rail. The wire exits the lower end of the rope antenna where it is connected to the automatic antnna tuner which lives in the aft cockpit locker. Works great for sending and receiving email or voice over the SSB set.
We made a "rope antenna" and it works great. We decored a length of 1/4" double braid line for most of the length of the line and replaced the core with 14 gauge Anchor brand primary wire. We mounted an eye bolt and small block to the aft of the mast head. We hoist the rope antenna like a halyard. We tie the lower end of the rope antenna to the stern rail. The wire exits the lower end of the rope antenna where it is connected to the automatic antnna tuner which lives in the aft cockpit locker. Works great for sending and receiving email or voice over the SSB set.
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