I have a Hunter 260, '04 but acquired nearly new last year. Have added fixed VHF near the companionway. Fitting the antenna to masthead and cable through the mast was relatively easy. With the help of a 'qualified' electrician managed to feed cable from tabernacle through the deckhead exiting near the overhead light in the head. Only problem was that electrician supplied 75 ohm cable for this part and it had to be 50 ohm. Have now managed to remove 75 ohm cable but unable to pull new 50 ohm cable through with it. Has anyone got a method of running the cable other than by using an electrical snake, trial and error. Last time it took four hours and this time I have been at it a couple of hours. Plan B is to clip the wire to the deckhead but the Admiral is not pleased with that option. Any reasonable ideas would be greatfully received. Fair winds!!!
VHF antenna wiring in cabin
- Thread starter David - Fireball II
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is it too late?
Sounds like the 75 ohm cable is out but if not, don't bother removing it. The impedance mismatch isn't that significant and what mismatch there is can be negated by a 1/4 wave stub of the correct 50 ohm cable. Hope it's not too late. By the way, I'd suggest a better adjective about your electrician than "qualified"... Don
Sounds like the 75 ohm cable is out but if not, don't bother removing it. The impedance mismatch isn't that significant and what mismatch there is can be negated by a 1/4 wave stub of the correct 50 ohm cable. Hope it's not too late. By the way, I'd suggest a better adjective about your electrician than "qualified"... Don
Solder...
Have you tried linking the center solid coppers with a twist and soldering them together so they won't come apart, then use the 75 to pull the 50 back to where you want it to terminate? Should be easier than trying to snake a fish line through and pull the 50 back with it.
Have you tried linking the center solid coppers with a twist and soldering them together so they won't come apart, then use the 75 to pull the 50 back to where you want it to terminate? Should be easier than trying to snake a fish line through and pull the 50 back with it.
BIG DIFFERENCE
The electrical properties of the 2 types of cable make a big difference. You are smart for changing them, you will notice a difference in the unit's ability to transmit and how cool the unit will operate. This will be due to a much lower SWR. If you have already removed the old one, I would recommend a snake if you have one. If not, a coat hanger works well as does fiberglass driveway markers.
The electrical properties of the 2 types of cable make a big difference. You are smart for changing them, you will notice a difference in the unit's ability to transmit and how cool the unit will operate. This will be due to a much lower SWR. If you have already removed the old one, I would recommend a snake if you have one. If not, a coat hanger works well as does fiberglass driveway markers.
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