VHF fixed radio

[Jacktar]

If you turn it on on 16 you should get a static blast when turning the squelch knob. Make sure you are getting at least 11 volts at the radio or at least on the radio side of the in line fuse. You should hear something on WX channels too. If not , try a emergency antenna or the coat hanger trick above but do not transmit , you will blow the finals. Also try the handheld and see if you can hear it on the new base station.
Pix of VHF and you get WX with button on right below the display.

 

[Ken Cross]

I had maybe the same problem. An option (I don't recall the name of it) changes the xmit-rcv frequencies. See if you get an "A" along with, say 78. It's like it is USA/Canadian or Euro or some such difference. Instead of xmit/rcv on the same freq, it makes the unit transmit on one freq, rcv on the other(duplex). This would cause one-way operation which, really, is no usable operation

Actually Ron20324 may have hit the right answer. I hadn't thought of it not being set to US channels.

Ken

 

[Jacktar]

Yeah I agree, although it should have been set default to US it could be on international which no one uses locally I bet.

 

[Ron20324]

[QUOTE="Jacktar, ... although it should have been set default to US it could be on international which no one uses locally I bet.[/QUOTE]

I never changed mine, but I could not communicate one weekend with other club members. Someone finally called me and suggest the channel option. I think a close lightning strike may have made it change and also erased my MMSI.

 

[jssailem]

Yes. Fun.

 

[jssailem]

That one works.

 

[BigEasy]

Switch box may be a splitter that allows you to receive FM signal for your FM stereo receiver as well as a VHF signal for the radio. All of the above suggestions are good. If you eliminate the VHF as being the problem, an SWR meter will help to determine if the problem is in the wiring or perhaps the antenna. Just hook it inline in from a pig tail on the VHF to the coax.
You should obtain values consistent within a normal range when transmitting. (Don't remember what the values are, will have to do some research to check the values.) Check out SWR meter on the net to get further information.

 

[Dapiper]

I would check to make sure mic is correctly installed. Then I would go to work on the antenna, how old is the cable? Any wear marks, extra sharp bends? Not sure, but can you run an ohm check on it?

 

[dc78212]

Mine was nothing more complicated than a very old cable (broken inside) and antenna... Not saying to just throw $$$ at it, but how old is too old? Mine was at least 15 yo... Mine was trickier to diagnose, given the previous owner only used a HHD unit (so he said) but he gave me no reason to doubt him, the water pump seized at launch and he paid to have it rebuilt.

Like had been said, new radios have a ton of settings, read the manual, use a small temp antenna to test, forget the radio Check channel, I only got it to work once out of 10 tries... the marina heard me fine, so did the P.O. with a HHD.

P.s. The installer tied some twine about the middle of the cable and tied it off somewhere in the top of last to keep the weight off the cable. Don't ask details, he was up the mast, not me, I was shortly out of surgery on arm and wasn't about to climb a mast.

 

[SirMichael]

What you need is in SWR meter which usually comes with a short piece of coax. I'm an amateur radio operator and I've played with a lot of radios and antennas. by putting the SWR meter in series with the output of the radio to the antenna, you measure the forward power (power from the radio to the antenna) and the reflected power (power that is not transmitted out the antenna, but reflected back to the transmitter.
Chances are you were going to find that all of the power is reflected back into the transmitter, that is not of the power is going out the antenna. Most likely you have an open coax or broken antenna.

Do you happen to have any friends that are amateur radio operators? I wouldn't be surprised if they would be glad to help you troubleshoot this.

A temporary solution might be to purchase a mobile type antenna with some coacts and mounted on one of the rails of your boat.

Mike

 

[Patrick Lombard]

I had maybe the same problem. An option (I don't recall the name of it) changes the xmit-rcv frequencies. See if you get an "A" along with, say 78. It's like it is USA/Canadian or Euro or some such difference. Instead of xmit/rcv on the same freq, it makes the unit transmit on one freq, rcv on the other(duplex). This would cause one-way operation which, really, is no usable operation

I agree! It happen to me once when the kids play with the VHF. Some how they changed the setting to Canada and I got crap on the radio. Though it died, a friend on the dock told me to check the setting. That was it, good to go!

 

[Caspurr]

I had my VHF crap out mid summer. I could receive but not transmit. I replaced the Barrel Connector (Connects Cables from VHF to mast) on spec and no issues since.

 

[Gunni]

The boys over at Marine Technical Services (MTS) at HHN have all the diagnostic gear and can sort you out in quick order. I have a co-ax connector inside just below my mast where the cable comes inside through the cable clamp. If you have good transmit signal there then you know you will be going up the mast to check the antenna connection up top.

 

[sailndays]

VHF, hmmm. VHF is line of sight. Anything blocking line of sight? Bottom line, I wouldn't screw with it. Return it, get a different one.

 

[fourwhitesocks]

I had the similar issue with my 1986 Oday -28, radio(s) would all turn on but couldn't send or receive. Turned out to be the coax, pulled a new one thru the mast, used those gold connectors that another posted pic of and it works great now. I purchased a hand held to use during the time it wasn't working. Was easy to pull thru because my mast was down though ;-/

 

[jtm]

It's a long shot but if you have a battery charger engaged on the boat, it might suppress signals. I had this happen when I turned on my radio which, thru a Shakespeare splitter, used the radio mast.
I inserted a ferrite resistor from Radio shack on the charger out> battery wires. As close to the charger s possible and got my am/fm working again.

 

[Ken Cross]

What you need is in SWR meter which usually comes with a short piece of coax. I'm an amateur radio operator and I've played with a lot of radios and antennas. by putting the SWR meter in series with the output of the radio to the antenna, you measure the forward power (power from the radio to the antenna) and the reflected power (power that is not transmitted out the antenna, but reflected back to the transmitter.
Chances are you were going to find that all of the power is reflected back into the transmitter, that is not of the power is going out the antenna. Most likely you have an open coax or broken antenna.

Do you happen to have any friends that are amateur radio operators? I wouldn't be surprised if they would be glad to help you troubleshoot this.

A temporary solution might be to purchase a mobile type antenna with some coacts and mounted on one of the rails of your boat.

Mike

I agree with Mike. The VSWR check is the only standard check to verify antenna and transmission line integrity. I hadn't mentioned it because on an earlier post folks seemed to think it was something from another planet. It is, in fact, the gold standard here on earth. If you ever find a radio tech who doesn't use one for checking transmitter systems, run away.
The antenna substitution suggestion I tried to offer (coat hangar) is just a cheap and quick way to determine if the problem was the new radio or the antenna system. Assuming the problem is in the antenna system a VSWR check is pretty much a requirement to verify the repair.

Here is a link to one for 20 bucks that will do the job just fine. You would need to add a short cable:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CB-Radio-VS...922261?hash=item3601d44415:g:Tc0AAOSwQaJXSSVp


Ken

 

[Brian D]

WHOA! STOP STOP STOP

The Midland SWR meter is for CB radio only. It is NOT for VHF. The frequency range of the Marine VHF is 156MHz to 162MHz. You will need a VHF SWR meter, or any meter that covers accurately up to 200MHz will do. Using a HF SWR meter will give false results.

Here is a potential SWR meter, but you might want to go a little more expensive. Your call.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Workman-104...778008?hash=item210bbbcd98:g:L8IAAOSwNsdXRz3-

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Although the appropriate SWR meter can be a useful tool, it can also serve to easily mislead someone who doesn't understand its limitations.

For example, SWR readings can and do vary along the length of the coax. Also, it does nothing to indicate efficacy of the antenna as, for example, it would show a perfect match of a dummy load or an equivalent resistive load while not radiating any signal. Antenna analyzers are a much better tool but not typically worth the investment of the average boater.

If someone chooses to use an SWR meter, take the time to understand the limitations. But more important, if you have a problem with an old antenna system ( antenna and feed line), it is usually safe to assume inspection, maintenance and periodic replacement should be part of any boat maintenance routine.

Finally, when choosing to replace feed line, make sure you select coax spec'ed for exterior use, low loss and fitted properly with good quality connectors designed for solder rather than crimped. Because of its multiple concentric layers, coax can easily be damaged by crimping than any other cause.

 

[Tally Ho]

Thanks Ron. I'll be at the boat later this week and will take a look.

Greg