While on a recent sailing trip I realized my ship to shore was not working properly. I could recieve just fine but couldn't transmit more than maybe two hundred yards. Any ideas before I invest in another radio Paul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
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check your antenna
You may have a faulty antenna or a connection that has gone bad. Radio Shack sells 2-meter SWR meters. 2-meter is the Ham Radio frequency close to the marine band so it will still work. This will give you the forward transmit power and what the reflected power is. If you are pushing the power down to the antenna only to have most of it reflected back, you have an antenna problem. You could be receiving the signals via the ground of the antenna while not transmitting anything because it is not harmonicly in tune.
You may have a faulty antenna or a connection that has gone bad. Radio Shack sells 2-meter SWR meters. 2-meter is the Ham Radio frequency close to the marine band so it will still work. This will give you the forward transmit power and what the reflected power is. If you are pushing the power down to the antenna only to have most of it reflected back, you have an antenna problem. You could be receiving the signals via the ground of the antenna while not transmitting anything because it is not harmonicly in tune.
I would agree with Doghouse...
But also add that part of your antenna cable, or the connector at the antenna, might be corroded preventing a good ground. Just the opposite of what Dog said. Even with a bad ground, you will still be able to receive fairly well. But the ground is needed for a good transmit signal.
But also add that part of your antenna cable, or the connector at the antenna, might be corroded preventing a good ground. Just the opposite of what Dog said. Even with a bad ground, you will still be able to receive fairly well. But the ground is needed for a good transmit signal.
vhf woes
Unplug your microphone and plug it back in. Do it several times to remove the tiny bit of corrosion.
Unplug your microphone and plug it back in. Do it several times to remove the tiny bit of corrosion.
to add to the confusion
There are a number of likely causes and the most probable is a bad coax connection someplace bewteen the antenna base and radio. If you have any of those cheap solderless connections, they are notoriously bad to begin with and only get worse with age. It could be the radio itself but as most of the circuitry for the transmitter portion is common with the receiver side except for the amp transistor(s) so the radio is typically the last cause if you are able to receive properly. As someone said, it's easier for the radio to receive with a bad connection than it is to transmit a proper signal. Most contemporary VHF radios are internally protected from coax shorts such that they essentially shut down the output power if a short or high SWR is detected. Unfortunately, using an SWR meter to detect a coax problem can be very misleading. It can tell if there is a problem but a low (good) SWR isn't a good indicator of proper coax and antenna efficacy. Exageration for effect - if you connected your coax to a lightbulb, the SWR would be excellent, however, nobody would hear your signal so beware of simple recommendations. Check and replace any questionable connections with good quality soldered coax connectors and your problem will probably go away. Don
There are a number of likely causes and the most probable is a bad coax connection someplace bewteen the antenna base and radio. If you have any of those cheap solderless connections, they are notoriously bad to begin with and only get worse with age. It could be the radio itself but as most of the circuitry for the transmitter portion is common with the receiver side except for the amp transistor(s) so the radio is typically the last cause if you are able to receive properly. As someone said, it's easier for the radio to receive with a bad connection than it is to transmit a proper signal. Most contemporary VHF radios are internally protected from coax shorts such that they essentially shut down the output power if a short or high SWR is detected. Unfortunately, using an SWR meter to detect a coax problem can be very misleading. It can tell if there is a problem but a low (good) SWR isn't a good indicator of proper coax and antenna efficacy. Exageration for effect - if you connected your coax to a lightbulb, the SWR would be excellent, however, nobody would hear your signal so beware of simple recommendations. Check and replace any questionable connections with good quality soldered coax connectors and your problem will probably go away. Don
Larry has it!!
Use a pencil eraser to "rub" the contacts of the microphone connector (both sides). This is by far the most common problem and the most common fix. I ALWAYS start here before I start tearing other things down. Cables don't "just rusted up one night" and stop working. They gradually fade away.
Use a pencil eraser to "rub" the contacts of the microphone connector (both sides). This is by far the most common problem and the most common fix. I ALWAYS start here before I start tearing other things down. Cables don't "just rusted up one night" and stop working. They gradually fade away.
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