VHF Troubleshooting

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Raftco

Raftco

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Sep 23, 2009
59
Catalina 30 MKII, Fin Keel Harwich Port, MA
Having issues with broken transmissions and terrible range with my mounted VHF unit. I am able to pick up some radio traffic, but only very short range and generally USCG stuff that is powered higher. The radio cuts in and out and transmissions are broken. However, I don't have issues with my AM/FM radio reception that uses the same coaxial cable...

Here is my situation:

I have installed new wires & connections up the mast and in the boat, have a new Standard Horizon VHF and new shakespeare metal sailboat antenna mounted at the top of the mast. Additionally I have a splitter for the antennae that allows my fixed AM/FM radio to get reception from my vhf antennae (which works excellent) using the same coaxial wire up the mast.

Currently I'm getting better range and transmission from my handheld unit. Any troubleshooting suggestions on how to get my VHF to work better?
 
kenn

kenn

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Apr 18, 2009
1,271
CL Sandpiper 565 Toronto
Raftco said:
...Currently I'm getting better range and transmission from my handheld unit. Any troubleshooting suggestions on how to get my VHF to work better?
Click to expand
Don't go by AM/FM reception; most car-type radios can pick up local stations without ANY antenna. Or just a 4" nail stuck in the antenna connector...;)

This really sounds like the antenna isn't connected properly, or there's a bad connection somewhere in the line. i would start by bypassing the antenna splitter, then by inspecting and tightening every connection. Keep going til your reception improves. THEN put the splitter back (or lose the splitter and put a smaller antenna (or a 3' piece of wire) on the AM/FM radio).

Same situation happened on my friend's boat last year. His antenna line was the good stuff, yet my $30 handheld had better reception. It turns out that he hadn't properly tightened the screw-on PL connectors at the mast-cabin top joint. Once connected properly, a fixed VHF radio with a mast-top antenna should markedly outperform any handheld.
 
Don S/V ILLusion

Don S/V ILLusion

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Sep 25, 2008
7,405
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Three questions:
What makes you believe the VHF is functioning properly?
Voltage to transceiver okay?
Did you check SWR and continuity on the coax?

They do die in strange ways including new ones. Also to reiterate what Kenn said, lose the splitter, even if you think it is working properly. They all have loss, die when you most need it to work properly and can and do damage the transceiver when they break down.
 
M

Mike B1026

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Jun 17, 2007
402
MacGregor Mac26S Victoria Tx
Something similar here.

I had a problem with my VHF also. I too have the Sharkespear spliter. I discovered that the FM cable that came with the spliter unit was defective. It was shorting out, causing interference with the VHF. (the middle lead had become broken from the cable terminal)
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
I would get a meter to put on the line. It will tell you how many watts you are transmitting on both high & low setting.
 
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Mike B1026

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Jun 17, 2007
402
MacGregor Mac26S Victoria Tx
PS

By the way, I decided to dump the splitter. I figured it was just something else to go wrong and the VHF was the most important thing to have working. Besides, the bad FM cable with the end missing, still worked well enough to pick up FM stations)

Mike B1026 said:
Something similar here.

I had a problem with my VHF also. I too have the Sharkespear spliter. I discovered that the FM cable that came with the spliter unit was defective. It was shorting out, causing interference with the VHF. (the middle lead had become broken from the cable terminal)
Click to expand
 
L

larryw

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Jun 9, 2004
395
Beneteau OC400 Long Beach, CA
try unscrewing the locking nut and move the mic connector in and out several times. a bit of corrosion...
 
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