I may have to replace the mast top antenna and the co-ax. I am not sure which type of antenna is suitable and why. By suitability I mean - there are 2 type of antennas with and without DC ground. The ones with DC ground measures near zero ohms when measuring resistance between the inner and outer conductor. Without DC ground it measures open circuit. The one that is currently on my mast top measures 1.2 Ohms and I have measured the output wattage of the radio and it is 20Watts and the reflected power is less than 1 Watt - this means that it is operating properly and there is no short on the line. Does anyone know when and why one would select with or without DC ground. I am trying to replace with the one without DC ground as this makes more sense to me.
I probable will get the Shakespeare 5215 style mast top antenna. Also there is an other model available that comes with 60 feet of RG-8 coax. This length may be about 4 feet too short. Has anyone replaced the co-ax and know how many feet of coax is needed? I have measured the mast and from the top to the deck is 42' - I am not sure how much more is needed to the radio.
Haro Bayandorian, 1999 C36 MKII, Sail La Vie #1787, M35B,
Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA.
The Shakespeare antenna you mentioned would be fine (as well as most other 3db gain mast-head antennas.) and the RG-8 cable is good for this application. If the SWR is fine on the existing antenna I don't know why you would want to change it?
As far as the cable lenght mentioned; I wouldn't be running the cable directly to the radio, but would put in a PL-259 join at the base of the mast anyway; so the 60 feet will be enough to get to the bilge area and then you will need to run another length to the radio, which could probably just be RG-58.
---- Howard & Linda Matwick ----
--- S/V "Silhouette" - Nanaimo, BC ----
--- 1999 C36 MkII #1776 M35BC ---