Well, I'm triangulating in on the problem. I made up a short jumper of 400 cable, and connected it to my kludge of a powered up setup for the nav radio dangling at the helm (instead of the arch antenna feed, with which we've already proven the radio good) and the antenna I took off the top of the mast.
Loud and clear, just sitting in the cockpit holding the antenna outside the bimini - tip of the whip not higher than the boom - from a slightly distant point and a local as well, 5x5, even on low power. So, given the lousy positioning of the antenna (no height, no grounding), I conclude that the antenna is ok, of which I'm very gladdened, as dealing with one on the plane when I come back would be a nuisance. That leaves the cable, which I'm going to replace, rather than try to troubleshoot the several pieces of it (mast and at least two jumpers, perhaps as many as 4, I forget). Various discussions in various places have alternated between "it's so short, and the power is so small, that anything will do" to "nothing other than MilSpec, and, a bonus, it's lighter and thinner" and places in between. I'm all for lighter and thinner, and the best tx I can get, if the two are compatible, and forever-grade corrosion/saltwater/whatever protection I can get. So, what part number cable should I be looking for for best longevity, easiest handling and best throughput (is there a single item to do that?)? I know I may have to pay a couple (maybe more) bux a foot for it, but it's small potatoes in the boatbux equation, and I really don't want to do this again... Thanks, all. L8R Skip, glad I'm not having to deal with an antenna on the plane Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig KI4MPC See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery ! Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog "You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it however." (and) "There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hand (Richard Bach) _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
