All of these ideas (and they are just ideas, with some experience put behind it) have merit. Just to think of the bigger picture, you may want to have a spare antenna somewhere on the boat so that if you are de-masted, you can still communicate. Your range will suffer only a bit if you still can talk well from 20 feet above water (or whatever you can muster). No matter what coax you use, and what antenna you have, you still have a failure point and a spare is the only recovery at sea.
Depending on the boat size, you can either mount one, or have one that clamps to a side rail, or whatever - just have a spare. The antenna, no matter which type of coax or even antenna, is more likely to fail before the radio. Just my $0.02 worth Doug in Seattle --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, "Vernon Densler" <m...@...> wrote: > > I have been in a big discussion with the guys on my boat list about the > right coax for running up the mast for VHF marine radio. > > > > Keeping in mind that we are talking about a 70' or so run going up the > center of an aluminum mast, in a salt water environment, and the radio is > limited to 25 watts. > > Also keep in mind that when off shore this is a life line and the best > possible send and receive is needed in an emergency situation. > > > > So given the criteria what is the best possible coax to use knowing that > thickness matters and bend radiuses may be tight? Others on the list are > saying "just grab any old 8X type cable and you will be fine". I say use > something with very low loss and suggested small heliax. > > > > Any suggestions? > > > > Vern > > s/v Nirvelli > > KI4ONW >
