How to Build the Best VHF RADIO [Capable Cruising Guides]

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
  • This week we are going to talk about what makes a marine VHF work extra well, and what causes them to sometimes, well, suck.
    Introduction [00:00]
    Why it Matters [01:16]
    Supply Power [05:18]
    Choose a Radio [09:01]
    Coax Cable [11:32]
    Antenna [17:53]
    Final Numbers [24:49]
    Cost [26:01]
    Troubleshooting [27:51]
    Final Story [31:07]
    Have questions or comments? Leave them below! We do our best to read and answer all comments on our channel.
    -----------
    NOTE FROM CLARK: In the research of photos for this video I stumbled across another type of coax cable that looks interesting. Apparently it's not available with tinned copper but it's used by oil rigs, so as long as you keep the ends sealed, you might think about trying this. It's cheaper then RG-213 and has a lower db loss rating.
    Here is it's data if I added it into the chart at the end:
    $$ | LMR-400 | -1.5db per 100' | 20W with 75' | 40W w/ 3db antenna | 80W w/ 6db antenna.
    So in my installation, I'd have an effective radiated power of 80 watts in stead of the 60 watts I have now. And it costs less! (I know what I'm trying next.)
    ---
    SHOP. (Affiliate links to things we actually own, use, and recommend. We are almost never paid by companies to endorse products. If we are, we will tell you in the video):
    LINKS TO VHF COMPONENTS WE USE:
    www.amazon.com/shop/emilyclar...
    LINKS TO OTHER PRODUCTS WE LOVE:
    www.amazon.com/shop/emilyclar...
    ---
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ความคิดเห็น • 676

  • @NYHalfassprepper
    @NYHalfassprepper 2 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    I am captain on a tug boat I use a vhf all day every day. My radios usually fail because either the microphone button wore out or the wires in the mic wire broke. I use both ICOM and Standard Horizon both function identical, I prefer the older ones with actual knobs instead of buttons. I swear by Morad antennas because they last. The fiberglass powerboat style ones break quickly. The vibration causes the wires inside to break. Plus the sun will delaminate them. I used a metal whip 3db sailboat style antenna for my ais which held up well. Also if you have a DSC equipped radio take the time to wire it to a GPS so it has time and position. I will stop beeping at you. That's about all I can pass on from my wheelhouse. Thanks for the video.

    • @Trump985
      @Trump985 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      How do you use both icom and standard? My experience is they don’t tend to work well together? Had a couple standards and replaced the 3rd radio with a icom if I had the standard on 13 and the icom on 16 or they fed back into each other had to run the icom on 10 our working channel and use the standards for 13 16. Maybe I had a bad radio but I never mixed radio brands in the wheelhouse again?

    • @seabournewolf2298
      @seabournewolf2298 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Trump985 because we have 2, 3, 4 completely separate radios with their own antenna's. we get what brand the company buys...usually a cheap one

    • @seabournewolf2298
      @seabournewolf2298 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I also work on a tug and I noticed the vibration over time often will crack the antania insulators and when water gets in them they short

  • @saenole66
    @saenole66 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Really good information clearly told. In the late 70’s and early 80’s our fishing club used CB radios in addition to our VHF radios on our skiffs. One of my friends blew an outdrive about a mile east of Bimini. He tried to call for help on his CB and go a response from someone who said where’s Bimini. My friend said it’s 55 miles east of Miami. The other person said he was just outside of Knoxville, TN and could not help. My friend said his 21’ skiff back to Florida using his Bimini top as a sail.

  • @artfulalias3984
    @artfulalias3984 2 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    Excellent coverage of a much misunderstood topic. Also coax looses more power if it gets deformed, pinched, flattened, bent too tight, looped excessively. Technical stuff: Some antennas work with a ground plane like the 3db quarter wave whip. Their pattern suffers without a good ground plane, which is another piece of the system not always addressed on boats. Some antennas work without a ground plane, like the 6db design you prefer. For people who want deeper understanding, buy the ARRL Antenna handbook as a place to start.

    • @lenwhatever4187
      @lenwhatever4187 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      ground plane was something I was wondering about (coming from AM broadcast back ground). I have a small boat with a hand made antenna about 3 foot dipole and a bigger boat with an 8 foot antenna. The 3 foot radio is grounded through the motor, just because it is electric start. The 8 foot is not because there is no electrical connection to the motor and the hull is glass. The small antenna seems to receive better (weather channels) than the 8 foot (which is also higher up). But from what you have just said, the 8 foot would be a dipole and should not need a ground plane... so cable or antenna I guess (the radio is new the cable and antenna are old).

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Yeah, it's always the wire.
      If you decide to replace it read the video description. There is a better (and cheaper) cable I found after filming.

    • @marcialsantiago8383
      @marcialsantiago8383 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@lenwhatever4187 8' sounds a little long to be a dipole in that frequency range. A standard center-fed dipole will be a half-wavelength. 234 divided by the frequency x 12= 1/4 wave in inches. Longer is NOT better.

    • @lenwhatever4187
      @lenwhatever4187 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@marcialsantiago8383 Thats true, though multiples of 1/4 wave do work as in the rhombus . On the other hand, making an antenna that requires a ground plane does not make sense (plastic boats don't make very good ground planes). The size of my DIY one was short (1 meter-ish - 1/2 wave) because of that. But 8 foot antennas are a thing. They are also supposed to have a higher gain yet still be omni. So possibly a set of stacked dipoles similar to those used in commercial FM/TV antennas (I can't remember the spacing required off hand). In any case, grounding should not be required because an 8 foot whip would suffer from the same effect. A 5/8 element with a matching coil, such as used for mobile 2meter using the car roof for ground plane, with a second similar set turned upside down to act as return works out to around 8 ft as well.... And is simpler than stacked dipole.
      It would be interesting to know what is actually used.

    • @marcialsantiago8383
      @marcialsantiago8383 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@lenwhatever4187 reflectors can be made. I know Firestick actually produces a base station mount that has reflectors on it.
      Personally, if the mast is non-conductive,I'd go with a slim jim.
      But then again, I have the option of building my own.

  • @73Kaarn
    @73Kaarn 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I served in the australian navy as a comms operator and found this explanation and advice excellent for general sailors. by the way for cable connections we covered them in impregnated cotton wrap which would last for years preventing water penetration. very difficult to remove though.

  • @terrybest3036
    @terrybest3036 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Nice one Clark! Very informative. Love you guys! One thing I would have touched on and is generally overlooked is the twisting/shielding and routing of the power wires. A large percentage of you will say it doesn't matter because its DC, however I would have to disagree based on experience. Remember that day when you were so proud of your new car stereo install and it sounded so good ….until you started your car. There was a terrible whine that was proportional to the rpm of the engine...You had to fix this using an EMI filter. I am a design engineer in aerospace and defense (specifically designing automated test systems for electronic..."things that are critical to your survival"). Collective data would support twisting of the power wires as the default go-to if cost and weight do not prohibit its use. When in doubt twist them and shield them. Two reasons....1. Reduced susceptibility to noise from other magnetic fields. 2. Reduced magnetic radiation from loads that are switching. Additionally, the routing of these wires is even more critical. Its generally a bad idea to run power wires to your radio in parallel with wires going to your bilge pumps, transducers, stereo speaker wires, shore power lines, etc. I'm guessing there is a filter circuit on the power input side of a quality radio, but to cut costs in a Chinese radio I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't exist at all. Scenario: Your sinking and the bilge pumps are now running full bore, and an inductive interference is now coupled to your radio when your calling for Mayday. All they hear at the other end is a whining bilge pump with some guy garbled underneath all the noise. Greetings from Clearwater!

    • @upinyou8
      @upinyou8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you for the very informative comment.😊Greetings from SV Chasing Summer St. Pete Beach

  • @NotaFlea
    @NotaFlea 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Great video, I am a ham and the info in this video is spot on. Good equipment, good connections, water,proofing to keep corrosion down. Understanding db, antenna placement. Good stuff for the layman to adhere to.

  • @MarcoYolo420
    @MarcoYolo420 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Love your stories!
    As a beginner sailor, I started to get some nice stories to tell too, until now, mainly what goes wrong.
    I'll check my VHF cables and antenna, thanx so much for sharing your expertise.

  • @drummergirl9437
    @drummergirl9437 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Love the tech talk and story sandwich. The stories brought a lot of life to something that might have, otherwise, been a little more difficult to see the applicability behind.

  • @sstorholm
    @sstorholm ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Some pointers: I’d recommend going to 1/2” RF cable instead, it has lower loss, and has a solid corrugated copper shield, which means a hole in the outer sheath won’t wick water into the cable. You’ll need to add two more connectors and move to a thinner cable at both ends, but if you use N-type connectors the loss in the connectors will be less than the loss of the RG-213. There’s also other options that are a bit more flexible, but they are a lot more expensive. For connectors, I recommend first taping the joint with self-vulcanizing tape (silicone if you can find it), and then taping over it with 3M Super 88 electrical tape (this is the stuff you want, there’s nothing like it), this is how we do radio systems for critical infrastructure.

    • @glennwillems9924
      @glennwillems9924 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Scotch 33+ would also be a very good choice... It remains flexible even in cold temperatures. Very good stuff if you want to seal an RF connection.

    • @dominicryan5227
      @dominicryan5227 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      One of the more expensive options is LMR-400, probably around $2/ft, but loss is 1.5dB/100ft at VHF. Add N-connectors and you are probably going to get close to 20W at the antenna feed instead of the 15W from 213. Maybe not worth pulling out the 213, but likely noticeable if you are on open water and every bit of distance matters.

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes I talk about this in the description

    • @georgecarney3083
      @georgecarney3083 ปีที่แล้ว

      Clark I agree LMR400UF (ultra flexible) has a solid inner and double screen jacket. Designed for outdoor use and is a good seal to water ingress, attenuation at 150MHz is 1.5dB. I also agree that N-Type connectors are the best to use, so the antenna (commercial type) usually come with a N-Type female on it, just have to replace the bulkhead fitting on the radio to N-Type female. The tape I have used for the last 40 years has been Scotch23 self vulcanising tape a good UV and waterproofing tape for antenna/feeder cable connections. Used it inland and on tugs and dredgers I worked on.

  • @gefginn3699
    @gefginn3699 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Clark, you and Emily are both good teachers and I love hearing your stories. 😇🤩

  • @kayakamy2618
    @kayakamy2618 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Love this Clark! Full on geek out and brilliant stories too. Thanks for sharing. Good reminder that sometimes having the best gear is about being able to help in general, not just whatever your own use case might be.

  • @icarumba5
    @icarumba5 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    You guys are amazing! I appreciate and value the info you guys contribute to the cruising life. This was a great episode and the stories were the icing!

  • @danielhwolf
    @danielhwolf ปีที่แล้ว

    I shared this in an online discussion, I can't remember where, but it was appreciated.

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Daniel. I really appreciate that

  • @acromegla
    @acromegla 2 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    You guys simply rock! I love all the actual break down of the how tos. Whether it’s Clark doing a vid like this, or Emily doing the cooking and canning food prep, this is an absolute gem of a channel!

  • @gymcoachdon
    @gymcoachdon 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks! I will be checking out the radio installation after I buy our first sailboat in the coming year, and now I know what to plan for!

  • @davfre8000
    @davfre8000 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I LOVE THE STORIES!!! Also great info on the inner workings of the radio system, much appreciated!!

  • @larryb5914
    @larryb5914 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The stories take time ...and while initially seem like unnecessary, are in fact reminders that some items on the boat are critical for survival, if not your own, someone else...there is nothing more depressing than to be aware of a distress situation and the feeling of helplessness if you are not able to help...while being able to help makes for a better life and my belief that good Karma will be returned many times more than expected, so thank you Clark for the stories, they fill out the purpose of a life well lived...congrats!

  • @johnathanlivingstonseagull5524
    @johnathanlivingstonseagull5524 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Your help is saving lives. You are amazing. You helped me. Thank you.

  • @michaelmartz4067
    @michaelmartz4067 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for all this good information. We bought a new (to us) boat that the radio appeared to work to the surveyor when the mast was down and in a barn. But in sailing her, we could hear on the radio but not transmit. I thought I would have to replace the radio, but after listening to this I will now first check the antenna wire. Thank you!

  • @Jolie_sailor
    @Jolie_sailor 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Always nuggets of great information with you two. Thank you for sharing.

  • @lauravalerius4667
    @lauravalerius4667 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This is one of the best, most informative, and well presented videos I’ve ever seen! Many thanks for sharing your experience, knowledge, and wisdom!

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thanks Laura,
      You might like our other videos as well. Might I suggest our "how refrigeration works" video.
      th-cam.com/video/jTKT3w-6Bl0/w-d-xo.html

  • @waynenitschke511
    @waynenitschke511 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    EXCELLENT job done on the topic . As a technician in the Royal Australian Navy and now as a Ham radio trainer I fully agree with everything covered here. Cheers

  • @johnstreet797
    @johnstreet797 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Excellent advice Clark. The last boat that owned me was a 34' Tolly. Icom VHF, 10 gage power wire, with 6 4700 mfd 35 volt caps parallel at the entry point. Shakespeare 1/2 wave 17' antenna, RG8X coax, soldered PL239's, fold down mount like yours. 60 mile range most days.

    • @chrismarch6829
      @chrismarch6829 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Good info. Did you have to change/join the RG8X cable from the factory supplied RG58 cable?

  • @stoatsngroatsuk5012
    @stoatsngroatsuk5012 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hey Clark, thanks for this info. I’m not a boater (yet), but I’m finding our all I can before we take the leap into boating. You and Emily are interesting and fun, but mostly informative. So thanks from Southern UK in 2022.

  • @mememe5231
    @mememe5231 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great information as always. Amazing stories! Thank you

  • @theislandretreat4326
    @theislandretreat4326 28 วันที่ผ่านมา

    VHF theoretical range. 1.23 x the square root of your mast height above the water's surface in feet. Versus 1.18 for line of sight. So, yup, up the mast she goes! Also, some thought given for grounding of some sort for lightning strike:) ie the outside of the pl-259 to the mast. Great video!

  • @andytyphoon
    @andytyphoon 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Very informative, thank you Clark.

  • @nunyabidness517
    @nunyabidness517 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Good job. One thing when running coax is to avoid very sharp bends. If your bend is too sharp the inner wire can migrate through the insulation and touch the outer wire over time causing a dead short. Also worth mentioning that super cheap tv coax is 75 ohm and should be avoided. SWR meters really come into their own when tuning an antenna.

  • @mikegoyette8469
    @mikegoyette8469 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

    100% buy the 8' antennae! He's right. I cannot believe the reception I get now compared to the shorty on a 21 footer (Shakespeare too, IMO). Appreciate your videos, big help!

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Thanks for reporting back, Mike
      Please consider sharing this video around if you think it would help people.

  • @livingsimplytosimplylive6817
    @livingsimplytosimplylive6817 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    You both are just a wealth of knowledge thank you again for sharing with us

  • @hmspain52
    @hmspain52 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wonderful video Clark!

  • @nedwphillips2126
    @nedwphillips2126 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good to hear your (to me) sound reasoning and such, Gr8 Video!!!

  • @raymondbrown940
    @raymondbrown940 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good video. I listened because I'm installing a radio for the first time. But, I have to say... The stories were my favorite part! Thank you for the video.

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hope you enjoy our other videos and choose to subscribe.
      The lightning video has stories as well

  • @gordonshanahan52
    @gordonshanahan52 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Great video! I've been refitting an old Hughes 38 and the radios were installed with soldered alligator clips! So I've been trying to figure how to install a good radio set up. This really helped!

  • @digitalcanvas4444
    @digitalcanvas4444 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is awesome information. Thank you!

  • @mattwright6013
    @mattwright6013 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you, Clark that really helped

  • @TerrydeAlaska
    @TerrydeAlaska 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great video Clark. I always enjoy the technical part of the videos, but I think we all learn so much from your stories and even (if any) mistakes, so please continue to give us stories. One thing, on checking for voltage drop on the circuit feeding the radio while it's on and transmitting, if the spade connectors are aren't easy to access with the voltmeter, for some it might be helpful to make a temporary "T" splice to plug in and allow access with the meter leads. Cheers

  • @bravofighter
    @bravofighter ปีที่แล้ว

    GREAT ADVICE, thank you! I just found your channel because TH-cam recommended your boat electrics playlist when I ordered a new set of buses on Amazon (my $200 eBay sailboat has a short somewhere). Weird times we live in, but anyway, it was really helpful and I shared it with my brother, who lives in the Keys, and is always helping friends troubleshoot their 12v systems. He said it’s an awesome playlist and has favorited your channel to pass on to others. THANK YOU!

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks,
      Especially for sharing

  • @brianshanahan3878
    @brianshanahan3878 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent video and well explained. Keep up the great work!

  • @thetraveller3577
    @thetraveller3577 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Love the practical advice. Youve been along side me on my journey ...thanks clarke.

    • @markc3717
      @markc3717 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Ditto - great background & advice - communication is the key, here, over there & at sea …
      Your efforts are much appreciated.

  • @ianwilson8410
    @ianwilson8410 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Love the stories! They are great teaching tools. Thanks!

  • @rimasmeleshyus9486
    @rimasmeleshyus9486 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video, thanks for informing

  • @davidbaehler4901
    @davidbaehler4901 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent video. I learned a lot. Thank you!

  • @Grumpyneanderthal
    @Grumpyneanderthal 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Valuable content. Thanks for sharing. You’re one of the first engineers I heard that doesn’t talk like an engineer.

    • @Grumpyneanderthal
      @Grumpyneanderthal 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Jack O'Bean so you think he’s beneath you but you’re spending your time here…..twit

  • @tonycarey1808
    @tonycarey1808 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Another great video - thanks Clark! Being a retired commo guy in the military I appreciated your simple explanations

  • @andreasfink6751
    @andreasfink6751 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video, well explained, very useful.

  • @andrewyoung-n8ary
    @andrewyoung-n8ary 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is a great explanation and from my experience, accurate.

  • @lukedenbleyker5091
    @lukedenbleyker5091 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I love this. Rocket surgery lol 😂 but covering why and how it works. Understanding makes all the difference in my opinion. Thanks Clark ☺️

  • @anneli1735
    @anneli1735 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    ❣️ Love your stories ❣️ and a huge thanks for your expertise on that topic again 😊 Perfect add on to Emily‘s great vid 😍

  • @Flembgemb
    @Flembgemb 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Love this. The little things make all the difference. Most people don't worry about the little things until it is too late. You want your safety equipment available and ready before the emergency happens!

  • @cyberdoc78
    @cyberdoc78 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good explanation and story telling. I really like your channel. Keep up the good work. Thanks and fair winds.

  • @norbertjoos
    @norbertjoos 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I like your tech wisdom! Thank you for sharing

  • @BitsofSkin
    @BitsofSkin ปีที่แล้ว

    Very imformative and precise. Thank you very much.
    Safe voyage :)

  • @michaelclueless
    @michaelclueless 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    EXCELLENT video! I've been a Ham radio operator since 1978 or so (and have been using radio even longer), and I used to sail quite a bit, plus I spent six years in the US Navy working on RDF systems at sea. You covered all the good points in a way that anybody should be able to understand, whether they had any experience or training in the field or not. Your stories are on point and not too long; vital to the topic! The only triviality I can think of is the 3dB vs 6dB graphics: I know this is anal and probably more trouble than it's really worth, but I've tried to train people in a variety of situations...I think many people would be caught by the 2D illustration. I'm sure a 3D toroid image, especially if it moved with the boat, would have gone into people's brains like gangbusters. Perhaps pointing out that the illustrations represented a "doughnut shape" would have helped.
    Perhaps a bit more on weatherproofing those cables? I used ScotchKote, I think it was called, after packing the fittings with silicon grease (that's what dielectric grease normally is; other greases--even petroleum jelly--will degrade insulation materials), and then wrapping the whole fitting in self-vulcanized tape (several types available at hardware stores, in the electrical or even plumbing sections), and finally covering with a good abrasion-resistant tape and smearing the whole mess with goo such as EPDM or even outdoor silicon window caulk. Yes, it's money, but after spending so much on a cable, I want that cable to last.
    I'm glad I stumbled onto this video, even though you're not actually "building" a radio itself, but rather building a radio system. Liked and subscribed!

    • @mikejohns3104
      @mikejohns3104 ปีที่แล้ว

      Good advice!

    • @BitsofSkin
      @BitsofSkin ปีที่แล้ว

      What is being a HAM operator got to do with it? Because your a HAM op you think you rule the airwaves? You think you have a staus above and beyond? Being a HAM operator, stick to your HAM bands. Marine, is NOT HAM.

    • @mikejohns3104
      @mikejohns3104 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@BitsofSkin Calm down. When you are ready to get your HAM ticket there will be plenty of resources to help you🤣

    • @BitsofSkin
      @BitsofSkin ปีที่แล้ว

      @@mikejohns3104 See this is the point i'm making..
      You assume i dont have my HAM licence, you think your one of a kind lol
      The thing is, i have my HAM licence, Mike.
      I just dont like when fellow HAMs think they own the whole spectrum. It gives us a bad name.

    • @mikejohns3104
      @mikejohns3104 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@BitsofSkin You don't know what I am thinking. I don't care of you are a ham or not. You have not made a point. Your initial comment didn't even make any sense. We are not the same. Good luck sad ham.

  • @robertlewisvideo
    @robertlewisvideo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great Video. Thanks

  • @xcalabers
    @xcalabers 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Another great video, thanks!

  • @svhappymondays
    @svhappymondays 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Awesome as always Clark thanks, I love a story ;))

  • @MiQBohlin
    @MiQBohlin 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great info about “how to” in this episode!

  • @jay_behr
    @jay_behr 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Really good video on radio kit for a newbie (me) to watch. Thank you fellah! :)

  • @daphnesplyntr
    @daphnesplyntr 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for such a great lesson. Really appreciate it.

  • @projecttrawler
    @projecttrawler 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Another great video! Love the stories

  • @claesmrkeberg2419
    @claesmrkeberg2419 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    context is king. Great video and valuable information👍

  • @albertarancher7780
    @albertarancher7780 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks SO much to both of you for giving us all these great tips and info! We are gathering and keeping them all for future installations and ventures..We are Alberta ranchers with a dream..building our own blue water 32 foot sailboat, in our shop, alongside our farm equipment.. We spend all our "free time" LOL( . when the cow herds and crops don't need our imminent attention ..like between midnight and 5 AM!!) ..on our boat. SV FORTUNE FOUND...We love her already and hope to splash her on the west coast of Canada in 2023. And then join you cruisers in some warmer climes!!
    You two are helping us to do it RIGHT from the START!! SO PLEASE BE AS DETAILED AS YOU CAN.. NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR THAT! We gobble this stuff up.. Cheers from Mac and Maggie.

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Grew up on and around dairy farms myself. Sailing is less work!

  • @AndyKopac
    @AndyKopac ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice video. I used a really good cable to replace my coax up the mast and did all the right stuff. It was a new antenna too. Struggled with it all th way down to El Salvador. Range was like 3 miles. I had even replaced connectors and soldered them at the bottom of the mast, even used gold plated connectors. I used a swr meter on it and it always pointed me too the mast base connection. I finally stripped it back, cut off the connects, and soldered the core leads together. Liquid electrical taped it, electrical taped it, amalgamated taped it heat shrieked it, and took the shielding braid and soldered and sealed all that and sealed the whole thing. My tested range was 28 miles with the 3db antenna. We were good with that.
    22 years later I added an AIS and auto splitter and our range went down considerably, and the AIS especially. Turns out AIS frequencies are just above marine VHF and we were getting a lot of reflection. I bought a 4db combo vhf AIS antenna and all my problems went away. Interestingly enough my range increased to about 60 miles now confirmed by San Diego Coast Guard. That higher db antenna helped and I think the antenna switch has a booster built in.

  • @PsRohrbaugh
    @PsRohrbaugh 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    On my dad's boat, we had the VHF on a double throw switch, with the second connection going to a 5 amp-hour sealed lead acid battery. It was charged by a 5 watt solar panel trickle charger. It was nice knowing that we had a completely independent electrical system for emergencies. Fortunately we never needed to use it.

  • @boisspruce9647
    @boisspruce9647 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I do marine electronics work for a living. Everything you said was totally on point.

  • @Jacoblejd
    @Jacoblejd 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Seriously, this channel really differentiates. You really pack a punch by making really intrinsic knowledge easily understood and accessible. The two of you are amazing. Keep up the good work!!!

  • @a.c.2219
    @a.c.2219 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I live 300 miles from the nearest ocean and haven't been on a boat in probably 26 years, but I still found this interesting as a radio nerd.

  • @RappinIggyG
    @RappinIggyG 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Who knew? You don't know what you don't know. Thanks AGAIN for a very good presentation on some very important kit.

  • @michaelmarcus2318
    @michaelmarcus2318 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ham and retired FCC technical wonk here;
    Great video. Some comments:
    •72 ohm cable is used in the video industry and looks very similar. DON'T USE IT regardless of how little you may have to pay for it. It is labels as 72 ohm
    •I suggest a second radio in the cockpit with a low antenna nearby independent of the mast antenna for short range regular use and a backup for the main radio. Height really matters so the range will be limited, but adequate for most uses for talking to boats or marinas you can see visually. Since the required cable to connect antenna to radio is a few few, cable loss is not very important so use any cable that has good physical qualities such as waterproof and sun resistance. Having an independent power source for this radio would be helpful but may be difficult in practice
    •I disagree with the discussion around 23:00 about low gain/high gain antennas. I suggest only using low gain antennas on masts so in emergencies you don't have to worry about heel.
    •VHF radio propagation is quirky and depends on thermal inversions. Sometimes in Chesapeake Bay we can suddenly hear boats from Long Island Sound. Don't be surprised. It happens intermittently
    •If you are a ham, the 2m ham band is close to the VHF marine band. You can put in a spdt coax switch on the antenna and share it between you ham radio and marine radio
    • As stated around 20:00, an SWR meter is a good check on the cable system and antenna are working well. Considering borrowing one or asking a radio tech to do this check from time to time. They case under $50 but could be hard to store for voyages.

    • @dnomyarnostaw
      @dnomyarnostaw 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      " I suggest only using low gain antennas on masts so in emergencies you don't have to worry about hee"
      He explains in great detail how infrequently heel affects communication, and how easy it is to ease sheets to get level performance.

  • @jonbeargenx
    @jonbeargenx ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Having SWR properly adjusted reduce the heat on your power transistors in your radio. SWR is really important.
    Regarding coaxial cables, you also get them UV treated (and people need to know to NOT get the non UV protected ones). Personally I like to use High gain metal antennas, they've lasted a long time for me. Also a shorter whip (black thin ones) are good as a backup mounted away from the mast in case of demasting. Obviously not as good as an antenna in the mast, but in an emergency you would like to have all the bells and whistles.
    Having satellite is of course a choice, but I am not doing a crossing without it.
    Thank you so much for the video and have a great day! 😊

  • @IrregularPineapples
    @IrregularPineapples 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is amazing, thank you! Just bought a boat this summer and brought it home -- will have to install VHF this winter~ Thank you~

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Make sure you read my comment in the description.

    • @IrregularPineapples
      @IrregularPineapples 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@EmilyAndClark ohh, I did not notice this, thank you~ Also fun fact many of your videos have been useful already on my way home. Particularly the Diesel engine overview video and knots video (alpine butterfly and zeppelin knots in particular ^^).
      One mistake I did servicing the engine was over tightening the impeller bolts until they snapped -- luckily there was no damage to the engine holes, only the bolts -- so I could just buy a new pair of bolts.
      One thing I'm unsure of is the oil that goes into the Diesel engine. The old manual wants some 10w-30 but they don't seem to sell that anymore so I went with 15w-40 which seemed close enough (and which you also used on your bigger yanmar) and it worked out fine -- also I heard synthetic oil would be bad as I have a 40+ year old yanmar but I'm not sure. Maybe an idea for a video to talk about different oils? ^^;;
      Also the gear box oil seems like it never goes bad and doesn't need a lot of changing? And the stuffbox also?
      Anyway I'm just rambling please don't answer my questions maybe you'll subconsciously talk about some of them in one of your videos at some point -- thanks a bunch~

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi guys. I see you just supported us on Patreon. I'll answer there.

  • @danielcorcoran7132
    @danielcorcoran7132 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Very good. Missing is at least a mention of installing a dedicated cheap GPS antenna powered by the same circuit, a $30 part, that when combined with obtaining and programming an MMSI number gives your vhf radio the ability in the USA to send your gps location to authorized after pressing distress button. So many people fail to set this up, mentioning the importance in your video would contribute to awareness. The coast guard can better respond when they are convinced you know exactly where you are, and it helps novice boaters better succeed with the radio when the skipper is incapacitated. In addition products like the MOB1 can be setup to work with your vhf radio to alert crew if you fall out of boat. See if you can edit and include early on when you describe the install process involves antenna and power wire. Dan, marine electronics writer, practical sailor magazine.

  • @peterb7632
    @peterb7632 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Thank you.i will use this info.

  • @bradfordsimms715
    @bradfordsimms715 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    great information , thanks

  • @matatooie
    @matatooie 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Awesome video, Clark! I for one would like to put my vote in for the video to track down where the power drains are!

  • @ddg9952
    @ddg9952 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good job! Pro tips (33 years as a radio tech/engineer)
    - unless you have the capability to align your marine radio to specs, plan to replace every 3 years...they drift off from alignment over time and all marine radios i have seem are commercial grade construction and engineering. Even the $500 stuff, if you want a 5-10 year lifecycle/reliability you will spend >$1,000
    - voltage when tested at the radio when transmitting at full power should never get below 11.5 volts...if so is it battery or wiring? Fix it
    - take your time and build the connectors properly! A cannot count how many times a poorly made connector was the problem!
    - use butyl tape compressed with good electrical tape (super 33 or super 88) to seal connectors exposed to elements).
    - this is your lifeline, take it seriously, make sure the departure to return ratio is 1:1

  • @markgardner8542
    @markgardner8542 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good info! As a HAM operator in can agree with all of this. Remember... To much, is just enough!

  • @JohannesNeumeier
    @JohannesNeumeier 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Fantastic, especially the table of comparison of different wires and antennae, thanks!

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Read the description. I found a new wire after filming

    • @JohannesNeumeier
      @JohannesNeumeier 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@EmilyAndClark thanks! the descriptio mentions lme400 cable, but im finding only lmr400 in all the places - typo?

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I think I made a typo. Hate my cell phone keyboard I'll fix it.

    • @JohannesNeumeier
      @JohannesNeumeier 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@EmilyAndClark ok, no worries, sometimes hard to know if its a US thing or somesuch... that cable seems super, fairly inexpensive, now you have me pondering a complete overhaul! What do you make of antenna cable splitters for radio reception with the same antenna... does that impact the signal, aside from obviously more connections with the box in the middle?

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Don't use them.

  • @jamesmorken3356
    @jamesmorken3356 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video

  • @ZeroDot42
    @ZeroDot42 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi Clark ,great vid on explaining how to get the best out of a marine vhf ,thank you..to answer your request ..often on FB discussions lead to refrigeration problems, battery ,aircon etc and when i decide to comment and add my 10 cents worth ,I often refer people to your channel because of your interesting detailed way of explaining the how too and why it works on your subjects you discussed . .thanks again to you and Emily for a great channel

  • @davep6977
    @davep6977 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good video. Spot on with the stats. Been a ham since the 70's. We talk a couple hundred miles routinely on 2 meter VHF (same band as marine freq. And I do check into the MMSN (Maritime Mobile Service Net) on 20 meters.
    I know how feel as you were telling the story. I was monitoring (14.300mhz) one night when there was a Mayday. Prior it was just general chat and weather. That net went from casual to all business in a drop of a hat. Net control was like Bill contact USCG, John see if there cargo ships in the area. Net reminded the ship have on floatation devices and got their GPS info. as I remember it, they were out of fuel and water and were out of range of his vhf radio.
    AS you said, that's what amateur radio operators do.

  • @wouterbrinkman7817
    @wouterbrinkman7817 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    good explanation off yout old skool radio lessen over a marine VHF, like that .

  • @eliinthewolverinestate6729
    @eliinthewolverinestate6729 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Shared on patreon with The Prepared Mind. Shared because great info and stories of why you need to be prepared. If you think about a boat it's gotta have everything for life. So water, food, shelter, first aid/medications, means of defense, and a plan.

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you Eli.
      We did a prep video back at the start of covid. Did you see it? th-cam.com/video/AEISxhk43o0/w-d-xo.html

  • @georgelewis8904
    @georgelewis8904 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for the video, this knowledge is invaluable helping understanding is important.

  • @michaelsorahsells
    @michaelsorahsells 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you, very informative, going to upgrade my coax cable and cut to length after seeing that chart with the gains. Yes, I installed the free cable wire (cheap stuff) that came with the antenna and wound all the extra cable up.

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks,. Take a look at the description. I found a better and cheaper wire that I listed there. I think there might be a link to it in our Amazon store.

    • @michaelsorahsells
      @michaelsorahsells 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@EmilyAndClark Will do, thanks again. I am in the process of restoring a Catalina 25, tall rig, swing keel, traditional, to learn to sail on and currently have a Carver 330 Mariner motor yacht. So both are getting the upgrades on that cable. Safe sailing you two.

  • @RobertSababady
    @RobertSababady 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Most practical explanation I have ever heard!

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I hope you enjoy our other videos. I particularly suggest my refrigeration theory video.

    • @RobertSababady
      @RobertSababady 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@EmilyAndClark I will definately watch it. I recently watched the th-cam.com/video/tAuPfgZgXec/w-d-xo.html Led + Lithium battery bank and was taken back by what a long term perspective you took and battery life. Nice!

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'm just finishing up a device that actively manages the charging of both chemistries when mixed together. Works great.

    • @RobertSababady
      @RobertSababady 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@EmilyAndClark Looking forward to seeing this solution. I want to use it to take my homes main energy drainers off grid. i.e. washing machine, dishwasher, kettle and our Interpreting Studio that runs long hours a day with a load of around 1000kWh through a UPS (which also has batteries)! Cannot wait to see what you come up with as I need short term high drain for kettle and coffee machine and long term steady drain for Studio.

  • @upinyou8
    @upinyou8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks Clark

  • @Power-Ads
    @Power-Ads 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good video! I am a Ham and have been Radio enthusiast for decades, This was a great explanation of some of the finer points of a good install, and why things like a good power source are important as well as the basics of low loss coax and a good antenna are the true keys to a good install. The comment about not spending a lot on the radio itself was dead on. 25 watts is the Max any of them can illegal put out as mandated by the FCC, my advice would be, pick the radio with the best heat sink at the best price! and try to provide a place for radio that is protected from direct sunlight and rain. ... nice job!

  • @creekchickenoutdoors
    @creekchickenoutdoors ปีที่แล้ว

    Once again the tutorials are great. I have some knowledge of this through HAM and CB radios on land but it's nice to know how to set up the VHF for offshore use! I just bought my first sailboat and am beginning the learning process in freshwater here in my home state of South Carolina. I dream of doing what you guys are doing when I retire. Keep the videos going, great job and I appreciate it.

  • @kellyphillips4404
    @kellyphillips4404 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    great information ℹ️ , love 💕 the story. Watching your videos from Kentucky “The Bluegrass State “. USA 🇺🇸

  • @KeithStrang
    @KeithStrang 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Really appreciate your wisdom and stories! This tracks to everything I know about RF. Don't focus on increasing power, focus on minimizing signal loss, eliminating noise and using as close as you can to a full-wave antenna (think the 8' is a half wave and 4' is 1/4 wave??). RF is cool stuff if you can grasp the basics.
    FYI... you should be able to see where people are coming to your videos on the YT analytics.

  • @davidrhightower
    @davidrhightower 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    As usual very informative.
    Now that you have covered VHF time to go over the marine SSB.

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Maybe. I think it's no longer as useful as it was though. If starlink becomes available soon it does what SSB does but better.

  • @sonsti8014
    @sonsti8014 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Congrats on the 50k subs!

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you. Yes we are quite excited.

  • @Bleemus
    @Bleemus 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Very informative. Thank you.

  • @robk4131
    @robk4131 ปีที่แล้ว

    Fantastic presentation. Subscribed.

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Rob

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  ปีที่แล้ว

      You might like these
      CAPABLE CRUISING GUIDES: th-cam.com/play/PLsT7_jPsZM5pFpq8RX0oxjibknM2Gz361.html

  • @Markb8608
    @Markb8608 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Good content. much needed.

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  วันที่ผ่านมา

      Glad it helped you.
      Please consider sharing links to this video around if you think others might benefit.

  • @jimpiper5297
    @jimpiper5297 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Full disclosure: I was trained in the Navy to repair comm equipment (though not to OPERATE it ;-) , I hold a Extra Class Amateur Radio license and have operated VHF for most of the time I’ve been a ham (since 1993).
    Kudos on a great video, especially for the less electronics-technically inclined sailor.
    Would really enjoy a video on your ham gear & setup, experiences with it, if you use Pactor for email while at sea (Winlink or Seamail?), etc.
    General and, hopefully, kibbitzing comments:
    1. DC power connection to radio - clean, solid connections through properly sized wire is an absolute imperative. Recommend using a wire voltage drop table to properly size the wire between the battery and the radio to ensure that the radio gets 12 volts and above. Use the current that the radio is spec’d to draw on TRANSMIT. Radios tend to get very cranky when the supply voltage drops below 12Vdc.
    Note re supply power: As marine VHF radios us FM modulation, for a given power setting modulation (one’s voice into the microphone) has no effect on output RF power. Simply keying the radio is enough to measure the voltage at the radio dc power terminals/connections
    2. Coax: Agree 100%: RG-58 SUCKS for VHF. Loss over a short length ( a few feet isn’t enough to lose any sleep over, but from the nav station to the antenna, LMR-400 ULTAFLX (Times Microwave) is an excellent choice. Recommend the ULTRAFLX over standard LMR-400 as the former has a stranded center conductor to give the cable flexibility vs, the solid center conductor of the latter that makes for some pretty stiff cable. For some reason, West Marine doesn’t offer LMR-400 ULTRAFLX but it is readily available from amateur radio equipment suppliers.
    3. RF connections: ESPECIALLY in salt water environments, use self-fusing rubber electrical tape (e.g., Scotch Tape 70 or 3Mself-amalgamating tape) to wrap the connection from the connector toward and down the cable. Add a second wrap of electrical tape over the first to protect it from UV and salt-air. If wrapping a PL259-SO239 barrel-PL259, start several inches from one of the PL259.
    4. RF cable water intrusion from experience (30 min point in the video): for my money where my life might depend on my radio, if any water invades coax, esp where one end of the cable is up in the air, I would not depend on it. I strongly recommend replacing the entire length. Compared to the cost of lots of boater stuff, at about $2.30/ft, replacing a length is cheap insurance.
    5. Antenna height: height = range. Open air (no obstructions) NOMINAL range in miles can be calculated as 1.42 x square root H1 + H2 where H is the heights of the station antennas in feet. >However

  • @tomhammes1703
    @tomhammes1703 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Ham radio guy here. Great job and video. The one point I would also stress is that the loss in the coax and the gain of the antenna BOTH affect your ability to RECEIVE just as much as it does on transmitting. If your Effective Radiated Power is one fourth due to the small antenna and coax, you receive one fourth as much signal as well. I tell the new ham operators that want to get a 65 or 70 watt mobile (we are allowed RIDICULOUS power...) to put the extra dollars into the antenna. (We use dual band VHF/UHF antennas, there are many types from 17" to over 5', more IS MORE. Base dual band antennas go to 17')

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I think I do say that but I guess I didn't hammer it home as I've gotten a lot of comments about this.
      I don't actually write my videos. I just turn in the camera and start talking. Then Emily cuts out the stuff that didn't work. I miss stuff sometimes. And this one went really long.
      I think I hit the receive issue harder when I did a little talk about db but that didn't make the final cut.
      Thanks
      Clark. KD7ENJ

  • @daddyfixit5188
    @daddyfixit5188 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    This vid was just perfect and has helped me immensely. Big wip for the rib it is then with quality cable. Thank you. In cb terms we used to adjust swr by adjusting length of aerial I presume not needed with vhf. 👍👍👍

    • @EmilyAndClark
      @EmilyAndClark  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Might be a good idea but I've not really seen an adjustable vhf antenna.

    • @daddyfixit5188
      @daddyfixit5188 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Wow quick reply thanks mate I’m in uk 👍👍👍👍