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

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.
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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.)
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#emilyandclark #emilyandclarksadventure #capablecruising

[@NYHalfassprepper]

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]

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]

@@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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

@@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]

@@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]

@@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]

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]

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]

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

[@sstorholm]

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]

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]

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]

Yes I talk about this in the description

[@georgecarney3083]

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.

[@michaelclueless]

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]

Good advice!

[@BitsofSkin]

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]

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

[@BitsofSkin]

@@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]

@@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.

[@MarcoYolo420]

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.

[@icarumba5]

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!

[@NotaFlea]

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.

[@drummergirl9437]

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.

[@kayakamy2618]

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.

[@nunyabidness517]

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.

[@TerrydeAlaska]

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

[@gefginn3699]

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

[@michaelmartz4067]

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!

[@gymcoachdon]

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!

[@stoatsngroatsuk5012]

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.

[@waynenitschke511]

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

[@gordonshanahan52]

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!

[@lauravalerius4667]

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]

Thanks Laura, You might like our other videos as well. Might I suggest our "how refrigeration works" video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIWuhWatYpt1opI

[@larryb5914]

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!

[@davfre8000]

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

[@Grumpyneanderthal]

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

[@Grumpyneanderthal]

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

[@guy.h]

When comparing antennas also be aware that they are rated as either dBi or dBd - dBd is already 2.15 dBi Your long contacts are due to tropospheric ducting - there will be a huge dead spot between the skip jumps Ducting is amazing you can make 2000km+ contacts on VHF - obviously much more common on the 2m amateur band as they spend lots of time actually trying to make the contacts. The 8' antennas are great as they are a proper 1/2 wave dipole so are not relying on a variable quality (if any) ground plane - you might be interested in the DIY dipole that's easy to make & rig especially in those time where you have to take your mast-top one down Radio propagation is a fascinating thing ...

[@onurbespinar]

73! :)

[@Siskiyous6]

Marine VHF frequencies around 156.xx versus 2 Meter at 144 to 148, are better for long range work in theory than the 2 Meter band, of course 2 Meter radios CAN have Single Side Band which is better than FM for long distance work. And 2 Meter radios can have greater power.

[@lukedenbleyker5091]

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

[@davep6977]

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.

[@Power-Ads]

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!

[@albertarancher7780]

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]

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

[@johnstreet797]

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]

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

[@cyberdoc78]

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

[@Jolie_sailor]

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

[@AndyKopac]

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.

[@anneli1735]

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

[@digitalcanvas4444]

This is awesome information. Thank you!

[@livingsimplytosimplylive6817]

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

[@rimasmeleshyus9486]

Great video, thanks for informing

[@matatooie]

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

[@EmilyAndClark]

Thanks Matthew.

[@nedwphillips2126]

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

[@bchrisl1491]

Good video. I am right with you on power loss in DC supply lines. Also with radios. Yes RG213 is an excellent choice for cable, though I would argue crimp connectors, with the proper tooling, may have an advantage over solder/screw cinch types in that the solder creates a possible point where metal fatigue can occur where the solder and copper junction end. I personally use N type crimp whenever possible. They come in stainless and have o rings built in to inhibit moisture. I still wrap them though. I also have tried several methods to stabilize the cable inside the mast to eliminate wear and noise from the constant slapping against the inside of the mast. I would be hesitant with dielectric grease inside the connectors. It is lossy at higher frequencies, not so much at VHF though. I used to install microwave systems over coax. We found SELF FUSING SILICON RUBBER TAPE such as Rescue Tape to be very effective at sealing the connectors outdoors exposed to weather. I have had good experience with 5/8 wave antennas as they have a good horizontal pattern and are not excessively long and have about 4db of gain.

[@tonycarey1808]

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

[@EmilyAndClark]

Thanks Tony

[@danielcorcoran7132]

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.

[@brianshanahan3878]

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

[@mememe5231]

Great information as always. Amazing stories! Thank you

[@KeithStrang]

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.

[@acromegla]

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!

[@ronniesherpalee4150]

Looove your story Clarck, and information your sharing. Simply fantastic. Appreciate you. Much love from Ventura Ca...

[@BitsofSkin]

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

[@boisspruce9647]

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

[@mattwright6013]

Thank you, Clark that really helped

[@michaelsorahsells]

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]

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]

@@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.

[@johnathanlivingstonseagull5524]

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

[@xcalabers]

Another great video, thanks!

[@hmspain52]

Wonderful video Clark!

[@jay_behr]

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

[@PsRohrbaugh]

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.

[@EmilyAndClark]

Good idea

[@jonbeargenx]

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! 😊

[@ZeroDot42]

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

[@EmilyAndClark]

Appreciate that Louis

[@bravofighter]

GREAT ADVICE, thank you! I just found your channel because KZbin 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]

Thanks, Especially for sharing

[@theislandretreat4326]

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!

[@markgardner8542]

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

[@andytyphoon]

Very informative, thank you Clark.

[@jamesmorken3356]

Great video

[@RappinIggyG]

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

[@IrregularPineapples]

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]

Make sure you read my comment in the description.

[@IrregularPineapples]

@@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]

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

[@ianwilson8410]

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

[@raymondbrown940]

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]

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

[@PrivateUsername]

New camera? This reminds me of my radio / radar / tube classes in engineering school back all those years ago. Had to make a field strength meter, tune antennas, all that kinda stuff. Haven't used it in 30+ years. Great vid as always1

[@EmilyAndClark]

No but we are always learning new ways to use it.

[@Flembgemb]

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!

[@lolonav]

Your video is so right !! I'm on this business for your curiosity only check the reflectometer if you know all the length it will tell you where the cable is bend or if it is antenna or cable

[@EmilyAndClark]

Wish I had that gear.

[@eliinthewolverinestate6729]

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]

Thank you Eli. We did a prep video back at the start of covid. Did you see it? kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3ashKueoJlmpZI

[@Jacoblejd]

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!!!

[@creekchickenoutdoors]

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.

[@EmilyAndClark]

Thanks

[@andreasfink6751]

Great video, well explained, very useful.

[@peterb7632]

Thank you.i will use this info.

[@andrewyoung-n8ary]

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

[@svhappymondays]

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

[@davidbaehler4901]

Excellent video. I learned a lot. Thank you!

[@robertlewisvideo]

Great Video. Thanks

[@edanoestreich8976]

Great stories Clark! Keep them coming. I just installed an 8’ AIS and 8’ Number two vhf. I have a 14’ on my number one. I wish I would have known about the 213 but i may upgrade my 14 to that in the near future. Thanks for the great intel.

[@EmilyAndClark]

Before you do read my comment in the description. After filming I found a better cable.

[@jfrphoto01]

A better coax is the JEFA LL-400 Flex at $1.29 per foot and even better is the JEFA LL-400 at $0.99 per foot direct from JEFA Technologies. Same specs as Times Microwave LMR-400UF and LMR-400 but costs less per foot, costs more than the RG-213/U (JEFA RG-213/U is 0.99 per foot, same as the LL-400). Note: Flex and Ultra Flex means that the center conductor is stranded wire instead of solid making it easier to work with but have a slightly higher loss per foot. And no, I do not work for or have any monetary interest in JEFA Tech or TM.

[@EmilyAndClark]

Thanks good info

[@projecttrawler]

Another great video! Love the stories

[@mikegoyette8469]

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]

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

[@daddyfixit5188]

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]

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

[@daddyfixit5188]

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

[@y2b5]

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

[@ac2fv]

As an Extra Class amateur radio op, I say you made a pretty good video and some pretty good advice. It's all about the antenna, and getting as much power out as possible. Height is everything, so yes, mount high and with as much DB gain as you can. Long range comms will depend greatly on propagation for the day, but give it the best shot you can. You'll never beat HF for distance, but there are few boats running HF these days, it's switched over to sat comms. Good video, good advice.

[@EmilyAndClark]

Yes I keep getting asked to do an HF video but with starlink on the horizon I don't care to do a class on buggy whips. Clark KD7ENJ

[@ac2fv]

@@EmilyAndClark Personally, I would do the HF video. Hams are all over HF, as is the Maritime Mobile Service on 14.300.00 MHz, it's saved countless lives. Starlink will certainly be another solution, I'm not sure of the cost for the equipment and service. I always tell those I train in Emcomm, "you're only as good as your lowest common denominator". Having multiple options for comms is not a bad idea, especially when you're in the middle of the ocean and in trouble. GL, happy sailing!

[@bradfordsimms715]

great information , thanks

[@kellyphillips4404]

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

[@tomhammes1703]

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]

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

[@goducks11111]

Good video ☺️

[@norbertjoos]

I like your tech wisdom! Thank you for sharing

[@chmodman]

Great advice, thanks! It's also not good to put hard bends in the coax cable, this will cause additional attenuation.

[@danielhwolf]

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

[@EmilyAndClark]

Thanks Daniel. I really appreciate that

[@a.c.2219]

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.

[@jayknight850]

What an excellent video, just found your KZbin videos, subscribed and will pass it on to friends.

[@EmilyAndClark]

Thanks Jay

[@thetraveller3577]

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

[@markc3717]

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

[@upinyou8]

Thanks Clark

[@EmilyAndClark]

You're welcome Rusty

[@claesmrkeberg2419]

context is king. Great video and valuable information👍

[@marktaylor484]

Outstanding

[@michiganengineer8621]

As I'm remembering from my Navy Electronics Technician "A" School (40+ years ago), you want to try and match your cable length to a multiple of the WAVELENGTH of your transmitting/receiving frequencies as part of the tuning process. Of course the antenna also needs to be tuned to that band as well. Trimming the cable to some multiple of 6 feet would give you the lowest SWR (over the entire band) for any given cable, assuming the connectors are good/tight and the antenna is properly tuned. Note: You can also trim to the half-wave if you're concerned about the loss over 3 feet of cable. Very informative, I agree with some of the other posters about using heliax instead of coaxial cable _IF_ you have a straight run or only gentle bends to minimize losses. Not all that useful in a marine environment except possibly for the run up the mast.

[@JohannesNeumeier]

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

[@EmilyAndClark]

Read the description. I found a new wire after filming

[@JohannesNeumeier]

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

[@EmilyAndClark]

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

[@JohannesNeumeier]

@@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]

Don't use them.