How to Install a Marine VHF Antenna Connector DIY Crooked PilotHouse Boat

[@m.schneider6079]

One of the best demos I’ve seen of a PL-259 ON A BOAT! luv that soldering gun!!👍

[@OutOnTheReef]

Wow, thanks! cap. and thanks for watching 😉👍👍⚓

[@seaningram3285]

I like that method of applying solder.

[@OutOnTheReef]

@seaningram3285 thanks cap

[@lennymcmillion]

This is why I love your channel. You put in hours of research on each topic so that we don't have to. Always professional, keeping it clean 😎

[@OutOnTheReef]

I appreciate that! cap. and that really motivates me on doing more videos, thanks for the positive feedback 😉👍⚓

[@josemorin8790]

Perfecto, that is exactly what I was looking for. Now we need more Bahama trips...something for 2022. Take a weekend off and go.

[@OutOnTheReef]

I woul love to soon cap. We will see how everything goes ,im glad you like the video cap.👍⚓️

[@kenp4727]

That's a nice soldering gun. I just installed an antenna coupler, on my boat, that allows my vhf and stereo to use the same antenna. Had to do the same procedure. Good Work tinning that wire end Capt.

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thank you Ken and I did not know they built in antenna did you can use it for both that is awesome because now it's see you can get good stereo and VHF frequency. And thanks for watching the video and the great feedback captain😉👍

[@adAlqubaisi]

Hi captain only one word to describe your work “ professional “ stay safe

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thanks Captain i really appreciate it⚓👍

[@evanjones2539]

Professional would be a crimp fitting, the coiled cable may also be a choke to remove common mode current on the braid.....

[@ozzydmiami]

Cap small recommendation keep your antenna cable away from your power/battery cables, even if the antenna cable is shielded you could affect reception and hear engine noise on the radio. As a rule of thumb keep power cables away from any equipment that has a speaker or microphone. Nice soldering job..👏

[@OutOnTheReef]

Great suggestion captain and that's very true thanks for the heads up, we all boaters have to share our knowledge to help each other. Navigate safe captain

[@jacktyler7599]

Very well done...and that comes from an Expert Class amateur radio operator, Cap'n. I continue to be surprised and pleased to discover the breadth of content you have made available here. It's inspiring, Cap'n - very motivating to set high standards of my own whether on the seamanship side or the mods and improvements of the boat.

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thanks Jack before doing this video i did some research so i can doit right, thanks for the review cap. And for continuing to watch my videos cap.⚓️🛥👍

[@wino4]

Is there a minimum length of cable that should run from the antenna to the radio? I seem to have an excessive amount. I’m about to swap out the 4 footer the dealer put on my center console with an 8 footer. I hate wire clutter so I want to keep it as short as possible.

[@jacktyler7599]

@@wino4 Your dealer may be choosing to use a 8' cable simply because that is what he has in stock. Or he may want to upgrade the cable to improve your VHF performance. You shouldn't see any difference in VHF performance with a 8' vs. 4' antenna made from the same cable type with properly installed connectors.

[@seeharvester]

I've never heard of an "expert" class amateur radio operator. I've heard of an "extra' class.

[@jacktyler7599]

@@seeharvester Thanks for the correction - yes, Extra Class. Don't know where that came from...

[@henrikh484]

You got a thumps up from here - one thing though, please messure the cable without the antenna connected (at the other end), some antennas read shorted, so you might end up thinking you failed mounting the plug. The cable is not SS nor is the connector, it's tinned copper and probably silverplated brass connector :)

[@OutOnTheReef]

thanks cap for the great info

[@77sailordude]

This will help me alot when I install my first VHF! Thaks for informative video captain 👍👍 greetings from cold and snowy Finland 😊

[@OutOnTheReef]

anytime cap and wow from Finland that is a amazing place, and thank you for watching my channel cap.

[@SPLavey7751]

Nice video, you worked on another one of my hobbies, radio.. Nice job, I added some additional comments in Mike comments about coax and how to make your antenna and radio get peak efficiency if your antenna is adjustable. Enjoy the tropics for us guys in the snow and ice. Few more months before the ski boat can come out of hibernation

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thanks Scott for commenting and helping with my viewers questions your knowledge is very appreciated and yes soon probably three more months and you'll be out there maybe even 2 months you'll be out there enjoying your boat, thanks for watching my channel captain

[@SPLavey7751]

@@OutOnTheReef you’re welcome, glad to help. I’m not a fisher as my boat is for skiing and high speed cruising but I enjoy your channel.

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@SPLavey7751 thanks Scott ⚓👍

[@brianblizzard7591]

You do very nice work. Meticulous. If you want something to last, especially on a boat, do it right the first time. Good job.

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thanks Brian and yes you are so right👍👍👍⚓

[@andrewfyakim525]

Hi Capt.... very well done! I'll go back and see if the original 'Barker' (I'm learning some new rules! ☺)dealer installed ours correctly; if not, I'll be re-doing it... You have better/easier access to the back of the 'dash' than we have on our Parker.

[@OutOnTheReef]

Yes your access is a little bit difficult because your cabin layout but it shouldn't be that hard especially you know how to do it your self cap. And let me know how they installed yours I would like to know

[@hookednrolling2009]

Hey Andrew you can’t say that boat manufacturer it’s like a naughty word here on Capt Everything channel we sometimes refer to Barker boats not even that sometimes remember he is probably the only owner of Barker boats that’s crooked. To see what I am talking about you go back to when he talks about the CROOKED PILOT HOUSE HE OWNS HE WILL NEVER SALE IT HE HAS THE ORIGINAL LOL Andrew 😂😂😂it is true Andrew ask him if you don’t believe me JT 🇺🇸🇺🇸🐠🐟🎣🛥🌴🙏🏻😊😊🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@hookednrolling2009 lol i think Andrew saw the video but he has a Non Crooked pilohouse He is lucky 😁👍👍 And yes mine is special in every way Nobody has a Crooked pilothouse boat like me😁😁👍👍

[@andrewfyakim525]

@@OutOnTheReef Hi Capt... I don't know Hooked-n-Rolling so I didn't know how to respond. I don't know if he was being funny, or sarcastic? I went to his site and he is Capt. John, and a fisherman, like you and me (well I try to be a fisherman! ☺)... He has a nice KZbin channel and a nice 25' Wellcraft... I hope he is a fan of yours; if not, he should be!

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@andrewfyakim525 hello cap. And yes he is Andrew ,he is a great fisherman and has a passion for boating like we do He has a great sense of humor and I like that from him👍⚓ And he make some KZbin videos from fishing ,but now he is recovering from surgery

[@kevinsuffolk1]

Great video. Excellent timing for me since I am planning to do the same job on my Parker Pilot house sometime this month. Stay safe.

[@OutOnTheReef]

Hope you see a difference because i did , the reception is clearer. If you can let me know how it came out captain👍👍

[@Quartz331]

my friend what a good work man ⭐️👍🏼 still watching u from kuwait 😆😆

[@OutOnTheReef]

Awsome cap. And Kuwait wow, you are the only viewer that comments from there ,and thank you Cap.

[@arciefan]

Very nice clean job as you say Capt. Thanks!

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thanks captain for watching 👍

[@douglundy5755]

Thanks, just doing this now. Mine doesnt have the side holes but the rest is perfect

[@OutOnTheReef]

Awesome cap. Hope everything comes out great and thanks for watching 👍🛥⚓️

[@KennyFishbone]

Wow. So many just assemble that connection and they all just wind up the excess cable. Thanks

[@OutOnTheReef]

I agree captain I didn't see the need of doing all that of having all that extra cable there for no reason

[@AhcorOffshore]

Great detail, just subscribed!

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thanks cap. And welcome aboard my channel👍🛥⚓️

[@calypsofishing1516]

Oh thank you i didnt know that the cable wound up like that was not good for the radio

[@OutOnTheReef]

Specially for VHF radio it doesn't help the frequency and thanks for watching and commenting on the video captain👍👍⚓

[@stefangeldenhuys4563]

Nice work Cap!!

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thanks Stefan 👍👍⚓

[@dmdstar698]

Excellent JOB!! Well done - Brazo Zulu to you captain!

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thank you Captain Rudy appreciate your great feedback🤗👍👍 It was as easy as a cup of water😉

[@douglundy5755]

Stripped and redid mine and try as I might, there was a small conductivity between the pin and the shielding, Not much, but just slight bit. The cable works fine now. It did have a weak signal and was badly assembled

[@OutOnTheReef]

Sometimes installers dont do a good job cap

[@Guywithoutahobby]

Very helpful! But may I ask an unrelated question? Since you are back there. Are you supposed to see hydraulic fluid in the hose behind the dash up to a certain point? Or is that part of the hose supposed to be empty? The fill hose I guess.

[@OutOnTheReef]

For my understanding you're supposed to see some fluid there like halfway that indicates that you have fluid if you don't see any fluid you do not know if you're low on fluid so you always want to be able to see a little bit of fluid in the line if you don't my advice is to add a little bit of fluid there so you can be at least halfway or 1/4 of your viewing point.👍👍

[@traumagas123]

Rg8x or rg213 Coax is the Better cables and do you have an 6 db Antenna ? I also Always test the Voltage with MIKE keyed to make sure you dont Have Significant voltage drop when the radio is transmitting.

[@OutOnTheReef]

thanks for the great info cap.

[@vindivergilio3482]

Nice connection. I like your soldering iron. Didn't see a link or description. What kind is it?

[@OutOnTheReef]

Sorry about that Captain I forgot to put the link in but I already put it now so if you check you'll see it there thanks for letting me know and thank you for watching

[@edwarddranetz171]

very good job putting on the pl259 connector. but not checking to see if the ant is still in tune to the frequencies the it is beaning used for with a SWR meter "when you cut the cable you changed the length of the coax which change the optimal frequencies , but wait there is more the coil of wire "round loop choke the frequencies" is very bad and should be flatting out in the meddle of the cable instead of benign round make it flat and then test your SWR. and good fishing, and be very safe .

[@OutOnTheReef]

thanks Edward that is great info 👍👍⚓

[@madebyhim1197]

Captain, I am just an Ham radio operator and wanted to add a little more info for your readers...the coil of coax acts as a RF Choke and does not change the resonant frequency of the antenna and keeps RF energy from coupling to the coax and feeding back into the radio. It is perfectly fine to have excess coax coiled up in a 4" coil before feeding back into the radio. I love your soldering iron too...very handy!

[@Mike-hs8fq]

I just bought a new vhf and Shakespeare antenna. The Shakespeare directions says to coil the excess wire. If I recall correctly they say make a 6 or 8 inch coil. I called my electronics installer of 25 years and he told me Do Not cut the cable. I'm confused from what you did, and the advice of a fulltime professional marine electronics installer, and Shakespeare. I'd personally prefer to cut the cable in the overhead box.

[@OutOnTheReef]

I also spoke with a marine mechanic that work full time on a ship and he told me that any antenna coils will reduce your frequency that's how I got my confirmation, but I understand your confusion but after I did this my radio had a clear frequency that before that to me shows that what I did was better

[@OutOnTheReef]

I forgot to tell you that from my radio to the antenna I have about 10 ft of cable and I understand if you cut the cable too short that will be a problem but it might case I have 10 ft to the radio so that is a good amount of cable but I see if there's a problem if you had two to three feet of cable that would be too short

[@SPLavey7751]

Been working with radios and building antennas for my hobby for years. Coax is very lossy in VHF and UHF band, cutting length won’t hurt it as long as the connection is good like he shows. If the matching of the antenna is bad in reference to the frequency the extra coax helps absorb reflective power but not much, most is absorbed in the radio which creates heat in the transmitter finals. Advanced radios typically reduce the output power to protect the radio. I’d be more concerned with the antenna matching the frequency range used. Buy an SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) meter to measure forward power vs reflected power. Ideal is 1:1, the higher the SWR the less power sent out the antenna and the less transmit range you will have. To correct for a high SWR ratio you either lengthen the antenna or shorten it. Pick the channels you use the most and trim or lengthen the antenna for the best overall SWR reading for the range you will use. I didn’t notice if his antenna is adjustable or not but that is how you would make your radio and antenna match to get the most transmission output power possible.

[@homeycheese1]

nice video! I'm about to do the same. Did you notice an appreciable difference in the reception?

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thanks cap. And no i did not notice any difference because i did notd do comparison data but most likely better ,hope the best installation for you cap.

[@PedroRodriguez-ui6pq]

Good video as usual, I am not sure if cutting the cable you will loose range...???

[@desordenado2211]

Maybe To avoid loose range the cable need cut feet by feet.

[@OutOnTheReef]

The shorter the cable the better it is

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@desordenado2211 well I did okay I took off about 2 feet

[@esq76]

Hi there captain, did you buy this boat new? Do you or can you post video about the buying process? Did you look at any other type of boat or other manufacturers?

[@OutOnTheReef]

here is the link of the video cap kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3zPn5hnqNibbc0

[@pstone7657]

Where is the link to the soldering iron, I was just going to buy one of those for myself and one for my son as I like the auto feed of the Solder.

[@OutOnTheReef]

If you take now Captain I already placed the link I forgot to put it under but is there right now thank you for watching and for letting me know👍

[@pstone7657]

@@OutOnTheReef Thx I just ordered two of them from your link. Nothing worse than holding a wire in one hand, the soldering iron in another hand and then no hand left for applying the solder. I was just doing that last week . . . soldering speaker wires while dripping the solder onto my floor! And I never knew about the holes in the antenna connector should be soldered to the braiding. I'm learning from you all the time Thx Cappy

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@pstone7657 awesome Captain you love it the reason I got this one it was exactly because of that sometimes you holding the wire and then you have to hold the rod then you have to use another hand to hold the item and we don't have 3 hands so definitely doing it this way with this gun is a lot better Captain thank you for using my links really appreciate it.👍👍⚓

[@spleepspl00p31]

Is your antenna DC grounded? I've been following your video but my new antenna isn't working :( The multimeter beeps on the continuity test when the pins are both on the outer jacket and also one pin is on the outer jacket with the other on the inside coax

[@OutOnTheReef]

I am not sure captain What I did was exactly what the manual from the radio guide said

[@bobjoncas2814]

GOOD ONE, STAY SAFE..

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thanks Bob😉👍👍

[@yusdelpadron6822]

Good morning Capt Went are you going back Bimini?

[@OutOnTheReef]

Goodmorning Yusdel Not anytime soon cap. Do to restrictions of Covid 19 Bahamas requirements of results within 5 days that is very short to make a safe trip.

[@anthony_8122]

1 loop is fine incase water gets in the wire and travels down to back :)

[@OutOnTheReef]

Great idea cap.👍👍⚓

[@AchikSarih]

Merci beaucoup ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@captainrick9379]

Good Job! 😃👍⚓

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thank you Captain Rick👍⚓

[@liammotherway9397]

Nice gloves

[@OutOnTheReef]

I tried to make it look like I was doing surgery on the boat lol👍😬

[@liammotherway9397]

@@OutOnTheReef really enjoy your vids, thanks for what you do cobber

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@liammotherway9397 👍👍⚓😉

[@randyelston7063]

You have to have a certain length cable to tune it i believe so if its too short, it will not work

[@OutOnTheReef]

That's a possibility and my case I already tried it and it works better than before sounds more clear on the communication side

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@nameunavailable456 thanks Joe for your comment that helps the viewers 👍👍👍⚓

[@dekydhermawan7572]

Next radio test range

[@OutOnTheReef]

Great idea cap. Wen i go fishing again i will see how clear and better range i would get👍👍

[@dekydhermawan7572]

@@OutOnTheReef i hope the results are good and satisfying,keep the main thing safe,16 stand by

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@dekydhermawan7572 very true cap . standing by 16 😉👌

[@PetClipdog]

Cubanito, estas pasando con ese Barco mas trabajo que con el Yamaha que ivas a Bimini. A proposito dame Tu opinion del Barco Perdido de Bimini a Miami, desaparecio. Cual es Tu opinion que eres MAESTRO es esa Travesia.

[@OutOnTheReef]

Saludos cap. Tu estas ablando del baco el Faro que se desaparecio en el huracan?

[@OutOnTheReef]

Que varco fue ese que yo no escuche nada?

[@PetClipdog]

@@OutOnTheReef No la Semana pasada un Barco con 20 personas que venia de Bimini para Miami, esta Desaparecido. Averigua y hasme saber TU opinion porque eres MAESTRO en esa Travesia.

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@PetClipdog que tamaño tenia el barco? con 20 personas tiene que ser mas de 40 pies

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@PetClipdog boy a buscar informacion en el web 👍 No lo abia escuchado

[@jeffs9530]

The connector pulled off the cable because they did not solder the holes. Inside there are 2 little washers. One is plastic and the other is metal. What order do the washers go?

[@OutOnTheReef]

right of my head i dont remember cap but follow the way i did it in this video because it was done by factory specs

[@jeffs9530]

@@OutOnTheReef I'm guessing because it was a older plug it had the washers. I decided it doesn't matter which order they go but they have to be in there. I was able to get the old solder out of the old plug and reuse it NP. Now all my electronics are done in all Garmin.

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@jeffs9530 Awesome captain I'm sure feels good to get everything in order when I finish my system I felt the same way ,nothing like having all your electronics working perfect thanks for watching and if I can help in any other way in the future please let me know

[@okinawasdojo4103]

Hello Captain. I've been watching some videos and really, with the quality of the ones you do, there is nothing. I'm sure your boat came with the installation of the washdown and that's why I can't find any video of him on this topic. I respectfully ask you if you could do something about it. Thank you por your videos and help.

[@OutOnTheReef]

Glad you like them! and yes i have a video about adding a fresh water pump on this boat cap and i took water from the live well to supply it .

[@okinawasdojo4103]

@@OutOnTheReef That's a great idea.I will try to find that video. I don't think that I have that one saved. Thanks so much Captain. God bless.

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@okinawasdojo4103 anytime Julio thank you for watching😉👍👍

[@davidmeale9572]

That coil is a choke to prevent rf back on coax ..read it up .

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thanks for the comment cap👍👍👍

[@philipbaillie8807]

You will have stuffed up the SWR of the antenna and radio combination by this mod!

[@OutOnTheReef]

thanks cap.

[@agaramelan7319]

Connector same with Raymarine...we apply the same..but wihout glove..Lol..greeting from 8:48 am indonesia...Partly cloudly

[@OutOnTheReef]

Lol thanks and the gloves made me look like a surgeon or a crazy boat owner 😁😁😁 Hello from sunny Florida 🌅🌄

[@Boat_FishingDoduJeju]

hi. also this is good job. have a adjust squelch to listen someone voice well. have a nice day. :-)

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thanks cap.👍👍

[@AquaMarine1000]

Stainless steel no, tin plated copper yes.

[@sgtricharris-4169]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@OutOnTheReef]

Thanks cap.👍👍⚓

[@DeepBlueChannelCom]

coño capitan esta gente hacen muchas cosas malas e incorrectas en el dealer

[@DeepBlueChannelCom]

ya yo e tenido que instalar dor antenas y hay que soldarlas

[@OutOnTheReef]

Si el dealer no ace las cosas bien porque no es para ellos, solo es travajo rapido, ahora la antenna travaja perfect 👍

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@DeepBlueChannelCom si soldarlas es mejor, venden un kit que no requiere soldadura pero no creo que es la mejor opcion

[@DeepBlueChannelCom]

@@OutOnTheReef lo mejor es soldarlo mejor contacto💪

[@hookednrolling2009]

Hey Capt Crooked you know what everybody is right you know everything so I hate to do it but I think I have to you are no longer Capt Crooked you are now known as you ready are you ready Capt Everything of the Crooked Pilot House formerly known as Prince wait no not that formerly known as Capt Crooked lol 😂😄😂 John 🇺🇸🇺🇸🐠🐟🎣🛥🌴⛱😊😊🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@OutOnTheReef]

Lol you had me laughing and i felt like you were telling me this live that why it was so funny cap. Thanks for your awesome comment. 👍👍👍⚓⚓☕☕🏝

[@hookednrolling2009]

@@OutOnTheReef Hey Capt Everything I thought you would get a kick out of that one 🇺🇸🇺🇸🐠🐟🌴🛥⛱🌴🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@OutOnTheReef]

@@hookednrolling2009 lol i sure did 😁thanks cap. And keep recuperating 💪💪⚓