VHF Antenna Cable

1,686 views·5 replies·by Chinacat

ChinacatFREE2021#1

So I noticed on Sunday that the cable on my VHF Antenna split about 6" from the antenna itself. Its mounted on the side wall of the cuddy and runs through and loops back to the radio itself that's mounted on the inside of the same side wall of the hull. Obviously its one continuous length from the antenna with the screw on end that goes into the radio. I'm sure I could somehow splice it together as a temporary fix but not confident it will have the same power and range with a splice in it.

Any of you ever done that or should I just bite the bullet and buy a new one and deal with snaking and weaving it through??

Thanks

👍

CommodoreOriginal Crew7,060 postsSince 2018

ChinacatFREE2021#2

Oh, and the real issue is the splice would be outside exposed to the elements which i think is a deal breaker?

👍

CommodoreOriginal Crew7,060 postsSince 2018

Roccus7MOD2021#3

So I noticed on Sunday that the cable on my VHF Antenna split about 6" from the antenna itself. Its mounted on the side wall of the cuddy and runs through and loops back to the radio itself that's mounted on the inside of the same side wall of the hull. Obviously its one continuous length from the antenna with the screw on end that goes into the radio. I'm sure I could somehow splice it together as a temporary fix but not confident it will have the same power and range with a splice in it.

Any of you ever done that or should I just bite the bullet and buy a new one and deal with snaking and weaving it through??

Thanks

I'm not 100% sure, but I'm thinking that the length of the cable may be part of the antenna's impedance calculation. Regardless, I certainly wouldn't have an weather exposed splice of any sort if avoidable...

👍

AdmiralOriginal Crew21,694 postsSince 2018

Fluke WhispererFREE2021#4

Inside the antenna is where you have to worry about, the length of the cable from the antenna can be any length.
They make waterproof connectors for shielded cable, you will not lose any strength in signal with a splice, the same thing happened to my buddies boat, I spliced in a new connection and shrink wrapped it, that was 20 yrs ago, now you can get water proof connectors as I mentioned.
Hope this helps.

👍

First MateOriginal Crew508 postsSince 2019

TonySmjcFREE2021#5

A good splice on good wire won’t hurt

if water has entered the break that will over time

how old is the antenna ?

while I’ve seen guys leave them up for decades they don’t last forever

if the outer shell due to age and sun
I’d change out the antenna

just my .02

👍

Captain1,857 postsSince 2020

JoeTackleFREE2021#6

If you have 6" of slack you can pull out of the cabin area, you can pull out 6"of
new cable, cut off the damaged portion and put on a new connector. If not then just coat the split with silicon sealer and tape over it.

👍

MateOriginal Crew92 postsSince 2019