Boat installation

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fireguy810
Posts: 60
Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 3:23 pm

Boat installation

Post by fireguy810 »

Im doing an installation on a fireboat. Installing a lowband 46mhz radio, VHF 156mhz radio and a UHF 460mhz radio. I've found marine antennas for the VHF and UHF but I cant find a marine antenna for lowband. So I'm thinking on just using a mobile antenna, but its a fiberglass boat. No groundplane? Anyone have any ideas?
Hardwire001
Posts: 44
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:11 pm
What radios do you own?: Too Many to list

Re: Boat installation

Post by Hardwire001 »

Maybe if you can get a ground to the water???? that may function for your ground plane???? just a F(&ing theory...

I have no Idea, back in the US of Navy ground was never a problem....


>>>Hardwire<<<
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Bill_G
Posts: 3087
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:00 am

Re: Boat installation

Post by Bill_G »

Not too many fiberglass flat tops. I'm just sayin, you know ....

Fireguy - Yeah, you're kinda in unknown territory. There are ground-planeless CB antennas for composite body trucks that work pretty well, but I haven't seen one for lowband. You may have to McGuiver something from a CB antenna and a matching stub.
SlimBob
Posts: 911
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:38 am

Re: Boat installation

Post by SlimBob »

Grab a 1/4-wave long brass rod and solder/braze it to the bottom of the antenna mount. Also, fill the NMO mount with silicone grease and pray.
radioinstl
Posts: 354
Joined: Tue Feb 11, 2003 1:07 pm
What radios do you own?: Liberty MBITR APX7000 75000

Re: Boat installation

Post by radioinstl »

there are a few no ground plane low band antennas out there. may not be made anymore. I have an Antenna Specialist one and will look for the par number
resqroz
New User
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:49 am

Re: Boat installation

Post by resqroz »

I am not sure how large you fireboat is but Kreco makes Coaxial and folded dipole antennas for low band.
http://www.krecoantennas.com/index.htm
I have used the for base stations.
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