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Date: 25 Jul 2004 23:44:35
From: suds
Subject: Souping up the hand-held vhf radio.
Being on bed rest for a month has left me with a little too much time on my
hands. ;^) One of the ways I pass the day is to listen to the chatter
on the vhf channels using my 5 watt hand-held. Unfortunately, it just
doesn't seem to have that much of a range. While the Coast Guard comes in
loud and clear, I seldom hear the response of who it is they are talking to.
Other than the Coast Guard about all I can pick up is the drunks out at the
sand bar. I don't really need to hear about what a good time they're
having, it's bad enough that I have to sit hear watching them out the
window.

So I was wondering if it is possible to buy an external antenna that I could
mount to the roof of my house and thereby extend the range? Would it be
just that simple or are there going to be issues of amplification, impedance
matching, licensing, etc?


suds






 
Date: 08 Aug 2004 18:10:18
From: bob
Subject: Re: Souping up the hand-held vhf radio.
Sutable antenna is available at www.kg4ena.com VHF base

"suds" <Iluvspam@breakfast.net > wrote:
> Being on bed rest for a month has left me with a little too much time
> on my hands. ;^) One of the ways I pass the day is to listen to
> the chatter on the vhf channels using my 5 watt hand-held.
> Unfortunately, it just doesn't seem to have that much of a range.
> While the Coast Guard comes in loud and clear, I seldom hear the
> response of who it is they are talking to. Other than the Coast Guard
> about all I can pick up is the drunks out at the sand bar. I don't
> really need to hear about what a good time they're having, it's bad
> enough that I have to sit hear watching them out the window.
>
> So I was wondering if it is possible to buy an external antenna that
> I could mount to the roof of my house and thereby extend the range?
> Would it be just that simple or are there going to be issues of
> amplification, impedance matching, licensing, etc?
>
>
> suds
>
>


 
Date: 26 Jul 2004 10:58:41
From: John Fereira
Subject: Re: Souping up the hand-held vhf radio.
"suds" <Iluvspam@breakfast.net > wrote in
news:DBXMc.54007$ju5.40578@twister.socal.rr.com:

> Being on bed rest for a month has left me with a little too much time
> on my hands. ;^) One of the ways I pass the day is to listen to
> the chatter on the vhf channels using my 5 watt hand-held.
> Unfortunately, it just doesn't seem to have that much of a range.
> While the Coast Guard comes in loud and clear, I seldom hear the
> response of who it is they are talking to. Other than the Coast Guard
> about all I can pick up is the drunks out at the sand bar. I don't
> really need to hear about what a good time they're having, it's bad
> enough that I have to sit hear watching them out the window.
>
> So I was wondering if it is possible to buy an external antenna that I
> could mount to the roof of my house and thereby extend the range?
> Would it be just that simple or are there going to be issues of
> amplification, impedance matching, licensing, etc?

As long as you're not transmitting with it you won't have to worry about
impedance matching. If the radio has an external antenna jack all you'll
need is the right connector, some rg-58 coax cable, and, of course an
antenna. If you're talking about the marine band you can just get a marine
antenna that one might mount on a boat and mount it up on your roof.



  
Date: 26 Jul 2004 22:11:47
From: suds
Subject: Re: Souping up the hand-held vhf radio.

"John Fereira" <jaf30@cornell.edu > wrote in message
news:Xns953246FC675B9jaf30cornelledu@24.24.2.166...

>
> As long as you're not transmitting with it you won't have to worry about
> impedance matching. If the radio has an external antenna jack all you'll
> need is the right connector, some rg-58 coax cable, and, of course an
> antenna. If you're talking about the marine band you can just get a marine
> antenna that one might mount on a boat and mount it up on your roof.
>

Well, there is a harbor just don't the street with a lot of unattended
boats... ;^)~



suds




   
Date: 27 Jul 2004 00:38:34
From: Michael Daly
Subject: Re: Souping up the hand-held vhf radio.

On 26-Jul-2004, "suds" <Iluvspam@breakfast.net > wrote:

> Well, there is a harbor just don't the street with a lot of unattended
> boats... ;^)~

Does anyone know what this says in English?

Mike


    
Date: 27 Jul 2004 13:35:37
From: Dave Van
Subject: Re: Souping up the hand-held vhf radio.
in article 74idnZ5z44ZAPpjcRVn-oA@magma.ca, Michael Daly at
michaelDaly@foo.bar wrote on 7/26/04 7:38 PM:

>
> On 26-Jul-2004, "suds" <Iluvspam@breakfast.net> wrote:
>
>> Well, there is a harbor just don't the street with a lot of unattended
>> boats... ;^)~
>
> Does anyone know what this says in English?
>
> Mike


English Translation:

Maybe I'll go to the harbor down the street and steal an antenna off of one
of the unattended boats.



     
Date: 29 Jul 2004 02:57:01
From: rick etter
Subject: Re: Souping up the hand-held vhf radio.

"Dave Van" <dave@brick-nospam-garage.com > wrote in message
news:BD2BC2AA.407B4%dave@brick-nospam-garage.com...
> in article 74idnZ5z44ZAPpjcRVn-oA@magma.ca, Michael Daly at
> michaelDaly@foo.bar wrote on 7/26/04 7:38 PM:
>
> >
> > On 26-Jul-2004, "suds" <Iluvspam@breakfast.net> wrote:
> >
> >> Well, there is a harbor just don't the street with a lot of unattended
> >> boats... ;^)~
> >
> > Does anyone know what this says in English?
> >
> > Mike
>
>
> English Translation:
>
> Maybe I'll go to the harbor down the street and steal an antenna off of
one
> of the unattended boats.
=====================
Did you get that magic decoder ring in a cereal box? :-)


>