Agree with popeye get the 8 footer, we have it on my buddy Rob's boat and we get awesome reception, i can be in ctr harbor and talk to Salty all the way over in meredith bay, our's is a Shakespeare i beleive, Got go On my way to fish with the Sunapee guys Wooo Hooo maybe I'll learn a thing or two LOL Take Care God Bless and Tight Lines Dave!!
I just replaced my old 8'er with a new Shakspeare 8' 5101 Centennial... it cost me $75 at Winnisquam Marine (had it delivered next day too)... and it gets good range for the price. I was talking to someone in Wolfeboro Bay from Center Harbor today and have easily chatted into meredith Bay from there.
Thanks guys, i have an 8' whip now, do you know the name and model of the one you have?
Whip
Dave, have a great day with Rick John and company. The boats nicely set-up.
Iwas in West marine the other day and they told me the reception was line of site and that if an island or some other obstruction is in front of you, your reception would be affected. I am confused because i read on some threads here that some are getting reception over 10 miles. I have an 8' Shakespear on a hardtop and I don't seem to pick much up. It was installed last year by a pro. Is the salesperson at West Marine right or are they mis informed? I would love to get better reception. Thanks
Don't know what to tell you... I get more than "line of sight" with mine... look at a map and see all the land and islands between Center Harbor bay and anywhere else on the lake. I talk from there to meredith Bay, Wolfboro Bay and if I'm by 3 mile I can hear conversations down by the Alton end of the lake... My antenna is pretty cheap in comparison to others... but placed on my hard top (total of about 16' off the water) it works great???
I installed my own and attached the connector myself... its not a soldered connecter either... and it is fine. If I could do it, any one could!
Just go to channel 12 and say... "Is anyone from FishLakeWinni out there?" and I'm sure you'll get a response. Even on a day like today, I did. Good luck
Your best situation is having an 8’ antenna that is mounted as high as practical. VHF radio communications in the open sea is line of sight, in a place like Winni signals are line of sight, bounced by structures and absorbed by foliage, communications can be unpredictable.