Sounds like a good question for the Gray Ghost. I know with CB's "matching" (raising and lowering the antenna in the mount to getthe best power output)the antenna is very important for moblie units, but I have never heard of anyone "matching" a marine radio antenna ????

Leaving coiled wire can be a prpoblem in some electrical instalations, not sure about marine antennas. I would not shorten the cable length, I think it's made that exact length for "matching" the antena for best performance.

Looks like we need some help, I think most guys that have problems with thier radios (and there are alot) have poor antenna instalation.

John S.

John S:

Its does sound like a job for the Ghost.

The little research I did before I stalled on this was that the antenna cable should be "no shorter than" a certain length (I think it was like 3 ft). Most of the radios / antennas come with a much longer antenna cables and what I read said that once you figure out where to mount the antenna and the exact run of the cable from the radio to the antenna its best to cut the cable to the exact length (just a hair longer), otherwise you need to coil the extra cable and I think they also said the coil should have turns that are no less than 3-ft in diameter otherwise the coiled cable will produce interference.

You da man, thanks.

I would have been nervous about cutting the coax, what's your take on "antenna matching", not needed with these sets ups ????

Thanks again,

John S.

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Replying to:

John S:

Its does sound like a job for the Ghost.

The little research I did before I stalled on this was that the antenna cable should be "no shorter than" a certain length (I think it was like 3 ft). Most of the radios / antennas come with a much longer antenna cables and what I read said that once you figure out where to mount the antenna and the exact run of the cable from the radio to the antenna its best to cut the cable to the exact length (just a hair longer), otherwise you need to coil the extra cable and I think they also said the coil should have turns that are no less than 3-ft in diameter otherwise the coiled cable will produce interference.

You can buy the PL 259 from Radio Shack for assembly instructions.

The shorter the cable, the less RF energy will be lost in either transmitting or receiving which is what you want, RF cable has a fixed amount of loss per foot which is dependent on the way the cable is made, the diameter and with what kind of dielectric material is used. Leaving a minimum of 3 ft or more is a good idea incase a repair is needed.

VHF 8 ft marine antennas do not require matching, the antenna is matched by design of the antenna, 3 footers require matching, couplers, that is that hunk of metal that you see at the base of the antenna.

Marine CB antennas are sometimes matched using the coax cable; do not cut, because it is part of the antenna. Automobile CB antennas are fine tuned by adjusting the antenna height in a particular installation.

Guess that kind of answers all our questions, thanks Gus.

John S.

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Replying to:

You can buy the PL 259 from Radio Shack for assembly instructions.

The shorter the cable, the less RF energy will be lost in either transmitting or receiving which is what you want, RF cable has a fixed amount of loss per foot which is dependent on the way the cable is made, the diameter and with what kind of dielectric material is used. Leaving a minimum of 3 ft or more is a good idea incase a repair is needed.

VHF 8 ft marine antennas do not require matching, the antenna is matched by design of the antenna, 3 footers require matching, couplers, that is that hunk of metal that you see at the base of the antenna.

Marine CB antennas are sometimes matched using the coax cable; do not cut, because it is part of the antenna. Automobile CB antennas are fine tuned by adjusting the antenna height in a particular installation.