Newb Vhf Radio question

[itsmeagain5789]

So I got two used radios and a brand new 8ft shakespeare antenna model 5102.. on one of the radios, i cant get channel 20-25 to work. I hear static in the handheld that im using to test, but thats it. Channel 16 and everything above chanel 25 works well. On the other radio nothing works, I think I fried it trying to hook up an old antenna that was all mesed up. Good thing i got it free. Anyway, is it necessary to tune these antennas? Wat other suggestions can you give me with tryin to get 20-25 to work?

[jhebert]

There is no practical way for a user to make any sort of tuning adjustments to a VHF Marine Band radio antenna like a Shakespeare 5102.

[itsmeagain5789]

jhebert - 1/13/2009 8:44 PM

There is no practical way for a user to make any sort of tuning adjustments to a VHF Marine Band radio antenna like a Shakespeare 5102.

ok, so its pretty much just plug and play? so more than likely the radio is messed up, unless I messed up on the connector... or could it be that the radio is too close to the antenna.. there not even a foot away from each other.. im gonna trouble shoot everything tommorow before buying a new radio.

[thataway]

If you have a direct short across the PL 259 connector (antenna coax to the radio) this could cause damage to the radio--most will just shut down--but some will have damage to the output transistors. The channel you will be most likely to use in the 20 to 25 section is 22A--this is the coast guard communication working channel for communication to boats and giving warnings. You need this channel.

I have found some Shakespeare antennas to have higher SWR that I would like--you can check this with a small inline meter which will measure output and the SWR (Standing Wave Ratio--or if the antenna is in "tune" for the frequency. A simple meter costs about $40 and may well be worth the cost, unless you have a friend who is a ham radio operator and has more sophisticated test equiptment. You want the SWR to be less than 1.5 : 1 Many antennas will be 2 : 1 or occasionally higher--and this is not good!

[sandyda]

Its still a hundred bucks, but you can get a new VHF radio with DSC for a B. Franklin!

[rwidman]

jhebert - 1/13/2009 8:44 PM

There is no practical way for a user to make any sort of tuning adjustments to a VHF Marine Band radio antenna like a Shakespeare 5102.

Nor is there a practical way for a user to repair a VHF radio. You can:

1. Send it back to the factory for repairs.

2. Replace it with a new one. The new one will have instructions for hooking it up correctly, DSC, and a warranty.

Your VHF radio is a very important safety device. This is not the place to compromise. Buy a new one, hook it up according to the instructions, test it, and relax.

[rwidman]

thataway - 1/13/2009 10:49 PM

I have found some Shakespeare antennas to have higher SWR that I would like--you can check this with a small inline meter which will measure output and the SWR (Standing Wave Ratio--or if the antenna is in "tune" for the frequency. A simple meter costs about $40 and may well be worth the cost, unless you have a friend who is a ham radio operator and has more sophisticated test equiptment. You want the SWR to be less than 1.5 : 1 Many antennas will be 2 : 1 or occasionally higher--and this is not good!

So what do you do if you determine that the SWR is not to your liking? Ship it back?

[Justin_NJ]

New antenna should get a new radio. You can pick up a new radio with limitted features for about $100, not worth the safety issue of using a questionable radio.
By the way - you should have a backup handheld. The day you go to use it to call for help maybe be due to an electrical shutdown.

[Standard Horizon]

itsmeagain5789, It appears that your radios is in the International band. You will need to read the manual to change you radio to USA band. I assume that you are operating your radio in the United States. If you are operating a Standard Horizon radio please follow this simple step to change between USA, Canada, and International bands: Press and Hold the 16/9 key. While holding the 16/9 key press WX key to toggle between USA, Canadian and International bands.

Channel 20 is duplex in USA, Canadian, and International bands.
Channel 20A is Simplex in USA band.
Channel 21 is duplex in International band.
Channel 21A is simplex in USA and Canadian band.
Channel 22 is duplex in International band.
Channel 22A is simplex in USA and Canadian bands.
Channel 23 is duplex in Canadian and International bands.
Channel 23A is simplex in USA band.
Channel 24-28 are duplex in USA, Canadian and International bands. Simplex Channels send and receive on the same frequency, while duplex send and receive on different frequencies. For instance Channel 16 is simplex and will send and receive on the same frequency (Boat to Boat communications). Channel 24 is duplex and used for the Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). If you and a friend are side by side on the water and on the same duplex channels you will not be able to communicate. Please refer to the channel list that was supplied with your VHF radio.

[sandyda]

Once again Standard Horizon impresses me.

[Justin_NJ]

That type of support from Standard Horizon is fantastic. While I already own a standard horizon handheld, I am planning on replacing my fixed mount Raytheon with a new model that includes DSC. This post just made me lean more towards Standard Horizon than any other brand.

[t3rockhall]

Standard beat me to the explanation. Those channels were originally intended to be marine operator channels, and the transmit and receive frequencies are different (duplex). The "A" suffix in the USA means that the channel is simplex here (transmits and receives on the same frequency). FYI, 20 is ONLY for DSC and not for voice comms at all. 21A, 22A and 23A are all government use only, and not to be used at all unless the CG tells you to go there.

[rwidman]

The OP didn't state his problem very clearly:

.... i cant get channel 20-25 to work. I hear static in the handheld that im using to test, but thats it. Channel 16 and everything above chanel 25 works well. ............

Does the radio tune to these channels but not transmit or receive, or does it skip them? And how about channels below 16? And when does he hear "static"? I'm assuming that the radio only displays the channels assigned to the band it is set for.

As far as checking the manual, I get a picture that he bought these radios at a yard sale or something similar.

[Standard Horizon]

rwidman,

All current Standard Horizon manuals are available at www.standardhorizon.com. If the VHF radio is a Standard Horizon or Standard Communication's radio I will email "itsmeagain5789" the manual, please provide me with your email address and VHF radio model number.

[t3rockhall]

t3rockhall - 1/16/2009 12:05 20 is ONLY for DSC

That is incorect. 20A is Port Operations. 70 is DSC

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. VHF Marine Radio Channels and Frequencies

Courtesy of the United States Coast Guard

Chnl Ship Transmit (MHz) Ship Receive (MHz) Use
01A 156.050 156.050 Port Operations and Commercial. VTS in selected areas.
05A 156.250 156.250 Port Operations. VTS in Seattle
06 156.300 156.300 Intership Safety
07A 156.350 156.350 Commercial
08 156.400 156.400 Commercial (Intership only)
09 156.450 156.450 Boater Calling. Commercial and Non-Commercial.
10 156.500 156.500 Commercial
11 156.550 156.550 Commercial. VTS in selected areas.
12 156.600 156.600 Port Operations. VTS in selected areas.
13 156.650 156.650 Intership Navigation Safety (Bridge-to-bridge). Ships >20m length
maintain a listening watch on this channel in US waters.
14 156.700 156.700 Port Operations. VTS in selected areas.
15 -- 156.750 Environmental (Receive only). Used by Class C EPIRBs.
16 156.800 156.800 International Distress, Safety and Calling. Ships required to carry radio,
USCG, and most coast stations maintain a listening watch on this channel.
17 156.850 156.850 State Control
18A 156.900 156.900 Commercial
19A 156.950 156.950 Commercial
20 157.000 161.600 Port Operations (duplex)
20A 157.000 157.000 Port Operations
21A 157.050 157.050 U.S. Coast Guard only
22A 157.100 157.100 Coast Guard Liaison and Maritime Safety Information Broadcasts. Broadcasts
announced on channel 16.
23A 157.150 157.150 U.S. Coast Guard only
24 157.200 161.800 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
25 157.250 161.850 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
26 157.300 161.900 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
27 157.350 161.950 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
28 157.400 162.000 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
63A 156.175 156.175 Port Operations and Commercial. VTS in selected areas.
65A 156.275 156.275 Port Operations
66A 156.325 156.325 Port Operations
67 156.375 156.375 Commercial. Used for Bridge-to-bridge communications in lower Mississippi
River. Intership only.
68 156.425 156.425 Non-Commercial
69 156.475 156.475 Non-Commercial
70 156.525 156.525 Digital Selective Calling (voice communications not allowed)
71 156.575 156.575 Non-Commercial
72 156.625 156.625 Non-Commercial (Intership only)
73 156.675 156.675 Port Operations
74 156.725 156.725 Port Operations
77 156.875 156.875 Port Operations (Intership only)
78A 156.925 156.925 Non-Commercial
79A 156.975 156.975 Commercial
80A 157.025 157.025 Commercial
81A 157.075 157.075 U.S. Government only - Environmental protection operations.
82A 157.125 157.125 U.S. Government only
83A 157.175 157.175 U.S. Coast Guard only
84 157.225 161.825 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
85 157.275 161.875 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
86 157.325 161.925 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
87 157.375 161.975 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
88 157.425 162.025 Public Correspondence only near Canadian border.
88A 157.425 157.425 Commercial, Intership only.

[itsmeagain5789]

Sorry it took me so long to respond. right now im just using a crappy humminbird vhf a friend gave me. i trashed the other one. Channels 20, 24-28, and 84-87 do not transmit nor recieve. It does not skip them, all I hear is a little bit of static when I hit the transmit button on my handheld which im using to test it. All other channels work well. I just want to make sure the antenna works right so I don't burn up my new radio that i am going to buy sometime this week.

[t3rockhall]

itsmeagain5789 - 1/17/2009 7:54 PM

Channels 20, 24-28, and 84-87 do not transmit nor recieve..

How do you know that? They (24-28, and 84-87) are duplex channels - transmit and receive on different frequencies. Unless you are listening on a scanner tuned to the transmit frequencies, you won't hear a thing on another radio tuned to the same channel. In other words, 2 boats trying to talk to each other on duplex frequencies ... can't. 20 is duplex around the world, but simplex in the US (20A).

[itsmeagain5789]

t3rockhall - 1/17/2009 8:01 PM

How do you know that? They (24-28, and 84-87) are duplex channels - transmit and receive on different frequencies. Unless you are listening on a scanner tuned to the transmit frequencies, you won't hear a thing on another radio tuned to the same channel. In other words, 2 boats trying to talk to each other on duplex frequencies ... can't. 20 is duplex around the world, but simplex in the US (20A).

sorry, I don't quite understand VHF frequencies that well, but it seems that you have answered my question. If those channels are not for transmiting or recieving, and every othr channel works, then I assume that the radio is working perfectly.

[t3rockhall]

And please... always check that your radio is set on USA (not International) when you turn it on.

[rwidman]

t3rockhall - 1/18/2009 9:32 AM

And please... always check that your radio is set on USA (not International) when you turn it on.

I've owned two fixed and one handheld marine VHF radios and on each, once it's been set to the correct band, it keeps that setting. It's good to check from time to time or if there is a problem though.