VHF Radio Antenna

VHF Antennas

• Which antenna is right for me? This is a big question, and there's no easy answer. It has an answer file all its own. See also Shakespeare's Audio Fact Books web page for digitized sound samples that you can download.
   
• Can I cut the coax on my VHF antenna? Yes, if you need to. However, you should leave at least three feet of coax. Note that this is not true for all antennas. CB antennas' coax should not be cut.
   
• How can I check the antenna to make sure it is working? You should transmit to a friend's receiver, and have the friend assess your transmission for quality from a variety of known distances. Note than the US Coast Guard frowns on radio test calls made to them. To help you measure the efficiency of your antenna/radio system more scientifically, Shakespeare makes an antenna / radio tester. The ART-2 will test the output power of your transceiver, as well as the VSWR of the antenna.
   
• How do you install the PL-259 connector? An instruction sheet for installing the PL-259 connector is included with the antenna. Follow the instructions and consult the diagrams. Shakespeare's new PL-259 connector includes special washers and spacers to reduce the complexity of the installation. For true ease of installation without soldering, check out Shakespeare's innovative Centerpin® PL-259-CP and PL-258-CP connectors.

  NEW! Downloadable PDF Instruction Sheets for PL-259 Connectors:  RG-8/X - RG-58

• Will metal or other objects that are close to the antenna affect it? Yes they will. It is best to locate the antenna at least three feet from any metal objects or other antennas.
   
• Can I mount the antenna beside the radio? No, it must be at least three feet away from the radio, so transmission will not interfere with the radios reception (usually resulting in a squeal in the speaker).
   
• Do I need a ground plane for the antenna? No, Shakespeare VHF marine antennas are designed with independent ground planes built in.
   
• What is the antenna's wavelength? It can range from 1/4 wave to 5/8 wave, depending on the length and style of antenna. Please see the antenna specifications section for information on your particular antenna.
   
• How high must the antenna be? There is no particular height requirement, but remember, the higher the antenna, the better the reception.
  
   
• What range can I expect from the antenna? Here is the formula to determine range:
   

  Calculation for Range of an Antenna:  Square Root of Height (in feet) above water x 1.42 = Range in miles  Remember to perform the calculation for BOTH vessels, and then add the results for the range between two vessels.

• What is the receiving zone for my antenna? On all Shakespeare VHF Marine antennas the receiving zone is 360 degrees - or omni-directional.
  
   
• What is the half power beam width for my antenna? On all Shakespeare VHF Marine antennas the beam width is between 24 and 26 degrees.
   
• What is the difference among the many styles of antennas? Basically, the price, type and size of its elements, plus the way the antenna's fiberglass is wrapped, and the coax that is used determine the basic cost factors of an antenna. To this, add the relative cost of the finish applied to the antenna.
   
• How much power can I put into the antenna? Power input varies with the antenna. Please see the antenna specifications section.
   
• Do I lose anything by using a Combination antenna? Yes, usually - depending on the type of combination antenna. Usually reception performance in the VHF side is somewhat sacrificed. Shakespeare recommends using separate antennas if space is available for them.
   
• Is it better to use a dedicated AM/FM antenna or a band separator? Shakespeare recommends using a separate antenna for this purpose. Band separators were designed for people who don't have room for two antennas.
   
• What is gain, and how is it measured? Gain is an increase (or decrease) in "effective radiated power" from an antenna, usually stated in + or - dB (deciBels). As a rule of thumb, you can add 4 times the radio's output power for 6dB antennas and 8 times the radios output power for 9dB antennas. Shakespeare's Audio Fact book web page has digitized sound samples  and streaming audio files of off-air broadcasts for you to compare 3, 6, and 9 dB gain systems.
   
• Can I paint the antenna, and with what? Shakespeare's antennas can be painted any color you wish. But, make sure not to use any paint containing metallic chips or lead bases.
   
• Can I repair the antenna if the fiberglass becomes frayed? Yes. Simply wash the antenna with soap and water first, and allow it to dry completely. Next, paint the antenna with polyurethane or a lead free, non-metallic paint. Then lightly sand the surface with 400-grit sandpaper. Additional coats of paint may be added, but are usually not really necessary.
   
• What is the transmission line loss for coax? This depends on the amount, as well as the type of coax used. On the average, 50 feet of RG-58 coax will have about 3dB loss, 50 feet of RG-8X coax will have about 2dB loss, and 50 feet of RG-213 (RG-8U) will have about 1dB loss.

We are proud to serve you with any assistance we can provide via email ask@wmjmarine.com or toll free number at
1-877-330-9758 for USA or (858) 755-1942 for International Customers.

You will find the vast choices of marine products including GPS (including Garmin GPS, Lowrance GPS, Raymarine GPS), Fish Finder, Marine Radar, Marine Electronics, VHF radio, Marine Supply,  Boat Part from major brands

We accept all major credit cards & Paypal

All personal information you submit is encrypted and 100% secure

We offer online shipment tracking

UPS Shipping Cost can be seen during the checkout, right before submitting the order

We use the Secure-Server that supports industry-standard 128-bit SSL encryption for your safe online transaction.