Thank you Jon:
I will freely admit I am out of my element in hf maritime installations,
especially in this case where we are dealing with an antique ship.
I am really trying to find someone who can do the job.They are willing to pay
for the service.I am just trying to the leg work for them.
They will ultimately want vhf, hf and perhaps radar installed.
Thank you once again.73Leslie, ad5wb
From: Jon Livingston kb0mnm via BVARC <[email protected]>
To: "BVARC, GMuller885---" <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2017 12:03 PM
Subject: Re: [BVARC] marine radio installation
I have done some work with marine radio installation on fresh-water vessels and
also have insights for salt-water.
1. Fresh-water VHF is a snap( I agree ). Simply use a well-waterproofed thick
metallic plate of at least 18" by 24" for a ground-plane below a standard NMO
heavy-duty constructed antenna.My favorite was a left-over mounting plate for
G.E. radios that you might see at hamfests.While this works for 5/8 wave
antennas near 2 meter frequencies ( actually, we were a bit higher for public
safety & marine ), the quarter-wave antennas with good bandwidth ( eg. Maxrad
coil ) seemed to last longer.Use heavy-gauge DC cabling ( think welding cable )
for longer runs and go back to the DC source. This keeps the voltage drop low,
so the radio is not 'starved'.2. HF installations do require some sort of
ground plane also. You will always need a 'difference' between elements, yet
the 'ground' side does not have to actually contact the water.The problem is
that as the hull moves, any 'artificial ground' is moved in relation to that.
Do not be fooled by ads for 'artificial ground' products, some do not work with
transmit ( yet are fine for receive ).3. Salt water power sources very often
used to involve frequencies other than 60 hz. Do not 'guess' or contract the
word assume that if the voltage is correct, you can connect a standard amateur
radio.You may be able to charge batteries and then run an inverter, yet the
cheaper inverters tend to make noise on the lower frequencies which are best
for worldwide communications.4. New 'Copperweld' wire typically is stronger due
to stainless or other than copper core. The stuff you can buy anywhere ( all
copper ) has a tendency to droop. Any place where you mate dis-similar (
different ) metals, corrosion is accelerated. It is also accelerated by salt
water. Chemicals such as are used to make aluminum to copper hookups for stoves
and dryers in households can slow this yet may not tolerate heat and salt for
long. Where you actually want to preserve iron, there are alloys used in hot
water-heater heaters for the 'sacrificial' anode.I hope that all helps. More
experienced amateurs, feel free to 'correct' or improve the above.73 KB0MNM
Tech. for MnDOT assisting DNR, AT2-USN-USS Midway ( CV-41) ret. 1987
From: "Leslie via BVARC" <[email protected]>
To: "SETX Telecom" <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected], "BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2017 11:33:28 AM
Subject: Re: [BVARC] marine radio installation
Thank you.I will do so.
On Jul 28, 2017, at 11:23 AM, SETX Telecom <[email protected]> wrote:
I've done marine radio work in the past...HF is s special art on boats
requiring RF ground...VHF and radar are a snap....sometimes a copper plate is
used as a protector to the hull and placed where it contacts the water
...providing similar protection like Zinc does on a tower section...it
sacrifices itself to protect what's beneath...sometimes there is no ground
connection to the hull and the entire radio system floats, so to speak, to
prevent galvanic corrosion action.
Email directly and we can [email protected]
On Jul 28, 2017 11:08 AM, "Leslie Bartosh via BVARC" <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello All:
My name is Leslie, ad5wb.
As some of you know I am involved in activating the 1877 Tall Ship Elissa
during Museum Ships Weekend.During this years activation the Bosun asked me if
I knew anything about installing radios on ships.
I do not know anything about the subject.
Does anyone here have any practical experience with installing marine band and
hf radios on ships?ORAny suggestions for individuals or companies who can do
the job appropriately?
They are understandably concerned about the introduction of any form of
electrical current to the iron hull of the Elissa.They had to redo the entire
hull after hurricane Ike, due to the introduction of electrical current to the
hull.
Thanks for reading.73Leslie, ad5wb
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