Electronics Thread, Radio problem in Boating Discussion; I have a Ray Marine 48 radio in my boat. When I put on the T top I moved the ...  | 
Oct-29-2009, 03:47 PM
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#1 | | Innocent Bystander
Name: Dave Vessel: 206CC Sea Pro "Innocent Bystander" Location: Poway, CA Job:Retired Bio: Retired and fishing again
Posts: 228
| Radio problem
I have a Ray Marine 48 radio in my boat. When I put on the T top I moved the antenna to the top. It's a Shakspear 8' antenna. I also shortened the antenna cable and reattached it to the back of the radio. I cut and re soldered the connection so it's OK. Now when I transmit you can hardly hear my voice in the transmission. I had my wife listen on the hand held 100' away and she could hardly hear with the volumn turned up. I could hear her fine. I tested the radio on 1 & 25 watts and was testing on channels 68 and 72. I don't have a watt meter so I can't check the output. The radio is 3 years old and hardly ever used. Any ideas? Did I screw up the antenna cable by cutting it? I called Ray Marine and they told me to buy a new antenna and test the radio again. If that didn't fix the problem to send the radio in to them for repair. I think it would be cheaper to buy a new radio and antenna.
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Oct-29-2009, 03:54 PM
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#2 | | Swivel Tail Ale
Name: Todd Vessel: Boston Whaler 19' LIZARDFISH Location: Point Loma Job:USD School of Law Student Bio: I eat Bonito, Sardines, Mackerel and Barracuda.
Posts: 2,377
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How short did you cut the cable? less than 4 feet?
Could have screwed up the solder, very common.
Cut it off and try one of the new solderless Shakespeare connectors. $10.00
Are the power wires running alongside other electrical (i.e. bait pump or GPS) wires?
If so, try isolating VHF power wires.
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Los Barriles, BCS. Santa Maria  | |
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Oct-29-2009, 04:01 PM
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#3 | | Offshore Prop Changer
Name: Frank Age: 44 Vessel: 25' Wellcraft sportsman "Mo Betta", 12' Gregor "Caballito" Location: El Cajon Job:Contractor, Kit/Bath Bio: Grew up on Guam
Posts: 4,288
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You may of broken the "element" inside the antenna when you moved it. If so , you need a new one.
Before you go out and buy the best antenna you can afford...double check your soldered connection. Make sure you used the isolators and that a stray wire isnt where its suppose to be.
Do a radio check from Poway. Ive talked to guys out on the water from El Cajon/Lakeside before.
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Frank "The Offshore Prop Changer"  | |
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Oct-29-2009, 04:54 PM
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#4 | | Innocent Bystander
Name: Dave Vessel: 206CC Sea Pro "Innocent Bystander" Location: Poway, CA Job:Retired Bio: Retired and fishing again
Posts: 228
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Thanks for the reply. The cable is still about 8' long and I did re-solder the connection again. All the power wires are in the same place they have always been in when the radio was working well. Which solderless connector should I get? WM web site show a couple ones. If I decide to get another antenna should I stick with the Shakspear 8700 or go with the 5225XP? I may have broke the connection inside the antenna when I re mounted it on the T top I guess. But would I stillbe getting good reception, I can hear folks up in the Newport Beach/Long Beach area from my house.
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Oct-29-2009, 06:45 PM
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#5 | | Registered User
Name: Kerry Age: 52 Vessel: Yellow spot Location: LA Job:HUH??
Posts: 504
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Reception is the easy part so yes if you broke the element you may still get good reception. Ditto using the soldierless connector. Get the 5225XT. Worth the price difference over the 8700.
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Oct-29-2009, 11:53 PM
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#6 | | Registered User
Name: Alex Age: 29 Vessel: "Small Fry" '89 Arima Sea Sprinter Location: san diego Job:US Navy MM1
Posts: 225
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buy the meter from west marine, use it and return it, they have a no questions asked return policy. it's what i did. you only need a short piece of cable and two PL-259 connectors. worth the money, and keep the test jumper. If not you can borrow mine, i did it and still have my test jumper. worth the piece of mind alone.
And like Todd said, unless you slapped the shit out of the antenna then you probably didnt break the element. It's real easy to heat the connector up too much when you solder it. i went through a few when i first started screwing with a new whip.
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Oct-30-2009, 05:30 AM
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#7 | | Captain
Name: Dennis Age: 58 Vessel: 27' self built Location: North Escondido Job:Carpenter
Posts: 2,106
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Dave, I have a new antenna still in the box you are welcome to try. I am just north of you at the 15 and Deer Springs.
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Oct-30-2009, 09:06 AM
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#8 | | Captain
Name: Art Age: 39 Vessel: 40' Luhrs Convertible, Luhr'd Away Location: San Pedro/ Victorville Job:Elevator Service/Repair
Posts: 2,883
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Did you key the mic when the antenna was not hooked up? I recently made that mistake and damaged the diodes inside the radio. Could receive but not transmit. Bought a new radio and bingo, works great.
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Oct-30-2009, 09:15 AM
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#9 | | Captain
Name: Gary Age: 62 Vessel: 28' Aquasport "Reel Adventure II" Location: Poway Ca Job:Mobility Vehicles & Modifications, W/C Lifts , Repairs etc
Posts: 1,799
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I also have a new one on my work bench , I live in Poway if you would like to try it.
Just PM me with a phone number.
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Oct-30-2009, 09:25 AM
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#10 | | Where am I?
Name: JMH Age: 45 Vessel: occasionally Location: PB, CA Job:as necessary
Posts: 759
| Quote:
Originally Posted by alex88  buy the meter from west marine, use it and return it, they have a no questions asked return policy. it's what i did. you only need a short piece of cable and two PL-259 connectors. worth the money, and keep the test jumper. If not you can borrow mine, i did it and still have my test jumper. worth the piece of mind alone. | C'mon now, that's just wrong. Doing that only adds to a stores overhead and that gets turned back on us. Not only that, I'm tired of buying something that I think is new and complete from a retailer only to find that someone bought it before me and then returned it and now there is a part missing or it's broken. You seem to want "piece of mind" but your piece of mind isn't worth $60 or so (Shakespeare Antenna/Radio tester ART-2). WTF?
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Oct-30-2009, 09:46 AM
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#11 | | Legend in my own mind
Name: Buster Brown Age: 54 Vessel: 28' Silverton "ConSeaMate" Location: Escondido Job:Pissing off the World.....one person at a time!
Posts: 11,722
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Bada Bing C'mon now, that's just wrong. Doing that only adds to a stores overhead and that gets turned back on us. Not only that, I'm tired of buying something that I think is new and complete from a retailer only to find that someone bought it before me and then returned it and now there is a part missing or it's broken. You seem to want "piece of mind" but your piece of mind isn't worth $60 or so (Shakespeare Antenna/Radio tester ART-2). WTF? | Entitlement...............
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We're on a mission from God.................  | |
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Oct-30-2009, 09:48 AM
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#12 | | Where am I?
Name: JMH Age: 45 Vessel: occasionally Location: PB, CA Job:as necessary
Posts: 759
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Oh ya, I got the tester if you need it. If you're gonna be in MB, let me know and you can borrow it.
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