Digital Antennas

[Dean P]

I hijacked someone else's thread so I thought I would just ask here...Are they worth the $$$? Do they really work better than the standard type?

 

[Mainah]

More than you ever wanted to know here but worth the read IMO...
https://jetboaters.net/threads/my-trip-down-the-vhf-antenna-rabbit-hole.16678/

 

[Dean P]

More than you ever wanted to know here but worth the read IMO...
https://jetboaters.net/threads/my-trip-down-the-vhf-antenna-rabbit-hole.16678/

Thank you. I read that this afternoon. IMO he doesn't really discuss the digital side of VHS antennas. I believe some boaters here have them and was hoping they would comment. Trying to make an educated decision and not a foolish one.

 

[Wisefam22]

So I just copied what @Mainah did for his set up. Havent had chance to test it yet, but if its mainah approved its gotta be good.

 

[Mainah]

Digital Antenna is a brand and the linked article applies to all VHF brands. If we are talking about AIS antennas that is something I did not research. Back to VHF, it does not matter if the signal is pulsed zeros and ones or waveform voice everything still applies.

 

[Mainah]

So I just copied what @Mainah did for his set up. Havent had chance to test it yet, but if its mainah approved its gotta be good.

I do make mistakes from time to time but I always go back and update. In the case of the VHF antenna I am still happy with it. I was able to pick up FT Lauderdale CG all the way over in Cat Cay. Won't be using it much this season except as a flag pole but it works great for that too.

 

[Dean P]

More than you ever wanted to know here but worth the read IMO...
https://jetboaters.net/threads/my-trip-down-the-vhf-antenna-rabbit-hole.16678/

Thank you. I read that this afternoon. IMO he doesn't really discuss the digital side of VHS antennas. I believe some boaters here have them and was hoping they would comment. Trying to make an educated decision and not a foolish one.

Just realized that was your post in the link. Totally missed that. So sorry. Thank you, your opinion matters.

Did not realize Digital Antenna is a brand. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Mainah]

Just realized that was your post in the link. Totally missed that. So sorry. Thank you, your opinion matters.

Did not realize Digital Antenna is a brand. Thanks for pointing that out.

No worries. The reason I wrote the article is because I was in the same place as you trying to make an informed decision and the marketing on these things is misleading in some cases. Digital antenna is a good brand but for VHF the signal is not normally digital unless using the more advanced features of a VHF radio like DSC. Select your mounting option and length from there they are pretty much the same. That said I would personally stick with Pacific Aerials or Digital Antenna. I really like the screw on feature of what I selected. Antenna stays in the boat in the off season. This reminds me that I never put it on this weekend when I splashed in for the season so I could display the flags at the marina. Guess I will do that next time I am there.

 

[Dean P]

I really like the screw on feature of what I selected. Antenna stays in the boat in the off season.

This is key. Really only considering ALL this for the Abacos trip. Otherwise, my hand held VHS radio is sufficient for my local boating needs.

 

[2kwik4u]

......Back to VHF, it does not matter if the signal is pulsed zeros and ones or waveform voice everything still applies......

I have the hardest time with explaining this to people. More often than not it came up in discussion of antenna's for "digital TV' when they switched from the analog to digital signals. Everyone was wanting to install new antennas for teh "digital signal"......It's the same set of frequencies being transmitted and received, they just changed the data being sent.....My grandfather has his advanced class ham radio license and even fell victim to this. Once I explained it to him, he got it, but it took a minute.

I wonder why there is such a hangup on "digital" requiring some new technology.

I get the same agitation when someone uses "billet aluminum" as a material type in reference to a machined piece of 6061. That's a whole 'nother can of worms though.

 

[Mainah]

This is key. Really only considering ALL this for the Abacos trip. Otherwise, my hand held VHS radio is sufficient for my local boating needs.

Was an insurance policy for me. Knowing that anyone on the boat could just press the red button if something happened made them all feel better. The trouble with handhelds is forgetting to charge them or bring spare alkaline batteries. I still had two handhelds as back ups. Sure might have been overkill for only a couple of trips but in the grand scheme it is one of those things that if you really need it only one time it would be worth 1000x more. I really wanted to fly flags too so the antenna at least served a dual purpose for me that it will continue to serve.

 

[Dean P]

That said I would personally stick with Pacific Aerials or Digital Antenna.

How does Shakespeare compare? They appear to have a screw on type also.
My bad...Still has a wire attached. I like the fact that PA mounts to the base. SOLD!

 

[Dean P]

@Mainah Do you know the OD of the antenna cable? I assume 1/4" but not sure. Trying to find a grommet to fit. TIA!

 

[Wisefam22]

When I bought base and antenna it came with everything I needed.

 

[Mainah]

@Mainah Do you know the OD of the antenna cable? I assume 1/4" but not sure. Trying to find a grommet to fit. TIA!

I do not recall. 1/4 sounds about right.