I just picked up a Uniden Solara VHF radio and looking for info about antennas and mounting the antenna. The boat will be used mainly on Lake Mead and Mohave, big reservoirs, 60 miles long. I searched and still have a couple of questions:
- I have a dual console 18' Crestliner Superhawk, where would be the most common place to mount the antenna? From the consoles fore and aft, it's 8' or less, 7'11" beam. With the antenna mount, the antenna will most likely stick out a couple inches, which I want to avoid. I have seen a couple boats similar to mine where the gunwales are clear fore-aft, but my consoles hang completely over the gunwales, limiting where I can mount and store the antenna. I have 3 rod holder bases mounted down the gunwales aft of the consoles, so the antenna being stored would interfere with the rod holders, or the other way around. Here's a pic of the gunwale/console, minus the rod holders.
- Is there going to be a (long term) problem storing the antenna bent to the shape (radius) of the gunnel going forward from the console?
- From your experience, have you experienced problems with the antenna mounted 2' from the radio, interference, static, etc? (antenna is supposed to be 3' away from what I've read)
- 3' antenna or 6'? Inexpensive or high dollar? Going with a 3' antenna will resolve my installation problems, but will cut down on the range, not sure if this is going to be a big consideration at this point, could be a huge problem.... I fish in the canyons of Lake Mohave a lot and don't know what to expect for VHF reception there, probably none due to the canyons. I'm mostly concerned about reception out on the big basins and having radio reception in an emergency, while on the big basins. I won't be using the radio for boat-boat communication, most likely leaving it off most the time.
- I haven't been able to find out where the NPS VHF antenna's are located on these lakes and what type of reception to expect. Does anyone know where to find this info? I haven't called the park service yet.
Thanks, Dan
- I have a dual console 18' Crestliner Superhawk, where would be the most common place to mount the antenna? From the consoles fore and aft, it's 8' or less, 7'11" beam. With the antenna mount, the antenna will most likely stick out a couple inches, which I want to avoid. I have seen a couple boats similar to mine where the gunwales are clear fore-aft, but my consoles hang completely over the gunwales, limiting where I can mount and store the antenna. I have 3 rod holder bases mounted down the gunwales aft of the consoles, so the antenna being stored would interfere with the rod holders, or the other way around. Here's a pic of the gunwale/console, minus the rod holders.
- Is there going to be a (long term) problem storing the antenna bent to the shape (radius) of the gunnel going forward from the console?
- From your experience, have you experienced problems with the antenna mounted 2' from the radio, interference, static, etc? (antenna is supposed to be 3' away from what I've read)
- 3' antenna or 6'? Inexpensive or high dollar? Going with a 3' antenna will resolve my installation problems, but will cut down on the range, not sure if this is going to be a big consideration at this point, could be a huge problem.... I fish in the canyons of Lake Mohave a lot and don't know what to expect for VHF reception there, probably none due to the canyons. I'm mostly concerned about reception out on the big basins and having radio reception in an emergency, while on the big basins. I won't be using the radio for boat-boat communication, most likely leaving it off most the time.
- I haven't been able to find out where the NPS VHF antenna's are located on these lakes and what type of reception to expect. Does anyone know where to find this info? I haven't called the park service yet.
Thanks, Dan
