Vhf antenna question

[maineiac5586]

I have a new to me boat which came with a Shakespeare vhf antenna but no radio. I'm installing a uniden um385 have 2 questions. Does the end of this cable look normal? Should I be receiving communication at my house? I'm about 40 min from Salt water and 20 min from the Delaware river (freshwater) . Any way to test this at my home to make sure it sends and receive? Thank you

 

[alldodge]

That is known as a "cold" solder joint, and wire is sticking out to far. There was insufficient heat to flow the solder

Should be cleaned and re-soldered by heating connection using flux core solder, and trim wire flush with the end.

To test, find another boater with a radio, maybe handheld and call on off channels like 68, 69, 71

Edit: If you pickup a SWR meter you can test where you are

 

[mike_i]

I agree with Alldodge 100%. Connection looks like a cold solder job. Tune the radio to a weather channel to get an idea on the reception. This will only tell you that your radio is receiving but like alldoge said you'll need either a swr meter or a thru line watt meter to check the forward and reflected power. Don't rely on a radio check unless you know the other guy is miles away.

 

[maineiac5586]

That is known as a "cold" solder joint, and wire is sticking out to far. There was insufficient heat to flow the solder

Should be cleaned and re-soldered by heating connection using flux core solder, and trim wire flush with the end.

To test, find another boater with a radio, maybe handheld and call on off channels like 68, 69, 71

Edit: If you pickup a SWR meter you can test where you are

Do I need to just cut off the existing end and then heat it up and put a glob of solder on it?

 

[Bondo]

Do I need to just cut off the existing end and then heat it up and put a glob of solder on it?

Naw,.... Just lightly scrub the end with a scrubby pad, 'n with a soldering iron, 'n rosin core solder, lightly tin it,...

At 30 miles or so, yer at the fringe of reception of somebody-else's transmissions,....
These are pretty low power radios,....

 

[dingbat]

Does the end of this cable look normal?

I've not soldered a VHF antenna connector in years for just that reason
Do yourself a favor and buy one of these PL-259 Gold-Plated Center-Pin Connector

Should I be receiving communication at my house? I'm about 40 min from Salt water and 20 min from the Delaware river (freshwater)

VHF is line of sight. You can pick up some crazy bounce now and then, but generally speaking if you can't see it, you can't hear it.

However....you should be able to pickup NOAA weather on WX-1-3