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Author Topic:   Antennas

Dick posted 02-26-2001 09:23 PM ET (US)
We have been a Shakespeare distributor for years and I was brainwashed. Today we got in a shipment of a new line from Digital Antenna Inc.
These are definitly worthy of installation on a Whaler. You have to see one to believe it. Check them out at www.digitalantenna.com
Dick
triblet posted 02-27-2001 12:30 AM ET (US)
How is their premium antenna better than
a Shakespeare Galaxy?
Chuck
Dick posted 02-27-2001 09:16 AM ET (US)
Chuck
The Gallaxy is a great antenna, I have one on my boat but it is coming off to be replaced by a Digital.
The sample they sent me is cut away to show the internal construction and I have never seen an antenna built this sturdy or with a finish of this quality.
Check out their web site and have them send you a brochure. It will tell the story much better than I can
Dick
Chesapeake posted 02-27-2001 09:41 AM ET (US)
Dick: Which model would you get? Although there was an extensive thread on antenna length a few weeks ago, I'm not sure it was resolved.
Difference between having a four foot antenna mounted on console rail vs. an 8 foot antenna mounted on console side? I guess ultimately the 8' might give you another foot or so of height advantage versus the 4' rail mounted. Thoughts?
Bob
Dick posted 02-27-2001 10:10 AM ET (US)
I am going with the 528-VW 4 footer. The 8' should give longer range but the 4' will do anything I need.
Dick
jimh posted 03-04-2001 10:23 AM ET (US)
The no-advertising newsletter "Practical Sailer" reviewed VHF Marine antennas in their July, 2000 issue.
They rated the 4-ft Digital antenna highly, but found the 16-foot Digital antenna to actually produce less signal, and thus rated it poorly.
All antennas produce "gain" by concentrating radiation in a favored direction at the expense of other directions. I guess the "gain" of the 16-foot antenna was not pointing in the right direction, at least in that test.
--jimh
jimh posted 03-04-2001 10:24 AM ET (US)
Make that "Practical Sailor".
bkoelbel posted 03-13-2001 08:02 AM ET (US)
We plan to use our bimini fairly often this summer, so mounting an antenna on the console doesn't seem to make sense.
Other than the console, any recommendations on where to mount an 8' antenna on an '86 20 ft. Outrage.
ChrisK posted 03-13-2001 10:02 AM ET (US)
What is the price range for the 4' and the 8' compared to the Shakespeare Galaxy? Isn't the galaxy 8' about $100.00? What dealers have them in stock? West, Boaters World? Do they fit the standard fittings that come on all of the mounts?
Tom W Clark posted 03-13-2001 10:38 AM ET (US)
bkoelbel,
Mount the antenna on the front end of the gunwale board (towards the outboard edge preferably). Route the cable behind the plasic shield and through the tunnel to the console. The antenna can then lay forward or backward outside the rails.
dreid posted 03-13-2001 10:52 AM ET (US)
Most installations on 18' and larger Outrages I can remember seeing have been as Tom recommends above. All photos of O/R's with antenae in the old catalogs I've got show them located this way, too. This installation offers no interferance with the suntop or shelter canvas on my 18'.
lhg posted 03-13-2001 07:32 PM ET (US)
On my Outrage 18 I used the general location being mentioned above, except that instead of monting on the teak gunwale board, I bought rail mount, SS ratchet lay down fittings (about $35), and mounted them (VHF on one side, DGPS on the other side) on the rear leg of the bow rail. They lay down to the stern, and I like this installation. This location does also not interfere with my gunnel mounted Lee Outriggers.
You can see pictures of my installation, and another 18 done the same way, on pages 2 & 3 of the Rendezvous section. There is no interference with the FULL Mills canvas system.
gf posted 03-14-2001 10:02 AM ET (US)

I have a brand new Shakespeare Galaxy 5225-XT 8' VHF antenna (http://www.shakespeare-marine.com/antennas/galaxy/5225-xt.htm) still in the shipping tube that I am not going to be using right now.
I also have a new Shakespeare 4187-HD stainless steel ratchet mount (http://www.shakespeare-marine.com/antennas/mounts/ratchet-4187-hd.htm) for the antenna.
$100 for both, let me know if you are interested. I would prefer to not ship these so if you are in New England I am sure we can work something out.

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Author	Topic: Antennas
Dick	posted 02-26-2001 09:23 PM ET (US) We have been a Shakespeare distributor for years and I was brainwashed. Today we got in a shipment of a new line from Digital Antenna Inc. These are definitly worthy of installation on a Whaler. You have to see one to believe it. Check them out at www.digitalantenna.com Dick
triblet	posted 02-27-2001 12:30 AM ET (US) How is their premium antenna better than a Shakespeare Galaxy? Chuck
Dick	posted 02-27-2001 09:16 AM ET (US) Chuck The Gallaxy is a great antenna, I have one on my boat but it is coming off to be replaced by a Digital. The sample they sent me is cut away to show the internal construction and I have never seen an antenna built this sturdy or with a finish of this quality. Check out their web site and have them send you a brochure. It will tell the story much better than I can Dick
Chesapeake	posted 02-27-2001 09:41 AM ET (US) Dick: Which model would you get? Although there was an extensive thread on antenna length a few weeks ago, I'm not sure it was resolved. Difference between having a four foot antenna mounted on console rail vs. an 8 foot antenna mounted on console side? I guess ultimately the 8' might give you another foot or so of height advantage versus the 4' rail mounted. Thoughts? Bob
Dick	posted 02-27-2001 10:10 AM ET (US) I am going with the 528-VW 4 footer. The 8' should give longer range but the 4' will do anything I need. Dick
jimh	posted 03-04-2001 10:23 AM ET (US) The no-advertising newsletter "Practical Sailer" reviewed VHF Marine antennas in their July, 2000 issue. They rated the 4-ft Digital antenna highly, but found the 16-foot Digital antenna to actually produce less signal, and thus rated it poorly. All antennas produce "gain" by concentrating radiation in a favored direction at the expense of other directions. I guess the "gain" of the 16-foot antenna was not pointing in the right direction, at least in that test. --jimh
jimh	posted 03-04-2001 10:24 AM ET (US) Make that "Practical Sailor".
bkoelbel	posted 03-13-2001 08:02 AM ET (US) We plan to use our bimini fairly often this summer, so mounting an antenna on the console doesn't seem to make sense. Other than the console, any recommendations on where to mount an 8' antenna on an '86 20 ft. Outrage.
ChrisK	posted 03-13-2001 10:02 AM ET (US) What is the price range for the 4' and the 8' compared to the Shakespeare Galaxy? Isn't the galaxy 8' about $100.00? What dealers have them in stock? West, Boaters World? Do they fit the standard fittings that come on all of the mounts?
Tom W Clark	posted 03-13-2001 10:38 AM ET (US) bkoelbel, Mount the antenna on the front end of the gunwale board (towards the outboard edge preferably). Route the cable behind the plasic shield and through the tunnel to the console. The antenna can then lay forward or backward outside the rails.
dreid	posted 03-13-2001 10:52 AM ET (US) Most installations on 18' and larger Outrages I can remember seeing have been as Tom recommends above. All photos of O/R's with antenae in the old catalogs I've got show them located this way, too. This installation offers no interferance with the suntop or shelter canvas on my 18'.
lhg	posted 03-13-2001 07:32 PM ET (US) On my Outrage 18 I used the general location being mentioned above, except that instead of monting on the teak gunwale board, I bought rail mount, SS ratchet lay down fittings (about $35), and mounted them (VHF on one side, DGPS on the other side) on the rear leg of the bow rail. They lay down to the stern, and I like this installation. This location does also not interfere with my gunnel mounted Lee Outriggers. You can see pictures of my installation, and another 18 done the same way, on pages 2 & 3 of the Rendezvous section. There is no interference with the FULL Mills canvas system.
gf	posted 03-14-2001 10:02 AM ET (US) I have a brand new Shakespeare Galaxy 5225-XT 8' VHF antenna (http://www.shakespeare-marine.com/antennas/galaxy/5225-xt.htm) still in the shipping tube that I am not going to be using right now. I also have a new Shakespeare 4187-HD stainless steel ratchet mount (http://www.shakespeare-marine.com/antennas/mounts/ratchet-4187-hd.htm) for the antenna. $100 for both, let me know if you are interested. I would prefer to not ship these so if you are in New England I am sure we can work something out.