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Author Topic:   VHF Antenna Mount: NANTUCKET 190

Livingwater posted 04-20-2006 01:12 PM ET (US)
I bought the Standard Horizon PS1000 VHF radio. I'm looking for suggestions where to mount either a 4-foot Digital-brand antenna or an 8-foot antenna on my 190 Nantucket. [Posits that a particular brand of antenna has more gain.]
sail16 posted 04-20-2006 01:15 PM ET (US)
Digital is playing a marketing game with you.
The gain of their antenna is identical to others of similar length-- they're just using a different definition of gain in order to claim >3dB.
Buckda posted 04-20-2006 02:28 PM ET (US)
Before I bought the arch, I had my 8-foot Shakespeare antenna mounted to the bow rail, nearly all the way aft, on the starboard side.
a small hole in the gunwale cap with a rubber grommit allowed the cable to route to the antenna through the side rigging tunnel, and the antenna folded down nicely forward along the railing. I used a velcro band to hold it tight along the railing when trailering.
This worked very well, and is a common installation. Plus it gave me about 10 additional inches in height compared to the surface mount on the gunwale cap.
Dave
jimh posted 04-20-2006 07:58 PM ET (US)
On an small center console open boat like the 190 NANTUCKET, the best position for the antenna to be mounted is probably on the gunwale. Choose a location where it will not interfere with any canvas or tops you have installed.
I do not believe that there is anything special about the brand you mention, and it certainly is not able to produce more gain than other antennas of equivalent electrical size and similar construction. There is also nothing related to the antenna which would warrant the use of the term "digital", and in general I find it somewhat annoying that this was chosen as a brand name. Many people mistakenly associate a digital technique as having some inherent superiority to a non-digital technique. In radio wave transmission the antenna does not influence the signal or modulation technique. As long as the antenna is well made and properly designed, it works to radiate the signal and cares little for the precise nature of that signal.
Royboy posted 04-20-2006 09:39 PM ET (US)
I'll glom on here as well. I imagine LW will have the same problem as I: how to get the antenna wire from the console to the gunwale? I'd really like to end up with a rail mount for my 8' Galaxy. How do we do it?
Roy
Chuck Tribolet posted 04-20-2006 10:20 PM ET (US)
My Montauk has the antenna mounted on the side rail,
starboard side, all the way aft. The cable runs through the
tunnel with all the engine stuff. It takes about 17' of
coax to get to the top of the console. The cheap Shake
antennas have 15' of coax, the Shake Galaxy's have 20'. Even
with the PS1000 mounted inside the console, I suspect you will
need 20'.
Now, if you are a serious fisherman, you probably want to
mount the antenna on the console rail.

Chuck
Royboy posted 04-20-2006 10:25 PM ET (US)
Chuck, I can see the advantage to mounting it there (on the console) for fishing, but where would it stow?
Roy
dcritch posted 04-20-2006 10:55 PM ET (US)
I also bought a PS1000 for my 170 Montauk. I have a 4' Digital antena and know I want to mount it on the center console. I thought a forum member on a similar topic stated that he thought his GPS/Sounder was causing interference on his vhf speaker because his antena was mounted near his GPS/Sounder. I called tech support at Standard Horizon and was told that because the GPS/Sounder and the PS1000 operate on different frequencies there should'nt be any interference.
My question is whats the least of two evils. Mounting the Antena about 10" away from my compass on the port side of my console or about 10" away from my Garmin GPSMAT 178C on the starbord side of my console?
dcritch posted 04-20-2006 11:02 PM ET (US)
Roy
I may be mistaken but I thought I saw a picture of an 8' antena mounted on WT's 170. Maybe he has some ideas on how to stow an 8' antena.
Kencvit posted 04-21-2006 02:33 AM ET (US)
Here`s the link I posted in LW`s thread on console cutting.
It may help here for those that didn`t see it in Repairs/Mods
Maybe Sal A can comment on how his set-up performed and if the antenna got around the bimini. the 2nd pic is his old 190. I swiped it from his site to use as a future reference.
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/28068.4d8ee9a7297

Chuck Tribolet posted 04-21-2006 08:43 AM ET (US)
I have a buddy who has a console mounted antenna on his
Montauk 170. It folds forward. When he had a bow rail, it
tied to the bow rail. He's since taken the bow rail off,
and it just folds to the gunwale. No bimini on that boat
though.

Chuck
Royboy posted 04-21-2006 10:53 AM ET (US)
I will eventuially have a Bimini on my boat, so on the console is not really an option. I was more or less just curious how they deal with it mounted there. It's very unusual for the type of fishing I mostly do to have to walk a fish around the boat, so I'll be mounting on by bow rail back near the console where it's handy (like for going under a bridge for example). I had it that way on my 13 and it worked out well. I just need to figure the wire routing out.
Roy
Fish Stick posted 04-21-2006 11:48 AM ET (US)
dcritch,
I have a Garmin 178C right next to the antenna with absolutely no problems.
http://www.allcoastsportfishing.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/8279/ sort/1/cat/500/page/1
For those considering a console mount, note how the antenna is mounted. It is on the side of the console (150 Sport side console) and lays down nicely inside the bow rail. This is similar to using a rail mount on larger center consoles.
The 4' antenna can easily support its own weight. So if you choose to mount on the center console, just lay the antenna down (tilt it forward or back). Longer antennas may need some secondary support while down.
Either place you choose to mount it can be made to work.
-Joe
davej14 posted 04-21-2006 12:31 PM ET (US)
I mounted my antennae with a clamp mount to the left side rail of my console. When up, it fits just beneth the bimini. When down, it touches the floor at the lower edge of the console and allows for a console cover to go over it. The boat is a Dauntless 14 but has the same console as a Dauntless 16.
jimh posted 04-21-2006 02:30 PM ET (US)
A VHF Marine radio operates at 156-Megahertz. A SONAR operates at about 200 kHz. These two frequences are in a ratio of 780:1.
The radio emits electromagnetic energy from its antenna. The SONAR emits acoustic energy from its transducer.
The radio receives electromagnetic energy via its antenna. The SONAR receives acoustic energy from its transducer.
Both the radio and the SONAR should be constructed in such a way that they do not emit electro-magnetic radiation from their enclosures or their power lines.
Any electronic device is susceptable to interference if it is operated in a field of high electro-magnetic energy. Such a field could exist in close proximity to a radio antenna when transmitting.
Chuck Tribolet posted 04-21-2006 03:21 PM ET (US)
Roy, to get the cable to the antenna on the bow rail, you'll
either need to go across the deck, or down the tunnel and
back up the gunwale. That's going to require about 30' of
coax I don't know of any antenna tht comes with that much
coax.
There are a few with a connector at the antenna.
Or maybe put a splice (use connectors, not solder) at the aft
end of the gunwale. I wouldn't even think of putting a splice
in the tunnel.

Chuck
dcritch posted 04-21-2006 10:32 PM ET (US)
Joe
You did a great job setting up your 150 Sport. I think I will go ahead and mount my antena on the starboard side of my center console near my 178C so I appreciate your input.
Jimh
Thanks for the info.
Dave
Royboy posted 04-22-2006 05:40 PM ET (US)
Found out that a rail mount isn't the solution for the Outrage 17; there's no good way to stow the antenna and still be able to cover the boat. Turns out there's plenty of room on the gunwales for a bolt-on mount, and the 8' Galaxy will lay either direction for stowage right on the gunwales, and as a bonus it requires a couple of feet less wire.
I also was very relieved to find the pull string right where it was supposed to be in the rigging tunnel, so running the wiring shouldn't be a problem. This was a large relief!
Now it's just to decide whether to gimbal or flush mount my radio. Any others out there with a similar console as a 1999 Outrage 17? My radio is submersible, so I don't have to mount it in the enclosure, but isn't that what it's for?
Roy
Livingwater posted 04-22-2006 09:01 PM ET (US)
Used my "pull cord" to snake my sonar transducer cable from the transom to my center console. The hardest part of the job was trying to remove the "spray in foam insulation" from the hole opening located inside the center console!
Once the foam insulation was sufficiently removed pulling the transducer cable was easy.
I will probably mount my antenna onto the starboard side of my center console, possibly from the grab rail.
alb1661 posted 04-23-2006 08:54 AM ET (US)
I have a 05 190 Nantucket.
I mounted my 4' digital antenna with a stainless steel ratchet mount on the front starboard side of the console. It clears the front of the bimini when the antenna is up by about 3 inches and folds down next to the front cooler when I install my console cover. The antenna wire can be routed underneath the windshield into a hole that has been pre-drilled by the factory and is not used.
Steve
Livingwater posted 04-23-2006 01:54 PM ET (US)
Thanks Steve:
I seen the extra hole(s) you refer to and was planning to use the same hole on the starboard side of my center console to run the antenna cable through.
I'm still looking to buy the 4' Digital brand antenna mostly because of the published spec's for this particular antenna.
jimh posted 04-23-2006 03:12 PM ET (US)
All antennas perform according to the laws of Physics, however the people who write the marketing literature do not comply with those same laws.
If it makes you happy to buy a particular antenna because the manufacturer makes outlandish claims for it, you should do so. For me, outlandish claims tend to make me suspicious.
The only independent test results I have seen regarding antennas do not show any advantage for the particular brand you are interested in, even though that brand publishes outlandish claims about its antennas.
Livingwater posted 04-24-2006 01:27 PM ET (US)
http://www.digitalantenna.com/techinfo.html

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Author	Topic: VHF Antenna Mount: NANTUCKET 190
Livingwater	posted 04-20-2006 01:12 PM ET (US) I bought the Standard Horizon PS1000 VHF radio. I'm looking for suggestions where to mount either a 4-foot Digital-brand antenna or an 8-foot antenna on my 190 Nantucket. [Posits that a particular brand of antenna has more gain.]
sail16	posted 04-20-2006 01:15 PM ET (US) Digital is playing a marketing game with you. The gain of their antenna is identical to others of similar length-- they're just using a different definition of gain in order to claim >3dB.
Buckda	posted 04-20-2006 02:28 PM ET (US) Before I bought the arch, I had my 8-foot Shakespeare antenna mounted to the bow rail, nearly all the way aft, on the starboard side. a small hole in the gunwale cap with a rubber grommit allowed the cable to route to the antenna through the side rigging tunnel, and the antenna folded down nicely forward along the railing. I used a velcro band to hold it tight along the railing when trailering. This worked very well, and is a common installation. Plus it gave me about 10 additional inches in height compared to the surface mount on the gunwale cap. Dave
jimh	posted 04-20-2006 07:58 PM ET (US) On an small center console open boat like the 190 NANTUCKET, the best position for the antenna to be mounted is probably on the gunwale. Choose a location where it will not interfere with any canvas or tops you have installed. I do not believe that there is anything special about the brand you mention, and it certainly is not able to produce more gain than other antennas of equivalent electrical size and similar construction. There is also nothing related to the antenna which would warrant the use of the term "digital", and in general I find it somewhat annoying that this was chosen as a brand name. Many people mistakenly associate a digital technique as having some inherent superiority to a non-digital technique. In radio wave transmission the antenna does not influence the signal or modulation technique. As long as the antenna is well made and properly designed, it works to radiate the signal and cares little for the precise nature of that signal.
Royboy	posted 04-20-2006 09:39 PM ET (US) I'll glom on here as well. I imagine LW will have the same problem as I: how to get the antenna wire from the console to the gunwale? I'd really like to end up with a rail mount for my 8' Galaxy. How do we do it? Roy
Chuck Tribolet	posted 04-20-2006 10:20 PM ET (US) My Montauk has the antenna mounted on the side rail, starboard side, all the way aft. The cable runs through the tunnel with all the engine stuff. It takes about 17' of coax to get to the top of the console. The cheap Shake antennas have 15' of coax, the Shake Galaxy's have 20'. Even with the PS1000 mounted inside the console, I suspect you will need 20'. Now, if you are a serious fisherman, you probably want to mount the antenna on the console rail. Chuck
Royboy	posted 04-20-2006 10:25 PM ET (US) Chuck, I can see the advantage to mounting it there (on the console) for fishing, but where would it stow? Roy
dcritch	posted 04-20-2006 10:55 PM ET (US) I also bought a PS1000 for my 170 Montauk. I have a 4' Digital antena and know I want to mount it on the center console. I thought a forum member on a similar topic stated that he thought his GPS/Sounder was causing interference on his vhf speaker because his antena was mounted near his GPS/Sounder. I called tech support at Standard Horizon and was told that because the GPS/Sounder and the PS1000 operate on different frequencies there should'nt be any interference. My question is whats the least of two evils. Mounting the Antena about 10" away from my compass on the port side of my console or about 10" away from my Garmin GPSMAT 178C on the starbord side of my console?
dcritch	posted 04-20-2006 11:02 PM ET (US) Roy I may be mistaken but I thought I saw a picture of an 8' antena mounted on WT's 170. Maybe he has some ideas on how to stow an 8' antena.
Kencvit	posted 04-21-2006 02:33 AM ET (US) Here`s the link I posted in LW`s thread on console cutting. It may help here for those that didn`t see it in Repairs/Mods Maybe Sal A can comment on how his set-up performed and if the antenna got around the bimini. the 2nd pic is his old 190. I swiped it from his site to use as a future reference. http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/28068.4d8ee9a7297
Chuck Tribolet	posted 04-21-2006 08:43 AM ET (US) I have a buddy who has a console mounted antenna on his Montauk 170. It folds forward. When he had a bow rail, it tied to the bow rail. He's since taken the bow rail off, and it just folds to the gunwale. No bimini on that boat though. Chuck
Royboy	posted 04-21-2006 10:53 AM ET (US) I will eventuially have a Bimini on my boat, so on the console is not really an option. I was more or less just curious how they deal with it mounted there. It's very unusual for the type of fishing I mostly do to have to walk a fish around the boat, so I'll be mounting on by bow rail back near the console where it's handy (like for going under a bridge for example). I had it that way on my 13 and it worked out well. I just need to figure the wire routing out. Roy
Fish Stick	posted 04-21-2006 11:48 AM ET (US) dcritch, I have a Garmin 178C right next to the antenna with absolutely no problems. http://www.allcoastsportfishing.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/8279/ sort/1/cat/500/page/1 For those considering a console mount, note how the antenna is mounted. It is on the side of the console (150 Sport side console) and lays down nicely inside the bow rail. This is similar to using a rail mount on larger center consoles. The 4' antenna can easily support its own weight. So if you choose to mount on the center console, just lay the antenna down (tilt it forward or back). Longer antennas may need some secondary support while down. Either place you choose to mount it can be made to work. -Joe
davej14	posted 04-21-2006 12:31 PM ET (US) I mounted my antennae with a clamp mount to the left side rail of my console. When up, it fits just beneth the bimini. When down, it touches the floor at the lower edge of the console and allows for a console cover to go over it. The boat is a Dauntless 14 but has the same console as a Dauntless 16.
jimh	posted 04-21-2006 02:30 PM ET (US) A VHF Marine radio operates at 156-Megahertz. A SONAR operates at about 200 kHz. These two frequences are in a ratio of 780:1. The radio emits electromagnetic energy from its antenna. The SONAR emits acoustic energy from its transducer. The radio receives electromagnetic energy via its antenna. The SONAR receives acoustic energy from its transducer. Both the radio and the SONAR should be constructed in such a way that they do not emit electro-magnetic radiation from their enclosures or their power lines. Any electronic device is susceptable to interference if it is operated in a field of high electro-magnetic energy. Such a field could exist in close proximity to a radio antenna when transmitting.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 04-21-2006 03:21 PM ET (US) Roy, to get the cable to the antenna on the bow rail, you'll either need to go across the deck, or down the tunnel and back up the gunwale. That's going to require about 30' of coax I don't know of any antenna tht comes with that much coax. There are a few with a connector at the antenna. Or maybe put a splice (use connectors, not solder) at the aft end of the gunwale. I wouldn't even think of putting a splice in the tunnel. Chuck
dcritch	posted 04-21-2006 10:32 PM ET (US) Joe You did a great job setting up your 150 Sport. I think I will go ahead and mount my antena on the starboard side of my center console near my 178C so I appreciate your input. Jimh Thanks for the info. Dave
Royboy	posted 04-22-2006 05:40 PM ET (US) Found out that a rail mount isn't the solution for the Outrage 17; there's no good way to stow the antenna and still be able to cover the boat. Turns out there's plenty of room on the gunwales for a bolt-on mount, and the 8' Galaxy will lay either direction for stowage right on the gunwales, and as a bonus it requires a couple of feet less wire. I also was very relieved to find the pull string right where it was supposed to be in the rigging tunnel, so running the wiring shouldn't be a problem. This was a large relief! Now it's just to decide whether to gimbal or flush mount my radio. Any others out there with a similar console as a 1999 Outrage 17? My radio is submersible, so I don't have to mount it in the enclosure, but isn't that what it's for? Roy
Livingwater	posted 04-22-2006 09:01 PM ET (US) Used my "pull cord" to snake my sonar transducer cable from the transom to my center console. The hardest part of the job was trying to remove the "spray in foam insulation" from the hole opening located inside the center console! Once the foam insulation was sufficiently removed pulling the transducer cable was easy. I will probably mount my antenna onto the starboard side of my center console, possibly from the grab rail.
alb1661	posted 04-23-2006 08:54 AM ET (US) I have a 05 190 Nantucket. I mounted my 4' digital antenna with a stainless steel ratchet mount on the front starboard side of the console. It clears the front of the bimini when the antenna is up by about 3 inches and folds down next to the front cooler when I install my console cover. The antenna wire can be routed underneath the windshield into a hole that has been pre-drilled by the factory and is not used. Steve
Livingwater	posted 04-23-2006 01:54 PM ET (US) Thanks Steve: I seen the extra hole(s) you refer to and was planning to use the same hole on the starboard side of my center console to run the antenna cable through. I'm still looking to buy the 4' Digital brand antenna mostly because of the published spec's for this particular antenna.
jimh	posted 04-23-2006 03:12 PM ET (US) All antennas perform according to the laws of Physics, however the people who write the marketing literature do not comply with those same laws. If it makes you happy to buy a particular antenna because the manufacturer makes outlandish claims for it, you should do so. For me, outlandish claims tend to make me suspicious. The only independent test results I have seen regarding antennas do not show any advantage for the particular brand you are interested in, even though that brand publishes outlandish claims about its antennas.
Livingwater	posted 04-24-2006 01:27 PM ET (US) http://www.digitalantenna.com/techinfo.html