VHF Radio Installation of Standard-Horizon PS2000

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Small Boat Electrical
  VHF Radio Installation of Standard-Horizon PS2000

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   VHF Radio Installation of Standard-Horizon PS2000

Marko888 posted 07-27-2013 01:01 AM ET (US)
I'm about to install an Standard-Horizon PS2000 radio and Ram+ microphone on my Outrage 18. As we only boat on the coast on occasion, my installation is to be somewhat removable. The radio will remain, but the antenna and microphone will be removed when not in use. The three-foot GAM SS-2 antenna will be mounted on top of a two-foot extension, on top of the Shepherds crook
Will having the Ram+ microphone and antenna transmission line running through the same 1-inch hole to the inside of the console cause any interference issues with the radio's function?
Thank you
jimh posted 07-27-2013 08:53 AM ET (US)
It is possible that the 25-watts of radio frequency power traveling on the antenna transmission line might cause interference to the extremely low, millivolt level signals on the microphone cable. Usually this occurs if the two cables are run in parallel and very close for a substantial distance. It can also tend to occur if there are unusual radio frequency currents flowing on the outside of the antenna transmission line, or if the shielding of the microphone cable is poor. But just passing these two cables through a common opening where they come breifly close together should not cause a problem.
When the radio frequency signal on the transmission line is picked up by the microphone of the transmitter, a feedback loop is created. This causes distortion in the transmitted signal. This situation is called RF Feedback.
Marko888 posted 07-27-2013 09:30 AM ET (US)
Thanks Jim.
jimh posted 07-30-2013 09:59 PM ET (US)
Let us know how the installation worked out.
Marko888 posted 08-09-2013 01:23 PM ET (US)
I completed the installation in time for our Nootka Island fishing trip.
I mounted the black box high on the forward inside of the console, in the wood backing area. Antenna and RAM+ mic cables run up through the masthead light hole, since I don't use the masthead light. As most of my boating is on the local lake, with little need for a VHF due to constant cell coverage, I plan to remove the antenna and mic when boating locally.
The mic is mounted on the binnacle mount surface beside the control box.
The GAM SS2 antenna with ADAP II is mounted on the Shepherds crook via a folding, stainless steel Railfast mount, and on top of a Shakespeare Galaxy 5228-2' extension mast. I chose the 2' extension in order to get the antenna transmission above our heads, further away from my electronics, and to gain a little bit of range.
Some warned the shepherds crook location would interfere with my field of view, but it doesn't bother me at all. We often have rods in the console mounted holders and it just isn't an issue for me. We fished for 4 days and never found the antenna to be in the way.
I'm VERY happy I chose the GAM antenna. My friends on the water commented on how good my radio sounded.: "You are loud and clear all the time". I do not have an exact range to report, but boat to boat communications in the 12-15 mile range was easy.
On reception only, we could hear the Coast Guard station from Tofino, 45 miles away, though I do not know where their station is, or where the nearest repeater might be.
jimh posted 04-18-2015 10:13 AM ET (US)
On the topic of VHF Marine Band radio installation, I have written a new and comprehensive article on that topic. See
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/vhfRadioInstallation.html

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: VHF Radio Installation of Standard-Horizon PS2000
Marko888	posted 07-27-2013 01:01 AM ET (US) I'm about to install an Standard-Horizon PS2000 radio and Ram+ microphone on my Outrage 18. As we only boat on the coast on occasion, my installation is to be somewhat removable. The radio will remain, but the antenna and microphone will be removed when not in use. The three-foot GAM SS-2 antenna will be mounted on top of a two-foot extension, on top of the Shepherds crook Will having the Ram+ microphone and antenna transmission line running through the same 1-inch hole to the inside of the console cause any interference issues with the radio's function? Thank you
jimh	posted 07-27-2013 08:53 AM ET (US) It is possible that the 25-watts of radio frequency power traveling on the antenna transmission line might cause interference to the extremely low, millivolt level signals on the microphone cable. Usually this occurs if the two cables are run in parallel and very close for a substantial distance. It can also tend to occur if there are unusual radio frequency currents flowing on the outside of the antenna transmission line, or if the shielding of the microphone cable is poor. But just passing these two cables through a common opening where they come breifly close together should not cause a problem. When the radio frequency signal on the transmission line is picked up by the microphone of the transmitter, a feedback loop is created. This causes distortion in the transmitted signal. This situation is called RF Feedback.
Marko888	posted 07-27-2013 09:30 AM ET (US) Thanks Jim.
jimh	posted 07-30-2013 09:59 PM ET (US) Let us know how the installation worked out.
Marko888	posted 08-09-2013 01:23 PM ET (US) I completed the installation in time for our Nootka Island fishing trip. I mounted the black box high on the forward inside of the console, in the wood backing area. Antenna and RAM+ mic cables run up through the masthead light hole, since I don't use the masthead light. As most of my boating is on the local lake, with little need for a VHF due to constant cell coverage, I plan to remove the antenna and mic when boating locally. The mic is mounted on the binnacle mount surface beside the control box. The GAM SS2 antenna with ADAP II is mounted on the Shepherds crook via a folding, stainless steel Railfast mount, and on top of a Shakespeare Galaxy 5228-2' extension mast. I chose the 2' extension in order to get the antenna transmission above our heads, further away from my electronics, and to gain a little bit of range. Some warned the shepherds crook location would interfere with my field of view, but it doesn't bother me at all. We often have rods in the console mounted holders and it just isn't an issue for me. We fished for 4 days and never found the antenna to be in the way. I'm VERY happy I chose the GAM antenna. My friends on the water commented on how good my radio sounded.: "You are loud and clear all the time". I do not have an exact range to report, but boat to boat communications in the 12-15 mile range was easy. On reception only, we could hear the Coast Guard station from Tofino, 45 miles away, though I do not know where their station is, or where the nearest repeater might be.
jimh	posted 04-18-2015 10:13 AM ET (US) On the topic of VHF Marine Band radio installation, I have written a new and comprehensive article on that topic. See http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/vhfRadioInstallation.html