Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-17-2017, 07:42 PM   #1
Ensign
 
Drmarcusv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Denton Texas
Posts: 9
Default VHF antenna wire

Haven't seen this answered yet so please help if you can, I went under a low bridge and broke the fiberglass 8' antenna on my 2000, 2500 SCR. I have already purchased a replacement 8'Shakespeare antenna that comes with plenty of wire. My question is this, can't I just solder the old wire to the new one so I don't have to mess with fishing it through the side and pulling it to connect to my VHF radio? The old wire is in good shape, so intend to simply cut it off install the new fiberglass antenna and simply solder the remaining piece of old antenna wire to the new one. Any suggestions or reasons why I shouldn't do this? Thank you in advance
__________________

Drmarcusv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2017, 08:05 PM   #2
Captain
 
Kevlar7r's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 746
Default

I wouldn't solder.

Coaxial wires are a funny thing. The noise cancellation depends on them being perfectly round. It would be very challenging to solder both the inner lead and outer jackets and keep them insulated and axially aligned.

You could cut and install a female connector on your existing cable, then terminate your new cable short and connect them. This would likely put your connector out in the weather though.

Best bet, tape your new wire to your old and use the old wire to pull your new one in to place.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
__________________

Kevlar7r is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2017, 08:49 PM   #3
Ensign
 
Drmarcusv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Denton Texas
Posts: 9
Default

Thank you for your reply Kevlar, but I'm not sure I understand. The new cable has silver wires inside a plastic tube covered by a braided silver wire. It looks just like the old cable wire that I pulled out of the broken fiberglass antenna. The coaxial cables in my house have a solid brass wire that is stiff and insulated. They aren't the same... I wouldn't try to solder a brass firm coaxial wire but this silver wire strand shouldn't make a difference right? Please correct me if I'm wrong- I'm trying to figure out how to upload pictures to make it easier to see what I'm dealing with
Drmarcusv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2017, 09:47 PM   #4
Admiral
 
mmwjr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Essex, Maryland
Posts: 10,175
Default

You house coax has a solid core wire because it's cheaper and is not subject to vibration which will cause fatigue leading to breakage. The standed coax gets soldered to the connector. The center, core is the signal conductor covered by a dilectric then a braided shield and finally a protective jacket.

I would do as Kev suggested and tape the new antennas wire to the old ones broken end and pull it through at the radio end. This was you can connect the new wire into the radio.
__________________
1997 Silverton 362, 7.4 Crusaders
1997 2400 SCR, 5.7 Vortec / Bravo 2

Mike
mmwjr is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2017, 10:11 PM   #5
Ensign
 
Drmarcusv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Denton Texas
Posts: 9
Default

Thank you again, and I appreciate your explanation. I watched a YouTube video about it and as usual you guys are correct. I just didn't want to have to go through the trouble of going from the mount all the way through the frame to the back of the console. I'm going to have to if it is to work correctly. Thanks again guys
Drmarcusv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2017, 10:17 PM   #6
Captain
 
donald's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Mn.
Posts: 663
Default

1+ to all said above!
Do not splice that cable!!!
Your VHF radio will not function well, reception and transmission will degrade to the point that all someone might hear in an emergency is noise!
Not a good situation!
Don
__________________
1995 Maxum 2400 SCR 5.7 A1 G2 LUNA DE MIEL SOLD
1988 Bayliner 2455 5.0 IO (sold)
1987 Seaswerl 18ft C. Cabin 4.3 IO(lost in fire)
2012 South Bay Pontoon
donald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2017, 01:34 PM   #7
Moderator

 
shrew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,588
Default

I completely agree with everyone above. If you read all of the documentation there should be a caution about NOT cutting the VHF wire. It's a common mistake because there is so much of it. It cannot be spliced or cut. The connectors need to be factory.

As everyone is indicating, the mesh wrap beneath the sheath is the insulator. Think of a VHF cable or a Radar cable like a water pipe. If you cut them, then will 'leak' badly. Wrapping them in tape will not fix the leak. You have no way of spanning the insulation across the slice, even when attempting to install a connector.
shrew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2017, 02:00 PM   #8
Captain
 
Kevlar7r's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 746
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by shrew View Post
I completely agree with everyone above. If you read all of the documentation there should be a caution about NOT cutting the VHF wire. It's a common mistake because there is so much of it. It cannot be spliced or cut. The connectors need to be factory.

As everyone is indicating, the mesh wrap beneath the sheath is the insulator. Think of a VHF cable or a Radar cable like a water pipe. If you cut them, then will 'leak' badly. Wrapping them in tape will not fix the leak. You have no way of spanning the insulation across the slice, even when attempting to install a connector.
A caveat, it should be cut to length once pulled to the vhf. You don't want excess cable coiled up behind the panel. Excess cable can be kinked and then leak, and also more cable means more room to pick up interference.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
__________________

Kevlar7r is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
antenna, vhf, wiring

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT. The time now is 02:33 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.