ongoing VHF radio problem

[sporty1]

Hi browser
I was trying on channel 16 waiting to be directed to another channel so I could log on. Surely channel 16 as the distress channnel would respond if I was transmitting ok? What channel should I hear the most boat traffic on? As I have never heard a word on my radio except when I check with my hand held.

[indy]

No if he borrows someone else's and uses a repeater channel he wont have to worry about line of site i live in kallangur and can talk to southport sea way south and north can get bribie island coastguard so he will be right

[sporty1]

Indy what channel do you suggest I use as the repeater? I am currently disconnecting the splitter for the vhf and am/fm radio. I went to the local marine dealer and he said unless it was written on the antenna that it was vhf it is otherwise impossible to tell the difference betwee vhf and uhf antenna's by looking at them. I will keep the radio on all the time and if anyone wants to try my log on is 'voodoo" probably aptly named as there is a gremlin in the system somewhere, I just hope it isn't the idiot holding the microphone???

[sporty1]

Hi Again guys my hand held and on board radio's talk to each other beautifully from across the yard I will try again from down the road and check as well.

[indy]

ok here goes

16 safety and distress
67 weather
71 profishing/trawlers
75 ship/ship
76ship/ship
82 police/fire marine authority

Repeaters are

channel

21 lighthouse moreton island
22 reservor noosa heads
80 mt wolvi doulbe island
81 mt glorious brisbane
82 big angle-sandy straights
82 yellowwood hill beenleigh

[indy]

try the one closest to you

[sporty1]

Hi Indi as I live in Ipswich I will try staying on Mt Glorious channel 81 and see how I go. I hope to hear something sometime between now and midday???

[indy]

where do you live if your close i will call you

[sporty1]

Hi Guys

ok I have been under the center console for the last hour and this is my progress so far.
1. I disconnected and removed the splitter between the vhf and stereo.

2.I reconnected the antenna directly to the vhf.

3. I checked all the connections to the vhf and this is what I have found.

a. The radio is a navman VHF 7100

B. The following cables are connected:

the red and black power cables are connected to Switch panel and then bus panel with and inline fuse (working ok)

the GPS cable from the radio with the 8 pin plug is not connected to the GPS and this should be ok because I don't have the DSC funtion enabled as yet.

However there is a black cable that has a tag on it and the tag says
" Warning"plug in the speaker jack BEFORE turning on the radio to avoid potential damage. This black cable with a plug similar to the radio plug is hanging loose and not connected to anything, is this a problem?and where if anywhere should this plug into?

Other than the above the radio powers up fine. and everything else looks ok.

[myusernam]

Hi Guys

ok I have been under the center console for the last hour and this is my progress so far.
1. I disconnected and removed the splitter between the vhf and stereo.

2.I reconnected the antenna directly to the vhf.

3. I checked all the connections to the vhf and this is what I have found.

a. The radio is a navman VHF 7100

B. The following cables are connected:

the red and black power cables are connected to Switch panel and then bus panel with and inline fuse (working ok)

the GPS cable from the radio with the 8 pin plug is not connected to the GPS and this should be ok because I don't have the DSC funtion enabled as yet.

However there is a black cable that has a tag on it and the tag says
" Warning"plug in the speaker jack BEFORE turning on the radio to avoid potential damage. This black cable with a plug similar to the radio plug is hanging loose and not connected to anything, is this a problem?and where if anywhere should this plug into?

Other than the above the radio powers up fine. and everything else looks ok.

thats just an external speaker jack. dont worry about it

[myusernam]

thats just an external speaker jack. dont worry about it

Try transmitting to your mate through the repeater. If it works you dont have a problem. If it doesn't, the best check for you is to put a multimeter in line with the circuit and make sure you can draw at least a couple of amps. This will verify both the wiring and the set operation.

You can see if your antenna is a VHF one by checking the model number on your AE with one from the shops or a website. It wont be a UHF, could be a 27 meg tho.

[Bowser]

Hi browser
I was trying on channel 16 waiting to be directed to another channel so I could log on. Surely channel 16 as the distress channel would respond if I was transmitting ok? What channel should I hear the most boat traffic on? As I have never heard a word on my radio except when I check with my hand held.

Channel 16 is the main emergency call channel, 67 is a better option but you should know this from your marine radio course. You do know that it is illegal to use a UHF radio without a licence don't you? Installation is not a problem, just using it to broadcast.

OK you should be getting results from channel 16 but try 67 for your calls and then move to another channel once communication is established.

Have you taken the splitter out of the system as yet? You are obviously getting reception as the hand held is working. What angle is your antennae at? They should be vertical, not at some jaunty splayed back angle to achieve best results in all directions.

[sporty1]

Hi USERMAN

The antenna has no marking at all, it simply states Pacific antenna's I have looked it all over and taken it off and looked inside but it has no model number or any other markings of any kind.

[sporty1]

Hi Bowser

yes I have done the VHF Course and reveived my accreditation. I have not received any incoming calls at all since the radio was new. I would imagine I would most certainly get a response on channel 16 and have tried all channels to raise anyone but to no avail. I suppose I will have to take it back and get the dealer to look at it? Does anyone know if the wireing problemI mentioned above is significant?

[sporty1]

Hi Guys

I have removed the splitter, I have the antenna mounted vertically on top of my targa top it is nearly 3 m high from the boat deck, Surely I should hear something?