navstar 220 radio antenna

J

Johan

Senior Member
I have a navstar 220 on board with one of those navstar 29Mhz Glass fold down Antenna's. The radio never worked since I can remember. I took the radio in to a repair centre and they claimed that it is fine.

 This brings me to the antenna. I noticed that there is no ground connected to the antenna. Only the coax cable running to the radio. I suspect that the antenna is a unbalanced kind (not the dipole). In this case it should be grounded for reasonable range?

Can anyone confirm whether this antenna is indeed unbalanced and where I can start looking for the problem?

The radio has been set up for the 3 channels used by ski boats. When I switch it on at sea I just simply receive nothing at all.

How busy is the radio comms during a weekend. I left if on for about 20 minutes on each channel for a few saterdays already.

Johan
 
M

miles

Sealiner
Hiya

Seriously, throw that radio away!! Nobody uses 29meg's anymore, thats most likely why you aren't picking up anything.

Buy a VHF radio and antennae. No need for anything fancy, a entry level ICOM works very well. Procedure is to go to a shop, look at SEAPORT SUPPLIES or RADIO HOLLAND or MANEX MARINE in Paarden Island. Get the model number of the radio you wish to purchase. Now you need to go to ICASA, they're situated at N1 city, just off the N1. You will then inform that that you wish to purchase a VHF radio, with the model number. They then give you some forms to fill out and send you off to the bank to deposit R350 or R400 (can't remember the exact amount). Then you go back to ICASA, with the deposit slip and they will then process your documentation. You now take the deposit slip, which ICASA will have stamped on the rear, to your dealer and he will then sell you a VHF radio.

By law, the dealer will not sell you a VHF radio if you are not in possession of a RADIO licence. ICASA is the body that issues these licences and after all that paperwork, ICASA will post the licence to you in 4 - 6 weeks or so.

By law, you're also required to have a radio operators licence. This is also done by ICASA. When you're there, ask them for the learning material, a small book. Relatively easy exam!!

Operating recreational channel is 71, with many using 69 as a second chatting channel. Emergency channel is 16.

When selecting aerials, insist on a PACIFIC aerial. They're the best quality for the money!!

Mounting is VERY easy. There is a +ve and a -ve that you connect up to power and the aerial simply screws in, very, very simple!! There is also two wires for an external speaker, not really needed. I fitted a external speaker, as i'm often outside the cabin and the external speaker is simply louder, which makes hearing information easier.

I use a standard ICOM VHF (model 402 i think), with a Pacific aerial and i can sometimes hear Gordons Bay when i'm 25nm off-shore!! (especially in calm weather)

Price is about R1600-1800 for the radio and R400 or so for the aerial.

If you only want a radio for safety purposes, you can buy a handheld vfh, which costs about R600-R800. Because it only has 5w of output, no radio licence is required. It works well, but has a limited range. I bought a Cobra model from SEAPORT SUPPLIES in Paarden Island, which i used on my 5nm rated 5.0m Gemini Semi-rigid.

My advice, buy the VHF and get all the paperwork in order!! It MIGHT just be the thing that'll save your life should things go wrong at sea!!

Regards

miles

ps. if you don't want to come into town, call Magsons Marine or Aquamall for a price. From experience though, both tend to be expensive!!  

pps. might be worth your while to contact Somerset Sports and ask them if they could get you a radio for a good price!! Most tackle shops sell baoting electronics and can get you pretty much anything you need.
 
J

Johan

Senior Member
Miles! Once again, some excellent information there!

I am thinking of settling with the handheld vhf? I only operate inside false bay (10nm at most) still and I really don't know how much longer I will be having this boat. Do you have any idea what the range on one of these 5W radio's is?

Also, would a handheld radio count as a valid radio for a class C (10nm) boat license?

Thanks a lot for the advice! You must return to SA so that you can teach me to fish false bay!!!
 
F

Freakazoid

Senior Member
Thanks Miles, I had exactly the same question as Johan. After being on the water on Saturday for the first time with a 29Meg, which was supposed to be OK. I realized that I need to change and fast. Thanks agian for the great info.
 
P

Patrick

Sealiner
Just some further advise on the ICASA exam, as i have just done mine, start booking for the exam now as i hear there is a bit of a queue. They run the exam once a week, every monday at 12. Once you've written the exam, the operators licence takes 2 weeks to receive (well mine did).
As for the licencing of radio, as Miles says its R400 which you have to pay via internet to ICASA in JHB and then take the reciept to Ilene at ICASA at N1. That R400 is only the application fee for the radio. It takes about 2 or 3 weeks to procees the application of which you will recieve your call sign on a piece of paper. Then Ilene submits that documentation and ICASA then sends you a bill for licence for the radio itself (R42 for the year). Once paid, you recieve the license. A bit of a process yeah. Every year you just renew the radio licence itself.
While you are waiting for the radio licence, you can use the application form with call sign on recieved as a valid document should you get pulled on the water.
 
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