Does Length Matter?

[Afishionado]

The installation instructions on my DSC radio are rather confusing......

 

Must be 1M from compass and 1M from aerial but convenient for use! Oh yes, so just how big a boat do they think I have?

 

Any way the real question.... I will be left with about 6 miles of spare aerial cable. Is it OK to cut this to length? Or is it like transducer cable and must be kept at the length supplied?

 

Oh and the mike hand set is supposed to be yet anther meter away from everything else so I'm now expected to be a bl00dy cotortionist too.

 

Please lads any tips from the 'Living in the real world' school of installing a DSC/VHF in a Warrior sized boat?

 

Getting even madder now Mad Mike

[duncan]

OK to cut aerial (before fitting plug and feeding through holes usually!) - normally comes with plug detached anyhow.

 

Various distances are attempt's to minimise interference

 

1. Set, speaker and mike can all interfere with your compass - easy enough to observe if this is going to be the case on installing by powering up the unit (with aerial connected) if you are unsure but a couple of feet seperation will normally do.

2. Wireing the unit direct to the battery (it has it's own inline fuse in the wire) can make a lot of sense to avoid interference to the set itself; and has a small safety factor if your isolator or other wireing fail.

3. Keep the aerial routing away from other ones if possible - in most cases it isn't! the most vunerable point is as the plug is fitted and great care to ensure the scrrening is kept complete when fitting the plug will pay dividends.

[Adam F]

Mike,

 

As Duncan says, a few feet is adequte I have found. The radio I have mounted 'upside' down on the cuddy roof.

 

If you want me to post a piccie of my install let me know.

 

Adam

 

PS: Back now, and in all weekend if you want to come over to have a nose around BW.

[Afishionado]

Mike,

 

As Duncan says, a few feet is adequte I have found. The radio I have mounted 'upside' down on the cuddy roof.

 

If you want me to post a piccie of my install let me know.

 

Adam

 

PS: Back now, and in all weekend if you want to come over to have a nose around BW.

I may well take you up on that offer if it rains and I cant work outside on the boat.

Ta everso

 

Mad Mike

[Paul D]

Agree with above. Length of aerial cable is irrelevant ( provided it has a 50 ohm connector on the end - which it will have ).

 

[Afishionado]

Thanks guys I knew I could count on the right answer from you lot.

 

Mad Mike