Antennas, Mounts & Cables Review

Summary

Communication and entertainment are things we take for granted because they are readily available on land, but you might be surprised to know that there is quite a range of options while out on the high seas in your boat and they require only the proper antennas, mounts and cables. Listen to your favorite oldies station or catch talk radio as you enjoy the beautiful view. Satellite HDTV for your boat is also an option. Most importantly, you can be prepared to communicate quickly in an emergency.

VHF (very high frequency) antennas have a radio frequency range between 30 MHz and 300 MHz and are limited to a local area.

AM/FM antennas strengthen the reception of radio stations and offer much entertainment value.

CB antennas for your boat allow two way radio transmissions on 40 channels within the 47 MHz band. CB transmissions are not as popular as they once were due to the profusion of cell phones.

LORAN antennas (LORAN means Long Range Navigation) use low frequency radio transmitters that use multiple transmitters to determine the speed and location of the receiver. The LORAN-C transmissions stopped on February 8, 2010 because the U.S. Coast Guard does not consider it to be needed for Maritime navigation any longer due to GPS navigation. As a result, the Department of Homeland Security will determine what will happen with LORAN and eLORAN.

TV antennas on your boat can lock on to a satellite signal automatically and then stay on it and make allowances for the boat’s movements. They are omni directional and are made in saltwater and freshwater models with quiet motors that you barely notice. They are compatible with high definition signals.

Cellular antennas with their omni directional design improve the signals on cellular and PCS bands.

Antenna mounts for boats are made of materials such as stainless steel, chrome plated cast solid brass and nylon. They include such designs as ratchet lever lay down mounts and ball and socket mounts. Some models allow the wire to be fed directly through from below.

Coax and connectors (also called coaxial) is an electrical cable that is used for radio frequency signals. The inner conductor and outer shield share the same geometric axis, hence the name.

Pros

• Whatever the method, some means of communication is very crucial when boating.
• Antennas come in a wide range of materials, designs and price ranges.
• Modern antennas are made with flexible, weatherproof materials.
• Cellular antennas can provide many times the strength of a cell phone used on its own.
• VHF transmissions are less affected by interference than lower frequencies, making it a good choice for local transmissions.

Cons

• CB channels are shared by many users and only one may transmit at a time on each channel.
• The future of LORAN is uncertain and will be determined by the Department of Homeland Security.
• The same antenna may perform at different levels for different watercraft depending upon a multitude of factors making selection a bit of a guessing game.

Featured Manufacturers

Ancor Marine, Marinco, Shakespeare

Conclusion

Shop around, determine your needs and look at the various features offered by different manufacturers. Often the online companies have ratings and comments by users, taking some of the guesswork out of the process and giving good tips to prospective buyers. This can be a valuable tool as you compare the multitude of antennas, mounts and cables available to you.