My old VHF radio is not transmitting apparently. I need to check it
again to make sure it's not just gummed up from not being used.
Any easy way to check if it's the mic instead of the radio itself?

"Midlant" wrote in news:9nlgi.146786$vE1.69978
@newsfe24.lga:

Any easy way to check if it's the mic instead of the radio itself?


Just find someone with a VHF marine walkie talkie. Don't use Ch 16.

I keep one of these inexpensive meters in the antenna line of each VHF so
I can SEE it's putting out that distress call, RF wise.

http://www.walcottcb.com/valor-v6050...-watt-meter-p-
920.html

PWR tells you its transmitting. Switch to FWD and turn the knob until
it's full scale "SET", switch to REF and read the SWR, telling you what
the antenna and coax condition is. No reflected power 1:1 is perfect but
rarely attainable. Any SWR below 2:1 is fine.... The meter is self
powered from the RF, itself. Just feed the RF power through it on its
way to the antenna. This is 90% of radio troubles...No RF or bad
antenna.

Larry
--
Marine radios have "Icom" printed right there on the front of them.

Easier said than done, hence the reason I asked on here. If I knew some
one nearby.....Thanks though.
John

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Midlant" wrote in news:9nlgi.146786$vE1.69978
@newsfe24.lga:

Any easy way to check if it's the mic instead of the radio itself?


Just find someone with a VHF marine walkie talkie. Don't use Ch 16.

I keep one of these inexpensive meters in the antenna line of each VHF
so
I can SEE it's putting out that distress call, RF wise.

http://www.walcottcb.com/valor-v6050...-watt-meter-p-
920.html

PWR tells you its transmitting. Switch to FWD and turn the knob until
it's full scale "SET", switch to REF and read the SWR, telling you
what
the antenna and coax condition is. No reflected power 1:1 is perfect
but
rarely attainable. Any SWR below 2:1 is fine.... The meter is self
powered from the RF, itself. Just feed the RF power through it on its
way to the antenna. This is 90% of radio troubles...No RF or bad
antenna.

Larry
--
Marine radios have "Icom" printed right there on the front of them.

In article ,
Larry wrote:

"Midlant" wrote in news:9nlgi.146786$vE1.69978
@newsfe24.lga:

Any easy way to check if it's the mic instead of the radio itself?


Just find someone with a VHF marine walkie talkie. Don't use Ch 16.

I keep one of these inexpensive meters in the antenna line of each VHF so
I can SEE it's putting out that distress call, RF wise.

http://www.walcottcb.com/valor-v6050...-watt-meter-p-
920.html

PWR tells you its transmitting. Switch to FWD and turn the knob until
it's full scale "SET", switch to REF and read the SWR, telling you what
the antenna and coax condition is. No reflected power 1:1 is perfect but
rarely attainable. Any SWR below 2:1 is fine.... The meter is self
powered from the RF, itself. Just feed the RF power through it on its
way to the antenna. This is 90% of radio troubles...No RF or bad
antenna.

Larry

But, But, Larry, the above only proves that the unit is radiating RF,
NOT that it is capable of actually modulating voice on that RF.....
The HandiTalkie will tell him if the unit is actually modulating
voice, but, REALLY, he needs to get the whole radio over to a
"Good" Radio Tech, with good instrumentation, and get the system
check out.....

Bruce in alaska you get what you PAY for......
--
add a 2 before @

What I need is someone with a radio on my street so I can test it before
taking it back out. To transition the harbor, I have to request
clearance. Yes, it's that kind of harbor. One where the boats are grey.


"Bruce in Alaska" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Larry wrote:

"Midlant" wrote in
news:9nlgi.146786$vE1.69978
@newsfe24.lga:

Any easy way to check if it's the mic instead of the radio itself?


Just find someone with a VHF marine walkie talkie. Don't use Ch 16.

I keep one of these inexpensive meters in the antenna line of each
VHF so
I can SEE it's putting out that distress call, RF wise.

http://www.walcottcb.com/valor-v6050...-watt-meter-p-
920.html

PWR tells you its transmitting. Switch to FWD and turn the knob
until
it's full scale "SET", switch to REF and read the SWR, telling you
what
the antenna and coax condition is. No reflected power 1:1 is perfect
but
rarely attainable. Any SWR below 2:1 is fine.... The meter is self
powered from the RF, itself. Just feed the RF power through it on
its
way to the antenna. This is 90% of radio troubles...No RF or bad
antenna.

Larry

But, But, Larry, the above only proves that the unit is radiating RF,
NOT that it is capable of actually modulating voice on that RF.....
The HandiTalkie will tell him if the unit is actually modulating
voice, but, REALLY, he needs to get the whole radio over to a
"Good" Radio Tech, with good instrumentation, and get the system
check out.....

Bruce in alaska you get what you PAY for......
--
add a 2 before @

Bruce in Alaska wrote in news:bruceg-
:

But, But, Larry, the above only proves that the unit is radiating RF,
NOT that it is capable of actually modulating voice on that RF.....
The HandiTalkie will tell him if the unit is actually modulating
voice, but, REALLY, he needs to get the whole radio over to a
"Good" Radio Tech, with good instrumentation, and get the system
check out.....



I told him to listen to it on a walkie, FIRST, to see if it were
modulating....THEN, suggested adding the little meter so he could monitor
its output and antenna condition on the cheap. Modulation does no good
if he's not getting beyond the end of the bow....(c; He should do both.

Hauling the radio over to some shop at $180/minute ISN'T going to find
that twisted-off coax cable at the Shakespeare up the mast....We checked
everything else except its frequency for $40. They don't drift off in
frequency any more in the last 25 years.

Larry
--
http://www.spp.gov/
The end of the USA and its Constitution....RIP

"Midlant" wrote in news:UAZgi.85$IK1.53
@newsfe23.lga:

What I need is someone with a radio on my street so I can test it before
taking it back out. To transition the harbor, I have to request
clearance. Yes, it's that kind of harbor. One where the boats are grey.



Don't key the transmitter without an antenna connected. That may destroy
the output power amp. It's not supposed to, but it can.

Larry W4CSC and other fine old calls since 1957.
--

I've got the antenna hooked up. While outside today polishing the hull,
I kept an eye out for anyone towing a boat in passing. Every now and
then one goes by, but not today.
If the mic is bad, the radio is old enough to warrant buying a new one.
Seems to be quite a selection for around a $100, some cheaper on ebay.


"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Midlant" wrote in news:UAZgi.85$IK1.53
@newsfe23.lga:

What I need is someone with a radio on my street so I can test it
before
taking it back out. To transition the harbor, I have to request
clearance. Yes, it's that kind of harbor. One where the boats are
grey.



Don't key the transmitter without an antenna connected. That may
destroy
the output power amp. It's not supposed to, but it can.

Larry W4CSC and other fine old calls since 1957.
--

Went to Wallyworld and bought a new Cobra VHF MRF-45 for $99.

Anyone have experience with these radios?

John

"Midlant" wrote in news:S1Zhi.18079$0M5.2040
@newsfe14.lga:

Went to Wallyworld and bought a new Cobra VHF MRF-45 for $99.

Anyone have experience with these radios?

John



BEVERAGE ALERT!

If you're at a classy marina, not the one behind Joe's BBQ and Tire on
the river, don't ever let on that you bought a radio from Wally World to
the scoffers on the dock! You'd never hear the end of it!

Lie through your teeth and tell them you bought it from the most
expensive chandler in 50 miles that also sells Sperry Topsiders at full
retail and paid $879 on special from $995, making a great deal on really
quality equipment. It matters NOT that noone on VHF can tell any
difference.

There, now you're a dock hero with a fine radio that must be the finest
quality on the planet because that chandler has the most expensive blocks
in town. They'll all want one just like it, even if the wife says, "NO!"

Never admit to anyone on a fancy dock you bought boat parts from Home
Depot or Wally World or engine parts from NAPA at 10% of what the
boatyard wants for the SAME injector. You'll be the laughing stock of
every yacht club bar in town!

Larry
--
No sense exposing yourself to such ridicule....(c;

We're still trying to live down a torn reputation by admitting that the
blue air expansion tank on Lionheart's pressure water system came from
(gasp) Ace Hardware!
Oh, the shame of it all.....
We tried to disguise it with a ships wheel sticker and fake Waste Marine
barcode, but that didn't work after the truth spread down the dock like a
fuel oil fire through a Hatteras bilge.

Ok, you can pick the tumblers back up now so I don't get blamed for
someone spewing on the keyboard, again....(c;