VHF Radio issue

CurrentSea

CurrentSea

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Joined
Sep 23, 2002
RO Number
10265
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My VHF is driving me nuts.

It is a Ray55 and is original to boat.
As is the antenna.
It transmits fine. I mean I had a friend who was pretty far away and I had him on cell phone and I could hear me over his radio loud and clear. What's interesting is really does transmit fine and better than other boats.

But when it receives I get nothing until the other vessal is close. We tested with a handheld in a car and car got about 2 miles away and it was still receiving it.

I compare the performance to other boats and they are much better. Better to a point where they hear me fine but I can't hear them but boats right next to me hear them fine.

I receive weather radio fine, no issues.

When I am right on top of other boats, reception is fine.

I swapped radio, but performance seemed the same, but to be honest, I didn't give it a good shakeout, so it still could be the radio.

Guy in West Marine felt if I transmit well, it can't be the antenna. Though another guy said the shielding in the cable could be corroded and that could be a factor. He said when you transmit you send 25watts but when you receive you rely on the signal and passing that into radio.

I am at a point where I may just change out the whole setup with new. My big issue is my footprint as I really don't want to cut dash, so want something that fits the cutout. Ray55 is not made anymore.

We just changed the connector on the antenna as it had a solder connector, not soldered, so we will see how that behaves, but first test it seemed better but still not the performance I see with other radios.

Anyone ever have this issue?
 
Receiver front end of radio could be blown thereby having very poor receiver sensitivity. 5 minute bench test would confirm. If there is a local electronics shop or maybe ray marine has a flat rate repair if you send it in.
 
I expect you do these things but it can be worth asking "just in case."

Do you keep the VHF squelch adjusted very low so that background static is just barely squelched out? And check that semi-often?
And antenna is kept vertical/plumb , not raked (so as to be directional?)
 
We found connector on end of cable was a solder type connector but was not soldered.
I picked up a gold plated crimp on one with a solid head and it seems to work much much better.
So I think this is solved!
Ran to Block and heard all boat, though one boat I couldn't and he was last boat in line and others couldn't hear him so I think he has a issue with antenna.
 
Use the Seatow automated radio check. Tune to either channel 27 (Sayville) or channel 24 (Freeport). Say something like "Radio Check (name of boat)". A recording of what you transmitted will come back to you in a few seconds. I'm in Babylon and always get a response on 27.

My .02
 
Dave,
The connector we put on sucks, We should take the solder connector, put that back on and solder it. We (me) butchered the crimp that touches the shield, just saying this would be a permanent resolution.
 
Sea tow automated check was not work in Riverhead on any channel and I tried other radios.

Walter, I agree, but right now i am leaving it alone. I will pick up a better connector. Don't like the solder one as it has had some corrosion as well. I am not sure the shield connectors need a solid all around connection. They key is the pin I think.
I guess solder is the way to go. I want to try to get the gold solder connector, one i have is silver and corroded.

I also want to try to add an external speaker or a headset. I have trouble hearing when wind is blowing hard.
 
You need to see if there is an external speaker connection on your radio, if so you probably want an amplified speaker not passive.
 
There is an external radio connection.
Need to figure where to mount the speaker so I can hear it.
Would love a headset.
 
https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Receiver-Wireless/dp/B01IV1H1ME/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1503496430&sr=8-4&keywords=bluetooth+transmitter
 
Don't think that will work, no connections to radio to do that!
 
If you have a 1/4" "aux" connection for an external speaker, you can use that device to broadcast to any blue tooth receiver such as a BOSE speaker or even your boat's stereo system....pretty cool idea.
 
To receive but not to transmit.
My radio has 2 bare wires for external speaker, so I would need to add the aux jack
 
FWIW, I too had a bad radio....I replaced my antenna, used the crimp connector, switched to soldered, radio worked for a bit. Finally replaced it a few weeks ago. If you have a spare radio from say your center console, you can connect a cigarette lighter cord to power and test out the antenna.

I feel your frustration. It's much easier when something just stops working all together. Good Luck.
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

Some unes like a squelch Issue to me

Click to expand...


Nailed it. Not breaking squelch. Try receiving with the squelch wide open. Common squelch problems usually have a problem in grounding.Clean up all grounds.
 
Its all fixed the new connector did it.
Still looking at getting a handheld with some sort of headset.
I find my boat is like a helicopter, I can't hear on windy days with front panel open and need a good headset I can wear and talk into.
 
Your Raymarine 55 has a speaker in the microphone. You can hold the microphone to your ear in noisy conditions.
 
I do that, but usually someone will speak and its not at my ear.
So by the time I grab it, they are done.
Guess I can get a clip and clip it up there!
 
If you used a crimp style connector, they have a really bad rap. I would use a new soldered type connector and cut off the end of the wire several inches down to fresh wire. You could even use some steel wool on the interior wire so it's bright in color prior to soldering.

Since you have built a report with the West Marine guy, you should ask if he would let you buy a new antenna, test with it, and then return it. He might have an "open box" antenna he would let you use.
 
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