SSB Seminar - request for ideas for presentation

[brianb]

Hello All,

I have been asked to pull together the SSB portion of the communication seminar. I was planning to focus on SSB installation and methods to make sure it all works reliably. I was going to set up a working station as a means of working through material that focuses on getting a radio up and running.

I won't be spending time on sail mail, I believe Bob has someone lined up already.

What questions might you who are doing an install have ?

Thanks,

Brian
Redsky

[Wylieguy]

I'm installing a SSB/Ham HF radio on my Wyliecat 30 for the PacCup (maybe SSS TransPac in 2012?). Here's my dilemma: (1) No backstay or shrouds (2) No possibility of anything above stanchion level aft of the mast -which is 5 feet from the bow (3) No metal thru hulls - only 2 plastic speedo/depth holes (4) No metal anything inside the hull. I'm very interested in creative solutions! I'll be at the SSB seminar for sure!
Pat Broderic "NANCY"

[John Hayward]

Hi Pat,

The antenna part is quite easy on the WylieCat 30. The mast is carbon fiber with no other wires close and therefore not a radiator, so just run a piece of wire (any gauge that doesn't break is fine, insulated is fine, but shielded is NOT) up on a spare halyard when you want to send/receive and run it down when your done. Alternatively you could tape it to the mast or silicone it if you wanted it up permanently. For the grounding, you could take a piece of copper foil and put a weight on the end and drop it over the stern when you wanted to send/receive. Both of these would be a bit of a pain when you wanted to use the radio, but on the positive side would require no modifications to the hull or deck and corrosion and other common problems would be very visible. And, yes this would work. Tossing a piece of copper foil over the side at the dock attached to the existing grounding sytem and checking signal strength, and SWR with and without is a common method of trouble shooting permanent installations.

Good Luck!

John
Dream Chaser

[jfoster]

Hi Pat,

The antenna part is quite easy on the WylieCat 30. The mast is carbon fiber with no other wires close and therefore not a radiator, so just run a piece of wire (any gauge that doesn't break is fine, insulated is fine, but shielded is NOT) up on a spare halyard when you want to send/receive and run it down when your done. Alternatively you could tape it to the mast or silicone it if you wanted it up permanently. For the grounding, you could take a piece of copper foil and put a weight on the end and drop it over the stern when you wanted to send/receive. Both of these would be a bit of a pain when you wanted to use the radio, but on the positive side would require no modifications to the hull or deck and corrosion and other common problems would be very visible. And, yes this would work. Tossing a piece of copper foil over the side at the dock attached to the existing grounding sytem and checking signal strength, and SWR with and without is a common method of trouble shooting permanent installations.

Good Luck!

John
Dream Chaser

The best antenna I know of, so far, for a cat rigged boat is the rope antenna. http://www.ropeantenna.com/

John
Blueberry

[glythcott]

I will be installing a SSB on an Express 27. I am wondering about a ground plane. I do not want to put plates outside my hull. My keel bolts are readily accessible, but my keel is fully encapsulated. Can I use my keel bolts? If not, what are my choices? I don't want a marginal setup. If I'm going to carry the damn thing, I want it to work well.

[Culebra]

Same for me... While I've read differing opinions on how to achieve a good ground, it seems everyone agrees that having a good ground is the most important part of the setup. At present, the plan for Culebra (Olson 34) is probably less than ideal, but is it likely to be enough, and is it a decent plan? (right, install it and find out)... The current plan is to use a single copper strap (of the recommended width and thickness) to tie together the engine, the small stainless fuel tank and, using a keel bolt, the glassed-in keel. There isn't any other significant metal surface area in the boat, I don't want or plan to add any other copper screen or sheeting, and I have no metal thru hulls. An externally installed plate is a nonstarter for me (extra drag, throughbolts in the hull, no thanks).

Other important topics would be adequate use of ferrites, isolators, etc. to reduce interference with other instruments. How to ensure good connections to the copper strap (use tapped holes with machine screws? untapped hole with screw and nut? other?). Proper installation of the tuner, its location, how to connect it to ground, and if different, how to connect the radio and other instrumentation to ground.

Thanks, Paul

[brianb]

I'm installing a SSB/Ham HF radio on my Wyliecat 30 for the PacCup (maybe SSS TransPac in 2012?). Here's my dilemma: (1) No backstay or shrouds (2) No possibility of anything above stanchion level aft of the mast -which is 5 feet from the bow (3) No metal thru hulls - only 2 plastic speedo/depth holes (4) No metal anything inside the hull. I'm very interested in creative solutions! I'll be at the SSB seminar for sure!
Pat Broderic "NANCY"

Hi Pat,

Can a whip be installed on the hull at stern if it slopes back over the water some ? Is the issue the boom length striking anything mounted at stern ?

Brian

[Ergo]

I used a 17' SSB whip antenna in 2004 and it worked well. I mounted it perpendicular to the deck at the stern. I don't think it would be a problem to angle it back.

Bill Merrick

[Wylieguy]

Brian & Bill, The boom isn't the problem; the main sheet is - especially during a jibe. When the boom's in the full "run" position, there's about 35' of sheet. During a jibe, this line whips across the aft end of the boat. It's impossible to sheet in during the jibe - it's almost a "you gotta see it" sort of thing. Matter of fact, you're invited to join me for the SYC (1/3), GGYC (1/9),or CYC (1/16/17) to see in person. A Ham on the East Coast has suggested an 8.5 foot CB antenna on the bow. I may try that. But it will still need a counter-poise, and that's the big problem in a boat with no engine or thru hulls. Thanks, Pat

[jfoster]

SNIP A Ham on the East Coast has suggested an 8.5 foot CB antenna on the bow. I may try that. But it will still need a counter-poise, and that's the big problem in a boat with no engine or thru hulls. Thanks, Pat

Hey Pat, the best antenna choice for a Wliecat is the rope antenna http://www.ropeantenna.com/
(a wire fed up through the core of a halyard) using a spare halyard on the front of the mast.

The ground to use will be the forward most keel bolt That big steel fin with the massive metal bulb on the bottom ought to be way more coupling to sea water than an engine and a through hull.

There is a lot of "contempt prior to investigation" in the concept of just using your Wyliecat keel as the ground plane. Try it anyway, please. If it is not adequate, the look at adding a Dynaplate as well.

John Foster
Blueberry, Nonsuch 22 Sail #48