MacGregorSailors.com

Thanks for the info John.

I'm going to go uncover the boat today and lay out some plans for mods.

The Wilson products seem to get high reviews. I wonder if mounting the antenna on top of the mast would benefit. Or would the distance in cable cause more loss.

My last "booster" I mounted the antenna on top of the mast. I saw no benefit and it was probably snake oil.
Luckily, our marina has a tower very close and a booster isn't necessary. But signal gets sketchy as we travel down lake.

OverEasy wrote: ↑Tue Apr 26, 2022 5:15 pm Hi All!

I’m still a bit behind the curve on the security WiFi camera audio interface logistics.
When in the marina I think we can use a simple WiFi camera and phone ap if we want to see the boat without having to go down (like maybe before/during/after storms and such.
When not on the boat I’m a firm believer in attracting attention so a simple magnetic switch battery electronic noise maker looks to be functional and adequate for most of the time (although I’ve gotta make sure that when set it can’t generate a false alarm!).

If your marina has WiFi, you could use a simple WiFi camera provided their signal reaches your boat. The Wyze camera I've been testing is $35 and works very well. It uses 2watts of power so I'm going to hardwire the thing to my 12v system and let my solar panel keep batts up. Highlander's cam looks to be better quality. Most cameras have a solar powered option. What I like about the Wyze cam is the low profile. It's small and easy to mount.



The biggest problem with WiFi is the signal is weak. And often "free" WiFi isn't managed well. See what kind of WiFi signal you get at your slip.

I would imagine VHF in the intercoastal isn't a problem. Especially if your antenna is on top of the mast. Coast guard and land based stations have tall antennas and you will get more than 16 miles on 25watts.

My marina has no services. No WiFi, No water, No power. So I'm totally off-grid at my slip.

Highlander's simple alarm seems like an ideal solution. A loud alarm would deter most thieves. I've heard of thieves just busting hatches or cutting outboards off transoms with a saws-all. My opinion is make it easy to open the hatch without destroying the hatch with a small lock. Then scare the bejesus out of them if they open it. If that doesn't scare them off, it's time for an insurance claim.

Highlander

Antenna gain comes from modifying the radiation pattern of the antenna. Unmodified, the pattern is generally omnidirectional. Since you have no desire to communicate with airplanes or fish marine antennas modify the pattern to move some of that power from the top and bottom of the pattern to the sides. That results in gain.

More gain will effectively boost the transmit power and receive sensitivity in the new pattern at the expense of the same above and below the antenna.

Russ,
I can verify that with a 3db gain antenna at the top of my mast I regularly hear Coast Guard transmissions from Mobile (260 nm) and Sarasota (150 nm).

I don't know if either have repeaters closer.

Be Free wrote: ↑Wed Apr 27, 2022 8:01 am Russ,
I can verify that with a 3db gain antenna at the top of my mast I regularly hear Coast Guard transmissions from Mobile (260 nm) and Sarasota (150 nm).

I don't know if either have repeaters closer.

Most of my powerboat friends were envious of our mast-top antennas. Since VHF is theoretically line of sight, the higher up the better. And as you observed, those CG stations have VERY tall antennas.

Cruising Long Island Sound in our Hunter, we picked up Coast Guard stations VERY far away. I could hear Montauk from the Manasquan inlet. Not so much water craft because I assume their antennas are not as tall.

I'm based at the southern end of Lake Michigan. I hear VHF talk from all over 30+ miles away.

Russ wrote: ↑Wed Apr 27, 2022 10:39 am

Be Free wrote: ↑Wed Apr 27, 2022 8:01 am Russ,
I can verify that with a 3db gain antenna at the top of my mast I regularly hear Coast Guard transmissions from Mobile (260 nm) and Sarasota (150 nm).

I don't know if either have repeaters closer.

Most of my powerboat friends were envious of our mast-top antennas. Since VHF is theoretically line of sight, the higher up the better. And as you observed, those CG stations have VERY tall antennas.

Cruising Long Island Sound in our Hunter, we picked up Coast Guard stations VERY far away. I could hear Montauk from the Manasquan inlet. Not so much water craft because I assume their antennas are not as tall.

Ohhhh. Is that why I constantly hear from Prescott Coast Guard radio, which is 230nm away at the other end of L. Ontario!

DaveC426913 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 28, 2022 8:14 pm Ohhhh. Is that why I constantly hear from Prescott Coast Guard radio, which is 230nm away at the other end of L. Ontario!

U r likely hearing them but that,s no guarantee they will hear U because ur r not transmitting from as high a tower or signal strength , so I would,nt b too hopeful on relying on that situation in an emerg.

J

That, or your sailing is so notorious that they're keeping an eye on you along with the rest of us.

DaveC426913 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 28, 2022 8:14 pm Ohhhh. Is that why I constantly hear from Prescott Coast Guard radio, which is 230nm away at the other end of L. Ontario!

Hi All

I get that I can receive from the nice tall USCG transmitter but will they receive is the other side of the coin……

We have a 8ft clamp to the rail type VHF antenna. It’s nice for cruising with the mst down.
I guess we could either get a mast too mount type for when it’s up to improve range…….Orrr….we could mount the 8ft on top of the mast. It would be taller that way but probably a mess to contend with when the mast is down…

Guess we plan on the 16 mile range and hope it’s more. The gaps should possibly be filled by cell phone reception for voice.

Wonder if the USCG is as sophisticated as many businesses are with being able to not only receive/transmit voice but also texts…
Guess a call to my local USCG Station is in order….

Best Regards
Over Easy
fudt

Highlander wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 9:17 pm U r likely hearing them but that,s no guarantee they will hear U because ur r not transmitting from as high a tower or signal strength , so I would,nt b too hopeful on relying on that situation in an emerg.

Yeah no. It'll be the Toronto Harbour Po-po that pick me up.

OverEasy wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 1:43 pm Hi All

I get that I can receive from the nice tall USCG transmitter but will they receive is the other side of the coin……

We have a 8ft clamp to the rail type VHF antenna. It’s nice for cruising with the mst down.
I guess we could either get a mast too mount type for when it’s up to improve range…….Orrr….we could mount the 8ft on top of the mast. It would be taller that way but probably a mess to contend with when the mast is down…

Guess we plan on the 16 mile range and hope it’s more. The gaps should possibly be filled by cell phone reception for voice.

Wonder if the USCG is as sophisticated as many businesses are with being able to not only receive/transmit voice but also texts…
Guess a call to my local USCG Station is in order….

Best Regards
Over Easy
fudt

Over Easy,
An 8' antenna is usually 6db gain. That would not be a good choice at a mast top. When the boat heels you will be sending a lot of your concentrated power into the sky and the water. You would be better off with a shorter 3db antenna at the mast top
Bill

This should keep you boat safe

Be Free wrote: ↑Mon May 02, 2022 12:24 pm Over Easy,
An 8' antenna is usually 6db gain. That would not be a good choice at a mast top. When the boat heels you will be sending a lot of your concentrated power into the sky and the water. You would be better off with a shorter 3db antenna at the mast top
Bill

Yes, if your boat stays upright, that directional 8db gain theoretically goes further. But if the antenna is not perpendicular, you are shooting a radio beam into the ocean/sky.




Altitude also gives advantage to get over waves etc.

Got the Boat-Cam installed. It's consuming about 1.8 watts. The cell phone it's tethered to via WiFi hotspot is another .5 watts. The 100W solar panel should be able to serve it well. I upgraded to a MPPT solar controller which is very cool. It has bluetooth so I can also remotely monitor battery and charging status as well as historical data.

Okay...next up. Get the boat wet.