testing vhf antenna with multimeter

. which stands for Antenna Under Test. Does this sound about right for a DC grounded antenna? Ask around and find out where your local HAM radio club is. An SWR meter is better than an ohmmeter continuity tester for antennas. (However you were going to try putting one on the back rail. The receiver antenna works the opposite. Following are the steps to test the signal strength of an HD TV antenna with the help of a signal meter. Amazon.com: Standard Horizon STD-GX3000SB Matrix Fixed-Mount VHF Radio (Black): Electronics. These antennas That would be my starting point. One of my career paths started as a general handyman, so I also have a lot of experience with home improvement I love to share. Amazon.com: Standard Horizon STD-GX3000SB Matrix Fixed-Mount VHF Radio (Black): Electronics, Everyone likes to solve someone else's problem, HAM radio guys like to share their expertise, And lots of them are retired and have lots of time on their hands, The 2 metre band is the band that VHF is in. Care must also be exercised The most popular often dual-polarized If so, then '0' is definitely not 'good to go'. 7. Unfortunately, unless your other hobby is ham radio, you may not have the equipment on hand to check out transmitter operation. are used to classify an antenna as linearly, circularly or elliptically polarized. We would love to know if our antenna testing guide helps you. Providing tool knowledge, appliance/device testing tips, and DIY project info in an easy-to read & non-intimidating style. What happened to Aham and its derivatives in Marathi? SWR readings typically have a range of about 1 to 5. For fiberglass antennas, this will usually be the tunable tip on the antenna's end. Digital and Comrod score high for durability, while Shakespeares antennas offer good performance at a good price. Economy CatIII Multimeter with Non-Contact Voltage Sensor CAT.NO: QM1527 Rugged economical multimeter suitable for basic testing of electrical systems Measure AC and DC voltage, DC current, and Resistance Continuity test with audio alert Non-contact voltage sensing Turning off then back on every 2 or 3 seconds (approximately . Make sure this fits by entering your model number. These two Shakespeare antennas are not as rugged as the Digital, but they cost significantly less. What are the reasons for the particular range of VHF and UHF frequencies? gain and Figure 2. For example if you are transmitting 1 watt of RF into a dipole antenna and you get a reading of 400mV at 3 feet, then you change out your coax between the radio and the antenna and this time at 3 feet you are getting 100mV you know that there is a lot of loss in the second coax compared to the first. Tried mine. An SWR meter will. Get a radio that works. The problem might be as basic as one of these typical antenna problems. After fitting i tested for short with multimeter, i thought I'd done ok job of not burning out the insulation, but there is still a short. In the 8-foot, 6-dB category, Shakespeares 5225 XT and XP held a slight range advantage over the Digital 529-VW. Required Equipment in Antenna Measurements . Now it's time to collect all the necessary "stuff" needed to troubleshoot your "stuff." The best gadget ever invented for Ham radio antenna system work is the antenna analyzer. My VHF radio antenna and coaxial cable date back to 1984. Remove the connector on the antenna cable from the back of your radio. The walls, ceilings and floor are lined with special electromagnetic wave absorbering When you set the meter for calibration and activate the radio transmitter, you'll see a number indicating the strength of the signal being broadcasted. In fact, many cruising boats carry a standard 8-foot whip to be used in an emergency such as a dismasting. THAT is one millionth of one volt ac. Looks can be deceiving, said Henry. The simplest meters will have a set knob, you have it in the set mode, key up and adjust that knob to wherever indicated on the meter (like a spot marked set, or something like that) If it is not marked, then full scale on the SWR scale. In our performance tests, both the 8- and 16-foot Comrod antennas finished behind the Shakespeare and Digital antennas. 3. Rank No. The antenna is a standard glomex metal whip. For this test of 8-foot and 16-foot fiberglass pole antennas, Practical Sailor contacted the three most popular manufacturers of marine recreational VHF antennas-Comrod, Digital Antenna, and Shakespeare-and requested their participation in our at-sea evaluation. 4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars (36) $39.99 $ 39. The problem with using a multimeter (which uses DC from a battery and tests things with this low voltage DC) on antenna circuits is that an antenna is designed to handle radio frequency, not DC. Very suprised SD did not say this. Still, we question the logic of using one. For this I used my tape measure yagi and my Baofeng radio set at low power. Practically brand-new up-to-date software. Usually, the length of the wire is smaller than the wavelength. Rotate arrow dial pointing the opposite towards the radio transmitter (imagine the arrow going the opposite direction of the flow of RF power coming out of the radio, thru the coax feed line and towards the antenna) Key up radio. Yes, there are. you might want to look at the miniwhip antenna(http://vk6ysf.com/active_antenna_v1.htm). While the distance test produced some interesting numbers (like 23 miles of range for a deck-mounted VHF antenna), a hacksaw revealed some of the most telling details. I used to get ads for test . Regardless of whether you use a dedicated VHF antenna attached to the AIS receiver or transponder or if you use an AIS-capable antenna . The basic diagram of an elevated range is shown 6. Antennas for the VHF and UHF bands are similar in many ways to HF antennas. The opening in their structure emits the radio waves. The brand VFAN has chosen to equip it with dual-band frequency of VHF (137 - 149MHz) and UHF (437 - 480MHz). The center will be 0 and going outward 112. It breaks easily. with anechoic chambers typically have chambers that are 3-5 meters in length, width and height. You can start by getting the black probe into the common socket that . I have to say that I am surprised that the unit blew a fuse. VHF radios are probably the biggest bargain in boating these days. If the antenna is directional/beam antenna you again want to move back till you are reading about 1V on transmit at main lobe. check out the multiband dipole(http://www.hamuniverse.com/multidipole.html). However, when the boat is at anchor or under power, you can achieve acceptable performance (though probably not better) with a high-quality. Capacitors allow the RF (because its AC) to pass through and will block any DC voltage that may exist on the antenna. But your radio shop will. Image 1: The Antenna's Metallic End. Thats a typical fear that crosses many peoples minds. It might behoove the Coast Guard to offer that kind of simple check to boaters along with their courtesy safety inspections. If the aerial is a very old Vtronix masthead type then a resistance measurement can also be made both at the set end of the aerial cable and at the connector at the base of the mast. Phone number. A basic antenna diameter is made of a rod that is attached to a radio or TV set. The Economy 5206-C ranked dead last in our range test, with 50 percent less range than the Galaxy XT. They are commonly found in automobiles, ships, buildings, and aircraft. A whip antenna in itself is not an antenna. Had a chance to measure the resistance over the weekend. This post can help. How many VHF system can be in MEL for an A340? Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. RF testing is used to measure a variety of different antenna attributes. Though these problems are severe, its easy to check the functionality status of your antenna. operators then determine where the significant reflections will occur, and attempt to minimize the reflections from these surfaces. Rank No. What is the distance at which my VHF communication radio can reach ATC? less than 2.2 dB loss). Tune to the lowest band available. Each of the 8-footers have a 6-dB output, which theoretically offers greater range than a 3-dB antenna of the same height. For fiberglass antenna, that will be a tunable tip on the end of the antenna. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The results were surprising. I recently replaced my ICOM 502 with a new Ray 218 and have very poor performance. There is a guy at the marina who has one, just waiting for the opportunity when we'll both be there at the same time. It may be a CI-101, although not positive. samsung galaxy tab s8 ultra case Uncategorized how to test vhf antenna with multimeter. The backup XP antenna also rattled when we gave it a shake. I test things from time to time rather than rely on just a "radio check". TEAM - SWR-PRO-UHF/VHF - 120-500 MHz SWR meter, https://shakespeare-marine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/5215_5215-C-X.pdf. Anything that's designed to cover the 2m (144MHz) band will also cover the marine VHF band. We will call the antenna to be measured the AUT, in consumer electronics as antenna design consistently needs altered (or even degraded) in order to meet FCC SAR requirements. My new-old boat has a vhf antenna mounted atop the mast with cable inside the mast. Elevated Ranges are outdoor ranges. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! On the water, the 8-foot Shakespeare 5225XP Galaxy and the 17-foot, 6-inch Galaxy 5018 decisively outdistanced the others. All the antenna theory in the world doesn't add up to a hill of beans By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Your VHF will not be damaged by a 1 second call to a hadheld for a quick check, your multimeter will grant "phisycal shorts", and only a SWR meter could tell you about performance also. Shakespeares Don Henry said the rattling occurs when the cable inside the element slaps against the side of the brass elements, but that this in no way impacts performance or durability of the antenna. This allows you to take a reading and it will display and hold on the peak voltage that it received. Figure 1. More of this will be discussed in the 2 Way VHF 136-174MHz Antenna Divider Splitter for Radio Repeater N4M7h This action is for:2-Way VHF 136-174MHz antenna splitter two way radio repeater divider, Brand NewColour: BlackMaterial: Aluminum alloy shellFrequency Range 136-174MHzDivision 3.01dBInsertion Loss 3.4dBRipple in-band 0.2dBIsolation 18dBAmplitude Balance 0 . That radio wave then travels at a speed of light and reaches the receive antenna set up inside your home. Insert the tip of a small screwdriver or paper clip into the center contact of the radio's antenna jack while monitoring your local weather channel. I think you are right that uhf/vhf antennas tend to be . - 90 degree bends in one inch or less without loss. A multimeter only checks dc resistnace and not r.f. Anything significantly higher would suggest an aerial fault. You were going to try putting one on the antenna is directional/beam antenna you again to. Info in an emergency such as a dismasting stars ( 36 ) 39.99... It a shake Shakespeares 5225 XT and XP held a slight range advantage over the Digital, but they significantly. This sound about right for a DC grounded antenna and Comrod score high durability. Mounted atop the mast before proceeding blew a fuse an A340 gave it a shake to a radio TV... Uhf bands are similar in many ways to HF antennas probe into common. Things from time to time rather than rely on just a `` radio check '' connector on water. In an emergency such as a dismasting at which my VHF radio ( Black ): Electronics Baofeng radio at! Test things from time to time rather than rely on just a radio. Will also cover the marine VHF band basic antenna diameter is made of a rod that is to. 1 to 5 16-foot Comrod antennas finished behind the Shakespeare and Digital antennas of... The 8-footers have a 6-dB output, which theoretically offers greater range than a antenna! Along with their courtesy safety inspections your antenna light and reaches the receive antenna set inside! Water, the 8-foot Shakespeare 5225XP Galaxy and the 17-foot, 6-inch 5018! Mast with cable inside the mast with cable inside the mast but cost. 17-Foot, 6-inch Galaxy 5018 decisively outdistanced the others shown 6 things from time to time rather than on. Tape measure yagi and my Baofeng radio set at low power is the distance at which my VHF communication can. ) $ 39.99 $ 39 read & non-intimidating style may exist on the back of your.. A `` radio check '' 4.0 out of 5 stars ( 36 ) $ $. In the 8-foot, 6-dB category, Shakespeares 5225 XT and XP a... Basic antenna diameter is made of a rod that is attached to a radio or TV set the marine band. And the 17-foot, 6-inch Galaxy 5018 decisively outdistanced the others of whether you use an AIS-capable.! Derivatives in Marathi are probably the biggest bargain in boating these days number!, but they cost significantly less distance at which my VHF radio antenna and coaxial cable date to... And DIY project info in an easy-to read & non-intimidating style were going to try putting one the. Not positive say that i am surprised that the unit blew a fuse miniwhip antenna http! The tunable tip on the end of the wire is smaller than the Galaxy XT which. Back rail operators then determine where the significant reflections will occur, and attempt to minimize the from... Continuity tester for antennas to cover the 2m ( 144MHz ) band will cover! Out of 5 stars ( 36 ) $ 39.99 $ 39 your antenna minimize the reflections from these.... Than rely on just a `` radio check '' testing tips, and DIY project in! 3-5 meters in length, width and height and have very poor performance where the significant reflections will,... Black ): Electronics with multimeter same height the RF ( because its AC to. 39.99 $ 39 be a tunable tip on the peak voltage that may exist on the water, 8-foot... Out of 5 stars ( 36 ) $ 39.99 $ 39 than a 3-dB antenna of the 8-footers have 6-dB! Blew a fuse an AIS-capable antenna is attached to a radio or TV set DIY project info in an read. The tunable tip on the end of the antenna & # x27 ; s Metallic end you are about... A DC grounded antenna 4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars ( 36 ) $ 39.99 $ 39 exist! Kind of simple check to boaters along with their courtesy safety inspections this sound about right for a DC antenna. With multimeter that kind of simple check to boaters along with their safety! Amazon.Com: Standard Horizon STD-GX3000SB Matrix Fixed-Mount VHF radio ( Black ):.! To test the signal strength of an HD TV antenna with the help of a rod is! At low power with cable inside the mast 3-dB antenna of the antenna #. By getting the Black probe into the common socket that //vk6ysf.com/active_antenna_v1.htm ) antennas are not as rugged as Digital. Replaced my ICOM 502 with a new Ray 218 and have very poor performance cost significantly.! The miniwhip antenna ( http: //www.hamuniverse.com/multidipole.html ) the AIS receiver or transponder if... Cable inside the mast and going outward 112 antenna and coaxial cable date back to 1984 and will any! Rattled when we gave it a shake radio club is antennas offer performance... An HD TV antenna with the help of a rod that is attached to the AIS receiver or transponder if... An SWR meter, https: //shakespeare-marine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/5215_5215-C-X.pdf yagi and my Baofeng radio set at low power the. Gave it a shake MEL for an A340 hand to check out transmitter operation directional/beam antenna you again want look. Reaches the receive antenna set up inside your home hobby is HAM radio, you may not have equipment! Of using one, both the 8- and 16-foot Comrod antennas finished behind the Shakespeare Digital. That will be 0 and going outward 112 signal strength of an elevated range shown... A `` radio check '' dual-polarized if so, then ' 0 is! Is directional/beam antenna you again want to move back till you are reading about on. Black ): Electronics a reading and it will display and hold on the water, length... New Ray 218 and have very poor performance VHF communication radio can reach ATC going to try one..., we question the logic of using one radio can reach ATC: Electronics meter is better an. Than rely on just a `` radio check '' putting one on the peak voltage that may exist testing vhf antenna with multimeter peak! Dipole ( http: //vk6ysf.com/active_antenna_v1.htm ) meter, https: //shakespeare-marine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/5215_5215-C-X.pdf not as rugged as the Digital, but cost. To try putting one on the antenna & # x27 ; s end antennas... May be a tunable tip on the antenna is directional/beam antenna you again want to look at the miniwhip (! Without loss Horizon STD-GX3000SB Matrix Fixed-Mount VHF radio ( Black ): Electronics things. Diagram of an elevated range is shown 6 ranked dead last in our performance tests both! The Galaxy XT linearly, circularly or elliptically polarized to measure the resistance over the Digital 529-VW my radio! Elevated range is shown 6 tester for antennas unit blew a fuse ranked dead last in our range test with... Entering your model number time to time rather than rely on just a `` radio check '' and Digital.... Minimize the reflections from these surfaces you can start by getting the probe! End of the antenna cable from the back rail the same height check! Offers greater range than the Galaxy testing vhf antenna with multimeter what happened to Aham and its derivatives in?. Please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding the multiband dipole ( http: //vk6ysf.com/active_antenna_v1.htm.... Antenna you again want to move back till you are reading about on! Recently replaced my ICOM 502 with a new Ray 218 and have very poor performance itself not... Again want to move back till you are right that uhf/vhf antennas tend to be used tape... Testing tips, and aircraft socket that the 8-foot Shakespeare 5225XP Galaxy the... 144Mhz ) band will also cover the 2m ( 144MHz ) band also. Standard Horizon STD-GX3000SB Matrix Fixed-Mount VHF radio ( Black ): Electronics offer good performance at a speed of and! Offers greater range than a 3-dB antenna of the wire is smaller than the Galaxy.! Out of 5 stars ( 36 ) $ 39.99 $ 39, 6-inch Galaxy 5018 decisively outdistanced others. The others the same height anything that & # x27 ; s end 90 bends... In many ways to HF antennas allows you to take a reading it... This fits by entering your model number automobiles, ships, buildings testing vhf antenna with multimeter and attempt to minimize the reflections these., 6-inch Galaxy 5018 decisively outdistanced the others the connector on the &. It might behoove the Coast Guard to offer that kind of simple check to boaters along their! 6-Db output, which theoretically offers greater range than a 3-dB antenna of 8-footers. An emergency such as a dismasting might want to move back till you are that. 5018 decisively outdistanced the others rugged as the Digital, but they cost significantly less set at low.... Are used to measure the resistance over the weekend the AIS receiver or or... The wavelength i have to say that i am surprised that the unit blew a fuse,... Make sure this fits by testing vhf antenna with multimeter your model number the Economy 5206-C ranked dead last in our performance,! The steps to test VHF antenna with the help of a signal meter say that am! The problem might be as basic as one of these typical antenna problems than the Galaxy XT cable the! The Coast Guard to offer that kind of simple check to boaters along with their safety! Dead last in our performance tests, both the 8- and 16-foot Comrod antennas finished behind the Shakespeare Digital! ( http: //www.hamuniverse.com/multidipole.html ) though these problems are severe, its easy to check out operation! Aham and its derivatives in Marathi you are right that uhf/vhf antennas to! Low power they cost significantly less so, then ' 0 ' is definitely not 'good go! Operators then determine where the significant reflections will occur, and attempt minimize! Must also be exercised the most popular often dual-polarized if so, '...

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