Vtronics

woot · 14 October 2007, 11:02

My 5.85 built in 2005 and fitted out at Ribcraft has a Vtronics VHF antenna as shown in photo. Unfortunately the base unit is still firmly attached to the A frame but I have lost the actual antenna part, does anyone know if these are available as replacements? if so does anyone know where I can get one.
Cheers

alexm · 14 October 2007, 12:11

Welcome to the vtronix lost aerial club!

I'm afraid you are not alone, and no, you can't get just the antenna part as a spare!

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20615

ashbypower · 14 October 2007, 13:49

Check out Page 7 HERE Ok not just the whip, it includes the base but not the entire base and feed. Should be cheaper than a complete set.

wavelength · 14 October 2007, 14:45

been there- done that- lost that bit of aerial

.
The new model raider aerial does seem to have sucessfully addressed the problem with totally different base. Well I havent lost this one yet anyway

BogMonster · 14 October 2007, 14:50

I tightened mine with a pair of pliers and so far don't seem to have a problem. I thought about binding it up with insulating tape too, but I haven't got around to that yet...

wavelength · 14 October 2007, 15:42

the old model seemed capable of losing the whip whilst the retaining cone/nut thing was still attached and still tight. My last one just left the boat on a slightly "choppy" trip leaving the nut and the "O" ring inside it still in place. The insulating tape or some light fishing line twixt whip and sommat guaranteed to stay on the boat seems a good idea. I have one of the older model still on a boat and that has stayed put, the blob of silicon I put in there cos the boat lives outside all year round may be helping.
As I said t'new un seems ok-up to now- and its had a lot of trips out

woot · 14 October 2007, 17:26

Thanks guys as always very helpful information. A few more questions then, if I am buying a replacement raider how do I know if its a new or an old model? can I change the unit without replacing the cable as my cabling is through the A frame and underfloor so a major pain to change! I will have a web search but can anyone recommend a supplier.
Cheers

alexm · 14 October 2007, 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by woot

Thanks guys as always very helpful information. A few more questions then, if I am buying a replacement raider how do I know if its a new or an old model? can I change the unit without replacing the cable as my cabling is through the A frame and underfloor so a major pain to change! I will have a web search but can anyone recommend a supplier.
Cheers

Check out the link in my post above, there are pics of the new and old models. The bullet connector is directly interchangeable (I was in the same 'boat' so to speak with the coax running through the A-frame)... BUT the first replacement new design I had the bullet connector collar (where the wire screws in beneath) was extremely tight, too tight to do up by hand... the aerial ended up fracturing on the main thread and fell off! I put this down to the fact that the collar holding in the wire underneath was so tight it stressed the main body of the aerial base causing it to crack and fall off!

The second replacement seemed much better and is thankfully still attached with no problems!

woot · 16 October 2007, 20:53

I spoke to Ribcraft today after they returned a mail I had sent them prior to starting this post. They confirmed that they have had lots of reported problems of bits being lost from vtronics units. They are now having units supplied to them by vtronics with the whips fixed in place and the cable to base unit joint also fixed. Their recommendation was to fit one of these "fixed units". The drawback is that I will need to rethread the full cable length through the underfloor trunking but they assure me that this should be no problem (famous last words). I took their advice and ordered one (£47), sound like a bit more of a balls ache than I had hoped but will hopefully mean I should only have to do it once.

Tim M · 17 October 2007, 08:54

It shouldn't be too much of a pain if you simply attach the new cable to the end of the old one and gently thread it through the boat.

I think we've been through about 5 of these ariels on a Ribcraft 4.8. I prefer the standard whip type ariel - never had a problem with one of these.

Biggles · 17 October 2007, 18:01

RIBCRAFT leave a rope in the ducting for you to pull extra bits through.

Jon Brooks · 21 October 2007, 08:17

There is now another choice for short antenna.

SM Group now have the stubby Pacific Antenna in black, not just white..
Saw it at SBS and looked good.
The mount come in black as well.

Am planning to swap one of my Vtronics for this to give it a test.
Have used the white ones before with great results on both ribs and pwcs

Jon Brooks · 21 October 2007, 08:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

RIBCRAFT leave a rope in the ducting for you to pull extra bits through.

This is called a "mouse" in the trade

Biggles · 21 October 2007, 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

This is called a "mouse" in the trade

Well you learn something new everyday.

Whats the name for the rope that Utility companies leave in their underground ducting. Is that a "Rat" ?

wavelength · 21 October 2007, 13:01

Quote:

name for the rope that Utility companies leave in their underground ducting

thats a freebie-well it is judging by the amount of blue rope we see on boats which has obviously had a previous life as an employee of telecom or whoever

K&S · 23 November 2007, 13:42

Hi,
I'm about to start buying all the bits and bobs i need for my new rib.Im a bit unsure on which aerial is best and after reading this i'm now even more confused about which might be the best.
Any comments / help would be appreciated as i need to buy 2 as im planning to install AIS

Many thanks in advance
Kim

DJL · 23 November 2007, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

There is now another choice for short antenna.

SM Group now have the stubby Pacific Antenna in black, not just white..
Saw it at SBS and looked good.
The mount come in black as well.

Am planning to swap one of my Vtronics for this to give it a test.
Have used the white ones before with great results on both ribs and pwcs

Jon,

Have you had ago at swapping them?

My Vtronix needs replacing - again - and i'm very tempted to try the 1m Pacific Seamaster Pro

Alex Brown · 24 November 2007, 22:46

My Pacific aerials will be 5 years old at the end of this year, and still going stong on their flexible mounts attached to the a-frame <famous last words>. Either way, it was £45 per aerial well spent at the time methinks

-Alex

Biggles · 25 November 2007, 11:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Brown

My Pacific aerials will be 5 years old at the end of this year, and still going stong on their flexible mounts attached to the a-frame <famous last words>. Either way, it was £45 per aerial well spent at the time methinks

-Alex

Alex Brown · 25 November 2007, 12:00

Posted on another thread sometime back.

Also, a bit closer...

-Alex