VHF Antenna

[Havin' Fun]

I just purchased a new VHF radio and I am wondering what I should do for antenna. I need an antenna that will work in a 10 mile radius or so. Any good ideas? Shakespear makes some 8'ers that are reasonable, how are those?

Thanks for any input.

[Hooked On a Feeling]

Hammer, I would buy an 8' footer if you can, I have one and works great. My father has a 3' footer, works o.k. except when we all fish lake winnie and all of us with the 8' comunicate well, while my father's 3' only let's him listen and not broadcast when there's alot of distance between boats. I'd spend the extra if you can and do it right the 1st time. Make sure you mount the radio at least 3 feet away from your antenna to eliminate interference. Good luck. Oh, one more thing, I believe my antenna is 5/8 wave.

Hooked

[PerchJerker]

Go with an 8 footer. The 3s and 5s really hurt your reception. Guys with longer antennas will pick up transmissions from shorter antennas, but guys with shorter antennas really limit themselves on what they can receive. Shakespeare's web page should have some good info about antennas and how to determine the range you can expect. Good luck.

[Moose-Hunter]

An 8' antenna is the only way to go. The shorter models just don't have the same abilities as the longer 8 footer...

[Xplorer]

I just picked up an 8' shakespeare 5225 for my boat out on Lake Superior and up in Voyageurs. I dont think that you can go wrong with this model, good all-around rating per Russ at Marine General here in Duluth.