I bought the Shakespeare ART-3 antenna tester to test 2 antennas I had. One was a Shakespeare 5225XT that was about 10 years old, and the other was a Digital brand antenna. The Digital was just one season old, but the fiberglass was broken when my shelter came down in a snow storm. I wanted to test to see if either was still useable.
Results:
Shakespeare 5225XT:
Radio power output when switched to 25 watts read just 8 watts.
The VSWR read well past 3. (1 is the most desirable. Anything under 3 is just ok. Over 3 no bueno.)
The receiver function seemed to be working ok.
Digital brand antenna:
Radio power output when switched to 25 watts read about 15.
The VSWR read at about 1.5.
The receiver function was not working at all. When testing the receiving function, a tone should be heard thru the radio noise. Nothing was heard.
Conclusion:
Neither antenna is working properly. :doh:
I guess I better order one now, so I can have it installed by the time we head to Neah Bay!
-Shawn
Was the Digital then one that got broke in half ? If not call the company, they have a pretty strong rep for standing behind their products.
Well, on the bright side.....at least you know.
One good thing he came over and out his new toy on my two radios and both seem to be in good order. It was interesting my older GX1700 put out more watts than my new GX2200. Both are connected to Shakespeare 5225 XP antennas.
Quote from: Threeweight on April 18, 2017, 10:20:06 PM
Was the Digital then one that got broke in half ? If not call the company, they have a pretty strong rep for standing behind their products.
Yup, the Digital is the one that broke. It was good to be able to test Bruce's antennas so I could see what a good set up looks like on the tester.
Quote from: wedocq on April 19, 2017, 07:06:37 PM
Quote from: Threeweight on April 18, 2017, 10:20:06 PM
Was the Digital then one that got broke in half ? If not call the company, they have a pretty strong rep for standing behind their products.
Yup, the Digital is the one that broke. It was good to be able to test Bruce's antennas so I could see what a good set up looks like on the tester.
Shawn, are you sure that you are using the tester correctly? Maybe you should swing by my place and test my radio as well, you know....just to be on the safe side, haha! :biggrin:
:yeahthat:
Please note the big difference in the output and the difference in the SWR values
With the Shakespear there was 25 watts goin in, and SWR(Signal Wave Ratio) of around 3 and only 8 watts of power being transmitted.
With the digital, the same wattage being supplied to the antenna with a SWR of 1.5 and 15 watts of power being transmitted.
This is primarily a result of the difference in the SWR. SWR is a function of how efficiently the antenna handles the frequency being applied. The larger the SWR the less efficiently the antenna is working (regardless of the power being applied).
The radio wave is an 'S" curve. When the SWR is 1, the radio waves in the antenna are perfectly synchronized and no power is lost. When the SWR increases (indicating increasing lack of synchronization) the radio waves are increasingly out of sync and cancelling the power of part of the wave. Thus the power of the radio wave leaving the antenna is reduced as in the example data reported by Shawn...
StreamFixer
Hmmmmmm i'm thinking the tester needs to be on the Arima Traveling Tools page
WE do have one, right ??? :wink:
Quote from: GregE on April 19, 2017, 09:40:34 PM
Hmmmmmm i'm thinking the tester needs to be on the Arima Traveling Tools page
WE do have one, right ??? :wink:
I will be the one sitting at the dock with the "Will work for beer" sign in Neah Bay. :whistle:
It is also possible that your radio output is only 15 watts. Manufacturers have been known to exaggerate.
Side note.... A "Standard Horizon" amplified external speaker is one of the best upgrades you can do to your boat.
(http://www.starmarinedepot.com/smd/images/prodimages/standard/sh1138-03.jpg)
Seems like a good thing for the CG aux to check during a annual courtesy check.
I get the beer part Shawn, but what's with the "work" nonsense??? :biggrin:
StreamFixer
Quote from: wedocq on April 18, 2017, 03:25:24 PM
The receiver function was not working at all. When testing the receiving function, a tone should be heard thru the radio noise. Nothing was heard.
-Shawn
So you have been talking and not listening. ??
Pretty sure Tanya would say that is no different than what he usually does :whistle:
Quote from: Croaker Stroker on April 20, 2017, 09:51:50 AM
It is also possible that your radio output is only 15 watts. Manufacturers have been known to exaggerate.
(http://www.starmarinedepot.com/smd/images/prodimages/standard/sh1138-03.jpg)
I got the same radio as Bruce's, and both of his tested at way more power!