hobosoundguy Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Has anyone put Alp 650's on a boat? Planning to bag them up but are they just gonna disintegrate if i put them exterior on the boat. Gonna be at sea for 5 months. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Norflus Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 I'm curious if you are going to be out to sea for 5 months with out returning - or will there be trips back to shore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnpaul215 Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 I would contact Lectro directly. Also, a lot of people make those antennas, maybe somebody makes outdoor versions that are tougher, or maybe you can coat them with some sort of weatherproofing something that won't kill the range. I would carry spares too. Salt air is going to destroy your connectors too. They need to be changed to something better, or protected. Again, maybe somebody makes a permanent install version for sports or other outdoor sites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobosoundguy Posted April 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Hi lads, worse, rigging each boat with a venue and 664 and leaving it in the hands of two camera guys. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobosoundguy Posted April 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Trips will be about a wk at a time but won't have access to them regularly if ever. 4 different boats in 4 different ports on far ends of the coast. Could mount the shark fins inside but obviously your then knocking down your range. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobosoundguy Posted April 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Will have to research and if I find more rugged options will update. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnpaul215 Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Depending on the size of the boat, and the layout, I side may be fine. I've received through windows plenty of times.... Though, is the signal going through glass or the wall of the house (as opposed to your boat that's probably a steel wall). Anything most of us normally use getting that much sea spray would be toast, and probably wouldn't even last those few months. There is a solution. Offhand Deadliest Catch figured out something. I'm pretty sure they rig the boats in a similar way to your idea. Good luck and enjoy the challenge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobosoundguy Posted April 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Indeed. There is always a way. The boats are small. 50 ft'ers but the issue is they also have small skiff boats that run nets around them and basically take off away from the boat. As ever it's a daunting prospect: a fixed receiver unit preprogrammed on a shifting boat in the middle of the Atlantic with 4 tx's on board as well as another tx or two on another boat all moving in different plains generally away from each other for 5 months. Quite the pickle. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Radlauer Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Maybe you could use Omni's? I've seen some around that are in decent ABS housings so would be more durable in the conditions. Place them equidistant between the front and back of the boat....That doesn't solve your issue if your skiff boat go too far away but a boat driving off in the distance scream "cut away" to me! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkautzsch Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Indeed. There is always a way. The boats are small. 50 ft'ers but the issue is they also have small skiff boats that run nets around them and basically take off away from the boat. As ever it's a daunting prospect: a fixed receiver unit preprogrammed on a shifting boat in the middle of the Atlantic with 4 tx's on board as well as another tx or two on another boat all moving in different plains generally away from each other for 5 months. Quite the pickle. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk This sounds like a Zaxcom recording TX case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryF Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 The 650's are not going to survive 5 months of salt water. Any thickness polyethylene bag or box will not attenuate the RF. So bag them if you can and close off the bag around the cable. Throw in a bag of desiccant while you are at it. Do you need the gain of an amplified antenna, i.e., cable runs over 50 feet or splitters? The 620 might be a better choice if you don't have to have amplification. Remember, excess amplification doesn't increas your range. Best Regards, Larry F Lectro p.s. I assume you are using waterproof transmitters?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryF Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 I should have stressed use a really thick polyethylene bag and pull it snuggly to the antenna to reduce flapping. LEF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundtrane Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 What about Why not Yagi antennas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason porter Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Didn't they use G3's last season? (I am making an educated guess here) Any Lectro product with external antennas up high (as practical) will be an improvement in range. Some heavier plastic and some self sealing tape should protect those connections from corrosion, at least long enough to make it through production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Waelder Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 I think I might try to cover the sharkfins in a protective coat of some kind. Polyurethane varnish would be an obvious choice. Apply multiple coats (I'm thinking at least six, maybe ten) until there is a thick layer of varnish over the entire antenna like one sometimes sees on tables in bars. Another thought would be to dip the antenna in the plastic coating that is available for tool handles. Some tools come with a rubbery coating over the handles for good grip and insulation. That rubbery coating can be purchased in jars at most hardware stores. You might have to pour it on rather than dip. I think either of these coatings should be "invisible" to RF signals but I would recommend a test to confirm. Purchase an antenna, measure signal strength in a controlled circumstance, coat the antenna and repeat the test. If the signal is as before, then the coating did not appreciably attenuate the signal. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berniebeaudry Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 I think I might try to cover the sharkfins in a protective coat of some kind. Polyurethane varnish would be an obvious choice. Apply multiple coats (I'm thinking at least six, maybe ten) until there is a thick layer of varnish over the entire antenna like one sometimes sees on tables in bars. Another thought would be to dip the antenna in the plastic coating that is available for tool handles. Some tools come with a rubbery coating over the handles for good grip and insulation. That rubbery coating can be purchased in jars at most hardware stores. You might have to pour it on rather than dip. I think either of these coatings should be "invisible" to RF signals but I would recommend a test to confirm. Purchase an antenna, measure signal strength in a controlled circumstance, coat the antenna and repeat the test. If the signal is as before, then the coating did not appreciably attenuate the signal. David You can also buy a spray on version of the coating you're describing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryF Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 The antenna is already coated. We use a 4 layer board so there is no exposed coax line or solder points. It's not the metal of the antenna that is the problem. It is the BNC connectors and the electronics in the can. Neither of which are going to take kindly to being immersed in varnish or rubbery coating. Or salt spray. Best, LEF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandering Ear Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Buy small roll top dry bags to cover the antennas. The cable can be rolled along and still seal. You would have to use a clamp system to mount them, but the antennas would be protected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taylormadeaudio Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 I frequently use heavy ZipLoc freezer bags for mine... not out on a boat on the ocean, but definitely in some extremely inclement weather... With some adhesive or strong tape along the small opening left after zipping up the bag, they should be fine... and the freezer bags are extremely replaceable if they start to show signs of wear. One thing's for sure -- at $700 each, I wouldn't be coating or dipping them in goo (see Larry's post above.) ~tt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobosoundguy Posted April 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Oh to have the time to test and experiment. Coating seems risky I gotta say. I'd be happier debating with production for replacing a salt damaged 650 3 months from now as opposed to a glue covered one in wk 1. Thinking of heat shrinking the connectors. Then bag and seal it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taylormadeaudio Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Thinking of heat shrinking the connectors. Then bag and seal it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk This sounds prudent - except if you have to disco the cable(s) for any reason, the heat shrink might hinder that a bit? ~tt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taylormadeaudio Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Maybe you could design a type of sleeve on either side of the connection that when coupled, creates a seal without forcing a permanent connection. ~tt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryF Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Self fusing tape can easily waterproof the connectors. It is removed by slicing it off as it is fairly soft and leaves zero residue behind. You would have to re-tape any time the connection is removed. LEF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 I think I'd hit the web and look for antennas used in marine communications, that are already weather proofed…? philp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McL Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 The tape to which the estimable Mr. Fanatic refers is Rescue Tape: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=rescue+tape+silicone&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=28356971245&hvpos=1t2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13862856103333030711&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_8ez2lt360k_b Brilliant stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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