A VHF that doesn't reach the Coast Guard is a safety problem. Bad reception or transmission is almost always the antenna, the connector, or the coax — not the radio.
What to Check
1
Antenna connector corrosion
PL-259 connectors at the radio and antenna base corrode and lose continuity. Cut and re-terminate before replacing the antenna.
2
Coax cable damage
Old or kinked coax kills signal. RG-58 should be replaced with RG-8X for runs over 20 feet.
3
Antenna ground
VHF antennas need a solid ground plane on metal boats. Check ground strap continuity to the bonding system.
4
DSC / GPS input
If your DSC distress button doesn't transmit position, the GPS feed to the radio is broken.
When to Call Us
We test forward and reflected power with an SWR meter to know exactly where signal loss is happening — then fix it at the cause.