mcmurdo F1 DSC, Installation Manual

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Page 3
Mounting options
Introduction
To ensure high performance of the F1 DSC Radiotelephone it is very important that the
installation guidelines described in this book are followed.
When installed make sure the radio is fixed to a solid surface. The mounting surface to
which the radio is fixed must be as solid and as free of vibrations from the ship's engine
or other vibration generating sources as possible. Extensive vibrations can damage the
communication quality and in the worst case make communication impossible.
Cables specified in this installation manual are recommendations only, but to achieve
the full performance of your radio it is advisable to follow these recommendations. The
cables specified are not shielded, but it is recommended to use shielded cables when
other electronic instruments are mounted close to the radio. Special attention has to be
paid to cables from another instrument running parallel to the cables for the F1 DSC
Radiotelephone and to cables carrying high alternating current. Such cables can cause
radio interference, which can disturb communication on one or more of the VHF
channels.
The F1 DSC Radiotelephone uses components containing magnets. To ensure correct
operation of your compass, it is necessary to mount the radio transceiver no closer than
0.5 metres to any compass installed in the vessel.
The VHF communication range is limited to line of sight. It is therefore very important
that the antenna is installed as high and as free of obstacles as possible. It is also
important to ensure that the connection from the antenna to the radio uses a 50
Ω
low
loss cable, and that the connectors used are of the recommended type and fit the cable
used. The recommended coax cables RG58 and RG214 or equivalent must be installed
with caution; it is a good principle not to bend the cables to a smaller radius than 10
times the cable diameter. In sailboats the antenna is often installed at the top of the
mast, requiring a long cable between the radio and the antenna. To obtain the
maximum performance of your radio it is recommended to use a low loss coax cable;
the RG214 is a low loss cable.
The F1 DSC Radiotelephone is watertight; if installed following the instructions in this
manual, the complete installation will be watertight also. When installing in a bulkhead it
is recommended to use the McMurdo bulkhead installation kit, which is available in two
versions: a bulkhead mounting kit and a flush mounting kit. Both kits will when installed
with care create a watertight seal.
WARNING: Observe the Radio Frequency Exposure Warning in the front
section of this manual regarding installation of the antenna.