11) Bodø, the VHF Hunt

Its been a grey day, wet at times, blowing all the time, so the hood on the anorak wouldn’t stay put. Nevertheless……

Where to start the hunt? Much googling had turned up several possibilities, but the most promising being the actual Coastal Radio North offices here in Bodø. They would surely know. It took several circuits of a very large modern building to find the right entrance. Help from a native had pointed one out to me with a lift, and “one of the upper floors”. Into the lift. Read list, 6th floor, easy! Push button for floor 6. No movement. Try again. No. Voice operated? Try. Still no. (Have you seen the Youtube video of the two well-accented Scots in a voice-operated lift? Priceless!). Then I noticed a numberkeypad. Obviously only for the initiated. Outside again. New circuit. Another, more helpful,, showed me. Correct. Lift, friendly this time. 6th floor, correct offices. Door locked. Ring mobile number. “I’m at the door, can I come in”. (She showed me where the doorbell button was, on the other wall). Cringe.

“I have VHF problems, (explanation, head nods), and I’m looking for an expert who can find them, whom could you recommend?” Very tall man appears, with nearly empty, brown coated, coffeecup. “Here is your man, Radio Inspection Himself”. New explanations, questions, answers. Arnold says “Well, I could come and have a look myself, but I cannot do any sort of repair work, not my job”. Wow! Yes please!! Office. Details, of boat, VHF, calling sign, antenne configuration. Picks up a small case and marches out to lift and car. Thankyou, in the rain.

Josin is Ok for my height, 1,8 m, but Arnold had to bend. Setup explained. Arnold opens case, places an instrument on the table and connects wires to Josin’s antenna wires. Pushes buttons. “Not much here”. More button pushing. Test VHF conversation with the nice voice on the 6th floor. “Very strong signal here in the harbour, don’t really need an antenne”. More tests, with distant transmitters up the coast. Deadly silence. Simple conclusion: Mast antenne’s connection probably wet, partial short circuit.

Test the reserve antenne on the pushpit, aft. Nothing. Josin is now officially antenne-less. So: Where can I buy a new one? “Electro, its on my way”. Amazing service. And then he gave me two Coastal Radio mugs.

(I sincerely regretted not having brewed a thermos earlier). “No thanks, I’d better get on”. Having dropped me off he headed back towards town.” On my way”, indeed! Kindness itself. Thankyou Arnold!

Electro, Kenneth, equally helpful, piled antenne-things onto the counter. Very posh and comprehensive. Unfortunately it was not compatible with what is already on the boat, so we regretfully had to agree that it was a no-sale, so far. If I couldn’t source something compatible, I’ll be back. “OK. Any time, here’s my card”.

Electro is a good step out of town. My Apple watch indicates I have walked 6,9 Km today. Yes probably, and it was windy, anorak hood uncooperative, and rainy. Very good exercise though. Back to the other shop, which didn’t have a suitable fender on saturday. But it did have a very suitable antenne, with a very long lead on it. Bingo! Wave plastic. Back to boat. Retire, rather weary, for a dry-out and coffee and lunch.

Mounted new antenne on pushpit bracket, routed the cable temporarily through the hatch and connected up. Test. – Coast radio north, coast radio north, this is Josin, Josin, on channel 16. “Loud and clear”. – Thankyou. Josin out. Phew! At least Josin is now legal, but with a reduced range, due to the low placement of the antenne. Not looking forward to re-routing the cable. Need to empty the cockpit lockers, and descend and squirm and twist and reach. And then get out again. Knees permitting. Rain must stop first. Thankful pause.

But our position via AIS on MarineTraffic does not show. Gnashing of teeth. Must be another problem. Another day.

Alls much better.