Aerial Splitter

[Tony]

thanks...

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by AndrewH

Brian and Ian were making very good points, but the tech chat managed to mask it a little. In summary

1) Don't use a splitter unless you really have to - it'll compromise performance and is somewhere else for your kit to fail
2) Better solution is to have two aerials (one of which is not connected, but ready for use should it be needed)

HTH

[Jon Brooks]

I have a splitter fitted to my rib now.

It is the Easy Split from Echo Pilot.
It is not cheap but works really well.
Whilst on paper it suggest lost, in real terms I have noticed no effect.

I used this one as it goes with the Easy AIS system now fitted.

The splitter allows me to use one antenna for AIS, VHF and FM.

Good value for money really.

Am looking to upgrade the AIS to a transimt version, Echo Pilot do a splitter now to allow tx and rx for both VHF and AIS and also will do FM rx.

[MikeCC]

In case anyone wants to know how these work . .

They rely on the fact that the VHF transmit power builds up over milliseconds and that gives enough time to switch the circuit so you don't fry your AIS receiver. During receive, not a problem of course.

The reason a different splitter is needed if you have an AIS transponder is that they produce a digital signal where full power is almost instantaneous. A switch time in microseconds is therefore needed to avoid the AIS unit cooking the radio.

[9D280]

Just an observation, but

Splitter - £100+ish
Second Antenna (which will probably come with cable, plugs etc) - £50 ish.

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by 9D280

Just an observation, but

Splitter - £100+ish
Second Antenna (which will probably come with cable, plugs etc) - £50 ish.

Very true but it is not always that easy to mount a second or in my case third antenna.
So it can save time and effort in many case, is that worth £50ish? only you can answer that, but is sure was for me.

[MikeCC]

Originally Posted by 9D280

Just an observation, but

Splitter - £100+ish
Second Antenna (which will probably come with cable, plugs etc) - £50 ish.

As Jon says - depends if it's worth doing for your particular installation. eg a yacht with a masthead antenna where someone is being paid to install the cable all the way down the mast and conceal it nicely in the cabin is going to be a lot more expensive than a DIY RIB installation from A-Frame to console.

There are pros and cons - personally if there's room I'd always go for a dual antenna so you have a backup. Use a PL-259 to BNC adapter on the AIS antenna, then if you need the antenna for radio you just need to unscrew the adapter.

Also make sure that there's enough spare in the cable to reach the radio as well (yes, it did happen to a customer!)

[ChrisB123]

Hi guys,

Have just read this thread in amasements.

I have just bought an aerial splitter (Pacific Aerials) so i can run the FM radio on my Aquatic AV marine player from the same aerial that supplies the Icom.

Is this going to work?

[MikeCC]

Originally Posted by ChrisB123

Hi guys,

Have just read this thread in amasements.

I have just bought an aerial splitter (Pacific Aerials) so i can run the FM radio on my Aquatic AV marine player from the same aerial that supplies the Icom.

Is this going to work?

Sorry, missed this one. Yes, will work, no problem. OK for FM radio but probably not for AIS receiver - that's the difference.