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Old 10 August 2014, 13:53   #1
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Poor VHF & pacific aerials splitter VHF

I am having real VHF problems, Ive changed the cable and aerial, but still no better.

I am now thinking it could be my pacific aerials splitter vhf and am/fm - anyone got any experience with these going faulty? Dont want to waste £50.

I have really poor receiving performance, my hand held picks up more than the fixed, and if i can pick anything up its normally broken.

I was going to try the cable into the VHF and remove the spitter but its not long enough, as the splitter has 3 ft tails.

I am not near the coast, so its a pain to test..
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Old 10 August 2014, 14:02   #2
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Stick hand held on low power and go to a simplex channel and test like that.

Grab a length of coax... A pound shop tv lead would do if it's long enough... And a couple plugs. Be fine for receiving... Of that works you know your problem. I would question why split at £50... A storage aerial would be cheaper no?
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Old 10 August 2014, 14:07   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveHall View Post
I am having real VHF problems, Ive changed the cable and aerial, but still no better.

I am now thinking it could be my pacific aerials splitter vhf and am/fm - anyone got any experience with these going faulty? Dont want to waste £50.

I have really poor receiving performance, my hand held picks up more than the fixed, and if i can pick anything up its normally broken.

I was going to try the cable into the VHF and remove the spitter but its not long enough, as the splitter has 3 ft tails.

I am not near the coast, so its a pain to test..
Can't you make up a flylead just to replace the splitter?
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Old 10 August 2014, 14:09   #4
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Will make up a bypass lead and try.

Just don't want to spend £50 if it's not needed, as that's a long way to a new VHF if that's needed.


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Old 10 August 2014, 15:59   #5
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you did use 50 ohm cable when you replaced it? TV & and CCTV cable is usually 75 ohm.

And 50 ohm connectors ?

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Old 10 August 2014, 16:01   #6
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Used the cable with the new antenna so assume it's all correct.


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Old 10 August 2014, 16:12   #7
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Unless I'm mistaken, the resistance on the coax only make a big difference on tx not RX. It sounds like RX is the issue...
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Old 10 August 2014, 16:21   #8
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Poor VHF & pacific aerials splitter VHF

Those splitters are awful things - I'm hugely against anything in the path of the single most important connection on any boat - the VHF to aeriel connection.

Best not to join vhf coax either if it can be avoided. I forget the figures but each connection adds a considerable loss.

Like someone said, fit a 2nd antenna and bin the splitter. I do realise you'll need an extension piece but it's better than a horrible splitter.

If the 2nd antenna you fit is also a VHF type then you gain a piece of redundancy.
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Old 10 August 2014, 16:22   #9
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Yep, RX is the issue...

Someone stood in sight, prob 500M away is received broken on the fixed set but fine and clear on the hand held... I can then transmit without any issues with the fixed set and they hear me loud and clear.
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Old 10 August 2014, 16:24   #10
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I do like the idea of extra antenna's

I will look at re-rigging with two and a 3rd at a later date for AIS..

Just need to work out how to fit them all on the frame..
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Old 10 August 2014, 16:27   #11
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Loss is Loss - IIRC unless somebody can tell me different !

They talk about Transmission in the impedance specs - anything that is received is Transmitted along to the radio to received...so cable impedance come into affect either way...

I may be wrong and happy to be corrected...best practice is to use right cable and connectors for job!

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Old 10 August 2014, 16:29   #12
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FM radio - I believe a few folks have fitted an antenna in the the console from car shop and has good reception ...


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Old 10 August 2014, 16:31   #13
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So if I am to remove the splitter, and i would rather replace the current cable run so that I dont have a join - What do the collective recommend as a replacement antenna?

I would like two that match, one for VHF and one for AM/FM Radio.
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Old 10 August 2014, 16:33   #14
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75 will let less signal in. You are right but I don't you'd notice except at the extremes of range. But 75 will let less signal out which is bad cod it needs to go somewhere...
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Old 10 August 2014, 16:48   #15
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Quote:
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I would like two that match, one for VHF and one for AM/FM Radio.
You could go a pair of matching Glomex GRPs - one for VHF and one for FM. In a pinch the FM antenna can stand in for VHF use, so you have some redundancy.
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Old 25 August 2014, 11:47   #16
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Well I got myself a Metz antenna for my birthday (from me to me) and been and fitted it today.

I think I have found the problem with the old install!

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New antenna installed and so far performance seems really good using my hand held on low power


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