AIS aerial recommendation - stubby, pulpit mount

JumbleDuck

JumbleDuck

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Fedex tracking shows my HP-33A moving steadily up Britain, so it's time to think about a VHF antenna for it. If I go for a second aerial (I'm still considering a Glomex splitter[1] and the masthead one, for simplicity and added range), I'd like a stubby one [2] on the rear pulpit. Metal mount, not plastic[3]. Any recommendations? I'm thinking of this one, also by Glomex[4]:

image_2014-12-30--1.jpg


[1] Yes, I've seen the dire warnings about splitters, but since reattaching the aerial connection to the VHF in an emergency would be precisely the same amount of work as connecting the AIS aerial to the VHF in an emergency, I'm not too bothered.

[2] Appearance. Whip antennas low down are a bit "motorboat" for my taste

[3] I just don't like plastic brackets

[4] In the AIS frequency version
 
I got the Shakespeare AIS specific stubby and looked for a suitable mount. Whilst looking, I used two cable ties through the screw holes to hold it in place tpempororarily. It's still there three years later. I realised several things, the pushpin mounts are bulky, expensive and not very good to look at, where as the cable ties were firm, secure and easily adjustable along with no bulk.
 
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If racing - the ORC regs stipulate you have to have it at the top of the mast...

Anyway our digital yacht transceiver has it antenna on the back rail but the reception is only 'ok'.
 
I use a Metz Manta aerial for my AIS receiver, which also doubles as an emergeny aerial should it become necessary.

Just move the plug from the AIS to the VHF, takes 30 seconds. And its a non ais tuned version, and I still get targets at 40 miles and more.

Ian
 
savageseadog said:
If racing - the ORC regs stipulate you have to have it at the top of the mast...
Click to expand...

I never race, unless I see a slower boat in front of me.

ianfr said:
I use a Metz Manta aerial for my AIS receiver, which also doubles as an emergeny aerial should it become necessary.

Just move the plug from the AIS to the VHF, takes 30 seconds. And its a non ais tuned version, and I still get targets at 40 miles and more.
Click to expand...

Thanks. They look very good, but I really don't want a whip at pulpit level. If the masthead one ever falls off I'll probably get a Metz replacement.
 
RichardS said:
I would recommend a good quality active splitter (DY, VM etc). Fit and forget ........ and no reservations about range.

Richard
Click to expand...

Thanks, Richard. The trouble with the really posh active splitters is that they cost almost as much as the HP-33A (more, in some cases) and I am doing this on a bit of a restricted budget. Hence it's probably the Glomex splitter or a second antenna.
 
I have fitted one of these on my pushpit together with a changeover switch that allows me to swap masthead and pushpit antenas between VHF and AIS. This way I also have an emergency VHF aerial already fitted as well. I am told that the changeover switch may not be the most efficient thing from an RF point of view but seems to work OK and could easily be replaced by 2 double female PL539 connectors for better efficiency. I just like being able to flick the switch.

Yoda
 
An antenna for the stern rail is nothing magical. You can make one out of 17 inches of SS or brass rod. You need to make an insulator that will hold it rigid on the rail. You need to connec the centre of the coax to the rod and the outer of the coax to the rail at the base of the rod. Mine is in a post about 60cms high above the stern rail the rod extending out of that. It works extremely well as my main VHF antenna so will be fine fo emergency or AIS. Yes set it up like Yoda but with the ability to change cables rather than a switch.
good luck olewill
 
I have gone for the splitter, that has also an FM output. Works a treat and ensures best xmit/reception range being up on the mast. I have a backup VHF on pushpit, but I leave it disconnected because the range is not so good.
 
If you at some point want to exchange your AIS receiver for a tranceiver, then take into account that most splitters will not work when sending AIS sentences.
 
I have a Banten stubby one on ebay: Item 281599120565 for £25 post free. Unused and with bracket and 10m cable.

Force 4 were doing an offer last month on the Smartfind AIS receiver for £150 with free antenna, didn't need the antenna.
 
JumbleDuck said:
Fedex tracking shows my HP-33A moving steadily up Britain, so it's time to think about a VHF antenna for it. If I go for a second aerial (I'm still considering a Glomex splitter[1] and the masthead one, for simplicity and added range), I'd like a stubby one [2] on the rear pulpit. Metal mount, not plastic[3]. Any recommendations? I'm thinking of this one, also by Glomex[4]:

image_2014-12-30--1.jpg


[1] Yes, I've seen the dire warnings about splitters, but since reattaching the aerial connection to the VHF in an emergency would be precisely the same amount of work as connecting the AIS aerial to the VHF in an emergency, I'm not too bothered.

[2] Appearance. Whip antennas low down are a bit "motorboat" for my taste

[3] I just don't like plastic brackets

[4] In the AIS frequency version
Click to expand...

I got poor reception on AIS with a stubby.
 
RichardS said:
I'm afraid that is incorrect. I bet there are dozens on this forum who, like me, have a transceiver and a splitter and can watch their boat on Marinetraffic.com

Richard
Click to expand...

Yikes - I trust that you are using an active splitter.... ?

As Thalassa says - There are lots of people probably using a simple £10 splitter. I would not really want an AIS transmission to share a simple splitter with the implications that the power output from the AIS transponder will be directly seen at the input of the VHF radio. The active antenna splitters cut the input to the radio for the brief transmission period of the AIS transmission.
 
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