relvidge
Member
What is the forums thoughts on either installation. Using an aerial splitter or a separate aerial fitted to the pushpit or backstay
AIS Aerial Splitter or Separate One
- Thread starter relvidge
- Start date
captainslarty
N/A
use two. dont use a splitter... you will blow the crappo out of your ais on tx more than likely.
stevebirch2002
Well-Known Member
Use two aerials then one can be used as an emergency if the mast comes down! Agree with Captlarty that you will end up blowing the transmitter of the VHF or the receiver of the AIS sooner or later. RF is a weird and wonderful thing.....
Steve B
Steve B
Anthony
Well-Known Member
Agree use two seperate ones, but ensure there is a little space between them.
Anthony
Anthony
steve6367
Well-Known Member
I use the Easy AIS spitter - no probems with it. All works exactly as described.
yerffoeg
Well-Known Member
The problem with an aeriel at near sea level is that it won'r have anywhere the range of a masthead aeriel. Those big ships move fast!
roly_voya
Well-Known Member
The trouble with arial splitters is that they seem to cost a lot more than a second arial so whats the piont!
boatmike
Well-Known Member
I agree. I bought an easy AIS (£180) and got the splitter for £40 from MES last week. AIS needs line of sight VHF just as your radio does and if you mount it too low down you may not get signals from vessels until they are closer than you would like. I would challenge those who say it will blow your AIS to give us evidence of their statements. Why? Who has ever had this happen? Do you think the same company that makes the AIS would supply a splitter to work with it if they thought it would blow itself up? Sorry but I really don't think unsubstantiated statements like this are helpful!
captainslarty
N/A
Ok boatmike.. its a voltage sensed rf relay....
the relay fails or the v sensing circuit fails.. kaput... good night vienna...
A seperate antenna wont.... ever.. never, nowt... lol
the relay fails or the v sensing circuit fails.. kaput... good night vienna...
A seperate antenna wont.... ever.. never, nowt... lol
ctelfer38
Well-Known Member
A penn'orth from me. An AIS aerial mounted on the pushpit rail gives a very safe and useable signal in terms of target distance /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
captainslarty
N/A
agreed OM.. it is not the height of the antenna, but the combined height of BOTH and the actual path inbetween..
Mind you, informed people drive a ketch lol.. just so they can have one on each mast...... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Mind you, informed people drive a ketch lol.. just so they can have one on each mast...... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
pvb
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
A penn'orth from me. An AIS aerial mounted on the pushpit rail gives a very safe and useable signal in terms of target distance /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
[/ QUOTE ]Absolutely right, especially when you remember that AIS displays generally only show the nearest targets anyway.
A penn'orth from me. An AIS aerial mounted on the pushpit rail gives a very safe and useable signal in terms of target distance /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
[/ QUOTE ]Absolutely right, especially when you remember that AIS displays generally only show the nearest targets anyway.
steve6367
Well-Known Member
If the unit fails it simply connects the aerial to the VHF and AIS stops working. This seems a sensible solution........I am sure if there is a catashrofic mode of failure that could lead to problems but I would be interested to see if there is a history of this…..to my knowlede they sell lots of them and they seem to work.
I guess it comes down to personal choice......For me it works and I also have a spare aerial on board ready for mounting and a portable.
I guess it comes down to personal choice......For me it works and I also have a spare aerial on board ready for mounting and a portable.
Amphitrite
Well-Known Member
Ultimately it is a matter of personal choice. However, having sold them by the dozen, not a single problem was ever reported.
While a splitter keeps installation simple and maximizes range, a pushpit mounted second antenna keeps the systems separate with reasonable range. BTW, only the NASA display unit is limited to showing only the nearest targets.
Now these splitter are even available for Class B transponders, as two transmitting antennas do not fit the same mast-top. (but same arguments are valid for a pushpit mounted AIS antenna)
While a splitter keeps installation simple and maximizes range, a pushpit mounted second antenna keeps the systems separate with reasonable range. BTW, only the NASA display unit is limited to showing only the nearest targets.
Now these splitter are even available for Class B transponders, as two transmitting antennas do not fit the same mast-top. (but same arguments are valid for a pushpit mounted AIS antenna)
pvb
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
BTW, only the NASA display unit is limited to showing only the nearest targets.
[/ QUOTE ]Raymarine and Standard Horizon plotters will only show, I think, a maximum of 100 AIS targets. Do they select these randomly, or are they the nearest ones?
BTW, only the NASA display unit is limited to showing only the nearest targets.
[/ QUOTE ]Raymarine and Standard Horizon plotters will only show, I think, a maximum of 100 AIS targets. Do they select these randomly, or are they the nearest ones?
boatmike
Well-Known Member
I just got back from Greenham Regis (for something entirely unrelated) and showed them a copy of your post. Their answer was not very politely put but the essence of their reply was that they did not agree with you. I have therefore put the question to EasyAIS in Germany by e-mail. "Is there any failure mode of the EasySPLIT that could cause the VHF to damage the AIS unit or chartplotter when transmitting. It will be interesting to see their answer which I will duly post when received.
