AM/FM Aerial

[david_e]

I incorrectly referred to this last week as the VHF aerial, but I think most got the jist of it - car stereo and poor radio reception. Can get local Welsh station and Classic FM, hardly nothing on AM. Radio 2 is poor.

When I got behind it I found a electric powered aerial box with small electric anteneas all mounted on the bulkhead in the electrics area.

Any thoughts as to whether the aerial just needs to be repositioned (seems to be firmly glued on) or are these aerials not suitable for boats or just not much good.

 

[ccscott49]

I got a stick on one for the window of my boat, in the saloon, no problems with reception now, however if you can't do that, I'd fit a dedicated one on the mast, if you have one, or elsewhere.

 

[vyv_cox]

I didn't have much success with that type. Can recommend the splitter block that takes a signal from the VHF aerial. We receive Radio 4 and 5 in Holland with very little interference. All FM stations no problems. Much better than when we had an aerial at deck level. Absolutely no change in VHF output or input.

 

[JamesS]

Just a slight aside - but having time to kill in Cherbourg last year I decided to convert my old Decca aerial to FM/LW to improve the very poor reception on my new Blue Spot (car) radio I'd just installed on the boat.

The only real use the old Decca has is that there is already a length of of co-axial cable in place between the cockpit rail and the chart table together with a waterproof housing for the aerial.

The results were fantastic - Long Wave superb, even able to pick up Radio 4, Radio Solent. Classic FM, Radio 2 on the FM wavelength - not bad for the north coast of France! The quality of the FM reception did vary on occasions though.

This was covered in one of the mags some months ago - but if you want further details - let me know.

Cheers

 

[billmacfarlane]

Using a splitter can you use the VHF and radio at the same time ? I'm thinking of what happens to the radio when you transmit on the VHF at 25 W.

 

[tr7v8]

In short nothing, one of the splitters functions is to decouple the TX from the broadcast am/fm unit.

Jim
----------

 

[David2452]

Run a wire to your pulpit or pushpit mounting bolt, no cost, works wonders.

David

 

[vyv_cox]

Yes, confirm that there is no interference either way.

Vyv