Can I connect my FM aerial to the rigging

[Mandarin331]

Is there any reason why I can't connect the aerial of an FM/AM car radio to the rigging?

Could this cause electrolysis?

And if so - would it be just the core of the Coax cable, or the sheath as well?

Thanks for your advice....

 

[Refueler]

I used to use a single wire core to centre pin and had it lay along curtain top in cabin. I then bought a cheap car telescopic radio antena - this is plugged in and sits in the corner behind engine box, extended so that it holds itself in place. Excellent reception and no need for leading wires anywhere.

 

[oldsaltoz]

I connected a single wire to bolt that came below from the pushpit, worked fine.

 

[pappaecho]

If you have a window in your boat you might like to consider a VHF windscreen aerial for a car which sticks along the top of the windscreen and works perfectly for me. I found mine on Ebay ( new) for about £10

 

[searover2]

Why spend money, when you can connect a peice of wire to back of radio about 3 feet long hanging out at the back of where you fit it in locker or whatever itll work fine ...........

 

[Refueler]

[ QUOTE ]
Why spend money, when you can connect a peice of wire to back of radio about 3 feet long hanging out at the back of where you fit it in locker or whatever itll work fine ...........

[/ QUOTE ]

Which is waht I suggested in my post ... justy later decided to have something better looking - hence change to cheapest car replacement antena.

My previous boat - I had a rubber duck antena on transom coaming. Lasted years !

 

[Sans Bateau]

Back to what the bloke asked, I had an FM Aeriel attached to the chain plates, thus to the rigging for many years, saw no signs of damage. Electrolysis should not be a problem as the rigging is in the air not the sea. Usually! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[tross]

If your chain plate are accessible from the interior, just rap a few turns ( as many as you can be bothered to do ) of insulated wire around them. This will act like a transformer winding - I have used this for a number of years and it works fine.

 

[Mandarin331]

Many thanks for all your thoughts, much appreciated as always. As the chain plates are accesible and next to the radio I'll make the connection as its the simplest solution.

Thanks again

 

[Gaz22]

after reading this and fitting a new CD player l will buy an aerial and try this, my question is long ago in my youth when fitting car aerials (in the days of long whip ones) we had to make sure the earth bond between the car and aerial base was good or you had a very poor reception, is this not the case these days?

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Bodach na mara]

Connect only the core, not the braid of the co-ax. I connected mine to a nearby stanchion bolt.