Could a solar panel disturb VHF/AIS reception?

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H35

H35

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I am considering mounting my VHF-antenna, and later an AIS transponder antenna, on the same rack as my solar panel. But I'm not sure if that's so clever. Could the panel somehow disturb reception?
I thought I had very few AIS-boats registered. Checked the antenna, and by chance the antenna was in contact with the frame of the solar panel. I removed it, and another 3-4 boats suddenly showed up on the AIS list. Coincidence??IMG_3301.jpg
 
RichardS said:
I'm sure the panel would adversely affect the reception/transmission through signal shading if the panel were physically blocking the direction between the antenna and the target.

Richard
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I don't think it did. But my pier is in a sound with an island between my boat and the open fiord, so I'm not receiving "everything" from there. It could be a fluke. What I don't know is if the panel somehow gives off electronic noise, enough to knock out the weak AIS signals.
There's crystal clear radio reception at all times though. And it would be nice to get my antennas another 6 feet higher.
 
If the frame of the panel is touching (or even very close to) the metal of the aerial it will totally change the behaviour of the aerial.
It's possibly almost like shorting the signal to ground.
If it's close enough, the capacitance between the aerial and the other bit of metal makes a circuit at VHF frequencies.

The panel is also not very aerodynamic looking, so I hope you're not sailing with it in that position?
 
lw395 said:
If the frame of the panel is touching (or even very close to) the metal of the aerial it will totally change the behaviour of the aerial.
It's possibly almost like shorting the signal to ground.
If it's close enough, the capacitance between the aerial and the other bit of metal makes a circuit at VHF frequencies.

The panel is also not very aerodynamic looking, so I hope you're not sailing with it in that position?
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Don't worry. I can level it and adjust it any way I want. We have the sun at lower angles than you, so it is vital to be able to pan it towards the sun when at anchor.
 
A solar panel will not generate interference in any form. However a solar regulator may do so. MPPT regulators switch a lot (all) of current at a very high frequency 1 megahertz + or -. This switching of high current must be bypassed to avoid radiation of interference. Usually done in reg design. Although also distance of the reg from the radio will help as will bypassing power wires with capacitors and adding inductance. (ferrite beads).
A pulse width reg usually switches at a lower rate (might be wrong here) but with a small panel and large battery using power the pulse width reg stops regulating and gives straight through feed so no switching so no interference. Thus the sound of interference will change with battery voltage and load.
Having said all that it seems interference from a regulator is not a commonly reported problem. olewill
 
I agree with the last poster, I have had solar panels now for the last 4 years and either my AIS or VHF which have each their own antennas have suffered .
 
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