Radio (stereo) aerial

[tsadpt]

Hi gang!

I am about to fit a shiny new stereo to my (GRP) yacht, and would love some advices about what to do regarding the aerial to pick up FM.

Do I need to connect the aerial socket on the stereo to either a dedicated aerial or to the VHF aerial, or can I just dangle a length of copper wire (plastic coated of course!! (like an indoor FM aerial you can buy in Dixons) down the back of the switch panel?

If I do need to go through theVHF aerial, do I need an expensive splitter like Glomex 201, or can I get away with a bit of a cut and shut job?

How have you done it?

Cheers all!

 

[boatmike]

I use an aerial designed to fit inside the front window of a car. Resembles a strip of plastic about 15inches long with a sticky pad in the middle which can be fitted vertically to any bulkhead as high as possible of course. Works very well most places I have been. Try car accessory shops....

 

[kds]

Likewise - except that mine works perfectly well stuck horizontally under side deck in a locker - draws milliamps only.
Ken

 

[bruce]

you should have a splitter if using vhf antenna and keep antenna away from anything that may radiate static into your radio.

 

[pappaecho]

I bought for a couple of quid, a flexible wire type VHP aerial which is a proper dipole - the wire is flat bootlace type and the conductors are about 1cm apart, and the whole thing is Tee shaped. This has been glued to the grp of the wheelhouse in true dipole fashion and awaits SWMBO who is going to start the headlining next week .. so she says (unless shopping gets in the way).
In any event is works very well without the headlining, and is as good as a an external dipole in fact it is so good that I can hear Gordon Brown planning to ignore the protest about duty on red diesel

 

[kds]

"I can hear Gordon Brown planning to ignore the protest about duty on red diesel "

Well ... he is bound to get something right occasionally ?
Ken

 

[scuby]

I installed a second, backup, masthead aerial for my VHF and use that, good radio reception with peace of mind.

 

[billmacfarlane]

I had trouble picking up decent FM in the UK and couldn't pick up Am at all with my original car type aerial. I bought a splitter from Force 4 which uses the VHF aerial for both the domestic radio and VHF and it works a treat. I can now pick up both AM and FM in the UK and AM in France and the VHF hasn't been affected.

 

[William_H]

I suggest you install the stereo then connect a piece of plastic covered wire to the inner socket of the aerial connector and run the wire around inside the cabin. If you find the performance unsatisfactory then you can think about more exotic antenna. The dipole type described would be good except that they would require a balanced input. ie 2 terminals where car stereos are set up for a coaxial unbalanced conductor and earth. This could be overcome by using one of those TV baluns ( a little plug a body and 2 screw terminals. Some types for a TV antenna have screw terminakls for the coax instead of the plug.You would have to connect the plug to the input socket of the stereo both earth and centre consductor while connecting the dipole to the terminals. It may be worth finding an old car radio aerial cable with the correct plug on it to make a decent connection to the stereo socket. You could probably get the plug from Maplins RS etc. also.
Try not spending money first. regards will.

 

[tsadpt]

Thanks Boatmike - this seems to be the easiest way forward - off to halfords at the weekend then!!

 

[tsadpt]

Thanks Pappaecho - This is what I was thinking of - did it come with the right connector for your car stereo, or was it the TV-type coax connector?

 

[JamesS]

We han an old Decca aerial mounted on the sternrail.

Took out the gubbins from the aerial and replaced with approx I metre of coiled wire.

Works a treat, we can pick up FM broadcasts from the UK in Cherbourg and on LW when further afield.

Cheers

 

[johnwest]

My car type FM radio aerial socket is connected to the nearest cap shroud chainplate so presumably a massive aerial. No reception problems.

 

[philip_stevens]

Go to Halfords and buy a "Rubber Ducky" type aerial, and fit or rest it vertically where suitable near the radio. Mine is working on all bands.