VHF and stereo sharing same loadspeaker?

[olavs]

Is there a way to have the VHF share one of the stereo loadspeakers with the CD/Radio without using a manual switch?
I have two loadspeakers for the stereo in the cockpit and would like to avoid mounting a third. It would be convinent if they could share one without me having to switch between the two. Am I asking to much....?
Thanks.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[VicMallows]

Do you still want stereo sound from the radio/cd? If you are prepared to have radio on one speaker and VHF on the other (eg while underway) this is easy. If you want to silence the radio (on one or both speakers) when the VHF comes on, this is possible but much more complicated.

Vic

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[frilaens]

Depends on your cd player maybe: a decent and recent car player will have a mute function for connecting to hands-free mobiles. I have it on mine but have never used it. I seem to remember it was an extra wire to be connected somewhere, but I don't know how it was triggered.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[pandroid]

Its not a great idea to connect two outputs (VHF/Stereo) to the same inputs (loudspeakers). We do what you describe, but we do it by taking a (signal level) output from the VHF and routing it into the 'line in' (actually CD autochanger) input of the Stereo. It works, but its easier if you have an electronics background.

On the previous boat, we simply had a loudspeaker switch. Even thats not a great idea as the Stereo would then have no load on it when the VHF is on, but most stereos can take that these days without blowing up. We actually had a four speaker system with the 'front speakers' always on in the saloon, and the 'rear' speakers switchable in the cockpit.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

Considering ch.16 etc and safety implications of listening to VHF I would keep it seperate. No argument.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[bedouin]

In theory this is quite easy to do if you know a bit about electronics. You could fit a change-over relay in the loudspeaker circuit that could switch the speakers from the CD to the VHF when it detects a signal on the VHF.

There are a number of issues to do with the loading of the output stages of the two devices that would need some care. There is also an issue with the sensitivity of the speakers. VHF speakers are designed for voice only and tend to be more efficient than speakers designed to reproduce the entire frequency spectrum, so the change-over device would probably want to include additional amplification of the VHF signal (which would also solve some of the problems with loading the VHF output stage.

Such a device would probably cost about £20 to build, but I am not aware of anyone marketing one commercially.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Birdseye]

I always think that one of the best moments in sailing is when you turn off that noisy diesel and progress silently under sail. Peace, quiet.

What on earth do you want a cockpit stereo for underway (weigh?)? Let alone a radio with all that inane radio check noise.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Ric]

Yes there is a simple way. Buy one of these:
http://www.clubsnautiques.com/thira/commutateurHiFiVHF.htm
I have one on my boat and it works superbly. On automode, you have the stereo blaring, as soon as there is an output on the VHF it switches over. You can buy them from most chandleries in France - not sure if they have a UK distributeur though.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[olavs]

Birdseye
The VHF is of course for own and others safety and when motoring I cannot hear it from the cockpit. Regarding the stereo, it's useful for weather forecast, news and some quiet music at late nights.
I appreciate silence as you when I sail and really most of the time but there are moments when listening to VHF and radio are useful.

<hr width=100% size=1>