VHF question. What is a 'combi' antenna and is it any good?

[Airassmith]

VHF question. What is a \'combi\' antenna and is it any good?

I have a 'combi' VHF masthead antenna installed on my boat leading to a splitter box with VHF, FM and phone connector sockets on it. The antenna is about 30-40cm long (from memory) with a horizontal loop or near circle in the antenna a few cm up from the base. Its a new boat for me and last summer I had some difficulty raising Coastguard when I expected to be within range. Is this sort of antenna as efficient as a normal 1m whip type? I don't need the phone, or even really the FM part. Is it worth changing to a conventional antenna ?
cheers
Dave

 

[oldsaltoz]

Re: VHF question. What is a \'combi\' antenna and is it any good?

http://www.alphatronmarineparts.com/index.php?page=products&cat=134

 

[William_H]

Re: VHF question. What is a \'combi\' antenna and is it any good?

The antenna with the splitter in the system must be far less efficient than just proper antenna. An antenna for mobile phone and FM broadcast radio are cheap enough so I can't imagine anyone buying a combi antenna. However having said that I don't know if it is worth changing the antenna until it gives trouble.
You should have a standby antenna for VHF marine com so it would be interesting to compare the combi with a standby antenna.

good luck olewill