Poor VHF & pacific aerials splitter VHF

[SteveHall]

I am having real VHF problems, Ive changed the cable and aerial, but still no better.

I am now thinking it could be my pacific aerials splitter vhf and am/fm - anyone got any experience with these going faulty? Dont want to waste £50.

I have really poor receiving performance, my hand held picks up more than the fixed, and if i can pick anything up its normally broken.

I was going to try the cable into the VHF and remove the spitter but its not long enough, as the splitter has 3 ft tails.

I am not near the coast, so its a pain to test..

[ShinyShoe]

Stick hand held on low power and go to a simplex channel and test like that.

Grab a length of coax... A pound shop tv lead would do if it's long enough... And a couple plugs. Be fine for receiving... Of that works you know your problem. I would question why split at £50... A storage aerial would be cheaper no?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by SteveHall

I am having real VHF problems, Ive changed the cable and aerial, but still no better.

I am now thinking it could be my pacific aerials splitter vhf and am/fm - anyone got any experience with these going faulty? Dont want to waste £50.

I have really poor receiving performance, my hand held picks up more than the fixed, and if i can pick anything up its normally broken.

I was going to try the cable into the VHF and remove the spitter but its not long enough, as the splitter has 3 ft tails.

I am not near the coast, so its a pain to test..

Can't you make up a flylead just to replace the splitter?

[SteveHall]

Will make up a bypass lead and try.

Just don't want to spend £50 if it's not needed, as that's a long way to a new VHF if that's needed.


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[SPR]

you did use 50 ohm cable when you replaced it? TV & and CCTV cable is usually 75 ohm.

And 50 ohm connectors ?

S.


www.firstaidatsea.co.uk
www.SPRmarine.co.uk

[SteveHall]

Used the cable with the new antenna so assume it's all correct.


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[ShinyShoe]

Unless I'm mistaken, the resistance on the coax only make a big difference on tx not RX. It sounds like RX is the issue...

[Daniel]

Those splitters are awful things - I'm hugely against anything in the path of the single most important connection on any boat - the VHF to aeriel connection.

Best not to join vhf coax either if it can be avoided. I forget the figures but each connection adds a considerable loss.

Like someone said, fit a 2nd antenna and bin the splitter. I do realise you'll need an extension piece but it's better than a horrible splitter.

If the 2nd antenna you fit is also a VHF type then you gain a piece of redundancy.

[SteveHall]

Yep, RX is the issue...

Someone stood in sight, prob 500M away is received broken on the fixed set but fine and clear on the hand held... I can then transmit without any issues with the fixed set and they hear me loud and clear.

[SteveHall]

I do like the idea of extra antenna's

I will look at re-rigging with two and a 3rd at a later date for AIS..

Just need to work out how to fit them all on the frame..

[SPR]

Loss is Loss - IIRC unless somebody can tell me different !

They talk about Transmission in the impedance specs - anything that is received is Transmitted along to the radio to received...so cable impedance come into affect either way...

I may be wrong and happy to be corrected...best practice is to use right cable and connectors for job!

S.






www.firstaidatsea.co.uk
www.SPRmarine.co.uk

[SPR]

FM radio - I believe a few folks have fitted an antenna in the the console from car shop and has good reception ...


www.firstaidatsea.co.uk
www.SPRmarine.co.uk

[SteveHall]

So if I am to remove the splitter, and i would rather replace the current cable run so that I dont have a join - What do the collective recommend as a replacement antenna?

I would like two that match, one for VHF and one for AM/FM Radio.

[ShinyShoe]

75 will let less signal in. You are right but I don't you'd notice except at the extremes of range. But 75 will let less signal out which is bad cod it needs to go somewhere...

[willk]

Originally Posted by SteveHall

I would like two that match, one for VHF and one for AM/FM Radio.

You could go a pair of matching Glomex GRPs - one for VHF and one for FM. In a pinch the FM antenna can stand in for VHF use, so you have some redundancy.

[SteveHall]

Well I got myself a Metz antenna for my birthday (from me to me) and been and fitted it today.

I think I have found the problem with the old install!



New antenna installed and so far performance seems really good using my hand held on low power


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