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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 General Sailing Forum
 VHF / FM splitter		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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szymek
Navigator

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Canada
209 Posts
Initially Posted - 09/16/2012 :  20:52:24  Show Profile
Has any of you used Shakespeare AM/FM / VHF splitter?

I just installed my stereo and I'm wondering if it's worth getting the splitter? Or what would you recommend for fm antenna?
Daniel
Shy Tuna
1985 C-25: SR/FK/TR #4838
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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts
Response Posted - 09/16/2012 :  23:13:23  Show Profile
I personally wouldn't use the VHF for the simple reason that I don't want anything to interfere with its primary operational purpose. Radio Shack sells a few low profile antennas. The one I have is basically a wire.

Sten
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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 09/17/2012 :  06:04:34  Show Profile
Using a masthead VHF antenna for FM reception might help in receiving fringe FM signals, but it won't be much better than the built in antenna for a stereo signal. FM stereo is very sensitive to noise and polarity, and an omni-directional antenna antenna designed for 156-7 MHz isn't much different than a hanging wire for the 90-108 area of FM radio; the tuned nature might even make it worse. I wouldn't bother.
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szymek
Navigator

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Canada
209 Posts
Response Posted - 09/17/2012 :  12:19:47  Show Profile
Thanks Sten and Dave!

Ok... I will go to Radio Shack to see what they've got. I never thought it would be possible to use the masthead VHF antenna for am/fm reception. And then I stumbled upon that splitter (hence my question). But in this case, I think I will stick to the basics as originally designed: VHF antenna for VHF signal and AM/FM antenna for tunes on board.

Daniel.
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5429 Posts
Response Posted - 09/17/2012 :  18:04:01  Show Profile
Daniel
I recommend one of two antenna types for FM. For AM however the antenna is completely different - but who listens to AM anyway?
1. Rabbit ears - they are made for TV channels 2-13. Turns out FM is located adjacent to TV channel 6.
2. Flat wire Tee dipole - it looks like old-style flat twin-lead 300 Ohm TV antenna wire in the shape of a Tee. You can buy a premade Tee dipole, usually called an FM antenna, in Radio Shack stores for a few $.
Or you can get 2 pieces of wire about 30" (76 cm) long and connect them to the terminal screws.
Any one of these approaches will work fine.
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DGuinn
Deckhand

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15 Posts
Response Posted - 09/18/2012 :  07:29:06  Show Profile
If you look inside the splitter, all that is inside is a tap onto the woven wire wrap of the VHF coax. I have never noticed any interference w/ the VHF reception.
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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts
Response Posted - 09/18/2012 :  07:47:18  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by DGuinn</i>
<br />If you look inside the splitter, all that is inside is a tap onto the woven wire wrap of the VHF coax. I have never noticed any interference w/ the VHF reception.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Are you sure? I would hope that there is some passive circuitry in there to block (or at least severely attenuate) your VHF radio's transmissions from going into the FM radio or TV. Transmissions on ch16 go out at 25 watts, and I would be concerned that it could cause damage to the circuitry of the other components. This is one reason that I think it's a good idea not to use a splitter and to have a separate antenna for your stereo/TV.
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts
Response Posted - 09/18/2012 :  08:06:39  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by TakeFive</i>
<br />Transmissions on ch16 go out at 25 watts, and I would be concerned that it could cause damage to the circuitry of the other components.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Ditto.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.