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Does this thing really work or does it reduce your transmit and recieve of you VHF? Seems since the antenna is not directly connected to the VHF it would affect it. Icom 402 with a 8' Digital antenna is VHF setup. Not sure on AM/FM yet, what's the skinny on these, best,worst, stay away from?? Will be using the Pioneer TS-MR165 speakers with whatever radio I end up with. Don't need CD player,,,just plain ole good quality radio is what I'm on the lookout for. Didn't want another hole or antenna sticking up so was looking into the splitter.
Thanks
VHF Radio is an extremely important piece of safety equipment....your life may depend on it. I would put nothing between that radio and it's antenna...especially something that could burn out or break.
The question for me isn't does it work.....the question is: even if it does work, would I want to install it on my boat.
The installer solved my desire for no more holes rather cleverly. I now have an AM/FM antenna lying on it's side under the starboard gunnel. Seems to work OK. I admit that on the list of things that I really want to work perfectly on my boat..the AM/FM/CD is somewhere on page 3 or 4 ......
My advice would to be to avoid the use of one of those splitters but at the same time I don't think they will degrade your communicatins to any significant degree. If I remember correctly even Shakespeare will tell you at their web site that there is some signal loss but they don't say how much. So looking at the VHF as the most important piece of safety equipment on the boat (next to a PFD) I'd have to say that you'd be better off makeing alternative choices when it comes to antennas and their accessories.
Somehow I got a message from the tone of your question that while you like to listen to the radio on your boat its not the most important thing on this earth to you, and from my perspective that's good and as it should be. I've never felt that concert hall quality sound was either important or even achievalble on a small boat but I too like a little Stevie Ray now and then. To that end there are alternatives that don't require another visable antenna and its associated mounting holes. I have got suprisingly good reception of one one of those simple wire antennas that you can wrap around up under the top of the console, out of sight. The things only cost a couple of bucks ($6.99 at West Marine Item number 222184) too, so you can try one out without breaking the bank and if it works you're ahead and if it doesn't then there is time to go looking for a more intrusive alternative. A second you might consider is the on-glass AM/FM that Shakespeare makes. This one is just like the one in your truck, except that rather than being imbedded in the glass its made on a tape that adheres to you glass. This one runs around $35. Just some alternatives ....
Thom
"The amount S&P 500 corporations owe to their employee's retirement benefits plans for which they have set aside no funds: $458,000,000,000"
I did install the splitter when I installed the AM/FM/CD player in my boat. I really haven't noticed any difference in modulation or reception. If I had to do it over again after reading the post of Think Tweiss and Thom, I would have done it different. These guys know what they are talking about and maybe I should have posted before purchasing.
Some loss but not stated? I suspect if it was appreciable, then the coast guard would surely speak up and make them change it.
I have one on mine as well. Nice thing about it is, if you are on the fringe of reception (30 miles or so) and you think it may be crimping your style, you can always unplug the antenna from the separator and back into the vhf radio.
gw 208,
I used the splitter without any noticable difficulty. I have two antenas (loran, vhf) radar and two gps extensions up on the top as well as the half tower. Decided to try it since I could allways fix it later. No problelms. If seperation really bothers you emotionally, use the flexible type radio antena inside the electronics box if you have one. FM signals are pritty easy to pick up. Look at all the coat hangers sticking out of car of cars if you don't believe me.
I'd probably install the other antena if I didn't already have so much sticking out of the hardtop.
It would be interesting to see a signal strength study with/without the splitter.
Joe
Sea_Dad... just cause it doesn't make a difference today doesn't necessarily matter. That splitter is an additional point of failure...
Things fail at the worst of times. When you really need that radio to put out every milliwatt of power in an emergency is just when you'll notice the corrosion on the two additional connectors you've put in the amplifier circuit; or the splitter burns out...etc. Sure, who cares if I'm putting around where I could walk to the shore...but get out in the gulf caught in a squall, you'll be wanting a solid radio connection, and it isn't going to be that AM/FM
I sure wouldn't want to have to get behind my console to reconnect wires bypassing the splitter in an emergency.
1. There is virtually NO signal loss on VHF/FM splitters. The 94 to 108 bands(FM radio freqs) are sent one way, anything else is sent down the VHF pipe.
2. There is nothing in it to fail.
3. If "nothing" did fail anyway, you could easily(in all of 10 seconds), disconnect it, and plug your antenna back directly into the radio. No extra connectors needed or anything. So using that as an excuse is a bad one.
However, I have both the signal splitter installed on a 4' Digital antenna about 15' in the air on top of my radar arch for use on my FM radio. I also have one of those cheap $1 antenna wires that looks like a peice of clear speaker wire connected to the FM radio, laying in the inner liner of the hull of my boat. Niether seems to make any difference in FM reception except when wya offshore at which point the last thing I want to hear is a commercial!!
I don't believe you can build an antenna splitter without some loss...e.g. even ultralow loss TV splitters lose 2-3db on the insertion.
There is something inside that box...it may not be active electronics, but it is not an empty box...coils can break from vibration, etc.
It may take 10 seconds on your boat....but install that radio in the dash with access from behind, and it's not 10 seconds....
I agree that a wire/antenna somewhere in the inner liner above the water line will probably work well enough...and it does for me. I don't go out fishing to hear commercials, world news and all that stuff. I'm there to commune with nature and enjoy fishing.
think tweiss. I agree if you have the splitter mounted in the console then getting to it would surely be a pain. Mine is in the electronics box as well as my vhf so no problem swapping for me.
If the monsoon lets me take the beast out this weekend I will certainly be going past the point of no return. I will make a point of adding and removing the splitter while I am on the fringe to see if it does cause a noticable loss at distance.
As for reliability, yup it can fail.
Birdman, nice tip on the fm antenna. I think I could actually be able to string it inbetween the canvas and the frame on my T-Top. I may just explore that option.
I have a splitter with Raymarine 53 8DB Galaxy antenna with a clarion XMDR radio. I get radio stations 70 miles away and my VHF is working 40 miles. no problem. In addition, we used them in our police undercover cars for years, We had disquise antenna (AM/FM) in place of factory antenna use a spliter on our VHF -High (Same band as marine ) and no difference.
quote:Originally posted by Think Tweiss:
IIt may take 10 seconds on your boat....but install that radio in the dash with access from behind, and it's not 10 seconds....
I take it you guys don't have flip up helms? One of the first priorities on my list when I was shopping for a boat. I can't understand how folks buy a boat without a flip up helm OR some really good access. So, in my book, accessing ANYTHING behine the helm, should be "10 seconds".
Finally got back to the computer after a busy weekend.
Alot of good considerations were brought out by you all.
First off, I'm not much on not being direct wired to the VHF/antenna circuit, no breaks.
I'm sure the splitter does what it is designed to do, just in the back of my mind I will be wondering if I'm losing transmit range when I need it.
I will look into someother form of antenna for the AM/FM, try a few different options that you guys have brought out.
Thanks for your time and input.
Shakespeare AM/FM VHF splitter?? 
Seems since the antenna is not directly connected to the VHF it would affect it. Icom 402 with a 8' Digital antenna is VHF setup. Not sure on AM/FM yet, what's the skinny on these, best,worst, stay away from?? Will be using the Pioneer TS-MR165 speakers with whatever radio I end up with. Don't need CD player,,,just plain ole good quality radio is what I'm on the lookout for. Didn't want another hole or antenna sticking up so was looking into the splitter.
