AIS Receiver

[dsherburn]

I have a Digital Yacht AIS receiver (receive only, not a transponder yet). Being the AIS wont be transmitting, can I utilize a relatively low cost VHF antenna splitter? Or will this compromise the VHF Radio transmit/receive?

 

[Admiral S]

I find the splitters do impact VHF radio performance. I always install a secondary antenna specific for AIS. Shakespeare makes a number of options.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

many people do use a splitter for AIS to avoid the install of a second antenna. (note antennas need to be spaced sufficiently so placement can be hard)

check out the miltech marine website and ask them for advice. they are experts in this.

https://www.milltechmarine.com/

 

[SassyRed]

Second Milltech. Doug Miller, the President, knows and specializes in AIS and as far as I know has a strong reputation.
I see they will be at the Seattle Boat Show too

 

[knotflying]

I am pretty sure that AIS receive only does not require a splitter or a second antenna. Usually the antenna connections work between the AIS unit and the VHF.

 

[Admiral S]

I am pretty sure that AIS receive only does not require a splitter or a second antenna. Usually the antenna connections work between the AIS unit and the VHF.

You are correct, most AIS receivers have a built in antenna splitter.

I noticed a significant improvement in my VHF radio performance when I took it off the AIS receiver splitter, and giving its own antenna.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Wee Venture]

A separate dedicated VHF antenna for AIS is a great solution if you can get the required separation (at least 6’). The early splitters were simple and had a lot of loss. However, splitters are made now that are “zero insertion loss” and work very well although they are not cheap. They work by amplifying the signal a bit to make up for the small loss that would otherwise be present and give you a signal that is as strong or stronger than you would have with a single straight-through coaxial cable. I can see very little downside to them except for the fact that, if you are using a transponder to broadcast your position, your position will not be updated during any period that you are keying the microphone on your VHF radio. I figure I go slow enough though, and transmit rarely enough on my VHF, that this shortcoming will make little difference in the real world. The model splitter I use (which I got from Doug at Milltech, along with my transponder) is the AMEC CUBO-162. I am very happy with my system and have noticed no VHF degradation, though that is just my subjective impression.

John