Two VHF - One Antenna

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BoatCrazy

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Hey Guys

After an interesting weekend on the water my mind got to thinking. Is it possible to put two VHFs with one 8ft Shakespeare Antenna? I'm thinking no.

However, I have a 4ft AM/FM antenna that I could put a splitter on and use that as a AM/FM/VHF antenna...

Keep in mind, its a 17ft center console. I know there is no need for a 2nd VHF, but I like to monitor several stations and not have to move back and forth between them.
 
It does.

Looking to leave one on 16 and let the other one scan. I know it's silly.

I'm going to be the wireless 1 of center consoles lol
 
Till Billy gets here, I believe your "NO" is correct.

I too want to add a second VHF and what's holding me up is placement of second antenna. I don't run Scan but I use Dual Watch. Radio (Standard Horizon) will communicate on the channel showing as primary on the display. That works OK, but the Dual Watch checks the secondary channel after I transmit on the primary one. If the conversation's going quickly, I can miss the first words of the reply on the primary channel.
 
I believe too my NO is correct. However, I believe I can get a splitter for my AM/FM to use my VHF with...
 
IMHO, you cannot use a splitter on the AM/FM antenna as it's not a VHF antenna; however you CAN use a splitter on a VHF antenna. Billy can explain the difference, as it's beyond me. :)
 
Bill can tell us if a splitter would have an adverse effect on signal strength.
 
My understanding is that you can use 2 radios on one antenna. However, you will need an active powered splitter that senses when the radio is transmitting and disconnects the other radio from the antenna. My understanding is that if you tried that with a simple physically splitter, you would fry the receiver in the other radio when you transmitted. I have a similar setup on my AIS. The part is something like these.
 
Shakespeare Marine does make an active 2 VHF /1 antenna switch called the AS-2. Personally I would not have a good feeling using that switch. I just use a black box (Simrad) VHf with 2-station full-function remote handsets and scan , but that is not the same as the fully independent control you desire to have.

http://shakespeare-marine.com/shakespeare-style-2
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sandy

Shakespeare Marine does make an active 2 VHF /1 antenna switch called the AS-2. Personally I would not have a good feeling using that switch. I just use a black box (Simrad) VHf with 2-station full-function remote handsets and scan , but that is not the same as the fully independent control you desire to have.

http://shakespeare-marine.com/shakespeare-style-2

Click to expand...


We have been using one of these for about 10 years now. They work as advertised, no issues with either radio working off one antenna.
 
From what I understand, with the AS-2, the antenna will switch to the radio that is transmitting. So you can only listen to one radio at a time - the last one that transmitted something.
 
I would want to hear both at the same time. I can lower the volume on one and raise the other.

Am I better off adding another 8ft antenna for this deal to work without issue? Or will it be an issue because of the same frequency
 
Yes to a Second Antenna. The farther you can separate them, the better. Our current single one is starboard side, near amidships. Last boat we had, I added one directly opposite. Portside amidships. This boat has no obstructions portside and I want to keep it that way, so I'm planning to add the second one to the bow rail with a clamp-type mount. While an 8-ft would perform better than a shorter antenna, I think I'll go shorter on that one. Either 4-ft fiberglass or the stainless "sailboat mast" type, used to be called a Metz.
 
use a handheld? maybe attach to an external speaker? and if your boat batt dies, you have a way to call for help, new ones with built in GPS/DSC etc. are relatively cheap insurance.
 
With Shakespeare's automatic switch for 2 radios and 1 antenna the last mike that is keyed is the one the antenna is switched to. Shakespeare also makes a manual A/B switch. You can't receive on both radios at once with either of these switches. I would think that if you could and the mike from either was keyed the radios would fry.
 
If I do two different antennas, they would be about 3 feet apart. One on the right side of the console and one on the left side of the console.

Im not looking to cheap out on this deal. Keep in mind its a 17ft boat, so a splitter that costs $250 bucks doesnt pay, when I can get a vhf antenna for less then 70 bucks...

I thought about going handheld. I have an extra VHF, thats why I am looking to do this..
 
For about the cost of the second antena or controller you can buy an inexpensive handheld. I use the scanner feature as well but I also have a handheld. There are times I like to have both at the helm.
 
I really dont want a handheld. I rather not be bothered with charging it. Plus once I take it off the boat, there is no guarantee I am going to remember to take it back to the boat once its charged.
 
For about the cost of the second antena or controller you can buy an inexpensive handheld. I use the scanner feature as well but I also have a handheld. There are times I like to have both at the helm.
 
My expirience is that both radios will receive with the AS-2. I have a radio in my lower station and upper helm and both receive without me doing anything or transmitting.
 
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