Twin VHF antennas?

[dwna1a]

Other than looking sporty, do twin antennas really help?

 

[techmitch]

As with any thing in life/on a boat, your only as good as your back up!

 

[tc410]

Only if they're hooked up to something.

 

[dwna1a]

Ray218 with remote station

 

[tdschafer]

I added a second antenna & another vhf with AIS receiver this year. I took a side flash lightening strike a couple summers ago that blew out various electronics, most weren't even powered up. I just figured I wanted as many independent systems as possible. I also added a second chart plotter with its own gps antenna. These are networked together so that if one gets damaged they can utilize the other. I will also be getting handhelds too!


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[Molson]

My boat came with twin antennas. I discovered one of the cables is just looped and tied. Not connected to anything.


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[dwna1a]

My neighbors is the same way. I ordered and mount today and a cable T. Seems if I want them both to do something I will need to hook them up myself.

 

[xravenx]

Back in the Loran days it was an antenna for the Loran...........had it on my '90 310DA, twin antennas angled back is killer looking

 

[trit21]

You shouldn't just hook both antennas up to one transmitter using a T connection. This will change the impedance of the antennas and will effect your transmitted power and reflected power on the transmitter. Best bet would be to install a switch so in case one antenna goes out you can use the next antenna.

 

[surfinjoe]

I was thinking of adding a second VHF antenna and using a filter to hook it up as my stereo antenna. That way, I would get improved FM reception, better looks of having two antennas, and a redundant VHF antenna for 'just in case'.

 

[Molson]

I was thinking of adding a second VHF antenna and using a filter to hook it up as my stereo antenna. That way, I would get improved FM reception, better looks of having two antennas, and a redundant VHF antenna for 'just in case'.

That is exactly what I would like to do also. I was wonder what part I would require to do this. Anything has to be better than having it hooked to a bow rail stanchion bolt.

 

[surfinjoe]

There is an FM/VHF splitter that I saw. Just google it. My stereo has some whimpy little antenna from the factory. A nice 8' long one should improve reception a bit

 

[dwna1a]

We rarly use the stereo, we have a iPod docking station, but I do like the idea

 

[northshore]

If you parallel two antennas you will almost certainly end up with what is called an impedance mismatch.
Even worse, If your VHF is able to operate through the mismatch, the radiation / reception pattern will be the shape of a figure 8 with
the strongest signal off of the beam of the boat. Directly ahead and astern would be the weakest signals.

 

[dwna1a]

So the best idea is to use one as a stereo antenna?

 

[northshore]

So the best idea is to use one as a stereo antenna?

Thats how I would go....

 

[HUMPH]

Back in the Loran days it was an antenna for the Loran...........had it on my '90 310DA, twin antennas angled back is killer looking

Ooooooh Yeaaaaaaaah

 

[Overpowered]

my boat came with 1 antenna for VHF and 1 for loran but after removing the old loran i picked up a 2nt vhf antenna and now use it for the stereo

 

[moparlvr4406]

I think the major question here is .....
straight or angled :wink:
:lol:

 

[surfinjoe]

Do you need an FM/VHF splitter, or just hook it up to the stereo?

my boat came with 1 antenna for VHF and 1 for loran but after removing the old loran i picked up a 2nt vhf antenna and now use it for the stereo