Morgan Jane
Active Member
The FM antenna for the Helm 12 Volt FM Radio in my boat is buried behind the helm electronics. Needless to say, I get very crappy reception. You guys got a better solution?
Bill
Bill
FM Antenna
- Thread starter Morgan Jane
- Start date
- Jun 2, 2008
- 5,024
- Boat Info
- 1998 450 Sundancer, Achilles dinghy w/15hp
- Engines
- 3126 Cat's
My antenna is buried in my helm dashboard too, but I stream off of my phone hotspot if I am listening to music so it's never a concern.
bbwhitejr
Well-Known Member
Ditto...however, I have seen people mount FM antennas on the arch and get incredible reception. Just a lot of wire to run....
Bennett
sbw1
Well-Known Member
- Oct 10, 2006
- 8,188
- Boat Info
- This is listed in my signature
- Engines
- This is listed in my signature
Our FM antenna was located on the hardtop and served as the radio and TV antenna. Worked fine for both.
Cocktail Time
Well-Known Member
- Jul 9, 2007
- 1,208
- Boat Info
- 1998 400 Sundancer, Garmin 840xs GPS, Furuno Radar, B&G GPS pilot etc.
- Engines
- Cat 3116's, Westerbeke 7.6 BTD
Do you have a glomex tv antenna from sea ray on your top? If so there is an FM antenna output on the amplifier if you want to run the cable to your radio. Another option is to add an fm separator to your vhf antenna. This was a really easy solution on a couple boats I have set up. https://shakespeare-ce.com/marine/product/4357-s-amfmvhf-marine-band-separator/
bbwhitejr
Well-Known Member
Morgan Jane
Active Member
You guys are so smart. The splitter is a crazy cool solution. Will order one today. Thank you guys.
JHornsby3
Well-Known Member
- Nov 10, 2020
- 1,392
- Boat Info
- "Steele'y Tutz"
1992 300 Sundancer
- Engines
- Twin 4.3L W/Alpha One Gen II
In our runabout, I put a new AM/FM in and used a booster. Just a box that plugged into the back of the radio and then the cable. Not that it helps much as radio stations kind of suck around here. So when we got the DA, I put in Satellite radio. I use the same head unit from the car, house and an inline FM splitter to a dock in the boat.
yobub
Well-Known Member
You will find many discussions and many opinions as to whether a VHF splitter degrades the VHF signal. Consider researching before buying so you aren't surprised at the results. Works fine for many people, some others will tell you your boat will sink immediately after installation.
atrick
Active Member
- Mar 4, 2017
- 550
- Boat Info
- 1998 400 Searay Sedan Bridge
1995 Searay 290 Sundancer
1990 21 maxum
2001 24' FlotBot Pontoon Boat
- Engines
- Twin 3116 Cats
Twin 4.3 mercrusers
305 chevy with a alpha one drive
Yamaha 90 HP Outboard
You can buy amplifiers for fm anttenas
Pirate Lady
Well-Known Member
2 antennas, rear 8’ is vhf, front 4’ is fm. I normally would not have installed it but PO put some old antique antenna there so this was cheaper then filling the 5 holes it left in the side wall.
Spark600
Well-Known Member
- Dec 28, 2013
- 460
- Boat Info
- 2015 Sundancer 410
Onan Generator
Mercury dinghy
- Engines
- Cummins QSB HO 380 HP
Zeus Pods
In a Formula I had they used the bow rail as the antenna, Worked ok
bahamabreisus
Well-Known Member
- Oct 25, 2007
- 2,556
- Boat Info
- 370 dancer, previous 500,420,390,300 dancers
- Engines
- 454 CI MPI
What's FM. 
Jus Cruisin
Well-Known Member
That's me, as well. I have siriusxm in the vehicles and I stream it or pandora on the boat.What's FM.
Beat me to it. Where I live radio is spotty at best to Sirius XM was a life saver.What's FM.
