Our dealer installed the stereo on our new Hunter 36. We have had major problems with the dealer and have had to take matters into our own hands to fix the problems. At first, the XM feature did not work because the antenna was not installed properly. After having a car stereo installer redo the installation, we have had good reception with the XM and no real reason to listen to AM or FM. However, now that football season is here, we tried to get the first LSU game which was being broadcast on two FM stations and at least one AM station. We got great reception in our car, but poor to none on the boat at the marina where the car was. All we have is some sort of string antenna that is plugged into the back of the radio. Does anyone have any suggestions on what is really needed. Our Hunter 33 that we lost to Katrina last year had a stereo which was installed by Hunter at the factory and we never had this problem.
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Try This
Move to Ohio where you can listen to Ohio State football.........Go Buckeyes! after the way the referee's treated you guys you deserve a big break......see you at the Fiesta Bowl?
Move to Ohio where you can listen to Ohio State football.........Go Buckeyes! after the way the referee's treated you guys you deserve a big break......see you at the Fiesta Bowl?
Antenna attached to toe rail
on our H36 Cherubini by previous original owner. Similar to your problem, I have never received acceptable AM reception, FM reception is fine; no XM on this vintage 36. Recently, the CD changer went belly up and now am in market to replace the AM/FM/CD unit with something else. I traced the antenna wire from the back of the radio. It is bundled with who-knows-what wires through the circuit breaker panel and up to one of the bolts that attach the aluminum toe rail to the boat. Tried reattaching the wire without rerouting the antenna wire elsewhere; but no improvement. Seems the AM interference is strongest when shore power is plugged in at the marina and the battery charger is on. When I'm away from shore power without the battery charger on, AM reception is improved. I think I'll unbundle the antenna wire for the next try and route it up to something like the bimini frame and see what happens. Don't have much hope in that. I suspect the problem lies in the boat grounding system. Maybe if the radio antenna was attached to an instrument-type ground separate from the main ground (the engine crankcase), the interference would go away. All metal components on my boat have been electrically connected/bonded for corrosion purposes by PO. On the other hand, I may just stop listening to AM and keep my Jimmy Buffet CD handy. Good luck, fair winds and following seas. Mike s/v Charisma
on our H36 Cherubini by previous original owner. Similar to your problem, I have never received acceptable AM reception, FM reception is fine; no XM on this vintage 36. Recently, the CD changer went belly up and now am in market to replace the AM/FM/CD unit with something else. I traced the antenna wire from the back of the radio. It is bundled with who-knows-what wires through the circuit breaker panel and up to one of the bolts that attach the aluminum toe rail to the boat. Tried reattaching the wire without rerouting the antenna wire elsewhere; but no improvement. Seems the AM interference is strongest when shore power is plugged in at the marina and the battery charger is on. When I'm away from shore power without the battery charger on, AM reception is improved. I think I'll unbundle the antenna wire for the next try and route it up to something like the bimini frame and see what happens. Don't have much hope in that. I suspect the problem lies in the boat grounding system. Maybe if the radio antenna was attached to an instrument-type ground separate from the main ground (the engine crankcase), the interference would go away. All metal components on my boat have been electrically connected/bonded for corrosion purposes by PO. On the other hand, I may just stop listening to AM and keep my Jimmy Buffet CD handy. Good luck, fair winds and following seas. Mike s/v Charisma
this usually works
Get a rubber antenna from walmart/ radio shack. less than $10.00 . For the noise and hum, you need a filter , " again radioshack $5.00-$10.00 . This will also reduce ignition noise from engine. The noise is caused by wires being bundled together " parralel to each other."
Get a rubber antenna from walmart/ radio shack. less than $10.00 . For the noise and hum, you need a filter , " again radioshack $5.00-$10.00 . This will also reduce ignition noise from engine. The noise is caused by wires being bundled together " parralel to each other."
I've Got The Fix
I have the exact same problem on my 356 and did all the antenna stuff discussed here. Try disconnecting your AC shore power cable(disconnect the cable do not just turn the breaker panel off). It seems that the Pro Mariner AC Ground Galvanic Isolator causes the interference. The Pro Marinor is powered even when the AC breakers at the panel are off. I spoke to the Pro MArinor folks who provided excellent support and are sending me a new module. Let us know how this works out
I have the exact same problem on my 356 and did all the antenna stuff discussed here. Try disconnecting your AC shore power cable(disconnect the cable do not just turn the breaker panel off). It seems that the Pro Mariner AC Ground Galvanic Isolator causes the interference. The Pro Marinor is powered even when the AC breakers at the panel are off. I spoke to the Pro MArinor folks who provided excellent support and are sending me a new module. Let us know how this works out
Shakespeare AM/FM/VHF Band Unit
I have a widget that Shakespeare makes that uses the VHF radio antenna for AM/FM. Mine works like a Champ and costs about $50.00. http://www.boatersworld.com/product/316030931.htm Mike
I have a widget that Shakespeare makes that uses the VHF radio antenna for AM/FM. Mine works like a Champ and costs about $50.00. http://www.boatersworld.com/product/316030931.htm Mike
Frequency Band Filter
The Shakespeare frequency band filter allows you to hookup your AM/FM radio to your marine VHF antenna without frying your AM/FM radio when you broadcast on your marine VHF radio. But it comes at a cost; the Shakespeare frequency band filter reduces your VHF signal strength. The manufacture doesn't recommend using the band splitter if you have space to mount a separate AM/FM antenna. If you need to broadcast a Mayday I would remove the AM/FM VHF band splitter on your marine VHF radio before broadcasting to increase your signal strength in an emergency. Fair Winds, Clyde
The Shakespeare frequency band filter allows you to hookup your AM/FM radio to your marine VHF antenna without frying your AM/FM radio when you broadcast on your marine VHF radio. But it comes at a cost; the Shakespeare frequency band filter reduces your VHF signal strength. The manufacture doesn't recommend using the band splitter if you have space to mount a separate AM/FM antenna. If you need to broadcast a Mayday I would remove the AM/FM VHF band splitter on your marine VHF radio before broadcasting to increase your signal strength in an emergency. Fair Winds, Clyde
Go Bucks
10-4 on that Go Bucks! My AM reception stinks and I can't get the Mets, Yankees, Giants or Jets. However, XFM has college games on and its easy to get the Buckeyes (Especially when they are doing well). I would never stay home from sailing in the fall to watch a OSU game, but if I can sail while listening - ahhh heaven. Try getting the Buckeyes on local media on LI - good luck! My FM reception is not great but much better than AM which is non existant. I was going to try a splitter. Should I try that or the frequency band filter? What is the difference?
10-4 on that Go Bucks! My AM reception stinks and I can't get the Mets, Yankees, Giants or Jets. However, XFM has college games on and its easy to get the Buckeyes (Especially when they are doing well). I would never stay home from sailing in the fall to watch a OSU game, but if I can sail while listening - ahhh heaven. Try getting the Buckeyes on local media on LI - good luck! My FM reception is not great but much better than AM which is non existant. I was going to try a splitter. Should I try that or the frequency band filter? What is the difference?
Boombox test
We have a similar problem of poor AM on our new Hunter 36. I took our Sony home radio boombox on board and discovered that it had lousy reception when positioned next to the JVC radio on the sailboat, which was installed at the charttable. When I moved the Sony toward the bow, reception became absolutely clear, so that we could listen to the Seattle Seahawks
. It seemed obvious that the circuit breaker panel area was the problem. So we're going to move the JVC to the forward end of the cabin -- I just need to make up some cable extensions before doing it.
We have a similar problem of poor AM on our new Hunter 36. I took our Sony home radio boombox on board and discovered that it had lousy reception when positioned next to the JVC radio on the sailboat, which was installed at the charttable. When I moved the Sony toward the bow, reception became absolutely clear, so that we could listen to the Seattle Seahawks
. It seemed obvious that the circuit breaker panel area was the problem. So we're going to move the JVC to the forward end of the cabin -- I just need to make up some cable extensions before doing it.Sony Located on Port in V-Berth Locker
Our Sony is located on the forward wall under the DVD and the TV. The location makes it so that you can operate the remote from the aft cabin and the DVD is also wired to the sony so that we can have sound from the DVD coming thru the sony, which gives a much better sound and more volume. We still have poor reception with the FM and the Am is non existent. I purchased the band separator and spoke with a man recommended to us from our loacl West Marine who says he has installed several of these and they work good. So, we will see. He said he could be at the boat this week.
Our Sony is located on the forward wall under the DVD and the TV. The location makes it so that you can operate the remote from the aft cabin and the DVD is also wired to the sony so that we can have sound from the DVD coming thru the sony, which gives a much better sound and more volume. We still have poor reception with the FM and the Am is non existent. I purchased the band separator and spoke with a man recommended to us from our loacl West Marine who says he has installed several of these and they work good. So, we will see. He said he could be at the boat this week.
What antenna
I couldn't listen to the Jets yesterday while I puttered around on the boat and finally got irritated enough to pull the radio out. It had an antenna which was about a foot of antenna cable narrowed out to about 18 inches of core wire. Without that there was no FM reception. So its back on. I guess its off to Radio Shack for an AM/FM antenna and the noise suppressor. Any Suggestions regarding type?
I couldn't listen to the Jets yesterday while I puttered around on the boat and finally got irritated enough to pull the radio out. It had an antenna which was about a foot of antenna cable narrowed out to about 18 inches of core wire. Without that there was no FM reception. So its back on. I guess its off to Radio Shack for an AM/FM antenna and the noise suppressor. Any Suggestions regarding type?
AM/FM antenna
You can get an external mounted rubberized antenna and mounted it somewhere outside and run the antenna cable back to the AM/FM radio. The rubber will protect the antenna against corrosion. Most electronic stores sells them. You can just get an indoor soft wire antenna and just plug it into the radio. SeaWorthy makes one for about $7. Or you can try an amplified AM/FM antenna and mounted it inside the cabin near a port or hatch. You have to hookup the powered AM/FM antenna to your 12 VDC system. Jensen sells a weatherized amplified AM/FM antenna, a model AN150SR, for about $16. I don't how well these work; I've never used them. Fair Winds, Clyde
You can get an external mounted rubberized antenna and mounted it somewhere outside and run the antenna cable back to the AM/FM radio. The rubber will protect the antenna against corrosion. Most electronic stores sells them. You can just get an indoor soft wire antenna and just plug it into the radio. SeaWorthy makes one for about $7. Or you can try an amplified AM/FM antenna and mounted it inside the cabin near a port or hatch. You have to hookup the powered AM/FM antenna to your 12 VDC system. Jensen sells a weatherized amplified AM/FM antenna, a model AN150SR, for about $16. I don't how well these work; I've never used them. Fair Winds, Clyde
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