Would like to hook my fm radio up to the vhf antenna. Will this work and what is the best way to do it?
fm radio hookup
- Thread starter jlwithrow
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It could work but
Yes it could work, but here is the issue you would face. The VHF unit works in the 2m bandwidth, while Fm radio is a little lower, 1.7m I believe. So the recption is likely to be moderate at best. Another problem is that your Fm radio uses one type of jack and VHF another, You would have to find a coupler that you could attach to make them mate up. Also if you were able to hook them all in , and you had to use your VHF , the power output from your VHF radio would more than likely blow out the reciever in your Fm radio. It's an awful lot of hassle to have just one antenna. Myself I just placed the Fm antenna under the v-berth bunk. Works just fine, great reception. If you decide to go that route, for a coupler, try radio shack, or a electronics store that deals in HAM Radio equipment. Best of luck to ya.
Yes it could work, but here is the issue you would face. The VHF unit works in the 2m bandwidth, while Fm radio is a little lower, 1.7m I believe. So the recption is likely to be moderate at best. Another problem is that your Fm radio uses one type of jack and VHF another, You would have to find a coupler that you could attach to make them mate up. Also if you were able to hook them all in , and you had to use your VHF , the power output from your VHF radio would more than likely blow out the reciever in your Fm radio. It's an awful lot of hassle to have just one antenna. Myself I just placed the Fm antenna under the v-berth bunk. Works just fine, great reception. If you decide to go that route, for a coupler, try radio shack, or a electronics store that deals in HAM Radio equipment. Best of luck to ya.
Combiner
You can buy a combiner that I've been told works fairly well. Not sure how it works, but it is basically a Y connector that you break out from the VHF coax and run to your FM radio. I think West Marine sells one.
You can buy a combiner that I've been told works fairly well. Not sure how it works, but it is basically a Y connector that you break out from the VHF coax and run to your FM radio. I think West Marine sells one.
Recommend Not
There is a marine electronics author on the left coast who has a personal crusade to extinguish this practice. He says it is a big failure area and accounts for the majority of VHF problems. He recommends a small flexible FM whip stuck behind the cabinetry. Rick D.
There is a marine electronics author on the left coast who has a personal crusade to extinguish this practice. He says it is a big failure area and accounts for the majority of VHF problems. He recommends a small flexible FM whip stuck behind the cabinetry. Rick D.
fm radio antenna
ditto on rick's comments-don't use the combiner, they do reduce your vhf antenna performance and can cause problems if the connections corrode. a separate whip/wire antenna is the way to go-std on our 356, and it works fine
ditto on rick's comments-don't use the combiner, they do reduce your vhf antenna performance and can cause problems if the connections corrode. a separate whip/wire antenna is the way to go-std on our 356, and it works fine
TV Antenna
You can buy splitter/combiners that will allow you to use your TV antenna for the FM Bands. This is the best way to go.
You can buy splitter/combiners that will allow you to use your TV antenna for the FM Bands. This is the best way to go.
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