I'd like to add AIS and a chart plotter to the nav station on my Hunter 450. Since the AIS shares the VHF antenna, I'll also need to move the VHF radio from the companionway to the nav station. Has any 450 owner relocated their VHF radio? How hard is it to snake the coax cable from the companionway to the nav station?
Relocate VHF radio to nav station on Hunter 450CC
- Thread starter clavius
- Start date
-
- Tags
- 450 vhf vhf antenna
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,829
@clavius I am not a 450 owner, but I have installed VHF/AIS/Electronics on boats (and planes a time long ago). The difficulty in "snaking" the vhf antenna in part depends on the coax you choose. Some is more bendable than others.
You do not need to move the VHF radio, you can locate the AIS unit in a nondescript location as it really does not depend on the VHF radio. Which unit are you considering? I chose the Vesper XB8000. It interfaces using my SeatalkNG backbone and WiFi. Can be connected to a powered splitter which you can locate near your current VHF radio if desired or just about anywhere. You can also have 2 antennas one for the radio and one for the AIS.
Additionally there are now combined AIS/VHF radios. Some are receive only, others are receive and transmit.
You do not need to move the VHF radio, you can locate the AIS unit in a nondescript location as it really does not depend on the VHF radio. Which unit are you considering? I chose the Vesper XB8000. It interfaces using my SeatalkNG backbone and WiFi. Can be connected to a powered splitter which you can locate near your current VHF radio if desired or just about anywhere. You can also have 2 antennas one for the radio and one for the AIS.
Additionally there are now combined AIS/VHF radios. Some are receive only, others are receive and transmit.