VHF antenna

[chuck53]

is there anyway to have two VHF radios hooked to one antenna? I'd like to have a second radio on my boat, but don't want to go to the bother of mounting a second antenna.

[SlowButSteady]

Why? You can get a VHF antenna splitter, but why bother with second set?

[btrayfors]

Chuck,

Yes, of course, it's possible to do with a simple coax switch. I have one on my boat which switches between the marine VHF and the amateur radio 2-meter VHF. Happily, my antenna & coax present a low SWR to both radios.

H O W E V E R, this arrangement may not be suitable for most boaters. If you're not very careful, you could damage one or both radios by having the switch in the wrong position and/or having both radios on at the same time.

My advice would be to fit a second antenna. Maybe an emergency antenna mounted on the stern rail. Easy to install, inexpensive, and will work if ever you lose your mast. You won't get the range of a mast top antenna, but with 25 watts it will still get out just fine....makes for a good cockpit radio.

Bill

[hellosailor]

Chuck, what Bill said, but I'd phrase it more this way:

Pennywise, pound foolish.

The splitter is cheaper, sure. But antennas aren't THAT expensive, splitters and switches can and will fail, and there's a real risk of blowing out at least one radio. Go for the second antenna, or use a handheld as the 2nd radio. A good one is surprisingly competitive.

[SEMIJim]

Why do you want two VHF radios on your boat?

[kd3pc]

Originally Posted by SEMIJim

Why do you want two VHF radios on your boat?

one in the cockpit at the helm,

one below at the NAV.

Both connected to DSC/GPS.

One as primary, one as backup in case it or an antenna/cable fails.

I have two fixed 25 watters to their own antenna, and two handhelds ready in case needed in the dinghy and at least one handheld in the ditch bag.

YMMV

[chuck53]

I have a fixed unit at my nav station but nothing in the cockpit except my handheld.
I think my best solution is a new fixed unit at my nav station with a second station remote microphone located at the helm.

[Minnewaska]

I agree that splitters are trouble waiting to happen. If you don't have the splitter, can we assume you don't have one or both of the radios yet? If so, I would get a radio for the nav station with a remote at the helm, not a second radio. Then I would buy an emergency antenna with a suction cup for the cabin top and 20 ft of cable to use if the mast antenna failed (or were dismasted). They sell them in a nice compact package to squirrel away somewhere.

Standard horizon makes a handheld gps/DSC/VHF radio as back up radio. if you are concerned about real emergencies, I would invest in an EPIRB, before a second VHF radio. If you already have one, you're in fine shape.

[chuck53]

Safety is always a concern, but with the one exception of crossing the Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Onancock, I've never been more than 5 miles from land.

[SVAuspicious]

Let me add my voice to the chorus -- splitters are a bad idea. Poor quality and high failure rate. Don't get sucked in.