AM/FM/CD Stereo Q's

[BlewByYou88]

I've noted that my stereo antenna wire grounds directly to the Bow rail....IS this normal? My reception has been kinda crappy, and I was looking into running an RG cable over to my VHF radio and getting an AM/FM/VHF splitter going to the VHF antenna.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[NJMarineElectronics]

Very good idea, we install VHF/FM splitters on just about every boat we put a stereo or VHF in. You will notice a HUGE difference in AM/FM reception.

 

[MonacoMike]

Any reduction in VHF performance?

MM

 

[CSR_Admin]

We don't install splitters. The VHF antenna is best left as a VHF antenna. Anytime you add another connection on your VHF cable you introduce more loss. AM/FM simply doesn't work as well on the water as it does in your car. I have no idea why. The small antenna wire you have going to a bolt on your rail is actually very common and effective. Maybe it is too close to another wire which is screwing it up so you might try moving it to see if performance improves. Alternatively you can get a am/fm antenna which matches your VHF antenna and put it on the other side of the boat. Not only will you improve performance but you'll make your boat look better with a balanced look too.

 

[BlewByYou88]

We don't install splitters. The Alternatively you can get a am/fm antenna which matches your VHF antenna and put it on the other side of the boat. Not only will you improve performance but you'll make your boat look better with a balanced look too.

I WOULD BUT! I'd rather not put anything along my Port Gunnel. My starboard side is cluttered with the dual horns and VHF antenna as it is, makes the bow almost unaccessible at this point, cluttering the port side would make it a rea hazard.

My only complaint is, I know on the water the signal is crappier, but we were at the lake one day, and my buddies boat had way better reception than I did on the same station. He does have a splitter, but I don't want to compromise my VHF radio....Sigh*

 

[MonacoMike]

We don't install splitters. The VHF antenna is best left as a VHF antenna. Anytime you add another connection on your VHF cable you introduce more loss. AM/FM simply doesn't work as well on the water as it does in your car. I have no idea why. The small antenna wire you have going to a bolt on your rail is actually very common and effective. Maybe it is too close to another wire which is screwing it up so you might try moving it to see if performance improves. Alternatively you can get a am/fm antenna which matches your VHF antenna and put it on the other side of the boat. Not only will you improve performance but you'll make your boat look better with a balanced look too.

I WOULD BUT! I'd rather not put anything along my Port Gunnel. My starboard side is cluttered with the dual horns and VHF antenna as it is, makes the bow almost unaccessible at this point, cluttering the port side would make it a rea hazard.

My only complaint is, I know on the water the signal is crappier, but we were at the lake one day, and my buddies boat had way better reception than I did on the same station. He does have a splitter, but I don't want to compromise my VHF radio....Sigh*

Thanks Jim, I was concerned about that. I have good reception and transmission ranges and don’t want to compromise them. I have the same issue though; I do not want to clutter the port side as that is my bow access. I would appreciate the aesthetics but safety is a higher priority. What would you suggest then?

 

[fc3]

It's not a ground. The factory uses the bow rail as the antenna. This is subpar for a number of reasons due to RF propagation properties. You need the right length antenna, which is based on wavelength of the frequency you want to receive, tuned cable of the proper impedance, and typically a ground plane. Ground planes are easy on cars with metal bodies. Hard to find on boats with fiberglass surfaces. You can tune an antenna to not work with a ground plane. They tend to be larger or more expensive. I forgot most of my RF theory. Sorry.

 

[bajturner]

If your boat has the Glomex TV antenna, can it be used for AM/FM? I noticed on the Glomex site that many of the models can support a splitter for AM/FM reception.

http://www.glomex.it/products_category.asp?cat=04,06

I don't know what particular model(s) is (are) used by Sea Ray though. The parts list for my particular boat did not shed any light...

 

[BlewByYou88]

This is just making me wish I had a radar arch even more....:smt089

Sorry, I realised I used the incorrect terminology of "grounding" shortly after I worte that.

I guess I just need to get a good head unit that can handle I-pods and USB's, maybe even break doan and do satellite radio....C`mon tax refund!!!!

 

[MonacoMike]

This is just making me wish I had a radar arch even more....:smt089

Sorry, I realised I used the incorrect terminology of "grounding" shortly after I worte that.

I guess I just need to get a good head unit that can handle I-pods and USB's, maybe even break doan and do satellite radio....C`mon tax refund!!!!

We have an xm delphi skyfi II. We use this unit in docking stations in several locations. We have 3 locations in our home, the car, and both boats. We do all this on 1 subscription. We do have antennas and docks at each location. The equipment costs were about $300 and monthly is about $16.

It is a good service.

MM