Can AIS Share VHF Antenna with Existing VHF Radio ?

[David M]

I agree with Marc in that it is simpler and more reliable to keep the VHF and AIS transceiver antennas separate.

Also, some AIS transceivers require a dedicated AIS antenna for the transmit function to work. My Furuno FA150 does but many transceivers do not.

http://shakespeare-marine.com/antenn...enna=396-1-ais

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by jeremiason

Mark

You are absolutely wrong, at least if you want to obey the law.

Holy Ducks Bum, Batman! I'll have to reform!


Same thing if you inherit a VHF with the MMSI programmed in, you can pay to have it changed, or you can use it illegally, and feel like a CRIMINAL, but it works. My old VHF was like that and I used to DSC other boats to arrange drinking appointments instead of using the boat name on the radio so crooks can tell who if off their boats... But every time I did I shivered in my shoes worrying the International Sea Police would pop out of the anchorage like a Cocaine addicted Mermaid and arrest my finger!



But didnt someone Google how to change the MMSI? It's a series of button pushes as you turn the unit on. Google it and see if you can save the $40

[ElGatoGordo]

As a practical point though, wouldn't it suck if you hit the Red button on that VHF and the cg passed you by..."nope, that's not him, it's a green power boat, not a white sailboat." ;-)

[CptnHornblower]

I think I got to the answer about using the same antenna for an AIS and the VHF. There's another post in this thread about Vesper Marine, a company in New Zealand, that manufactures an active splitter specifically for this application. With the correct splitter you can run them both throught the same antenna. here's where I ordered mine: Vesper Marine: WatchMate AIS Transponders - Dedicated Marine Collision Warning System, they run about $300 with shipping.