Can I connect my fm stereo to my VHF antenna?

[RSB333]

My FM stereo has poor reception at times with its small internal antenna. Can I splice it into my VHF antenna atop the mast without degrading my VHF performance?
RSB333

[Neptune's Gear]

No, you'll get losses.
Some AIS antenna splitters have an FM connection

[AndyEss]

There are passive FM/Vhf splitters on the market. They will introduce significant attenuation to your Vhf signal. Your Vhf can - and should be - a critical, potentially life saving communication system. FM radio (unless for local weather) is usually for entertainment. KISS should apply here.
I understand there are amplified AIS splitters for Vhf to get around attenuation issues. These need to be powered - and yet another point of failure. AIS is another safety system, so this compromise may make sense.
It can be easily done - but the question is should it be done.

[FlyingScot]

My Digital Yacht AIS has an FM connection. I've never bothered to test it.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by RSB333

My FM stereo has poor reception at times with its small internal antenna. Can I splice it into my VHF antenna atop the mast without degrading my VHF performance?
RSB333

What kind of FM radio?

Assuming you have the standard sort of marine stereo (like a car stereo but white ), try sticking a 3' piece of wire into the antenna slot. Move the wire into different positions to see what works best. That's a starting point.

[Stu Jackson]

You can buy extension FM antennas for less than $10 at Radio Shack. Jut plug 'em in.

[billknny]

Originally Posted by RSB333

My FM stereo has poor reception at times with its small internal antenna. Can I splice it into my VHF antenna atop the mast without degrading my VHF performance?
RSB333

NO, NO and NO!

You can't just "slice it into" your VHF antenna. Think about this for just a second...

Your FM radio receiver is designed to handle a signal of a few microwatts coming into it from the antenna, and amplifying that so you can hear it out of the speakers.

What do you think is going to happen to that circuit what you push the "TALK" button on your VHF and you send 5 Watts directly into your FM radio and overload that circuit by a factor of a million (plus or minus an order of magnitude...)????

Like everyone else has suggested, just get a cheapo wire antenna and dedicate it to the FM entertainment radio.

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by billknny

NO, NO and NO!

You can't just "slice it into" your VHF antenna. Think about this for just a second...

Your FM radio receiver is designed to handle a signal of a few microwatts coming into it from the antenna, and amplifying that so you can hear it out of the speakers.

What do you think is going to happen to that circuit what you push the "TALK" button on your VHF and you send 5 Watts directly into your FM radio and overload that circuit by a factor of a million (plus or minus an order of magnitude...)????

Like everyone else has suggested, just get a cheapo wire antenna and dedicate it to the FM entertainment radio.

As the saying goes: Watts the problem.

A statement not a question.

[Mr O]

As mentioned above, splicing directly into the vhf antenna will damage your fm receiver. When I installed a AIS transceiver, a splitter was necessary unless another separate antenna was installed. The splitter has a fm antenna connector and works fine. Yes, more things to possibly go wrong, but you can always unplug it and direct connect your vhf if needed.

[Scubaseas]

NO, NO and NO!

You can't just "slice it into" your VHF antenna. Think about this for just a second...

Your FM radio receiver is designed to handle a signal of a few microwatts coming into it from the antenna, and amplifying that so you can hear it out of the speakers.

What do you think is going to happen to that circuit what you push the "TALK" button on your VHF and you send 5 Watts directly into your FM radio and overload that circuit by a factor of a million (plus or minus an order of magnitude...)????

Like everyone else has suggested, just get a cheapo wire antenna and dedicate it to the FM entertainment radio.

X2


Either buy a passive splitter (sort of works) or buy a "Rubber ducky" or other type antenna which usually works OK inside if you play around with the location. Or get a tune-able desk top antenna (works best of the three on my boat) that also can do TV signals

[Panama Red]

Shakespeare makes a VHF/FM/AM separator. I use it on my boat. I use the VHF antenna because it is on top of the mast. I was going to put up an AM/FM antenna on the spreaders, and wire it through the mast.

But West Marine suggested:

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/shake...13?recordNum=2

Super easy to install between the VHF radio and stereo. No soldering, welding, gluing or splicing required.

[KP44]

I will avoid splitters or other unneeded connections in my VHF system. The VHF is important and any connections will cause some loss of signal.

[macman4190]

The Digital Yacht FM antenna works. If the signal is weak, it needs to be powered on.

[01kiwijohn]

you can, but I wouldn't. There are splitters freely available but there is always some signal degradation, and another connection point to eventually give you trouble.

[Stu Jackson]

This is the one I mentioned earlier:


https://www.westmarine.com/buy/dual-...5?recordNum=47