Problem with VHF reception after AIS installation

[jkaller]

Recently installed a garmin ais 300 receiver which acts as a vhf antenna splitter to my nexus vhf. Since installed, the vhf is not receiving 2 way communication (but does receive navigation announcements / weather from coastal radios service.). AIS seems to be working fine.

Any ideas?

[Pete7]

Hi and welcome to CF.

Does the radio work if you temporary disconnect the Garmin splitter?

If I had to guess then I would look very closely at the coax connectors and any soldering or crimping you did.

Pete

[hellosailor]

"A built-in passive splitter"
Give Garmin a call to confirm how much signal strength is lost across that "passive splitter". Or perhaps you've got the input/output on the splitter connected the wrong way, so it is blocking normal signals and only the very strong NOAA, etc. signals are being heard by the VHF. that one should be easy enough to test, swap swap.
Could also be a defective splitter, even new out of the box, and I'm sure Garmin would be familiar with this.

[jkaller]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Hi and welcome to CF.



Does the radio work if you temporary disconnect the Garmin splitter?



If I had to guess then I would look very closely at the coax connectors and any soldering or crimping you did.



Pete

I will try that, thanks!
I did test the antenna cable for continuity from the ais to vhf - but did not test without the ais.

[jkaller]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

"A built-in passive splitter"

Give Garmin a call to confirm how much signal strength is lost across that "passive splitter". Or perhaps you've got the input/output on the splitter connected the wrong way, so it is blocking normal signals and only the very strong NOAA, etc. signals are being heard by the VHF. that one should be easy enough to test, swap swap.

Could also be a defective splitter, even new out of the box, and I'm sure Garmin would be familiar with this.

Thanks!

[boat driver]

as suggested- check with garmin signal loss-
is the ais recieve only or transmitting as well?

[jkaller]

Originally Posted by boat driver

as suggested- check with garmin signal loss-

is the ais recieve only or transmitting as well?

Thanks
Waiting for garmin reply.
The ais 300 is Recife only.

[Neptune's Gear]

The passive splitter is likely to be the issue, they are crap. IMO. Just too much signal loss...

[svfinlandia]

Originally Posted by Neptune's Gear

The passive splitter is likely to be the issue, they are crap. IMO. Just too much signal loss...

Agree that the problem is the splitter. Even if the splitter turns out not to be the problem, you will still have some signal loss through it.
Please let us know when you find the "fix" and what it turns out to be.

Al, S/V Finlandia

[TreblePlink]

I'm a radio professional, and have chosen separate antennas for VHF and AIS. I like the KISS principle ...

[Stmurray62]

Hey, I installed an AIS recievor via a coax splitter to interface with the Garmin 741 chart plotter. Works intermittently and requires screen swapping on Garmin. Should have gotten the Standard Horizon GX 2200 VHF, which has GPS AND AIS integrated. One unit, very reliable, no fussing with plotter.
So, I Recommend returning the AIS receiver and gettinb/installing the std horizon. Oh btw, install the new radio near the helm, so that it is instantly available to the helms person. I do a lot of deliveries, run 24 hrs and when at helm, particularly at nite, will not take the chance to go below to check the AIS, rather have it close to helm

[jkaller]

Originally Posted by svfinlandia

Agree that the problem is the splitter. Even if the splitter turns out not to be the problem, you will still have some signal loss through it.

Please let us know when you find the "fix" and what it turns out to be.



Al, S/V Finlandia

After testing, I’m convinced too it’s the splitter. Where are you? I’m in Sweden.

[Paul Elliott]

I had a Garmin 300 AIS receiver and the splitter performed well enough, with no noticeable VHF receive loss. I would first look at the cables.

[jkaller]

Originally Posted by TreblePlink

I'm a radio professional, and have chosen separate antennas for VHF and AIS. I like the KISS principle ...

Radio works fine when not running the antenna through the ais, so I’m approaching the 2 antenna solution. My antenna is mounted on the stern.

Question- can I mount a 2nd antenna next to my existing one? Will they interfere with each other?

[TreblePlink]

Originally Posted by jkaller

Radio works fine when not running the antenna through the ais, so I’m approaching the 2 antenna solution. My antenna is mounted on the stern.

Question- can I mount a 2nd antenna next to my existing one? Will they interfere with each other?

It's tough to answer that conclusively - it might work, but generally you want either LOTS of horizontal separation, or some vertical separation - better to have both.