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Old 14-05-2015, 09:12   #1
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SSB & WeatherFax Shared Antenna

Hi All.

I picked up a Furuno WeatherFax unit on the cheap recently, and I want to hook it up such that it shares the backstay antenna with the SSB radio. I'm looking for an antenna splitter that does two things. I want the two devices to be able to receive simultaneously; and I want the SSB to go isolated when the transmit button is pressed, so as not to damage the WeatherFax receiver unit.

Does anyone know of a splitter product that will do this?
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Old 16-05-2015, 08:56   #2
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Re: SSB & WeatherFax Shared Antenna

Quote:
Originally Posted by Caribbeachbum View Post
Hi All.

I picked up a Furuno WeatherFax unit on the cheap recently, and I want to hook it up such that it shares the backstay antenna with the SSB radio. I'm looking for an antenna splitter that does two things. I want the two devices to be able to receive simultaneously; and I want the SSB to go isolated when the transmit button is pressed, so as not to damage the WeatherFax receiver unit.

Does anyone know of a splitter product that will do this?
I'm new to HAM, but after googling it, it looks like you need a duplexer. Best bet is to call HRO and tell them what frequencies you are using and let them tell you what to buy.
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Old 16-05-2015, 22:58   #3
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Re: SSB & WeatherFax Shared Antenna

Autumnbreeze, thanks and who is HRO??
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Old 16-05-2015, 23:10   #4
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Re: SSB & WeatherFax Shared Antenna

Sorry ham radio outlet. Not affiliated, but they seem to have the best pricing and their staff are usually very knowlesdable. They also have a website.

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Old 17-05-2015, 08:05   #5
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Re: SSB & WeatherFax Shared Antenna

Might also want to look here.

MFJ 916B: Ham & Amateur Radios - Equipment, Parts and Supply | AES

Cheers,
Mike
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Old 21-05-2015, 10:13   #6
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Re: SSB & WeatherFax Shared Antenna

Caribbeachbum,
Contrary to the other posts here, you CANNOT do this!!!
Please do NOT try this!!


Quote:
Originally Posted by Caribbeachbum View Post
I picked up a Furuno WeatherFax unit on the cheap recently, and I want to hook it up such that it shares the backstay antenna with the SSB radio. I'm looking for an antenna splitter that does two things. I want the two devices to be able to receive simultaneously; and I want the SSB to go isolated when the transmit button is pressed, so as not to damage the WeatherFax receiver unit.

Does anyone know of a splitter product that will do this?
1) There is NO "splitter", nor "diplexer", nor "duplexer" that will allow you to do this!!

{to be clear, there are transceiver-combiners, bandpass-filters, etc. that would allow sharing of one HF antenna to different transceivers (or transceiver and receiver), as long as their frequency / band of use was widely separated (a few MHz at least)....and some ham radio field-day operators and/or single-antenna contest stations have found them to be a workable solution to their antenna limitations on 14mhz, 21mhz, and 28mhz, etc....but these are quite pricey (> $500 - $1000), and are NOT practical for your application at all...}


2) Your best solution is to have your Furuno WeFax unit (I have the Furno FAX-408, myself) share your HF-DSC RECEIVE antenna....(which is what I've been doing now for > 11 years on-board my current boat, and it works great!)

I use one of my aft lower shrouds as a coax-fed, end-fed vertical (about 22' long) and use a simple coax "tee" and a couple coax jumpers to feed both my M-802's DSC Receive antenna jack and my Furuno FAX-408...

{Since MF/HF-DSC has been with us now since 1992, 23 years ago.....and has been mandatory for all SOLAS signatory nations and all SOLAS vessels since Jan 1999, > 16 years ago!! And, since then, MF/HF-DSC has been the ONLY way to raise/signal other boats, ships, vessels, or most coast stations (as they are no longer monitoring and Voice SSB channels/frequencies)!!
Except for some HF SSB Voice monitoring by the USCG, and Aus/NZ maritime authorities, (and Shipcom Radio's WLO/KLB) no one else is monitoring HF SSB Voice channels, and haven't been for many years....but there are > 450 MF-DSC coast stations worldwide and > 80 HF-DSC coast stations worldwide, that ARE monitoring the MF/HF-DSC frequencies....
So, with all of that, I'm assuming that you do have an MF/HF-DSC-SSB radio (such as the Icom M-802, or Furuno FS-1575, sailor 6300 series, etc.)...which is why I mention "sharing" your "DSC Receive antenna" with your Furuno WeFax unit....}

Here are photos of mine...






3) If you do not have an MF/HF-DSC-SSB radio, or don't have an HF-DSC receive antenna rigged, you can simply use one of your shrouds, stays, etc. (as long as it is NOT electrically connected to your backstay antenna, and is at least a few feet away from your backstay), as a HF WeFax receive antenna....


4) If you truly wish to complicate your life....(something I do NOT recommend), you could buy an external "sub receiver / transceiver interface", which has an RF-sensed relay network and an isolated receive output, all built-in....
It would cost you about $350 - $400....and would use only a little bit of 12vdc power, but would be another piece of gear to fail (they are NOT designed for the salt-air environment!) and another piece of gear to complicate your life...




I do hope the above clarifies things...

Fair winds...

John
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Old 21-05-2015, 14:36   #7
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Re: SSB & WeatherFax Shared Antenna

Thanks, John. Thanks everyone, actually. That's the same unit I have, pretty sure I got a bargain ($800, and it's like new, even). It's working fine using one of the starboard shrouds, but I still might get a dedicated WeFax antenna when the time comes that I'm to be far, far away from shore.

Again, many thanks.
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