2 vhf antanas?

[Always Broke]

I recently purchased a small cuddy cabin and it has two vhf antanas, one on each side. One has a can of some sort on the bottom the other is just a strait vhf antana, they are both about the same lenth. There is no radio in the boat but I plan to get one and was wondering if there is any kind of advantage to hook up both with some kind of spliter, and if not how do I tell which is the better antana

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: 2 vhf antanas?

It's possible that the one with the "can" at the bottom was from a navigational aid such as a loran.

 

[Buttanic]

Re: 2 vhf antanas?

Originally posted by waterone1:<br /> It's possible that the one with the "can" at the bottom was from a navigational aid such as a loran.

Yep, sounds like a LORAN coupler.

 

[Always Broke]

Re: 2 vhf antanas?

Thanks for the info, now I know what to put up for sale on ebay next .

 

[Rock Hall]

Re: 2 vhf antanas?

The one with the coil at the base might be a CB antenna.

 

[KaGee]

Re: 2 vhf antanas?

You only can use one antenna on VHF, to the best of my knowledge. Could the other be for Side Band???

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: 2 vhf antanas?

My VHF antenna has a "can" at the bottom.<br />Does it look like this one?<br /> Http://www.iboats.com/mall/image/vendor/7/big/167-5240r.jpg

 

[Rock Hall]

Re: 2 vhf antanas?

The Can at the bottom is a loading coil. The lower the frequency the more antenna length is required. Usually at marine VHF frequencies, the length of the antenna is not so excessive that it cant be all in the antenna itself. An 8' antenna is usually a 5/8 wave for Marine VHF. If you wanted an antenna for CB is would have to be more than 5 times as long to be the proper length for the CB band. This extra length can be made up with a coil of wire at the base of the antenna. Thats why CB antennas usually have the loading coil at the base.<br /><br />A coil can also be used on VHF, depending on the length of the actual antenna and the antenna properties you are trying to achieve.<br /><br />Hope that makes some sense.<br />Some antennas just have the "can" at the bottom as a base for mounting, no coil inside.<br /><br />Mark

 

[Rock Hall]

Re: 2 vhf antanas?

Dave,<br /><br />It looks like your antenna is a little shorter physically than a full sized marine VHF antenna. The difference in length is being made up in a coil in the base.

 

[ebsworj]

Re: 2 vhf antanas?

I have the same deal on my boat I just bought. (two antennas) It came with a VHF marine telephone. I asssume this is a normal VHF radio. But why would there be two antennas? I've seen this on a lot of boats. One is getting split on the end, should I take it off?