T&T: AIS Installation - recommendations

[Chuck and Susan]

Skip W wrote

"Chuck says below that it is better to have a dedicated antenna.  I just
 installed an AIS on our Defever 44 interfacing to Coastal Explorer.  I
 choose to install the antenna splitter as I have two VHF and two radios and
 did not want another antenna.  We are in SF Bay and so far the splitter is
 working great.  You have to be sure that the power for the splitter and VHF
 are on the same circuit but it sure beat installing ANOTHER antenna.  Jusy
 my opinion. "

Skip has a good point if you already have 2 radios, I would not want a third
antenna either. But be careful, not all splitters are the same and some don't
work well. After installing a few different types I have found the unitd from
Milltech Marine to be a bit more expensive but an excellent choice if going
with a splitter. Traveling the Gulf coast from Houston to South Carolina along
the ICW the AIS was invaluable in telling us there was a tug and barge around
the next bend. The big benefit was being able to call them on the radio by
name even before they saw us. I wish the Class B was available but even the
receive only unit was a valuable toll for vessel safety in my opinion. A good
example of what we would see at times can be found at 
http://bp0.blogger.com/_vAYwNsasVrY/SHzm640HEbI/AAAAAAAAAsg/x06Ro7OA5A4/s1600
-h/DSC00388a.jpg  . Chuck


To follow our adventures, go to

http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/

http://sea-trek.blogspot.com/