T&T: AIS antenna

[Jim Healy]

Stephen,
 
May I ask, why is a 15 - 18 ft antenna cable too short?  Another mounting
strategy for the AIS receiver can be mounted at the base of it's antenna,
under the flybridge.  It has no user adjustments.  It's either "on" or
"off."  Doing that is actually a better alternative.  What you then have is
a short run of antenna cable, and a longer run of USB cable to get to your
nav computer and/or a longer run of shielded twisted pair for an NMEA
connection to a chartplotter, or both.  You can easily get USB cable
extensions in 25 ft lengths.  Both the USB cable and the NMEA twisted pair
are a lot less lossy than antenna cable, and often easier to run.  
 
Anyway, that was my approach, and it works fine!
 
Jim
 
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary,
currently at Charlotte Harbor, Punta Gorda, FL
AGLCA # 3767
MTOA # 3436