Onwa AIS / VHF aerial splitter

Splitters can be electronic switches that automatically switch the aerial to which ever device is transmitting (preference is always to the VHF) or passive. Electronic splitters are ideal as there is usually no signal losses but they are expensive – think £200+. There are also passive versions where the signal is simply shared via components to protect both transmitters from each other. Unfortunately there are losses associated with passive splitters of 3dB which is half the signal. Sounds a lot – which it is, of course, but in practice you will still transmit and receive reasonably well and for AIS, which is about boats close by and not those 20 miles away, this is still acceptable. If using a Class B+ AIS transceiver (the type manufactured by Onwa) the transmit power is 5 watts so even losing half the signal you are still transmitting AIS at the same level as most other class B leisure boats. Electronic or passive? It is a compromise between cost and efficiency: £200+ for an electronic switcher or £80.00 for a passive version.  For both there will be additional cables (2) needed although these can usually be quite short. An alternative will be a dedicated separate AIS aerial, cost likely to be less than £100.00. AVES Marine’s view is that a separate AIS aerial tuned to 162MHz is the best option but if a splitter is the only possible way then this passive splitter is worth considering.

Comes complete with two 1 metre co-axial cables terminated with PL259 to SO239 (a female version of the PL259) connectors. If you have BNC connectors for your VHF please call so that we can make up a suitable cable.

BNC

PL259

Beware that there are some passive splitters offered on the internet that are attractively cheap to buy (less than £50.00) but we have feedback from a customer who bought one that it was just a box that inside had every connection simply connected together – avoid these as they may damage your equipment.