How to: VHF antenna to Home stereo?

[ohiohatteras]

Installed a Home surround sound stereo in the boat over the winter. When I removed my lower station I have an idle 21' VHF antenna that I would like to use for FM on the home stereo. Found a "converter" that allows you to go from the VHF antenna to a car radio (has the jack style plug in) but I need it to let me hook up 2 individulal wires like all home stereo's use....

Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[REBrueckner]

When I did what you describe, I used this with an active VHF antenna and a stereo:

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|344|295760|299311&id=70626

Item # 251474....

Unfortunately, I don't recall any connection details....but it was a simple connection job.

 

[Boatsb]

You can replace the antenna with one made for AM/ FM reception.

Or you can get an impedance matching transformer for the unused antenna and the input to the stereo.

 

[ohiohatteras]

When I did what you describe, I used this with an active VHF antenna and a stereo:

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|344|295760|299311&id=70626

Item # 251474....

Unfortunately, I don't recall any connection details....but it was a simple connection job.

That's the "adapter" I currently have....but mine is set up to plug into the jack on the back of a 12v car stereo......

 

[rsmith]

I tried one of those splitters on one of my VHF antennas. the reception was not as good as with the dedicated am/fm antenna.

 

[Trojan]

If you don't plan to use the antenna for anything else in the future. Just cut the RF connector off the end and and strip enough of the outside cover off to expose the coax braid. Then separate the braid and twist it together again exposing the center wire. Again trim the insulation off the inner wire and your good to go. You now have two wires. If you want to you can solder wires on the braid or use it as it is. It may be worth it, maybe not. I just think your destroying a good HF antenna. But it May work just fine. You will know when you hook it up. You can't hurt anything. The impedance is wrong.The antenna is the wrong length for the frequency. BUT You won't know until you hook it up. Give it a go. OR You could go to Radio Shack and buy a SO 239 and solder a pair of wires to it. Then just screw the PL 239 connector from the antenna onto the SO 239 with the 2 wires you just soldered on and your good to go. No one makes the adapter your looking fore and you don't need any switch your not switching to anything.
BILL

 

[Genesis]

Yeah, the splitter "kinda" works. It also kinda sucks though in terms of decent reception, mostly because of insertion loss and the fact that the antenna is tuned for the VHF band and not FM. What was mentioned above is ok if you never intend to use the VHF functionality again, but it will be out of resonance (by a lot) for the FM band; you'd be better off getting an antenna for FM use if you want better reception.

 

[Trojan]

For FM broadcast anything stuck in the air will work. Just don't put any crap in between or it will degrade the signal....

BILL