Installation Of Vhf / Gps Antennas; Vhf Antenna Installation - ACR Electronics NAUTICAST inland AIS Installation Manual

3.13 Installation of VHF / GPS Antennas

Interference to the Ship's VHF Radiotelephone
The AIS ship borne equipment, like any other ship borne transceiver operating in the VHF
maritime band, may cause interference to a ship‟s VHF radiotelephone. Because AIS is a
digital system, this interference may occur as a periodic (e.g. every 20 seconds) soft clicking
sound on the ship‟s radiotelephone. This affect may become more noticeable if the VHF
radiotelephone antenna is located close to the AIS VHF antenna, and when the
radiotelephone is operating on channels near the AIS operating channels (e.g. channels 27,
28 and 86).
Attention should be paid to the location and installation of the various antennas, in order to
support the antenna characteristics in the best possible way.

3.13.1 VHF Antenna Installation

Antenna Location
Location of the mandatory AIS VHF-antenna should be carefully considered. Digital
communication is more sensitive than analogue/voice communication to interference created
by reflections caused by obstructions such as masts and booms. It may be necessary to
relocate the VHF radiotelephone antenna to minimize interference effects.
To minimize the interference effects, the following guidelines apply:
The AIS VHF antenna should have omni directional vertical polarisation.
The AIS VHF antenna should be placed in an elevated position, as free standing as
possible, with a minimum of 2 meters in horizontal direction from constructions made
of conductive materials. The antenna should not be installed close to any large vertical
obstruction. The AIS VHF antenna should have a visible sky of 360°.
The AIS VHF antenna should be installed at least 3 meters away from interfering high-
power energy sources such as radar and other transmitting radio antennas, and out of
the way of the transmitting beam.
There should not be more than one antenna on each level. The AIS VHF antenna
should be mounted directly above or below the ship‟s primary VHF radiotelephone
antenna, with no horizontal separation and a minimum of 2 meters vertical separation.
If it is located on the same level as other antennas, the distance apart should measure
at least 10 meters.
See also sample for antenna layout in the Appendix (Drawings and Approvals)
Cabling
The cable should be kept as short as possible to minimize attenuation of the signal. Double
shielded coaxial cables equal to or better than RG214 is recommended.
RG214 at VHF attenuation per meter of app. 0,07 dB/m (45m = 3,15db)
VHF AIS frequency app. 162MHz
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