FAQ – Frequently asked questions

We know this effect and it can have two possible causes.1) Activating, the split relais switched on (starting the broadcast). We guess the following: The antenna is o.k. and correct connected with coaxial cable. The sensors of the EasySplit are so constructed that it is possible to work from the lower limit about 250mW to the upper limit with 30w. When the transmitting power is lower than 250mW, the detector is in the lower threshold and the relais will begin to jitter. This doesn`t happen at a transmission with high power. Please check: Does your described effect appear at both adjustable powerlevels of the transmitter?

2) Reflection because of a not-resonant antenna or defective cable. If the power of the transmitter is not clear transmitted through the easySPLIT to the end of the antenna, that means it is reflected at the antenna contact, a standing wave in the device and cable to the sender will occur. Because of this overlay effects of the back and forth wave on the conductor board will appear, which can reduce the level for the detector and cause the jittering. In most cases this happens at low power but is also possible to happen at high power. Please check: Are the contacts of the antenna connector correct soldered and is the groundground of the coaxial cable correct separated from the inner wire? Please check this again at the connector which goes into the easySPLIT, at the connector which goes into the radio transceiver and at the radio transceiver itself.

Originally it was planned that splitter can also divide the frequencies for the GSM network. But during several tests it showed, that in fact the easySPLIT could do this, as calcutaled by the simulation, but the normal VHF-antenna does not cover the frequency band which is necessary for the GSM-network. Even by several technical experiments we did not receive a good result.Our quality standard, to offer good solutions, did not allow us to proceed with that variant. Because the tool for the box was already finished, the hole for the GMS branching was kept inside at the early beginnig with our 1st generation of products. An after-market additional accessory will not be available in the future.

Your question means the situation like anchoring in a port, coastal shipping without navy shipping etc. where the operation of the AIS receiver is not necessary or is senseless. As in the port, if you want to listen to the weather report on VHF. Your question is also legitimate. The „way/path“ VHF antenna – radio transceiver is security relevant. Because of that the „way/path“ is always connect through, that means you can always listen to the VHF radio and also transmit with the VHF radio, even though the easySplit 2nd G. is not connected with the power supply of the boat or is not switched on.

You need to use the easySPLIT OCB (OCB=operates class B) because of the following reason:If you use the easySPLIT there are connected the following devices: FM radio, VHF radio and AIS receiver. Only one of these units can physically also transmit, which is in this case the VHF radio. In the moment when the VHF radio is transmitting, the other connected devices must be disconnected very fast, so that the transmission power from the VHF is only going into the antenna and not into the also connected devices.Lets have a look now to a typical installation of the easyTRX. With the easySPLIT OCB there are following devices connected to the easySPLIT OCB: The FM Radio, the VHF radio and the easyTRX, which is a class B transceiver. There are two devices connected which can transmit. This means also, that the two connection paths of the VHF radio and the easyTRX must be monitored simultaneously. If one of the “transmitter” is transmitting, the other devices must be disconnected for this time period. This is the difference. With a standard AIS receiver it is sufficient to monitor one connected “transmitter” power entry pathes, with a class B transceiver, like the easyTRX two connected “transmitter” power entry pathes.

The answer is: Only one time, then it is broken. NO, you need to “upgrade” to another hardware, the easySPLIT OCB.

For the case of a disconnected power supply, the VHF antenna is always connected to the radio over the easySPLIT.That means you can still use your VHF radio. However, if the easySPLIT is switched off, there is no AIS reception, because the antenna always stays connected with the radio. This is for security.