Shakespeare Antennas Antenna Testers & Switches
Shakespeare Antenna Testers & Switches: Diagnose and Optimize Your Marine Radio System
A marine antenna is only as dependable as the system behind it — and that’s exactly where Shakespeare Antennas fills a critical gap with its focused lineup of antenna testers and switches. Founded in 1897 by William Shakespeare Jr. in Kalamazoo, MI, the company quickly expanded from fishing gear to antenna manufacturing, opening a dedicated factory in Columbia, SC in 1946. For more than a century, Shakespeare has built a tradition on quality products and a drive for innovation, earning a reputation as the most trusted brand in the marine antenna industry. That heritage extends directly into their testing and switching accessories — purpose-built tools that help boaters get the most out of their onboard communication systems.
The ART-3: A Purpose-Built Antenna Radio Tester
At the heart of Shakespeare’s testing lineup is the ART-3 Antenna Radio Tester. Shakespeare makes the ART-3 Tester specifically to measure transceiver output power, antenna VSWR, and proper receiver sensitivity. Unlike other meters in its class, the ART-3 tests receiver function as well as output power and VSWR (antenna efficiency). This makes it a more complete diagnostic tool than a simple SWR meter — rather than just checking transmission, it verifies the full send-and-receive chain so you can isolate whether an issue lies with your radio, your coax, or the antenna itself.
The ART-3 is powered by an internal battery or can be connected to a ship’s 12 VDC supply with the included power cable, and battery level can be checked at the flip of a switch. For a boater troubleshooting communication issues offshore or preparing for a voyage, this dual-power flexibility and self-contained design is exactly the kind of practical engineering Shakespeare is known for.
The AS-2: Smart Antenna Switching for Multi-Radio Setups
Modern vessels often run more than one radio, which creates the challenge of sharing a single, high-quality antenna between multiple units. Shakespeare’s answer is the AS-2 automatic antenna switch. The AS-2 is an automatic switch that toggles two radios to one antenna. Shakespeare’s splitters and switches enable boaters to operate multiple radios simultaneously without the need for separate antennas. This means you can protect your investment in a high-performance antenna while still having full functionality across your communication setup — no manual toggling, no compromise in signal quality.
Why Trust Shakespeare for System Accessories?
Choosing testers and switches from the same manufacturer as your antenna is a sound strategy. Shakespeare engineers these accessories to work in harmony with their VHF, AIS, AM/FM, and SSB antenna lines, ensuring impedance compatibility and signal integrity throughout the system. Utilizing decades of research and development, Shakespeare manufactures marine electronics and accessories built to withstand harsh marine environments while providing superior performance. Whether you’re commissioning a new boat, troubleshooting a weak signal, or building out a dual-radio nav station, Shakespeare’s antenna testers and switches give you the confidence that every link in your communication chain is performing as it should.