TV antennas for boats- what works best?

capnruss

HI everyone. Has anyone found a TV antenna for your boat that works well? Also I would like to know which ones do not work. I've been trying to research this but I figure you guys who actually use them would know best. I have an R25 I'd like to use this on. Thanks everyone, Capn Russ

captd · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:05 pm Post subject:

Hi CaptRuss,
West Marine has about three models of them. They are the round jobies. I put a Radio Shack one on but it looked pretty shabby after a while on salt water. I just put the middle priced one from WM. Haven't tried it yet. I also got a vucube I have not tried either. Sat antennas work good when in a slip. You don't lose the picture even with the tide going up and down. The $1500 Vucube is suppose to work even when under way.
Good luck
Captd

thataway · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 5:22 pm Post subject:

Consider that all TV will become digital in Feb 2009. If you don't have a converter box, or a HD digital TV, you will not recieve a signal. From my limited experiments, the digital TV will be much better than analogue, and probably a lesser antenna will do.

I have one of the mid priced Shakesphere antennas on the Tom Cat--and get 3 analogue stations. I used a flat plate antenna (RCA) which cost about $26 at Wal Mart on a new digital (Westinghouse 16"-$168 at Sam's club)--and got over 30 channels, without ghosts or snow. I got the same number of stations with the Shakesphere marine antenna. There is also a Phillips active antenna, which is about $39--and seems to work very well with digital--I have seen several boats using this--I have one, but have not tried it on the boat--it works well inside the house, but not much better than the flat (probably a frackel) antenna.

If you are in the city areas--I suspect that almost any antenna will work well with the digital TV's.

tpbrady · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 4:38 am Post subject:

A couple of items to remember on the digital side. You need to have an antenna that covers both VHF and UHF frequencies. Next many stations will be transmitting at lower power on their digital carriers so may not have the same range. I like the directional antennas like the Winegard Squareshooter or Channel Master Stealth. I think you would have to seal up some of the seams to keep corrosion down but they should work pretty well. Because they are directional, you need to know where the transmitters are located. Here is a link to a web site that can give you the direction and distance to television transmitters from any address in the US: www.antennaweb.org It will even give you a street level map with directions from your home.

Hope this helps.

Rock-C · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:47 pm Post subject:

I think a better solution is to leave the TV at home. After all, why do we mess around in boats? Crook

JamesTXSD · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 4:16 pm Post subject:

Rock-C · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject:

Hi Jim
We spend up to two weeks at a time on the boat. Not as long as you & the Blond for sure. After a couple of weeks, I'm in need of a news fix. There is soo much to see and do on the water, I don't miss the usual (stuff) on TV.
I would not be a happy camper if we were anchored up in some quiet cove and a big Bayliner come in and sets up shop next to us with the TV blairing. It would be like spending the night next to some guy that ran a generator all night. (Been there)
Ok, thats an extream case. Most people are considerate of others.
To each his own. I enjoy the sound of the waves aginst the hull and the sight of bald eagles overhead.
Wish you well and hope to see you two back in the NW. soon.
Terry

JamesTXSD · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject:

Hi Terry,

I'm right there with you regarding the peace and quiet at anchor. Very Happy

I sure didn't mean to imply that everyone should have a TV onboard. We've gone over a month at a time with no TV. It certainly seems less important on the boat than at home. But, I'm all for whatever amenities someone enjoys if it keeps 'em on the water more.

Since the original question in this thread was about TV antenna/reception, I wanted to note that the new TV we have does WAY better than our old one, even with the same antenna. One thing we have noticed with the digital transmission/reception: it seems more sensitive to the direction of the antenna. We use an inexpensive non-powered set of rabbit ears from Radio Shack; it has a switch that controls directional sensitivity.

Best wishes,
Jim B.