best tv antenna

[sparrowhawk1]

Surprisingly my search didn't give any good results. I'm pretty sure there are threads on good omnidirectional TV antennas. For now I just want to buy an inexpensive antenna that I can just hook up. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

[wingless]

Each antenna has a specified gain rating, w/ more gain being better.

A small adjustable-gain amplifier should be part of the system. Mine has adjustable gain w/ a detent to select the F connector on the transom, for cable TV.


The three most important things to get the best over-the-air reception are:

1. Mount the antenna as high as possible.
2. Use quad shield cable. Use a long, unbroken, unspliced, continuous point-to-point run.
3. Use the appropriate high quality connectors w/ the correct tool, like the T&B Snap-N-Seal connector.

Don't forget to tighten the F connector w/ a wrench. Snug is fine. Finger-tight or loose is not okay.

[MommaDrama]

What kind or brand of antenna did you get?

[rwidman]

I installed a Glomex. I bought it from defender.com. It has an amplifier and an extra input so you can switch it to cable if there's cable at the marina.

Yes, install it as high as practical but remember, it will be only a few feet above sea level.

[AnchorageGuy]

We've used both the Shakespeare and Glomex and got better performance with the Glomex. Will have the booster and is best used for picking up distant stations. If your close to your local stations, a pair of rabbit ears or a coat hanger will get you HDTV. Chuck

[Pete7]

If you fit a traditional Yogi directional aerial you don't need a booster. The booster is just to make up for the poor performance of the omni directional aerials. Have a read of this, he doesn't pull any punches.

TV Aerials for Boats and Caravans

We use one of these, cost £5 from e bay, works very well mounted on the spinnaker track or even down below in the cabin, but you need to know were the nearest transmitter is, normally found by looking at what everyone else is pointing at.

Pete

[Snore]

I use a powered digital TV antenna into a hauppauge tuner that goes into my PC.

Anchored by the Miami Seaquarium, I get West Palm digital channels. Down in Elliot I get only Miami stations. As I recall the "voltage in" for the antenna is 12vDC, so you should be able to wire it directly in. I have played with it unpowered but don't recall the range.

Antenna set-up is real hard..... Plug it into the PC, throw antenna on the roof of the cabin, pour after dinner drink.

[AnchorageGuy]

The only thing I can add to this is that our crappy omnidirectional with a booster has picked up signals from 60 miles away. Swinging at anchor will not work well for any directional antenna, If you plan to only stay at the dock, then these will work fine. Chuck

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Pete7

If you fit a traditional Yogi directional aerial you don't need a booster. The booster is just to make up for the poor performance of the omni directional aerials. Have a read of this, he doesn't pull any punches.

TV Aerials for Boats and Caravans

We use one of these, cost £5 from e bay, works very well mounted on the spinnaker track or even down below in the cabin, but you need to know were the nearest transmitter is, normally found by looking at what everyone else is pointing at.

Pete

That's fine if you're at a dock and all the stations are in the same direction. That's usually not the case and it's going to be pretty difficult to figure out which way to point the antenna.

An omnidirectional antenna is a much better choice for a boat that moves even though it loses some sensitivity.

[onestepcsy37]

Originally Posted by Snore

I use a powered digital TV antenna into a hauppauge tuner that goes into my PC.

I had one of these setups too, but with less success. Got a lot of "freeze frames" even on local stations. But its entirely possible that my old laptop is the problem; hauppauge instructions recommend a pc with at least a 2mhz chip. Mine is 1.6.
I guess I could upgrade to a new laptop for $400 or so, but it was easier to buy a cheap tv for $100.

[SVRapture40]

I had an RCA ANT1650F for a couple of years and thought it was pretty good. A couple of months ago I had my boat on the hard in Everett painting my bottom and could not get any stations at all. I stopped by Radio Shack for something else and saw the RCA ANT1150. It was labelled as "superior" so I thought I would give it a try and return it if it wasn't any better. To my surprise I got 26 stations that my other antenna could not even see. I just leave the thing sitting on top of the bunk in the V berth and it works great. And at $79, can't beat it!

[sparrowhawk1]

Thanks Rapture. Is that an exterior antenna or interior only ?

[SVRapture40]

It is an interior antenna. I have put it outside through a hatch from time to time but haven't noticed any real improvement. Radio signals seem to penetrate fiberglass pretty well.

[zeehag]

i ditched a seaview antenna from my boat in la cruz de huanacaxtle. tv just aint one of the necesary items in my cruising ... in port of lost angels i foun dout how useless antennae for tv actually is. ditchedd tv and antenna then also. good luck.
it is easier to watch stuff on netflix or amazon.