Follow Me TV info

[Moontide]

Has anyone had experience with "Follow Me TV"? Thinking about maybe getting one to us while cruising. This will be on a catamaran so rolling is less of an issue but still assuming will effectively only be usable at a dock or a calm anchorage. Way cheaper than sat TV but no sure how much is lost with only 1 dimensional movement.

Would be interested any in real world experience.

[Waterway Guide]

I was friends with the inventor and bought one for our boat, but we watched tv so seldom that we took it off and put it in the basement. Not enough real world experience exactly, but I guess we should probably sell it.

[AnchorageGuy]

We've been using the Follow-Me, now called Track-It, for 15 years and still have one today. We have satellite wherever we go, including the Bahamas, and the system has worked for us swinging on the hook in 20 to 30 knot winds. As long as the boat does not roll seriously, we keep a signal. Note that it will not work well with the new 32 inch dish, since it is too heavy and will wear out the bearings in no time. That means using an 18" dish and a standard def receiver. But with our LED TV, it still gets a great picture. You will also need to make some manual adjustments as you move north or south, but after you get the technique down, it will take less than five minutes. We highly recommend it for an inexpensive option.

[valhalla360]

Works fine and a heck of a lot cheaper (we do have the smaller dish). If it's rolly enough to lose the signal, we are probably moving to a different anchorage.

[RonT]

I consider Follow Me TV as our largest blunder in the 10 years we have had the powerboat, not because it doesn't work well but because it isn't stabilized and the picture freezes every time a boat passes in an anchorage. There is nothing more frustrating that to have the middle of a news or weather statement cut out while the commentator's face freezes with a weird expression. We do not need it alongside the dock as long as we are tied properly (with very little movement), so it is no longer being used. If I haven't discouraged you, I can offer you mine at a deep discount. We use Direct TV. Someone with Dish might have a different story.

[River Cruiser]

I've had one for 2 years on a powerboat and it has worked very well at anchor and while cruising. I've been waked by tows and have never lost the signal. I would buy again.


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