[C320-list] TV antenna recommendations?

[warren updike]

I haven't yet found an LCD TV in the 15"-19" range that has a digital tuner.
Not that they aren't out there, I understood that the smaller TVs didn't
have them. Now that the broadcast world is going digital, perhaps that will
change.

I know of 3 approaches on antennas:
1) a fixed, mast-top 360 deg., powered unit like the Glomex. That requires
in-mast wiring.
2) a rigable 360 deg., un-powered wire unit that is easily rigged at
anchor/slip. Someone at our marina has an internet source for these, and a
number of people there are using them. Hoist it on a halyard. 
3) a rigable or fixed, digital, powered unit. 

For 3), I bought a GE outdoor digital antenna at Home Depot, about $45.
Currently, I rig it when needed; but, intend to mount it on a spreader and
feed the cable through the mast next time the mast is down. This is a small
unit about the size of a pint whiskey bottle. It is powered by an AC feed
converted to 5V DC, and fed into the coax. Instructions say some TVs provide
a 5V feed on the coax connection in which case the transformer is not
needed. Gives very nice reception.

The coax from the antenna goes to the antenna power transformer unit, then
to the A/D converter box, then to the TV. 

So, now I have an AC lead from the TV, AC lead from the A/D converter, and
an AC lead from the antenna transformer. To make it easier to switch from
shore power to 12V, I made a small box with a 3-wire power cord and a 4-gang
receptacle into which I plug all of the AC leads for the TV stuff. My little
400W inverter is very near the TV and an AC boat receptacle. When on shore
power, the cord from the box is plugged into the Boat AC. When at sea, it's
plugged into the inverter.  

I tried back-feeding the inverter into the boat AC via the outlet above the
nav table. This was a mistake as this outlet is a GFCI outlet and they don't
like power feeding from the outside. Actually, it fried that outlet and the
one in the galley, as well as frying my microwave transformer. Bummer. 

As for A/D converter (analog-to-digital,) most are the form factor of a DVD
unit. I thought that too big and researched many available. I found one that
is very compact 6-1/2" wide, 4" deep, 1" high. It's the "Artec T3A Pro."  I
plan to Velcro it over the port shelf at the nav table. My TV is installed
over the nav table on an articulating arm so it folds back nicely. 

Warren & Pattie Updike
Catalina 320, #62, "Warr De Mar"
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay



-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Brown [mailto:jbrown03 at sympatico.ca] 
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 1:11 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] TV antenna recommendations?

Or make sure you buy a TV with an ATSC tuner built in rather than an NTSC 
tuner.  The ATSC tuner is digital ready without a converter

Regards

Jerry Brown
1137 Indigo
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Seastream" <robert.seastream at comcast.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 11:00 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] TV antenna recommendations?


> Don't forget about the 02-17-09 conversion to DTV.  Since you said  you're

> interested in over the air broadcasts only, you'll need a  'converter box'
> between the antenna and TV, or you'll see only snow.
>
> Bob Seastream
> Intuition # 906
>
> On Jan 17, 2009, at 9:51 AM, Larry Frank wrote:
>
>> Kevin,
>>
>> Great question and timely too.
>>
>> The boat in the slip right next to mine has a SeaWatch 2020G and it 
>> seems to
>> work great.  He has it mounted on a short post off the stern rail  and it

>> is
>> only about 10 feet above the water if that much.
>>
>> I am planning on using the same antenna.
>>
>> I just found it available from Defender at 109 and no sales tax.  WM  is 
>> 149
>> plus tax.  Shipping will eat into the savings a bit but the Defender 
>> price
>> looks attractive.
>>
>> I don't know if the online reviews are dependable.  My opinion is  that 
>> when
>> people are dissatisfied the trend is to write reviews and the vast 
>> majority
>> could be satisfied and you never hear from them.  With something  like 
>> this
>> you never really know what the problem is because there are other  issues
>> like the signal strength, integrity of the antenna cable especially if
>> homemade, and the TV itself.
>>
>> Larry
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
>> onedrop7 at yahoo.com
>> Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 2:42 PM
>> To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
>> Subject: [C320-list] TV antenna recommendations?
>>
>> Since I'm in question-asking mode, maybe some of you kind folks can  help

>> me
>> out with this, too?
>>
>> Can you recommend a good marine TV antenna? Over-air only (not 
>> satellite),
>> and it will need to work with the new digital signal that is  mandated to
>> begin next month.
>>
>> If you know any to steer clear of that would be helpful, too. A  marine 
>> tech
>> recently recommended the Seawatch 2025, but it has awful reviews at
>> westmarine.com. Anyone have a good experience with it?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Kevin
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>