[C320-list] TV antenna recommendations?

[Scott Thompson]

Warren:  The analog issue should not be a problem for anyone shopping a 
new TV today.  It's been illegal to manufacture or import any TV without 
a digital tuner since March of 2007.

Scott

warren updike wrote:
> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
> 
> 
> 
>