Paddydog`1
Well-Known Member
My grandkids want me to get a tele on the boat (35' yacht). How do I go about it and what do I need.
Boat tv
- Thread starter Paddydog`1
- Start date
Paul_G
Well-Known Member
A lot of flat screen TVs are actually 12v so are easy to plumb in. That and a good aerial should see you ok.
maby
Well-Known Member
Mostly depends on whether or not you will want to watch it while you are not on shore power...
Fundamentally, you just need a telly that will work on whatever kind of power you have available and an antenna. We use a rather small TV that I got from Maplins and is intended for camping and caravanning - hence works off 12v and comes with a suitable cable to plug into the cigar lighter power outlet. It works fine, but the screen may be a bit small to satisfy your grandkids. If you only need it to work while you are on shore power, you can use just about any television that will fit your boat.
The antenna can be a bit of a problem. You can get omnidirectional things that are designed to mount at the top of the mast, but they are expensive and some people find they do not give good reception. Our neighbours in the marina simply hoist an ordinary smallish loft antenna up the mast on a halyard and seem to get good reception, but it looks pretty amateurish. We use a One 4 All amplified antenna which is a small plastic thing. In our home marina, we get decent reception by zipping it into the sail cover. In other marinas, we have had to hoist it up the mast a bit by attaching it to the pennant halyard.
Hope this helps...
Fundamentally, you just need a telly that will work on whatever kind of power you have available and an antenna. We use a rather small TV that I got from Maplins and is intended for camping and caravanning - hence works off 12v and comes with a suitable cable to plug into the cigar lighter power outlet. It works fine, but the screen may be a bit small to satisfy your grandkids. If you only need it to work while you are on shore power, you can use just about any television that will fit your boat.
The antenna can be a bit of a problem. You can get omnidirectional things that are designed to mount at the top of the mast, but they are expensive and some people find they do not give good reception. Our neighbours in the marina simply hoist an ordinary smallish loft antenna up the mast on a halyard and seem to get good reception, but it looks pretty amateurish. We use a One 4 All amplified antenna which is a small plastic thing. In our home marina, we get decent reception by zipping it into the sail cover. In other marinas, we have had to hoist it up the mast a bit by attaching it to the pennant halyard.
Hope this helps...
VicS
Well-Known Member
and AFAIK your home tv licence will cover the use of a portable set on the boat.
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/second-home-aud8/
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/second-home-aud8/
fastjedi
Well-Known Member
We have a 15" 12v / 240 flat screen TV / DVD player, but only ever use it when connected to shore power (which isn't very often when afloat) We have been connecting a cheap Maxview 3010M aerial + 2m extension lead balanced on the stackpack as a tempory solution for the past three years and usually get a fine picture. On the rare occasion that we can't ... a Harry Potter DVD is inserted and normal service resumed
V1701
Well-Known Member
I have a tiny (10" screen) TV on board, that will work off 12v. Came from Maplins with a small rubber duck aerial that sits on the coachroof. I get all the Freeview channels. You'll probably want a bigger screen so I'd suggest a Kogan TV/DVD combo, works on 12v, LED backlit, good reports of them and very good value for money. You might get away with a small indoor aerial or you might need to put an aerial up the mast, it depends what the signal strength is where you are/will be...
Ex-SolentBoy
Well-Known Member
We use a 12V Avtex.
Great picture. TV and DVD and movies direct from a USB stick.
We stick it in a bag and take it home when the boat is out the water.
Mast top boosted aerials are the best, but if you are in a strong signal area you can often get away with something stuck out of a window hatch.
Great picture. TV and DVD and movies direct from a USB stick.
We stick it in a bag and take it home when the boat is out the water.
Mast top boosted aerials are the best, but if you are in a strong signal area you can often get away with something stuck out of a window hatch.
Blue5
Well-Known Member
After a similar question a couple of years ago and following several recommendations we went for a 12v Teknica from Tesco.
Very sharp picture, well pleased, the masthead aerial was certainly a massive improvement on the directional one in the cabin.
Very sharp picture, well pleased, the masthead aerial was certainly a massive improvement on the directional one in the cabin.
Beadle
Well-Known Member
The aerial is the main thing.
Being a boat they tend to be low down so masthead much better.
I use a normal Tesco brand flat screen jobby.
Runs on the inverter or direct from mains in the marina.
No problem
Being a boat they tend to be low down so masthead much better.
I use a normal Tesco brand flat screen jobby.
Runs on the inverter or direct from mains in the marina.
No problem
richardsn9
Well-Known Member
Just check that any TV you buy will receive Freeview as most young kids now are addicted to channels such as CBeebies/CBBC etc. Amazon also have some good TV/DVD combinations available.
dash300
Well-Known Member
We have a Cello 22 " works off 12/24 volt via included cigar plug. Has inbuilt Dvd freeview and free to air satalight . UK made great back up service and low power consumption.
Highly reviewed on caravan sites. Have used it up the Thames on the much maligned status flying saucer aerial and have had great picture everywhere.
Highly reviewed on caravan sites. Have used it up the Thames on the much maligned status flying saucer aerial and have had great picture everywhere.
Spyro
Well-Known Member
I found a 16 inch flat screen lcd on Gumtree. I made sure it worked off an external 12v transformer. I cut the transformer off and wired it direct to the fused switch panel. The aerial cable is run from the TV to the cockpit locker where it finishes in female coax connector I mount a directional digital aerial on a removable telescoptic pole and connect to the connector in the cockpit locker with a male connector. depending on where you go you will need to retune each time you are pointing at a different transmitter.
Details here
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/guidance/tech-guidance/transmaps/
Print off a copy and keep it on the boat
Details here
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/guidance/tech-guidance/transmaps/
Print off a copy and keep it on the boat
theoldsalt
Well-Known Member
A lot of people now carry a laptop onboard. If you do then you could just buy a TV dongle and an aerial.
My preference is for a directional aerial for best reception unless you are moored on a swinging mooring when an omnidirectional aerial will be required but they need an amplifier which drains more power.
My preference is for a directional aerial for best reception unless you are moored on a swinging mooring when an omnidirectional aerial will be required but they need an amplifier which drains more power.
Richard10002
Well-Known Member
+1 for a Tv from www.kogan.co.uk
I have a 19" TV/DVD combo with their 12v connector.
I'm on a narrowboat, so have a normal tv aerial which I can point in the appropriate direction when we moor. It's only about 5 ft off the ground, but generally works OK.
On Rogue on our trip to Malta and back we had a Triax UFO at the top of the 15m mast - worked fine everywhere.
I have a 19" TV/DVD combo with their 12v connector.
I'm on a narrowboat, so have a normal tv aerial which I can point in the appropriate direction when we moor. It's only about 5 ft off the ground, but generally works OK.
On Rogue on our trip to Malta and back we had a Triax UFO at the top of the 15m mast - worked fine everywhere.
Paddydog`1
Well-Known Member
thanks all, very grateful for the advice. it seems the aerial is the critical facor here so what is the best way to go to get a decent tv aerial and any recommendatins?
xcw
Well-Known Member
I have just fitted a TV to my Bavaria. Bought a Currys own brand (Logik) LED TV/DVD and use an aerial from this lot:
http://www.parkmyauto.co.uk/parkmyauto-portable-tv-aerial-arial-areil-antenna-136-c.asp
I think they are designed for cars but it works extremely well in the Solent. I have positioned the aerial in a locker and so far has provided a great digital signal.
The TV runs on 12v and I just cut the 240v power supply off and connected it to the yachts 12v supply. There is some debate about whether you need to fit a 12v stabaliser as when you charge the batteries you will get around 14v which could (and did in my case) blow the TV. If you select a domestic TV not designed to run off 12V I strongly recommend you fit a stabaliser (cost around £25.). The setup works well for me.
http://www.parkmyauto.co.uk/parkmyauto-portable-tv-aerial-arial-areil-antenna-136-c.asp
I think they are designed for cars but it works extremely well in the Solent. I have positioned the aerial in a locker and so far has provided a great digital signal.
The TV runs on 12v and I just cut the 240v power supply off and connected it to the yachts 12v supply. There is some debate about whether you need to fit a 12v stabaliser as when you charge the batteries you will get around 14v which could (and did in my case) blow the TV. If you select a domestic TV not designed to run off 12V I strongly recommend you fit a stabaliser (cost around £25.). The setup works well for me.
Paul_G
Well-Known Member
I too use one of these aerials, after trying the usual portatble types with or without boosters. It gives good reception just popped out of a hatch but if needed the base is heavy enough that I can put it on the boom and get a bit more height.
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
I use a Status omni directional one lashed to the boom when we need it, via Glomex deck plug/socket, never got around to mast mounting. Directional aerial isn't much use when on anchor or mooring but OK in marinas. 19" Toshiba LCD TV through 350W inverter, like most TVs now it works in all European countries, digital and analogue.
Billjratt
Well-Known Member
My boat came with a "nargus" omni-directional aerial at the masthead.
It does the job well to a laptop with a hauppage TV dongle. I made up a "T" piece to feed the car radio as well. It is needed in some of the remoter parts of the west coast. The aerial power is switchable, so I can demonstrate the advantage of having a active antenna as well as saving power.
It does the job well to a laptop with a hauppage TV dongle. I made up a "T" piece to feed the car radio as well. It is needed in some of the remoter parts of the west coast. The aerial power is switchable, so I can demonstrate the advantage of having a active antenna as well as saving power.
maby
Well-Known Member
Be suspicious of the cheap active antennae - many of them are worse than a simple bit of wire stuffed in the socket. This one works well for us :
http://www.oneforall.com/product/index/id/45/title/sv-9350/cat_id/2/type/aerials/sub_id/5/sub_title/
- receives a useful number of channels every where we have tried it. We don't have it permanently mounted - just hoist it up on the penant halyard, or zip it into the sail cover.
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