Masthead TV, VHF antennae and Windex

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BlueSkyNick

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What's the best way of installing a decent TV antenna, and VHF antenna, with a windex too

I need to replace the VHF antenna and cable and want to do all the work at once.

(Now standing by for a flaming by DogWatch and others for considering a TV on board when I have argued against them for the past 5 years!)
 
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I have had great service from my triax UFO aerial, it also gives me crisp and excellent FM reception. I use it with digital and analogue. Although it is difficult to ascertain from the info included, the mast mount does come in the box, although I did not actually use mine in the end.

This unit is far smaller than the glomex which has to be a good thing up the mast. p.s. it's built in Britain.

windex, I don't know, I am debating whether to repair my nasa or go upmarket, though I still prefer to know I have a British product. I just wish nasa would realise that I would like British and quality and I don't mind paying the premium when the product is excellent.. They have an opportunity now to pitch as the last UK producer and not cheap and cheerful, ahh, wishful thinking.

Sorry for the flag waving.
 
Re the shame of admitting to having TV on board....I am right there with you. A few years back I considered that only decadent mobo owners used such things !

However I have found 2 things ........1) As I sail a lot on my own and mid week, if the weather is crap like last year I tend to get a bit bored and lonely.

2) Sad though it may seem, my daughters and SWMBO actually are far more likely to say 'yes' to a suggestion of sailing if there is a better chance that they won't miss there precious crappy 'soaps'....There I've said it !

Im sticking the antenae thing at the top of the mizzen although it appears to work perfectly ok in the wheel house.

The bracket that holds the TV and the amplifier are all mounted on the back of a locker door that is in a convenient place ( the flat screen TV has to be taken off and put in another lock). It all works well and ins't 'on display when not in use.

Nick
 
Dogwatch wont flame you for wanting TV on board. Both he and I have a Triax UFO aerial at the top of our masts. (Aha! he might flame you for having argued against TV for 5 years /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

I have happily watched TV in UK, Spain, Italy and Portugal using this and am currently getting Italian TV even though I am in Malta.

I bought on ebay, but it's not there anymore. A search for Triax UFO brings up a few suppliers.

Dont forget to leave a few mice to accommodate mistakes and the ones that get away, as well as future needs.... although I found my channel got a bit tight, so I dont think I would be pulling any more through.
 
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can't have a just a telly in a mobo, got to be widescreen dolby HD home cinema with 57 sat channels a PVR and remotes in every cabin............

Seriously though, if you do want satellite TV, the new system from Digital Yacht looks superb. A small dome and although expensive, good value and should give you a good clean picture in most places except marinas with very high buildings to the south of you. Opens up megayacht facilities to small boats if that's your thing. (it's not mine I just think it's clever) Good for sports fans certainly. Can even work on the move if you've got your motor on.

I haven't seen one in the flesh yet though and I installed my first ever boat telly (12"!!) over the winter, because without it the kids won't let me near the laptop as they're watching DVDs all the time. Haven't used it yet and fortunately my wife hates soaps as much as me, but I probably will and the kids definately will. No shame in doing on your boat what you want to do when it doesn't affect others.
 
Thanks, I see there are a few suppliers and will keep looking around.

My main concern is how to fit the TV antenna at the top of the mast with everything else, plus rigging, and even sails from time to time. Which way is your antenna pointing, Richard?
 
Another vote for the UFO could not get a thing here on the east coast fitted the UFO and now have better reception than at home, and a big bonus excellent crystal clear FM radio.

Mast head mounting with the supplied bracket was a doddle and as mentioned quite a bit smaller to the similar glomex
 
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Which way is your antenna pointing, Richard?

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it's fitted on the port side of the mast, pointing to port. I also fitted a second VHF aerial thinking I could use it for AIS, (which I couldnt as you cant have 2 VHF aerials working within a short distance of each other!).

Pretty sure we drilled one hole in the top of the mast and fed the new VHF aerial lead, and the Triax lead through it. Vaguely possible that we drilled a hole in the side of the mast for the TV aerial, but I dont think so.

Given that I didnt remove any cables, the hardest part was feeding the mice up/down the mast, (I'm pretty sure they were fed down as it is easier to get hold of them at the bottom of the mast than the top - the mast was horizontal on the ground, not on the boat /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif) . We borrowed some cast off slim rigging wire from the yard and fed that from the top, down the cable channel, and got it to poke out of the right part of the bottom of the mast. Tied and taped 4 or 5 mice to it and pulled it through.

When pulling the cables back through with the mice, there was at least one place where it seemed to get caught/snag.... probably at the mast joint/s, or maybe where the radar and/or decklight steaming light cables leave the channel.... and I'm sure we lost a couple of mice in the process. I had planned to leave a couple of mice for future use, but there are none left, so we must have lost some.

I'll leave it to someone else to advise on the very best way of attaching a mouse to a cable, and making the attachment such that it is most likely to slide past minor obstructions.

Are you planning to do this with the mast on or off? Good luck if the former /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Hope this helps,

Richard
 
I am not familiar with what is availbale but would be surprised if you could buy a combination windex VHF com antenna and TV receive antenna all in one device.
The problem is that the VHF com transmits at 25 watts of power which may cause havoc with sensitive receiver amplifiers as needed in the TV receive antenna. Yes I realise the TV is for UHF and filters could be fitted to minimise the transmitted power but I would doubt it.

I think best idea is to find another high up but remote place for the TV antenna (on the spreaders) or the VHF com antenna. Similarly an AIS antenna needs to be remote from the transmitting antenna. olewill
 
My TV antenna has been up there with the VHF antenna since 2006 without a problem - I think the chances of transmitting on VHF while the TV is on must be slim, (but not nil!!). Worth bearing in mind - dont have the TV or TV aerial on if there is a chance of transmitting by VHF.

Discovering the advice about AIS and VHF after fitting a 2nd aerial on the mast means I have a spare VHF aerial.... which I may need to use, along with a 3rd aerial on the pushpit - as I buggered up the AIS kit and didnt bother with it further. If the mast comes down, I can just hook up to the pushpit jobbie, so every cloud and all that.
 
I am glad your TV antenna has survived. Most have a built in amplifier. The amplifier is theoretically susceptible with power on or off. Either my concern is groundless or yopu have been lucky. olewill
 
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