Omnidirectional TV Aerial - advice ?

[hamishb]

Can anyone advise experiences with omnidirectional TV aerials on board. I have looked at a few makes now ( Glomex, Status and Nargus ). The first two are round 'saucer' types which would be more suited up the mast, but typically seen on carivans ! ( and are aver £100 ). The latter is available from Compass Watersports at £59 and comes in a very small dome ( 10cm dia and about 15cm high ) which I was planning to mount on the aft pole where my old Decca antenna was sited ( plus ........ there is an easy cable route to the chart table ).
Before I fork out the money ........ Are they any good ?
I am based on the Clyde where TV reception ( at the best of times ) is not too good although my portable antenna does work reasonably well in most places ( when you manage to get it pointing in the right direction. Not so good at anchor though ! )
Any advice out there ?

 

[Col]

Because they are omnidirectional, they pick up signals from any angle, which unfortunately means reflected signals off of buildings / mountains / bridges etc:
This causes picture ghosting. I use an ordinary boosted indoor antenna, no probs.

 

[alanducker]

I have a Glomex at the top of the mast. It is excellent away from the marina but doesn't work very well in a marina with numerous other masts nearby. To solve that problem I bought a cheap mains operated Teletop Delta portable aerial for use when in a marina and use the Glomex elsewhere.

 

[heerenleed]

We use a glomex and are very satisfied with is. But the image quality depends very much on where you are. We have a rather high main mast, 17 metres above the water and the presence of other boats in a marine does not make much difference. Buildings do, however. When we are in our own marina, we use a disc, but we would'nt want to be seen with it while sailing. So we stow it when we're on the move. There is a (very expensive) solution (some 3000 Euros). It is a dome with a self-adjusting disc that follows satellites. But then, I don't believe that the BBC already broadcasts via satellites. I think for you the glomex is the best solution for now. Buy the smallest type. It is the cheapest, and gives the best results. You can mount it on your aft pole, but the higher you install it, the better the results, unless you have a rather flat countryside around you with little buildings.

Good luck


Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbeergen, Netherlands

 

[JerryHawkins]

I have a Nargus

I got the Nargus because it was much cheaper than the rest. I have mine on a pole at the transom as you intend. It works fairly well. Better out of the marina than in, but the picture is acceptable and certainly better than with the set-top antenna supplied with the TV.

A neighbour a couple of 'fingers' down has a Glomex for which he paid twice what I paid for the Nargus and his picture is no better than mine!

Cheers, Jerry

 

[MapisM]

Re: I have a Nargus

Do this Nargus have an Internet site?
Just made a quick search with no result.
Alternatively, could you tell us where you found it?
Many thanks.

 

[JerryHawkins]

Re: I have a Nargus

No, I could never find any info about it on the web. I got mine from Compass Watersports http://www.compass24.com , go to the online shop and search for Nargus - price as at 12:40 09/05/02 £59.95

Cheers, Jerry

 

[philip_stevens]

I bought an Optimax (the wire cage aerial) plus amplifier from a caravan shop about ten years ago, and it has been fitted to two boats with no problems.
It feeds a small colour TV, with AFC tuning, that came from the now defunct Tandy store. The picture is good with some slight ghosting, but otherwise viewable.
If it has been good enough for caravaners for so many years, it is good enough for me in the valley estuaries and rivers of Cornwall and Devon.

regards,
Philip

 

[hamishb]

Re: I have a Nargus

In reply to the question of a Nargus Web Site :
I found it under Naval Electronics ( of Malmo Sweden - NOT 'Naval' of Tampa US, which is a different outfit ). Try www.Messales.se or search for 'Naval'+'Nargus'+'antenna' worldwide and you should get it. ( may have to use seach 'Nargus' in the website to find it !! ). However, not much in the way of detailed spec but I phoned them and got what I was after. It does not have as much gain as the glomex ( ie the bigger saucer shaped type - it has 18dB compared to 20-25dB on the bigger units ). I have decided that the price ( 50% cheaper than the glomex ) is worth giving it a try and have placed my order with Compass Watersports at £59.
I think it will be good enough for what I am after. I am not often in Marinas so the mast interference should not be a problem for my use, but I do carry a small fixed set top antenna which is OK if the boat does not move about at the berth.
Hamish