TV on boat. The lowdown please.

[fredrussell]

I'm going to buy one of those low wattage TVs for the boat. What sort of aerial is the best for these please? Boat is in marina so pretty much always pointing in same direction. Will mounting an aerial on the pushpit work or do I need to get up the mast or stick it on a tall pole? Apart from Tv, aerial and some cable (co-ax?) do I need anything else?

 

[pandos]

mine is on top of the mast. 240v tv from Argos which used 12v transformer. works almost anywhere along our south coast receiving our version of the uk's freeview digital channels.

 

[jakeroyd]

If you have a smartphone , Apple or Android , you might consider a TVMAN unit.
This is a little Digital TV receiver which transmits to an app on your phone or iPad etc.
https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/tvman-pocket-mobile-tv-hotspot-a90nj

I used this on my boat and it was very effective with minimal power required.

 

[Little Dorrit]

I have an Avtex TV with a pushpit mounted antenna - all good. Has worked everywhere including quite a long way down Dartmouth Harbor.

 

[fredrussell]

Will I get away with one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-D...pID=41SCcP3-2GL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

...or will I need one of these more expensive jobs:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Avtex-STH3...=1511208838&sr=1-4&keywords=caravan+tv+aerial


Boat is in middle of Ipswich, not too many tall buildings nearby.

 

[Bav34]

We have a Glomex at the top of the mast. Works fine in France, Channel Islands and UK.

 

[Arcady]

We used one of the TVMAN units for the first time this year, plugged into a Glomex masthead antenna. The results were good and iPhone, Mac laptop and Android tablet all became TV’s of convenience as and when required.

 

[mariadz]

Hi, another vote for glomex. Personally I would mount it as high as possible. We live in a marina surrounded by high rise, not unusual, a lower down aerial does not work as well.

Another vote for the Avtex, we have two and they are excellent, even have satellite tuners if you want to go that way. They are expensive but customer service is excellent and we have been very impressed with the picture. On the cheaper side, Cello are UK assembled, poorer quality but half the price. With both I would recommend a sound bar for sound quality and depending on size you may want a way to hide the Tv when not I needed use.

More details on our setup below:

https://mariadz.com/2017/05/22/entertainment-tv-on-a-boat-yes-i-know-sorry/

 

[Seashoreman]

If you have a smartphone , Apple or Android , you might consider a TVMAN unit.
This is a little Digital TV receiver which transmits to an app on your phone or iPad etc.
https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/tvman-pocket-mobile-tv-hotspot-a90nj

I used this on my boat and it was very effective with minimal power required.

This looks very handy but if you read the Q&A on the linked website it was discontinued from stock over a year ago.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Just buy an off the shelf domestic TV, no need to pay "marine/motorhome" prices. Most small LG TVs are 12v, with a power brick and most small Samsung TVs are 14v with a brick. Run either of those through a DC-DC converter for a nice stable supply and Bobs your uncle.

 

[rotrax]

We used one of the TVMAN units for the first time this year, plugged into a Glomex masthead antenna. The results were good and iPhone, Mac laptop and Android tablet all became TV’s of convenience as and when required.

Ditto-with any freeview dongle its really good. The only shortcoming is that it can take 15 minutes to locate and lock in the available stations at any location. Move, and you must do it again.

We always set it up shortly after arrival in a new spot. Once the stations are located its little different from being at home.

 

[stranded]

Ditto-with any freeview dongle its really good. The only shortcoming is that it can take 15 minutes to locate and lock in the available stations at any location. Move, and you must do it again.

We always set it up shortly after arrival in a new spot. Once the stations are located its little different from being at home.

We’ve been using an ordinary Sony led tv for three years now, powered through a £20 maplin inverter and most of that time using a little stub aerial - maybe 50% of the time just lying around on a shelf in the saloon, hauled up to the first spreaders when that didn’t work. Installed a masttop glomex when we were rerigged last winter but for tidiness rather than performance.

 

[vyv_cox]

We have a Glomex screwed to a piece of ply just lying in the wheelhouse. It works well there in Pwllheli and outside Port Dinorwic (nothing much works inside) but in Milford Haven we needed to pass it through the hatch to sit outside. Our gaff rigged mast doesn't lend itself to carrying antennae.

 

[Richard10002]

Another vote for the Avtex, we have two and they are excellent, even have satellite tuners if you want to go that way. They are expensive but customer service is excellent........

genuinely curious....

I’ve owned lots of TVs over the years and have never needed any customer service from the manufacturer. How have you experienced Avtex customer service such that you can say it’s excellent?

 

[Richard10002]

most small Samsung TVs are 14v with a brick. Run either of those through a DC-DC converter for a nice stable supply and Bobs your uncle.

Except the one I just bought fro AO.com Works OK through a 300w inverter though.

I always have a look at the back of TVs in places like a Currys or John Lewis, tonsee if they have a DC feed, although I won’t be buying anything from Currys again if I can help it. Their customer service is none existent!

 

[mariadz]

We had one in a motorhome where the sound board failed in the first year. Courier pick up and replacement also sent by courier within a couple of days.

We also bought a 21in for the aft stateroom on Mariadz and wasn’t happy with a curve on the picture on one of the sides. Again replaced the tube with no quibble, no cost and quickly.

Finally bought a 32in for the saloon and there was one dead pixel. Same story.

Now you could argue that I have been a little picky or unlucky. Either way the Avtex customer service was excellent. I have heard similar stories from other people too.

 

[bobgarrett]

Lowdown?

Better high up!
My DVT aerial is on the pushpit and when in marinas and some other locations I can only get a decent signal at high water.

 

[PaulRainbow]

We had one in a motorhome where the sound board failed in the first year. Courier pick up and replacement also sent by courier within a couple of days.

We also bought a 21in for the aft stateroom on Mariadz and wasn’t happy with a curve on the picture on one of the sides. Again replaced the tube with no quibble, no cost and quickly.

Finally bought a 32in for the saloon and there was one dead pixel. Same story.

Now you could argue that I have been a little picky or unlucky. Either way the Avtex customer service was excellent. I have heard similar stories from other people too.

Thought you said they were excellent TVs ?

 

[mariadz]

I knew someone would say that! I guess for me to still consider them good (and continue to buy them) it must say something about the picture quality, features and customer service.

I've always had the best tv's in the house. The picture on these is excellent.

We also have a cello 32in. Cheaper, not half as good.

You pays your money and takes your choice.

 

[KellysEye]

We used to hoist a normal TV aerial up to the spreader and used piece of string to point it in the right direction.