TV Reception

[Gatsby]

We seem unable to get a good signal on many areas of the Thames does anyone have any tips? or can recommend any particular type of aerial??

Thanks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Brayman]

I have an Omnimax aerial and the only place I get any sort of reception is above Wallingford. If I was that bothered I would put it on a tall pole, but I don't really want to spoil the look of the boat.
I've just bought a freeview satellite dish for £80 which I'm hoping will improve things this season.

 

[Gatsby]

[ QUOTE ]

I've just bought a freeview satellite dish for £80 which I'm hoping will improve things this season.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you Brayman, please let me know if it helps....

 

[landlockedpirate]

I took a trip down the Thames a few years ago. I made a removable pole to put my omni-directional aerial on. Conected it to a booster.Total height above water line approx 12ft. seemed to work Ok.

Used an aluminium pole from a caravan shop that dismantled into small pieces.

Hope this helps.

 

[apollo]

You wont get a TV reception in Henley for love nor money.

 

[TrueBlue]

We tried in vain for a couple of years; girt big pole (20ft.) plus high gain antenna with masthead amplifier.
Took ages to set up 'cos you've got to know where to point it. Jolly old wind (always blowing somewhere) then rotates the whole assembly at the critical moment.

Now have satellite setup, smallish dish at about 5ft. the water.
Always pointing in the same direction.
Providing no trees very near, perfic predictable picture.
Watch one record two. Luvverly.

 

[theguvnor]

Get a radio & a DVD player

 

[pheran]

Satellite is really the only way to go. I got hold of a second-hand Sky box and a compact dish, total cost about £50. On top of that you need to get a viewing card from Sky which costs a one-off £20 admin. fee. This gives you access to all the Free to air programmes and a few others too. Even works for me in Holland where I keep my boat. Better still, it gives access to all the UK radio programmes so I can still argue with/about John Humphries in the morning!

 

[sarabande]

I'm a Sky/satellite innocent. Can you define in more detail what kit you have, and what it does, please ?

 

[pheran]

I've got almost exactly what you would have at home but with a slightly smaller satellite dish (for convenience) feeding into a mains operated Sky decoder box which is run either by shore-power or the main inverter. BUT there are alternatives around now which may be even better. Maplins (www.maplins.co.uk) do a range of complete systems starting at around £70. This includes dish, cables and connectors AND (wait for it) a 12 volt decoder.

Have a look at this

satellite kit

Its only fair to point out that whilst these systems do give quality reception, the dish needs to be lined up fairly accurately (not a problem after the first couple of times) and re-adjusted every time you move the boat. Plus, the degree of movement the dish will accept without reallignment is limited so no use on a swinging mooring but great when berthed alongside, bank or pontoon etc

 

[Brayman]

Chris
Do you find that passing boats affect the reception with your dish?
Ian

 

[pheran]

Not really Ian. I've got the dish mounted well up the radar arch, about 15 ft above the water line so physical blocking is rarely a problem. And seeing as I weigh in at 25 tonnes (oops, the boat that is) most passing boats don't rock us around that much. However, the smaller the dish, the more susceptable you are to poor weather conditions and we occasionally lose the satellite signal in very heavy rain. Not a problem as it soon returns automatically but could be a bit of a b*gger if Jonnie Wilkinson was just about to kick for the match!

 

[Hirdsp]

Just invested in one...on your head!!!

 

[BG1]

Can you use the Sky card from a home system to give all the same channels on a portable system ?

 

[rickp]

The short answer is no (as the card is locked to the serial number of the sky box). The longer answer involves a Dreambox 500 and some work on a command line....

Rick

 

[TrueBlue]

Jumping back in -

Although all cards are paired with a box, if you have the £20 Freesat option, then it will work in ANY sat box. The pairing in this case only has meaning when Sky makes one of its free offers (I've got all sky channels free for a month on my "master" unit. Haven't yet found anything worth paying for - thanks Shy for setting my mind at rest...).

The Maplin type boxes can only receive Free To Air channels; no Channel 4 or Five. I'm not sure whether or not you get the Sky EPG (Radio/ TV times) on a FTA only box. A standard Sky box gets you the EPG anyway.

I have a 40cm non Sky oval dish, 'cos I take the assembly down when cruising and my particular model can be modified so that the sticky-out-bit at the front folds up.
It's also better made than the cheaper varieties. Thin it cost me 15 squid.

Because the dish is slightly larger I don't get bothered by boats passing or rocking mine.

 

[rickp]

Re: Jumping back in -

[ QUOTE ]
Although all cards are paired with a box, if you have the £20 Freesat option, then it will work in ANY sat box. The pairing in this case only has meaning when Sky makes one of its free offers (I've got all sky channels free for a month on my "master" unit. Haven't yet found anything worth paying for - thanks Shy for setting my mind at rest...).

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, the Freesat card works in any Sky box (as Sky never released a CAM - which Oftel should really have required as part of the licence terms).

I read the question as meaning paid-for content though. What you say is correct.

Rick

 

[Teddy]

I use a Status aerial mounted on the flybridge, with its associated amplifier inside, and get reception of sorts virtually everywhere. In really difficult spots I use an ordinary caravan / loft type with separate amp, if needed.

The secret is knowing which channel to tune in to. For example, at Henley, there is a local transmitter that can be clearly seen from the Thames. Tune to ch's 55,68,58,65.
If using a conventional aerial, Henley is vertically polarized, so make the pointy bits stick up, not horizontal.

Have a look at :- http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/assendon.asp

Then its just a matter of switching between Crystal Palace ( London) 26,33,23,30,37, Hannington (South) 39,45,42,66,35 and Oxford (Central) 57,63,60,53,49. Look at any local houses to see which direction they are pointing and select the appropriate transmitter. I have pre-programmed my set for all, and sometimes have to toggle between some depending on required channel.

Below Abingdon Bridge is a bit iffy on Oxford, but above bridge no problem.

Good Luck.