TV signal on board

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dave_gibsea

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Last year I bought a small portable TV to keep SWMBO happy on-board. Tested it at home plugged into our home TV ariel and it worked fine but reception was not good using either of the ariels supplied. Down on the boat and TV is working but can't pick up a signal. Tried it in several locations including middle of Portsmouth Harbour but no luck.

I've seen boats with TV aerials and also caravans so people must have a solution. All the signal boosters I've seen are mains only so that's not a realistic option for us.

Any ideas?

Dave
 
I've got a Glomex aerial and booster on board. The booster works off 12 volt. When I first installed it I just hauled the aerial up to a spreader. Reception was good. Later, when I installed my radar on a back stay mount I mounted the aerial on top of the radar, so that's probably only just over 3 metres above the deck. Reception still good. Even in a marina with masts all around. Never had any problems in the Solent, Brighton and all points West, even in Cornwall.
 
Malcb said:
I've got a Glomex aerial and booster on board. The booster works off 12 volt. When I first installed it I just hauled the aerial up to a spreader. Reception was good. Later, when I installed my radar on a back stay mount I mounted the aerial on top of the radar, so that's probably only just over 3 metres above the deck. Reception still good. Even in a marina with masts all around. Never had any problems in the Solent, Brighton and all points West, even in Cornwall.
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+1 Mine actually stays in the forecabin when in Portsmouth and still works fine. My intention was to hoist it as above but I've never had to do anymore than poke it through the hatch whever i've been.
 
I have a status 330 omnidirectional with the 12v status booster. You can also buy the optional sucker pads which I did that sticks the aerial to the roof without drilling holes. Pick up all the free view channels at anchor and marinas. Need the omnidirectional if anchoring (obviously)
 
lupa said:
I have a status 330 omnidirectional with the 12v status booster. You can also buy the optional sucker pads which I did that sticks the aerial to the roof without drilling holes. Pick up all the free view channels at anchor and marinas. Need the omnidirectional if anchoring (obviously)
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We also have a Status, which I just tie on to the boom when needed, connected to a deck socket which is capped when not in use. In some areas, we don't need the Status, the TV works fine just on the coax and amplifier.
 
It's not something simple like, Portsmouth is fed by a different transmitter and it just needs re-tuning?
 
First you have to get it pointing at the right transmitter then retune. I have a uni directional aerial on my boat which I mount on a telescopic pole on the pushpit, it connects into a socket in the cockpit locket which is permanently wired back to the TV in the saloon. It takes 2 mins to set up. I keep onboard a print out of the different transmitter locations for when I'm cruising which is available here. If I'm in doubt I usually get the binos out and scan around to see where the aerials on the roofs are pointing.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/guidance/tech-guidance/transmaps/ It's also good to know whether to mount the aerial in the horizontal or vertical plane You will get a much better reception with a small unidirectional aerial than most omni directional ones.
 
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On my last boat I had a bleeding expensive glomax thingy at the masthead & reception was average, on new boat I have at the moment just a £6 crappy portable aerial & reception is better than before :confused: Have just ordered a Avtex STH3000 aerial to try.
 
Laundryman said:
+1 Mine actually stays in the forecabin when in Portsmouth and still works fine. My intention was to hoist it as above but I've never had to do anymore than poke it through the hatch whever i've been.
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+ 1 with booster works fine in Marinas but aerial stuck high on the mast. In the past and on previous motor boats I had Status and were always good.
 
I have a masthead mounted Glomex and 12v amplifier. Gets a good picture most of the time, although have to retune when I move to anchorages. I run an Aldi led tv through an inverter, uses about 30w all in.
 
Im in the process of fitting a Glomex AV300 which seams to get good reviews but not tried it yet in anger. Have a look here http://www.aerialsandtv.com which is very informative although he does not think much of omnidirectional ariels which are a necessity in boats and we just have. To live with their limitations.
 
 
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The problem with Digital TV is you get nothing if signal is poor or perfect if signal is enough. But also as said you may need to get the TV to retune itself to the new location. usually in the menu. Much depends on your mooring type or if you want TV at anchor. A boat which is always oriented one way in a mooring will enable you to use a directional antenna. ie something like you have at home. This may not need an amplifier but should be mounted as high as possible. Do check for polarisation of the TV signal some are vertical some are horizontal dictating how the antenna should be oriented. The typical long Yagi type like a lot of cross members to the front can be cut down to less front memebers without losing much performance. Don't cut the reflector or the element that actually connects to the cable.
If you have a swing mooring or want to use the TV at anchor then you will need the glomax or similar omni directional antenna. The trade off is less sensitivity than a directional antenna pointed at the transmitter. Most TV boosters if you check them closely actually run on about 12v DC from a mains adaptor. or you can pay more for a marine 12v one.
good luck olewill
 
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