Whats the best ariel /booster for TV reception on the mkt

[Margem]

So chaps, whats the best one for a mo boat? :confused tried an Omicron which was c...p
An argos booster/ariel device one also poor, is there anything besides a 30ft pole or a sat dome thingy! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Talbot]

define best!

A directional antenna will always be better than an omni version, but is a pain to line up

There are 2 manufacturers of the omni aerial - Status and Glomex. Status has the best name at the moment, but Glomex in addition to the contender for the cheaper end of the market, also has another with considerable more gain (and more expensive) - worth checking the comparative gain figures, or whether you wish to go down the directional route

 

[powerskipper]

Re: Whats the best Ariel /booster for TV reception on the mkt

heard of one that is an automatic tune , but can not remember what it is called /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[rickp]

I've recently tried a multimo satellite dish. Takes a minute or two to aim, but works well when tied up to a pontoon (if you have a view of the satellite). Fine under covers unless its very wet, but didn't work from inside. Obviously won't work at anchor or on a swinging mooring though.

Rick

 

[Wiggo]

Rick, doesn't it fritz out when the boat moves in the wind/current, or rocks when someone steps aboard etc? Might be interested as kids threatening mutiny due to lack of freeview digital in Hythe...

 

[rickp]

It seems suprisingly tolerant of that kind of slop so far. You want a reasonably clear view of the sky at 145ish degrees (I've forgotten the vertical angle!) so if you're tucked behind a building or wall, you may be out of luck. Once you've aimed it once, its pretty much a 'plonk down pointing 100 degrees-ish and turn slowly right until the kids yell that the signal meter on the sky box has gone up' operation /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Having played with it a bit at Northney a few weeks back I tried it whilst out and about last week. Worked fine in Weymouth and Dartmouth. Had to aim it a little higher in Guernsey (coffeemat under the front did the trick) - but only because we were just on the north side of Victoria marina and could point it through the entrance. A boat on the south side had the same dish but was tucked right back on the first pontoon and so couldn't see the satellite.

I'm sure you could borrow ours to give it a try if you wanted...

Rick

 

[Wiggo]

I'll hold fire for now, as I really don't want another bloody box on board, but if I could find a 12V sky box, it might make a difference...

Edit: What a dolt! if I'm tied to the pontoon, I have mains, hence 12V sky box is irrelevant...

 

[boatone]

oh wiggo....dont you have an inverter? These whizzy video type thingies dont use much current anyway and I found an invertor lets me use all sorts of 240v stuff including charging batteries for mobiles/computer/cameras etc etc

As for TV aerials IMHO ALL the so called omniderectional/booster models are a total waste of money. I get better reception out of a cheap set top aerial mounted up on the radar arch and frequently good enough for the Freeview box as well even when lots of ghosting on normal tv channels.

 

[rickp]

Sure - you'd normally have mains. The newish sky miniboxes are 12v anyway it seems (at least, mine was).

Rick

 

[Wiggo]

Mmm, yes, but it's in the wrong corner of the boat (I couldn't be arsed with wiring up an inverter/shorepower switchy thing, so I just put a single socket by the lower helm, so I can charge stuff if I need to).

Got a glomex jobby that works fine everywhere except A basin in Hythe... I spose it's all the houses right in front of us, in line of sight to Rowridge...