Has anyone used the product "Boatenna" for non cable TV reception dockside? What is the quality of picture? I am located on the Connecticut shoreline.
boatenna
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Has anyone used the product "Boatenna" for non cable TV reception dockside? What is the quality of picture? I am located on the Connecticut shoreline.
Not sure about it but...
Keep in mind that as of next year, analog broadcasts are supposed to be suspended permanently. Only digital from then on. You will need a converter box if you have an analog tuner on your boat. As long as your reasonably close to the transmitting towers, you will get amazing reception (The downside to the digital broadcasts are that it is all or nothing :{). When this happens, you may do just as well with an inexpensive amplified antenna that you can have inside boat. It would be a lot easier than hoisting up boatenna every time you get back to the dock. Manny
Keep in mind that as of next year, analog broadcasts are supposed to be suspended permanently. Only digital from then on. You will need a converter box if you have an analog tuner on your boat. As long as your reasonably close to the transmitting towers, you will get amazing reception (The downside to the digital broadcasts are that it is all or nothing :{). When this happens, you may do just as well with an inexpensive amplified antenna that you can have inside boat. It would be a lot easier than hoisting up boatenna every time you get back to the dock. Manny
Not sure about it but...
Keep in mind that as of next year, analog broadcasts are supposed to be suspended permanently. Only digital from then on. You will need a converter box if you have an analog tuner on your boat. As long as your reasonably close to the transmitting towers, you will get amazing reception (The downside to the digital broadcasts are that it is all or nothing :{). When this happens, you may do just as well with an inexpensive amplified antenna that you can have inside boat. It would be a lot easier than hoisting up boatenna every time you get back to the dock. Manny
Keep in mind that as of next year, analog broadcasts are supposed to be suspended permanently. Only digital from then on. You will need a converter box if you have an analog tuner on your boat. As long as your reasonably close to the transmitting towers, you will get amazing reception (The downside to the digital broadcasts are that it is all or nothing :{). When this happens, you may do just as well with an inexpensive amplified antenna that you can have inside boat. It would be a lot easier than hoisting up boatenna every time you get back to the dock. Manny
Boatenna is junk
I ordered a boatenna. First of all, it is not an antenna, it is a kit. In my kit, there was a manufacturing mistake that I had to correct. When I finally did get it assembled, it worked, but no better than a set of rabbit ears inside the boat. It is very cumbersome to store and raise. I finally mounted a 10" glomex "saucer" antenna on the first spreader. It works well with my digital flat screen TV (with digital ATSI tuner). However, I wired in the electronic signal booster that came with it and I can't see that it helps at all. I always use the TV with the booster off, so don't bother wiring one in. I bought a Glomex because it is slightly smaller than the Shakespeare, therefore less likely to be damaged by my 140% genoa. My first Shakespeare was damaged during a high wind tack. When I called Shakespeare to buy a replacement part, they wouldn't sell it to me. They insisted I buy a complete new antennae kit, with 50' of wiring and a signal booster. So I was motivated to find a competitor. The Glomex is smaller, better made and seems to work better. If you want my boatenna, I'll sell it to you CHEAP! It's cluttering up my garage.
I ordered a boatenna. First of all, it is not an antenna, it is a kit. In my kit, there was a manufacturing mistake that I had to correct. When I finally did get it assembled, it worked, but no better than a set of rabbit ears inside the boat. It is very cumbersome to store and raise. I finally mounted a 10" glomex "saucer" antenna on the first spreader. It works well with my digital flat screen TV (with digital ATSI tuner). However, I wired in the electronic signal booster that came with it and I can't see that it helps at all. I always use the TV with the booster off, so don't bother wiring one in. I bought a Glomex because it is slightly smaller than the Shakespeare, therefore less likely to be damaged by my 140% genoa. My first Shakespeare was damaged during a high wind tack. When I called Shakespeare to buy a replacement part, they wouldn't sell it to me. They insisted I buy a complete new antennae kit, with 50' of wiring and a signal booster. So I was motivated to find a competitor. The Glomex is smaller, better made and seems to work better. If you want my boatenna, I'll sell it to you CHEAP! It's cluttering up my garage.
Boatenna is junk
I ordered a boatenna. First of all, it is not an antenna, it is a kit. In my kit, there was a manufacturing mistake that I had to correct. When I finally did get it assembled, it worked, but no better than a set of rabbit ears inside the boat. It is very cumbersome to store and raise. I finally mounted a 10" glomex "saucer" antenna on the first spreader. It works well with my digital flat screen TV (with digital ATSI tuner). However, I wired in the electronic signal booster that came with it and I can't see that it helps at all. I always use the TV with the booster off, so don't bother wiring one in. I bought a Glomex because it is slightly smaller than the Shakespeare, therefore less likely to be damaged by my 140% genoa. My first Shakespeare was damaged during a high wind tack. When I called Shakespeare to buy a replacement part, they wouldn't sell it to me. They insisted I buy a complete new antennae kit, with 50' of wiring and a signal booster. So I was motivated to find a competitor. The Glomex is smaller, better made and seems to work better. If you want my boatenna, I'll sell it to you CHEAP! It's cluttering up my garage.
I ordered a boatenna. First of all, it is not an antenna, it is a kit. In my kit, there was a manufacturing mistake that I had to correct. When I finally did get it assembled, it worked, but no better than a set of rabbit ears inside the boat. It is very cumbersome to store and raise. I finally mounted a 10" glomex "saucer" antenna on the first spreader. It works well with my digital flat screen TV (with digital ATSI tuner). However, I wired in the electronic signal booster that came with it and I can't see that it helps at all. I always use the TV with the booster off, so don't bother wiring one in. I bought a Glomex because it is slightly smaller than the Shakespeare, therefore less likely to be damaged by my 140% genoa. My first Shakespeare was damaged during a high wind tack. When I called Shakespeare to buy a replacement part, they wouldn't sell it to me. They insisted I buy a complete new antennae kit, with 50' of wiring and a signal booster. So I was motivated to find a competitor. The Glomex is smaller, better made and seems to work better. If you want my boatenna, I'll sell it to you CHEAP! It's cluttering up my garage.
UFO
The Dantronics UFO powered antenna is a good one. Its also good for receiving AIS signals as well as TV and commercial AM/FM radio. www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|344|302025|320623&id=69511 If you want a CHEAP omnidirectional VHF/UHF.... take a 66" length of copper tubing, bend it into a circle and leave a 6" gap between the ends and held separated with a rubber hose, attach one leg of 300 ohm old style flat TV antenna line to each end of the 66" length , raise it with the 'circle' horizontal and to the spreaders .... and will be just as good as a 'boat-tenna' and will only cost ~$6.00.
The Dantronics UFO powered antenna is a good one. Its also good for receiving AIS signals as well as TV and commercial AM/FM radio. www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|344|302025|320623&id=69511 If you want a CHEAP omnidirectional VHF/UHF.... take a 66" length of copper tubing, bend it into a circle and leave a 6" gap between the ends and held separated with a rubber hose, attach one leg of 300 ohm old style flat TV antenna line to each end of the 66" length , raise it with the 'circle' horizontal and to the spreaders .... and will be just as good as a 'boat-tenna' and will only cost ~$6.00.
UFO
The Dantronics UFO powered antenna is a good one. Its also good for receiving AIS signals as well as TV and commercial AM/FM radio. www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|344|302025|320623&id=69511 If you want a CHEAP omnidirectional VHF/UHF.... take a 66" length of copper tubing, bend it into a circle and leave a 6" gap between the ends and held separated with a rubber hose, attach one leg of 300 ohm old style flat TV antenna line to each end of the 66" length , raise it with the 'circle' horizontal and to the spreaders .... and will be just as good as a 'boat-tenna' and will only cost ~$6.00.
The Dantronics UFO powered antenna is a good one. Its also good for receiving AIS signals as well as TV and commercial AM/FM radio. www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|344|302025|320623&id=69511 If you want a CHEAP omnidirectional VHF/UHF.... take a 66" length of copper tubing, bend it into a circle and leave a 6" gap between the ends and held separated with a rubber hose, attach one leg of 300 ohm old style flat TV antenna line to each end of the 66" length , raise it with the 'circle' horizontal and to the spreaders .... and will be just as good as a 'boat-tenna' and will only cost ~$6.00.
OK So now what? - digital TV
So when the TV goes digital, what would you do sitting at anchor? I am really naive about this TV stuff. I don't watch it much.
So when the TV goes digital, what would you do sitting at anchor? I am really naive about this TV stuff. I don't watch it much.
Alan...
I have been using the Boatenna that came with the boat on the Chesapeake Bay. Hauled up on the main halyard to between the two spreaders in height, it does much better than the rabbit ears I use when the weather is too lousy to fool with the Boatenna on deck. Reception varies with atmospherics and location on the Bay (closer to Baltimore gets better reception but I loose the PA stations I can pull in at the top of the Bay). I also replaced the 300 ohm wire with 75 ohm coax, which may explain the generally decent reception.
I have been using the Boatenna that came with the boat on the Chesapeake Bay. Hauled up on the main halyard to between the two spreaders in height, it does much better than the rabbit ears I use when the weather is too lousy to fool with the Boatenna on deck. Reception varies with atmospherics and location on the Bay (closer to Baltimore gets better reception but I loose the PA stations I can pull in at the top of the Bay). I also replaced the 300 ohm wire with 75 ohm coax, which may explain the generally decent reception.
Dantronics UFO powered antenna
Worked well and had a small foot print BUT after the first high wind tack it got ripped from its piece of s..t plastic mount, I suppose I should of mounted it on the spreaders. Went to Radio Shack and bought a 22.00 set of rabbit ears and either haul it up a flag halyard or just sit it on top of the dodger and I get decient reception I have been considering satellite for watching at the dock When I was at Milford Landing last summer I got great reception by hauling the broken Dantronics up the flag halyard and I'm sure rabbit ears would work just as well
Worked well and had a small foot print BUT after the first high wind tack it got ripped from its piece of s..t plastic mount, I suppose I should of mounted it on the spreaders. Went to Radio Shack and bought a 22.00 set of rabbit ears and either haul it up a flag halyard or just sit it on top of the dodger and I get decient reception I have been considering satellite for watching at the dock When I was at Milford Landing last summer I got great reception by hauling the broken Dantronics up the flag halyard and I'm sure rabbit ears would work just as well
HUH? Converter
When TV changes to digital .... .... you will buy a small 'analog to digital converter box' for watching 'broadcast' TV. I thought there will be no more analog signals. What are you converting? I understand converting digital to analog so it will work on the old TV. Are they broadcasting digital signals? I guess I assumed I needed the dish or a cable to get a digital signal. No more over the air signals. It's either dish network or the Comcast crooks. How would you use a dish on the anchor chain? Don't care about at the dock. If the boat is at the dock, I'll go home.
When TV changes to digital .... .... you will buy a small 'analog to digital converter box' for watching 'broadcast' TV. I thought there will be no more analog signals. What are you converting? I understand converting digital to analog so it will work on the old TV. Are they broadcasting digital signals? I guess I assumed I needed the dish or a cable to get a digital signal. No more over the air signals. It's either dish network or the Comcast crooks. How would you use a dish on the anchor chain? Don't care about at the dock. If the boat is at the dock, I'll go home.
RE HUH? Converter
the signal over the air will be HD (stand for High Defination) and they are digital. You will need to convert them back to analog if you don't have an HD TV. If you have an HD ready set you will set need a HD reciever tuner to recieve them. The government is talking about giving the poor a free analog convertor.
the signal over the air will be HD (stand for High Defination) and they are digital. You will need to convert them back to analog if you don't have an HD TV. If you have an HD ready set you will set need a HD reciever tuner to recieve them. The government is talking about giving the poor a free analog convertor.
TV Broadcasts
Currently television stations are broadcasting in both formats, digital and analog. Next year they will stop analog brodcasts. All older tv's only have an analog receiver. If you want to continue to use your old tv to watch 'over the air' signals you will need a converter to convert the digital signal to analog. Digital broadcasts can include high definition programming, but not all digital is HD!
Currently television stations are broadcasting in both formats, digital and analog. Next year they will stop analog brodcasts. All older tv's only have an analog receiver. If you want to continue to use your old tv to watch 'over the air' signals you will need a converter to convert the digital signal to analog. Digital broadcasts can include high definition programming, but not all digital is HD!
OTA TV Signals
You are welcome Dan. Also most new TV's come with both types of receivers built in. 4 years ago I bought a new Sony "HD ready" LCD tv that only had the analog receiver. I then bought a digital OTA (over the air) receiver to decode the digital broadcasts. This receiver was capable of HD as well. Back then only a few programs were in HD. Digital reception will require an antenna that is omni directional, and UHF capable, or you will have to aim it to get reception. Digital reception is never 'snowy' it is either there or it isn't. Plus it can be blocked by solid objects like trees, and buildings. I am guessing that new tv's next year will not have the analog receiver included. You will get more channels, for example our local PBS station has only one channel on analog, but on the digital channel there are 4. Three of those channels are SD (standard definition), and one is HD (though not all programs are actually HD). NTSC=analog broadcast format standards. ATSC=digital format standards.
You are welcome Dan. Also most new TV's come with both types of receivers built in. 4 years ago I bought a new Sony "HD ready" LCD tv that only had the analog receiver. I then bought a digital OTA (over the air) receiver to decode the digital broadcasts. This receiver was capable of HD as well. Back then only a few programs were in HD. Digital reception will require an antenna that is omni directional, and UHF capable, or you will have to aim it to get reception. Digital reception is never 'snowy' it is either there or it isn't. Plus it can be blocked by solid objects like trees, and buildings. I am guessing that new tv's next year will not have the analog receiver included. You will get more channels, for example our local PBS station has only one channel on analog, but on the digital channel there are 4. Three of those channels are SD (standard definition), and one is HD (though not all programs are actually HD). NTSC=analog broadcast format standards. ATSC=digital format standards.
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