Our marina is only 8 miles from the local towers and I'm wondering if over the air (OTA) HDTV reception is possible in a boat floating on a dock. Does the signal get lost when the boats shifts from the wind and waves? In a few months all new small TV's will be required to have bulit-in HD tuners and I'm planning on replacing our 15" LCD with a 17 or 20" widescreen.
OTA HDTV at the dock
- Thread starter Monty Miller
- Start date
- Status
HDTV
There are directional and non-directional HDTV antenna's. The non-directional type would probably work better on a boat.
There are directional and non-directional HDTV antenna's. The non-directional type would probably work better on a boat.
I took a look on AntennaWeb and your
in good shape for availability. The odd channels are Fox and UPN which are VHF. Rigging UHF only would be so much easier. Now the problem. Omni directional (non-directional)antennas are subject to multipath problems which you will have plenty of with the close proximity of the tower farm. DTV doesn't like multipath. You can't compare it to analog where it will just cause "echos" in the pic, DVT won't work at all even with moderate multipath. Bottom line is you'll have to try it to see if it works. At your signal level a simple one bay bowtie would work well but will be directional. A 4 bay like the Channel Master CM-4221 might have enough gain off the back of the antenna where your reception would not be lost as the boat swings. You could try the antenna at the link below. Antennas/reception is a little science and a little voodo. Watching OTA HDTV is worth the effort! http://www.starkelectronic.com/cm3000a.htm
in good shape for availability. The odd channels are Fox and UPN which are VHF. Rigging UHF only would be so much easier. Now the problem. Omni directional (non-directional)antennas are subject to multipath problems which you will have plenty of with the close proximity of the tower farm. DTV doesn't like multipath. You can't compare it to analog where it will just cause "echos" in the pic, DVT won't work at all even with moderate multipath. Bottom line is you'll have to try it to see if it works. At your signal level a simple one bay bowtie would work well but will be directional. A 4 bay like the Channel Master CM-4221 might have enough gain off the back of the antenna where your reception would not be lost as the boat swings. You could try the antenna at the link below. Antennas/reception is a little science and a little voodo. Watching OTA HDTV is worth the effort! http://www.starkelectronic.com/cm3000a.htm
OR
you could pack the TV and go home. If I understand you right you go to your boat to watch TV???!?!!?? I personaly go to my boat to sail and get the kids away from the TV set. To each his own though. America, ain't it great.
you could pack the TV and go home. If I understand you right you go to your boat to watch TV???!?!!?? I personaly go to my boat to sail and get the kids away from the TV set. To each his own though. America, ain't it great.
I can pick up HDTV with rabbit ears here in
Fort Lauderdale / West Palm Beach, so if you get an omni antenna above deck level, you should be good to go.
Fort Lauderdale / West Palm Beach, so if you get an omni antenna above deck level, you should be good to go.
- Status