Satallite TV

[butchrobbins]

Anyone here have this on the boat. I'm a new liveaboard and don't have it at my marina. Any thoughts on:
How hard to install? Can they do it or should I as far as getting cables below decks?
Are there small antennas ?
Which one: dishtv vs directtv.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Two friends on adjoining docks have a DishTV satellite dish that they share. It is mounted on a post next to the shorepower post. They have their connectors in the anchor wells. Easy to install and they get good reception. You need that south exposure though.

 

[timvg]

We have had a regular DirecTV dish mounted on the stern of our boat for 4 years. You probably don't want to get one that does HD, as lining it up with the satellites would be more difficult than the regular dish that most people have. Ours has been fairly easy to aim, which we do everytime we stay at a different marina.

if you've never done it, have DirecTV install it for you and then have them show you how to aim it if you plan to do any cruising. Don't bother with it when anchoring, as your boat will need to not be moving around. A little movement in the slip is OK.

 

[Benny]

Do you need cable programming? You can get digital over the air programming from stations serving your area with the installation of an omnidirectional TV antenna. If you have an analog TV a conversion box would be required. You can also get good reception at anchor as long as you are within range.

 

[Ron20324]

As a side note, today's BestBuy ad has a 7-inch digital LCD TV for $90. It has a built-in plus an external antenna. No other info. Best.Buy.com :SKU 9497528

 

[stephen Penny]

Sailboat antenna and tv installation

Consider installing an omni-directional TV antenna mounted on aft stanchion with a coax cable routed to an amplified then to a HD TV. All materials supplied in a ~$100 kit from west marine. Then turn on the tv and go to set up to pick-up channel. I picked up 60+ channels in SF bay.

 

[RAD]

I installed dish network only because I found a whole system on Ebay for less than 50.00 and I have no long term contract with Dish Network (just month to month) I installed the antenna myself on the pole adjacent to the boat and the cable connection is in the anchor well and very easy to disconnect or reconnect.
The only issue I have is when its not powered up or connected to an antenna during the winter months I always have to call them to ping the unit when recommissioning in the spring but by the looks of your location that won't be an issue.

 

[butchrobbins]

thanks guys, I do have local channels, but I need my ESPN fix. Football season was a bear as I had to find a sports bar to see the Gamecocks. Now its BB season and March Madness will be upon us before we know it. I may look for a used antenna and do the month to month thing.

 

[butchrobbins]

I installed dish network only because I found a whole system on Ebay for less than 50.00 and I have no long term contract with Dish Network (just month to month) I installed the antenna myself on the pole adjacent to the boat and the cable connection is in the anchor well and very easy to disconnect or reconnect.
The only issue I have is when its not powered up or connected to an antenna during the winter months I always have to call them to ping the unit when recommissioning in the spring but by the looks of your location that won't be an issue.

When you say "whole system" did that include the receiver too?

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

KVH Antenna

I have DishNetwork in my boat and it is hooked to a KVH tracking antenna that works at the dock and while sailing. Works fine all the time. If you want to go sailing and still have tv other than at the marina, you should get a tracking unit. Expensive set up, but works as advertised. You will need a pole designed for the antenna and then route your cables to an interface in the boat - mine's at the nav station. From there the antenna wires go to the dish box and then to the tv. You can now get HD as well as the normal older standard antennas.

Power it with a 110V to 12 volt regulator as it runs on 12vdc and power fluctuations take the programming out of the card in the antenna and require reprogramming by a tech. With the regulator, the voltage is constant and since installing this I have had no problems.

In heavy seas, the unit will break lock, but will generally reaquire it after a wihile.

Without my Dish and connection with Tennessee football, we wouldn't have as much sailing time as we do. I have been through 7 seasons with minor maintenance and would highlly recommend a system like this.

Raymarine makes a smaller anteanna and it may be just as good.

 

[RAD]

Butch,
Yes that was for two receivers and one dish antenna