Any ideas for a "cheap" TV antenna (not a satellite dish) to run up the mast while the boat is anchored or at the slip? Just trying to get local stations near the lake for news etc.
TV antenna
- Thread starter Bill C320 Papillon
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cheap
The cheapest was to do it would be to use the "rabbit ears" that came with the TV or buy some if it didn't. I was thinking of trying the following. Buy an antenna, Radio Shack or comparable, and attach it to the top of the mast with the VHF antenna, then run coaxle cable down the inside of the mast, as the VHF cable is run, and into the cabin. Hook it to the TV and start watching. I have not tried to do this yet and thus, have no idea if it will work or not. Does anyone know if it would?
The cheapest was to do it would be to use the "rabbit ears" that came with the TV or buy some if it didn't. I was thinking of trying the following. Buy an antenna, Radio Shack or comparable, and attach it to the top of the mast with the VHF antenna, then run coaxle cable down the inside of the mast, as the VHF cable is run, and into the cabin. Hook it to the TV and start watching. I have not tried to do this yet and thus, have no idea if it will work or not. Does anyone know if it would?
VHF/TV Antenena Combo
Make a visit to West Marine, believe they sell a mast top VHF antenna that also doubles as the TV antenna. There is a switching devise in the co-ax that allows you to switch from one need to the other. Check it out.
Make a visit to West Marine, believe they sell a mast top VHF antenna that also doubles as the TV antenna. There is a switching devise in the co-ax that allows you to switch from one need to the other. Check it out.
Antenna in a bag
We used one of the electronic West Marine Electronic Plate Antennas and put it in a small mesh bag that we raided with the main Halyard while at anchor. It requires 12VDC and works very well. The coax trails down from the bag and also provides the 12 VDC to the antenna. We now have a fixed circular antenna installed at the top of the mast so we can have TV while sailing or motoring.
We used one of the electronic West Marine Electronic Plate Antennas and put it in a small mesh bag that we raided with the main Halyard while at anchor. It requires 12VDC and works very well. The coax trails down from the bag and also provides the 12 VDC to the antenna. We now have a fixed circular antenna installed at the top of the mast so we can have TV while sailing or motoring.
Take a look at Terk Antenna TV-55
Terk antenna makes one TV55 that seems ideal for boats. I have not purchased one yet, but I do plan on getting it. If you follow the link below you can see what kind of reception you will get with this antenna in your area. The advantage of this model is it looks about like a broomstick so it doesn't take up room or look obtrusive. Ward
Terk antenna makes one TV55 that seems ideal for boats. I have not purchased one yet, but I do plan on getting it. If you follow the link below you can see what kind of reception you will get with this antenna in your area. The advantage of this model is it looks about like a broomstick so it doesn't take up room or look obtrusive. Ward
Antenna
I got a cheap pair of rabbit ears which I attach 50 ft of coax cable. I run it up the mast with a halyard.(don't forget to attach a messanger line-just in case). Burgee halyard works just as well. This not the best for permanent installation--just for those "impromptu" times.
I got a cheap pair of rabbit ears which I attach 50 ft of coax cable. I run it up the mast with a halyard.(don't forget to attach a messanger line-just in case). Burgee halyard works just as well. This not the best for permanent installation--just for those "impromptu" times.
6-66 omnidirectional antenna
1. Bend a 66 inch piece of 3/8 soft copper tubing into a perfect circle except leave a 6 inch gap. Flatten the ends and connect them with a scrap piece of fiberglass batten. 2. Get a 300 ohm (pigtail type) to 75 ohm coax tranformer (Rad Shack). 3 Split the the twin lead down the middle for 6 inches forming a "Y". 4. Attach this to the ends of the circle of tubing. You now have a 6-66 omnidirectional antenna! You can make a support frame out of two pieces of 1/2 inch poly pipe using "T" connectors thru which the tubing goes, in an "X" form. Add two more "T"s in the center of each half of the X, aiming one up and one down. Add two verticals of convenient length one up towards the sky the other down towards the earth. This whole mess now looks like a child's "Jack", as in bounce the ball and pick up the jacks. Haul up with the main halyard sliding along the back stay. Lead the coax and a safety down haul to the conpanionway or a convenient hatch. Also works if attached to the overhead in the main cabin but signal is not as strong particularly with a wet salty deck! Author unknown.
1. Bend a 66 inch piece of 3/8 soft copper tubing into a perfect circle except leave a 6 inch gap. Flatten the ends and connect them with a scrap piece of fiberglass batten. 2. Get a 300 ohm (pigtail type) to 75 ohm coax tranformer (Rad Shack). 3 Split the the twin lead down the middle for 6 inches forming a "Y". 4. Attach this to the ends of the circle of tubing. You now have a 6-66 omnidirectional antenna! You can make a support frame out of two pieces of 1/2 inch poly pipe using "T" connectors thru which the tubing goes, in an "X" form. Add two more "T"s in the center of each half of the X, aiming one up and one down. Add two verticals of convenient length one up towards the sky the other down towards the earth. This whole mess now looks like a child's "Jack", as in bounce the ball and pick up the jacks. Haul up with the main halyard sliding along the back stay. Lead the coax and a safety down haul to the conpanionway or a convenient hatch. Also works if attached to the overhead in the main cabin but signal is not as strong particularly with a wet salty deck! Author unknown.
For about $75
you can buy a "Boatenna" that is omni-directional so that you won't have varying reception as the boat swings at anchor. It connects to your halyard, so you haul it up the mast as far as you want. It comes with the feed-in cable and a downhaul line. It is a little hard to stow on a small boat- a disk shape about 2ft in diameter. I have one and am really impressed with the reception.
you can buy a "Boatenna" that is omni-directional so that you won't have varying reception as the boat swings at anchor. It connects to your halyard, so you haul it up the mast as far as you want. It comes with the feed-in cable and a downhaul line. It is a little hard to stow on a small boat- a disk shape about 2ft in diameter. I have one and am really impressed with the reception.
check ebay
You should be able to purchase new omni tv dish for about $100 on ebay. Check it out. Permanent installtion beats running up the tv flag every time you want to watch tv. Good Luck Ian
You should be able to purchase new omni tv dish for about $100 on ebay. Check it out. Permanent installtion beats running up the tv flag every time you want to watch tv. Good Luck Ian
Shakespeare
We asked this same question before our boat was commissioned. The answer was that we obtained a shakespeare antenna at West Marine(special order) with a mounting bracket. Installation was relatively simple because the mast had not been stepped. The coax cable was run from the antenna which was mounted on top of the mast down through the mast into the cabin along with the marine radio wire. Then the cable was connected to the TV. Later I obtained a booster box which gives us great reception for local channels that are many miles away. Buy antenna that includes the booster.
We asked this same question before our boat was commissioned. The answer was that we obtained a shakespeare antenna at West Marine(special order) with a mounting bracket. Installation was relatively simple because the mast had not been stepped. The coax cable was run from the antenna which was mounted on top of the mast down through the mast into the cabin along with the marine radio wire. Then the cable was connected to the TV. Later I obtained a booster box which gives us great reception for local channels that are many miles away. Buy antenna that includes the booster.
The booster box is great
unless you want to be at anchor and don't have an inverter. We have a Shakespeare antenna. There is a coax connection at the helmsman's seat pre-wired into the cabin. We haul the antenna up the backstay, plug it in at the helmsman's seat, connect the booster to our AC (we have an inverter) and our TV and we're done. The PO wired the coax through the boat. Mostly we've looked at tapes anyway (combo TV VCR unit). Rarely watched the TV, only for a football game, home team lost! Stu
unless you want to be at anchor and don't have an inverter. We have a Shakespeare antenna. There is a coax connection at the helmsman's seat pre-wired into the cabin. We haul the antenna up the backstay, plug it in at the helmsman's seat, connect the booster to our AC (we have an inverter) and our TV and we're done. The PO wired the coax through the boat. Mostly we've looked at tapes anyway (combo TV VCR unit). Rarely watched the TV, only for a football game, home team lost! Stu
just a thought
We have a Shakespear mounted on our mast and it works just fine for local channels. We were even able to pick up some of our favorite channels when we were in the western part of the Bahamas however, we have satellite tv at home and have started taking it with us when we cruise and bringing it back home when we return It is a little trouble but the price doesn't change and we don't miss our favorite shows
We have a Shakespear mounted on our mast and it works just fine for local channels. We were even able to pick up some of our favorite channels when we were in the western part of the Bahamas however, we have satellite tv at home and have started taking it with us when we cruise and bringing it back home when we return It is a little trouble but the price doesn't change and we don't miss our favorite shows
Television
While we're on the subject of television, I got a TV/DVD combo set for Christmas that I'm really impressed with. It's got 10" LCD screen, runs on 12 volt or AC power, has a built in DVD player, is cable ready (also works with an external antenna), and is only about 2" thick and 8x11" square. Very portable, easy to store, and a it's 10" is screen seems plenty big on a boat or in a car. I'm told this particular Axion model is only sold at Radio Shack, and costs <$400.
While we're on the subject of television, I got a TV/DVD combo set for Christmas that I'm really impressed with. It's got 10" LCD screen, runs on 12 volt or AC power, has a built in DVD player, is cable ready (also works with an external antenna), and is only about 2" thick and 8x11" square. Very portable, easy to store, and a it's 10" is screen seems plenty big on a boat or in a car. I'm told this particular Axion model is only sold at Radio Shack, and costs <$400.
Randall
You're my hero !!!! I've been looking for EXACTLY this type of small unit for our aft cabin. The smallest I've seen up to now has been around 13" with built in dvd. I've been looking in all the usual places like Best Buy--didn't think about Radio Shack. Thanks!
You're my hero !!!! I've been looking for EXACTLY this type of small unit for our aft cabin. The smallest I've seen up to now has been around 13" with built in dvd. I've been looking in all the usual places like Best Buy--didn't think about Radio Shack. Thanks!
Ebay...
Last year I picked up a New West Marine omni am/fm/tv antenna dish for $40.00 on ebay. I mounted it at the masthead and ran the wire down the backstay till I unstep the mast, maybe next year. Then I will run the wire in the mast. The antenna works great for both the TV and the FM
Last year I picked up a New West Marine omni am/fm/tv antenna dish for $40.00 on ebay. I mounted it at the masthead and ran the wire down the backstay till I unstep the mast, maybe next year. Then I will run the wire in the mast. The antenna works great for both the TV and the FM
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