tv/radio reception?

[Ctskip]

What I know about antennas you can put on the head of a pin. I am in need of a antenna . Maybe two . My ship to shore works great.Thanks to the antenna on top of the mast. I have no am/fm reception on the radio also I would like to put a flat screen tv on board for those long nights and I will need a antenna for that also. Do they combine the antennas? Or are they seperate. I don't really look forward to drilling a bunch of holes in my sailboat for entertainment purposes. So what should I do to get the best reception for my tv/radio while on my sailboat< both at the dock and while at anchor?

 

[Bill]

Splitter

You can install one antenna for the TV and run the coax through an FM splitter to pull your FM signal from. You should have stations galore.

 

[Landsend]

Antennas

You can buy a flat, flying saucer shaped, amplified TV antenna and use a splitter to extract the FM radio signal from the antenna. These usually work pretty well.

 

[Capt. Rick]

Antennas

I have what is branded the "UFO" antenna. It is an amplified FM/TV antenna and has worked very well. It comes with a splitter/amplifier so you have just one coax cable coming down the mast. It also has several mounting options for various locations on your mast. I believe it is also the one referred to in the other "antenna" reply to your inquiry.

 

[RichH]

Make you own .....

"6-66 antenna". Can be used for FM/VHF/UHF and is omnidirectional. Cost: ~$4.00 + splitter and coax. Take a 66 inch length of small copper tubing and form it into a circle. then put a 'gap' of exactly 6 inches where the two ends of the circle of tube come together and use rubber hose slipped over the 'ends' to maintain the 'gap'. Drill two small holes through the tubing near the 'ends' for small screws, washers and thumbscrews to affix a screw-on 'splitter/amplifier'. Attach lightweight coax cable to the splitter. Tie on lightweight line/cord to make a 'cradle' so that the antenna is horizontal to the horizon. Raise the antenna on a flag halyard on your spreader - enjoy. Dont let the antenna touch the mast or shrouds.

 

[Rich]

Remember the GPS problem...

Remember as you do this that UHF/VHF antennas have been identified as as source of interference with GPS reception. You'll need to turn off your tv (but not a dvd player feeding into the monitor) when the GPS is in use for navigation or charting.

 

[RickI]

RichH

Do you cut out a 6 inch piece out of the circle to form the gap or just pry the circle apart six inches? I might get tv someday now that the flat screen 12v ones are coming down in price.

 

[Baysailor2]

Antennas

I have the commercial version of the antenna RichH described (came with the boat). I hoist it up on the main halyard to between the uppper a lower spreaders on my H34. At the top of the Bay I can pull in Baltimore stations on a 15" LCD Magnavox. If I get lazy I just hang it under the bimini with a bungee, but can only get 11, 13 & 45. I know of others that have enjoyed the better reception of the amplified antennas.My AM/FM has a splitter on the VHF antenna and pulls in good signals compared to a simple stick antenna.Where it's available, I can feed cable TV into the antenna thru-hull with a simple cable plug-in.It all depends on how creative you are with your skills.

 

[RichH]

No need to cut...

Just bend the 66" length so there is a 6" gap. The total 'circle' of copper and hose will be about 72 inches

 

[Ctskip]

Thank you

Now I have some actual user experience to make a educated decision. I thank you all. I'll keep sucking up all the information I can get.Where does the cable enter the cabin, with a mast mount? Aint this web site wonderful? Thank you. Now to find someone to hoist up the mast????Any volunteers? How about you and you! Thats what I like group particpation

 

[Ned Strain]

RichH - Please provide More Information

Explain more about the splitter/amplifier, please. Can you suggest a model/brand, etc. so I can begin to do some exploring of what's available?