Best Over Air TV Antenna & Traveling Router

D

Doc

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What is the best external mount omnidirectional digital TV antenna out there? I have a small antenna in the salon that works great but sometimes it needs moving around to get the best picture.

My old KVH has gone TU and since I am now only a weekender I don't see the need to replace it.
At home we watch only local TV and Netflix via a Roku.

I am also wanting to purchase a traveling router to use on the boat with the Roku should I be fortunate to get a really good wifi connection in a marina. Does anyone have experience with traveling routers?
 
The best OTA TV antenna I have tested or used is the Glomex V9125 series with the pre-amp. This should work much better then your current in the boat setup.
As far as a traveling WiFi routers I like the Wave WiFi equipment (ROGUE) but if your WiFi competent you could use most of the high power Ubiquiti WiFi devices (either the Bullet 2HP or the Rocket M2) with an external antenna.
Mount the router as close to the antenna as possible. Using an external antenna and having the router close is extremely important when using WiFi. It's also easier to run CAT5 network cable then LMR400 coaxial cable.
Bill
 
I use the Bullet M2 and love it. Very good performance and other boaters I know are also employing it.
 
I am wondering if we are talking about the same thing when I asked about a traveling router.

What I want plugs into a laptop that is connected to public wifi and then transmits wirelessly to a streaming device such a Roku. The only purpose of this device is to pass on a signal where the computer has already gone through the log-in process at a marina or motel. A traveling router passes on a clean signal.

Amazon sells this one for 44 bucks. TRENDnet N300 Wireless Travel Router Kit
 
We are. The difference is the trendnet is small and convenient to carry. We are talking about permanent installations with antennas that extend the range. Often marinas will provide wifi but you will have to carry your laptop up to the office or other inconvenient place to use the WIFI provided by the marina. With a range boosting set up life is much easier.

If you want to share your internet connection with other devices I believe other more powerful routers will do that job.

Do you have a USB Modem or are you connecting to Marina supplied WIFI?
 
I have never had good luck in my area with off air antennas however the Wave Router that Billy mentioned I have had great luck with and use it all the time both in my home slip and while traveling.
 
I am rethinking my antenna choice. Many indoor antennas work just as well as a marine (read hi $) antenna. I have a TREK with a 110v amp on my salon HD tv and it works great. I cannot find the one I have online to buy another one (it came with the boat).

Anyone have suggestions for the best indoor antenna?
 
quote:
Originally posted by Doc

I am rethinking my antenna choice. Many indoor antennas work just as well as a marine (read hi $) antenna. I have a TREK with a 110v amp on my salon HD tv and it works great. I cannot find the one I have online to buy another one (it came with the boat).

Anyone have suggestions for the best indoor antenna?

Click to expand...
How old is the $$$ marine OTA TV antenna cable? Many replace the antenna and re-use existing bad (high loss) cable.
I suggest replacing the cable if the antenna doesn't seem to perform.
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

I have never had good luck in my area with off air antennas however the Wave Router that Billy mentioned I have had great luck with and use it all the time both in my home slip and while traveling.

Click to expand...

Dave, the same physics apply with OTA digital TV as WiFi reception. If you don't have any good access points within the limits of your system it could be the best out there but it still won't work to your satisfaction. I'm in a real poor TV area the only way I could measure success was if the new antenna on average pulled in more stations over a period of days.
The Glomex V-9125 dusted the competitions best and it outperformed the smaller Glomex antenna system.
Bill
 
My solution was satellite TV granted this comes at a price but it works for me.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

My solution was satellite TV granted this comes at a price but it works for me.

Click to expand...

Dave, I use a KVH M3 on Direct TV as well as the Glomex OTA antenna system. Both get used at times depending on the programming.
Bill
 
I have no use for off air antenna as long as Direct TV is working and it is rear it is not. I didn't even bother cabling the TV's for off air reception. Speaking of TVs I forgot I plan to replace both of mine this year again. Time to start shopping I better make a list:) Spring is around the corner, I hope!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Doc

I am wondering if we are talking about the same thing when I asked about a traveling router.

What I want plugs into a laptop that is connected to public wifi and then transmits wirelessly to a streaming device such a Roku. The only purpose of this device is to pass on a signal where the computer has already gone through the log-in process at a marina or motel. A traveling router passes on a clean signal.

Amazon sells this one for 44 bucks. TRENDnet N300 Wireless Travel Router Kit

Click to expand...
TrendNet works well in Hotels where the closest access point might be <75 feet away from your laptop. Now consider the dynamics in a boat. Your slip could be 500 to 1000 feet away from a less than ideal access point (it might be inside the marinas main office). Then you have the obstructions of other boats in the direction of the access point and your laptop is pretty much at the waterline. The results would vary widely from Marina to Marina and forget about using it while at an anchorage. I think overall you shouldn't expect much in the way of performance from a device like the TrendNet unless it got it's signal from the boat's external WiFi antenna, and a high power unit.
Most laptops transmit at 30 mw. Most high power marine or RV style bridge routers transmit from 600mw to 1 watt. That is a huge difference in power which improves your signal to noise ratio at the access point. Using the proper installation & equipment in a boat or RV can result in solid WiFi performance up to 2 miles. My own setup has worked out to 8 miles but the speeds were slow.
As an example we had a member on the board that I lent equipment to install a high power access point at his home on the water and he was able to use it 10 miles away through a Wave WiFi ROGUE. His speeds were very poor but it can be done. Don't expect 5 - 10 mile WiFi coverage but rock solid high speed performance to a good commercial shore based access point will be reliable at 1 mile. If your thinking of streaming video you must have an extremely good 2 way connection between your boat and the access point on shore.
I'd think about using the TrendNet USB modem behind a good marine grade antenna and high power bridge router to redistribute the WiFi signal inside your vessel.
Bill
 
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