Digital TV Reception
- Thread starter ajschwab
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If it is an analog TV you will need a converter box. If it is a digital TV you are ready to go.
Digital signals are generally not as strong as the analog. Antenna orientation is more critical, some TV's and converter boxes have signal strength monitors in their menus as a tuning aid.
You should get a much better picture.
Digital signals are generally not as strong as the analog. Antenna orientation is more critical, some TV's and converter boxes have signal strength monitors in their menus as a tuning aid.
You should get a much better picture.
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Radio Shack has them, I used them last season, they work but depends on your reception.Im going to change out my TV's this season so I can get rid of the box's
An amplified antenna should take care of any gain problem. Most of the marine antennas are amplified. You can tell from the specs or the fact that there's a box with a connection for 12 volts DC.
Of course, if there's no signal, all the gain in the world won't help.
I was just getting ready to start a separate topic on this, but I'll just ask here:
What is y'alls favorite TV antenna? Looking to get a better one than we have now because we really aren't getting very good reception. We're kinda out and away from things in New Bern and would like to try and get some of the further away signals. I'm looking at the Shakespeare (http://www.boatfix.com/shop4/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=130), but there are a lot of other choices like Glomex, etc.. I don't mind a directional one if it will improve reception. The lesser of two evils, I guess. Also, are there any TV antennas that ARE NOT shaped like space ships? Any that just look like your standard VHF antenna?
What is y'alls favorite TV antenna? Looking to get a better one than we have now because we really aren't getting very good reception. We're kinda out and away from things in New Bern and would like to try and get some of the further away signals. I'm looking at the Shakespeare (http://www.boatfix.com/shop4/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=130), but there are a lot of other choices like Glomex, etc.. I don't mind a directional one if it will improve reception. The lesser of two evils, I guess. Also, are there any TV antennas that ARE NOT shaped like space ships? Any that just look like your standard VHF antenna?
Well, you can use your "standard VHF antenna" if you wish. It is a directional antenna. Most of the stations are now on the UHF frequencies. A few are on the high band VHF frequencies (channel 7 through 13)
A directional antenna does not work well on a boat unless it's docked. A boat anchored or underway turns and the antenna would have to be re-adjusted each time the boat turns.
The "space ship" (mine is actually called a "UFO") design is because the element is actually a circular conductor that provides omni-directional (all directions) reception.
Thanks Ron. We'll be docked most of the time. At least for a while. Like I said, I'm ok adjusting it when we need to. Even at anchor. More interested in getting a signal than deal with a slight inconvenience of readjusting. New Bern, as-is all of Eastern NC is out in the sticks, so I believe we need an antenna that works better for distant signals.
The digital TV stations have a smaller coverage area than analog. I have excellent gain-type directional antennas (fishbone style) at home. Those could receive our local Sacramento VHF/UHF analog stations as well as stations from the San Francisco market 50-70 miles away without supplemental amplification. I can no longer receive those S.F. channels with a good digital converter and the same antennas.
As it happens, digital broadcast TV turned out to be a good thing on the boat because it is located closer to midway between Sacramento and S.F. I can get digital channels from both markets there with a converter and rabbit ears: which is a good thing because I have a 1955 wooden boat and won't put up a marine omnidirectional antenna that would look totally out of place.
In our case it's not very difficult to position rabbit ears (which are directional, but no gain) for solid digital reception even if the boat is swinging at anchor. Basically, rabbit ears should be broadside to the transmitting TV tower at the midpoint of boat swing. This position may vary for each channel. To put it perspective, we don't use the TV that much even if we anchor out for a week. But, the rabbit ears do work at anchor if I'm willing to fiddle with them during the beginning of each show. A lot less fussing is needed while docked at the slip.
As it happens, digital broadcast TV turned out to be a good thing on the boat because it is located closer to midway between Sacramento and S.F. I can get digital channels from both markets there with a converter and rabbit ears: which is a good thing because I have a 1955 wooden boat and won't put up a marine omnidirectional antenna that would look totally out of place.
In our case it's not very difficult to position rabbit ears (which are directional, but no gain) for solid digital reception even if the boat is swinging at anchor. Basically, rabbit ears should be broadside to the transmitting TV tower at the midpoint of boat swing. This position may vary for each channel. To put it perspective, we don't use the TV that much even if we anchor out for a week. But, the rabbit ears do work at anchor if I'm willing to fiddle with them during the beginning of each show. A lot less fussing is needed while docked at the slip.
It all depends if you are in a very rural area which market wise (TV) I am directly between NY and Philadelphia.
Ron thanks for constantly following me with your negative opinions directed at my posts.
1st I have an amplified and the largest "UFO" Omni antenna you can purchase and my opinion is based on real world testing. I am using the same antenna and the converter box and it works better than my Jensen DTV's as a stand alone to the amplified antenna vs them hooked up to the TV in DTV mode . The noise figure is obviously set at the amplifier which in my case is at the antenna. However after going through about 65 feet of cable to get to the 1st TV there are line losses especially as you go higher in frequency but you already know that cause your a smart guy.
I believe my set up using the converter box allows for more gain with digital there is very little "Delta" between getting a signal or no signal at all. In my situation it is obvious the box provides the slight edge in gain needed to work far better than the Jensen units standing alone to the amplified antenna.
I have tried both Glomex and Shakespeare neither is better in my opinion in weak signal areas I even installed new lower bloss RG-6 hoping the older RG59 was the problem.
Merry Christmas. Bill
Ron thanks for constantly following me with your negative opinions directed at my posts.
1st I have an amplified and the largest "UFO" Omni antenna you can purchase and my opinion is based on real world testing. I am using the same antenna and the converter box and it works better than my Jensen DTV's as a stand alone to the amplified antenna vs them hooked up to the TV in DTV mode . The noise figure is obviously set at the amplifier which in my case is at the antenna. However after going through about 65 feet of cable to get to the 1st TV there are line losses especially as you go higher in frequency but you already know that cause your a smart guy.
I believe my set up using the converter box allows for more gain with digital there is very little "Delta" between getting a signal or no signal at all. In my situation it is obvious the box provides the slight edge in gain needed to work far better than the Jensen units standing alone to the amplified antenna.
I have tried both Glomex and Shakespeare neither is better in my opinion in weak signal areas I even installed new lower bloss RG-6 hoping the older RG59 was the problem.
Merry Christmas. Bill
If you go to http://www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps/ and enter your location, you will get a list of stations that you should be able to receive at that location along with estimated signal strength. Click on the call sign and you will see the direction and distance to the transmitter.
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This is a good site thank you. I now understand why I have such a poor signal at the Marina and at home the strength is strong of coarse I have cable at home so it doesn't matter. Other ROs have said that they get a good picture at my marina but I still have had no luck.
Billylll I was going to try replacing the old RG59 but from your post it sounds like it didn't help. I guess it's time to try another antenna.
Dave replace both the antenna and it will probably come with new RG-6. Every location is unique and many installations are also unique. For a simple test just mount the antenna and run the new coax through a port or door if it works then install it properly. It doesn't hurt to try.
Bill
Bill
We have to remember that the antenna at our home may be quite high but the antenna on the boat is probably less than ten feet above sea level. Of course, "sea level" at some locations can vary by several feet depending on the tide.
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I based that fact that the signal is good at my house on the above posted site http://www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps/
I have had no reason to try it even though I have an anttenna on my roof from years ago when I had satilite and they would not provide local channels. At the boat I have tried many thing and nothing somes to help. Bill I will try to run a feed into the boat but the pain is the amp is buried in a hard to get to place I can see it and it has power I just can't reach it. I guess it's time to relocate it I will nees to do this to replace the anntenna anyway. I install wiring all week long so I hate having to do more on my time off. I have more then enough RG6 in my truck on any given day what I lack is motivation. But it would be nice to have TV reception.
I have had no reason to try it even though I have an anttenna on my roof from years ago when I had satilite and they would not provide local channels. At the boat I have tried many thing and nothing somes to help. Bill I will try to run a feed into the boat but the pain is the amp is buried in a hard to get to place I can see it and it has power I just can't reach it. I guess it's time to relocate it I will nees to do this to replace the anntenna anyway. I install wiring all week long so I hate having to do more on my time off. I have more then enough RG6 in my truck on any given day what I lack is motivation. But it would be nice to have TV reception.
3 models all 12 volt 23" (no longer avilable), (2X19") and 15" Jensens. The 15" does not support DTV. So the 15" will probably go up under the hardtop for monitoring my FLIR. Since we will more than likely be moving the boat to the Pamlico Sound area I have no idea what over the air TV we will pick up. I haven't checked the FCC map for coverage there. I only pick up the 3 Green stations listed on the FCC database where I am now in Little Egg (Tuckerton) NJ. I prefer my KVH TracVision anyway but they are not cheap and I have the top end programming so I will probably scale back my monthly on the Direct TV programming in the Spring. The DTV/KVH doesn't need a DTV like cable at your home it gives you an analog signal feed.
Bill
Bill