TV antenna advice needed

G

GoVols

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Apr 29, 2014
RO Number
33610
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My boat has a ~2005 model Shakespeare 2020 or 2030 - I can't remember. It's mounted to my arch on top of the boat. When I first bought the boat, I was very disappointed by the reception quality and very few channels I could actually tune in while out on anchor. I bought a basic flat TV antenna from Wal-Mart and I can get 30 channels very clearly now.

Problem is, when I first started messing around with the Shakespeare set up, I didn't understand how it needed to be hooked up, so I'm not confident I was even connecting it properly. PO left no owners manual on it, so I'm not even sure, being a 2005 model, it's HDTV or digital signal capable. At any rate, I threw away Shakespeare adapter / amplifier and tried to use the new one from Wal-Mart. I later read that the Shakespeare won't work with other types of amplifiers, so the existing system is crap now, unless I can find another part. Shakespeare's website absolutely sucks and searches for this part are turning up empty handed.

I still have the dumb disk on the arch, which is basically decoration at this point. I'm thinking I'd like to replace it with a new model, so I can quite throwing the Wal-Mart antenna on top of my bimini every time I watch TV.

Can anyone with a new(er) Shakespeare Seawatch over-the-air TV antenna tell me how well these things work?
 
I like the one 1/2 way down, with the forks. It probably only picks up the Bizarre Foods channel, or Man vs Food.
 
I have found the Glomex marine TV models to work the best get one with a preamplifier.
Bill
 
If I understand the first part of your question you're not sure if the Shakespeare you currently have is all there or hooked up properly ?
IF it doesn't have a preamp, then the coax should go from the disk on the arch, directly to the TV (unless it has a splitter feeding more than
one TV or the stereo.
IF it has a preamp, then the coax will go from the disk on the arch to the amp. (The amp should be connected to a 12 Volt source for power).
Amp will have an antenna IN and TV OUT. Coax then goes from the OUT to the TV.
If the amp is not powered or is shot the signal won't make it to the TV.
Make sure your TV works. that is, make sure the antenna input works. Hook a cheap antenna to it, see if you receive any channels.
Had a new TV once, that was the only thing on the TV that didn't work.
 
+1 on the Glomex. If you end up buying a new antennae...Glomex is head over heels better than Shakespeare....IMHO..I get over 40 channels in my area whereas the old Shakespeare got less than 10.
 
Bob,
I was told by Shakespeare's sales rep that my 2030 is supposed to have an amp, but there isn't one on the boat. I asked if I could buy a new amp, but he said the old antenna won't tune in the UHF signals like today's model does, which is where most of the digital signals went to. So, I need to buy a new unit.

I looked into Glomex and they like their product even more than Shakespeare does! $$$$ I will have to shop around. I'd like to use my same mounting hardward, so I don't have to drill more holes in the radar arch.
 
I'm not sure the 2030 had an amp, the 3020 has one. I looked on ebay and amazon, description for the 3020 said 12 Volt, 2030 made no mention of a
a power requirement . . . .
The Shakespeare 2030 on Amazon is $165.00 free shipping & I found a Glomex with the mount and adjustable gain control for $150.00. . . .I paid $150.00 last month on ebay. Works great.
 
quote:
Originally posted by bobalong

I found a Glomex with the mount and adjustable gain control for $150.00. . . .Works great.

Click to expand...


How many channels are you getting typically?
 
I have found the number of channels varies, at my slip I have about 35 stable channels out in the middle of the bay (on the hook with clear horizon) I get 50 plus channels.
It will vary from location to location.
Bill
 
Just how many channels do y'all watch. I get more than a dozen mexican channels alone. Of the 70+ channels I get, I tune out all but 11.
 
We are in the middle of BFE as TV stations go, 6 digital channels on the best of days, 3 all of the time.
And that's from our covered slip, when we leave port we are moving away from the TV towers.
 
Sandy, I liked the FORKS too. Does that design have something to do with the antennas based on a Potato? Or are they simply Tuning Forks?
 
A tech person from Shakespeare called me this morning to talk about my system. She said they're about to launch 3 new TV antennas that will replace all their current ones. I volunteered to be a test person for this market, but she didn't fall for that one.

Turns out my current 2030 disk on my boat is capable of tuning in the HDTV digital signals. All it needs is the correct plug that powers the disk's amplifier inside of it. So, instead of buying a whole new system, all I had to do is buy a $20 plug! Part number is PS-9381. It's in the mail and I'll install it this weekend. Man, I finally catch a break on something!
 
There is no such thing as a digital antenna. If that were the case, then why when we were nearer to a big city,
I was able to take the little cube that converts the coax on the back of the TV to two screws, attach each end of a piece
of scrap wire to each screw, throw it out a window (no, not the TV, the wire) and instant digital stations appeared.
Maybe I had digital ready wire.
Or it was magic.
I overheard a salesman at W Marine in Indianapolis tell a customer he needed a digital TV antenna, I kept quiet.
 
I agree there are antennas and then there are antennas. There is no such thing as a Digital antenna. Either Analog or Digital TV requires using a highly linear amplifier (pre-amp).
 
Wire matters. Old school antenna wire might not cut it for digital. Depends what you have. 75-ohm coaxial is crucial for digital over-the-air signals. Check what you have; it'll say on the jacket. If it's not 75-ohm impedance, replace it.
 
I would suggest using new quality feed line RG-6 quad shield is great stuff.
Over the years many boat TV antennas get replaced the feed line (coaxial cable) rarely does.
Bill
 
Knowing what is possible and comparine it to "what you got" will give an idea of antenna performance.

Try: www.tvfool.com to get a good idea of just what might be available.
 
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