Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-16-2010, 07:39 PM   #1
Member
 
Annapolis Jim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 9
12 volt TV and digital antennas

We want to buy a 12 volt digital TV, probably a Skyworth and a digital antenna.* Any comments.* We are the anchoring out type and like the TV maintly for news and weather on local stations.
Annapolis Jim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-16-2010, 09:04 PM   #2
Guru
 
Steve's Avatar
 
City: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Gumbo
Vessel Model: 2003 Monk 36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,882
RE: 12 volt TV and digital antennas

we bought a Phillips antenna at Walmart about $65.00 also a "converter box" for the signal at Radio Shack another $45.00 or so it works surprisingly well for local stations. Sorry I don't have more details but it is all on the boat.
Steve W
Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-16-2010, 09:15 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Rocky's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 171
RE: 12 volt TV and digital antennas

So glad someone posted this thread. We are looking into this as well.

Steve, was the converter box for an analog tv? I'm thinking with HDTV you'd just need the antenna, right?
Rocky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-16-2010, 09:38 PM   #4
Guru
 
Steve's Avatar
 
City: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Gumbo
Vessel Model: 2003 Monk 36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,882
RE: 12 volt TV and digital antennas

Sorry, it was my wife's project I just set it up, she bought the antenna first, it wouldn't work, someone told her to buy a "converter box" the people at R.S. knew what she was talking about, I put it in line and it started playing fine.
*Next time I'm on the boat I'll try to remember to get the model ##s
Steve W*
Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2010, 04:51 AM   #5
Guru
 
Forkliftt's Avatar
 
City: Diberville Mississippi
Vessel Name: KnotDoneYet
Vessel Model: 1983 42' Present Sundeck
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,450
RE: 12 volt TV and digital antennas

We put a new HDTV in the boat a little over a year ago with the Blu Ray player thinking we would mostly watch movies. I tied into our existing dated exterior antenna. We have reprogrammed the channels at different slips we have been in and currently get about 20 channels, many are digital. If the wind blows hard and the boat rocks the picture "freezes" momentarily. It works great at the slip- not sure that it would work at al traveling. Course we just plug in "Captain Ron" anytime we travel anyway.
Forkliftt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2010, 04:59 AM   #6
Member
 
Annapolis Jim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 9
RE: 12 volt TV and digital antennas

Hay--quick response for this "newbe"* I'm looking at roadtrucker.com web site at these Skyworths and their antennas.* Seems like a good site.* They have all types of 12 volt stuff and good advice.*

I'll be buying a digital so I won't need the converter box.* I am trying to avoid the expensive digital antenna that the big box marine store sells here in town and wondering how the lesser price ones work (with boat on anchor).

Thanks for the input.
Annapolis Jim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2010, 06:48 AM   #7
Guru
 
rwidman's Avatar
 
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,869
12 volt TV and digital antennas

Quote:
Annapolis Jim wrote:

We want to buy a 12 volt digital TV, probably a Skyworth and a digital antenna.* Any comments.* We are the anchoring out type and like the TV maintly for news and weather on local stations.

I bought and installed the Skyworth 19" TV/DVD player.* It works fine.



There is no such thing as a "digital antenna", regardless or what manufacturers put on the box or in their advertising.* If you already have an omnidirectional amplified TV antenna on your boat, it will work just fine for digital broadcasts.

An antenna is an antenna.* It picks up radio frequency waves and delivers them the to the receiver.* It does not know or care what the content of the signal is.

Your best bet for an antenna on a boat is an omnidirectional (picks up in all directions) antenna.* While a directional antenna can be pointed at the stations for a stronger signal, boats inherently move and a directional antenna would have to be reoriented every time the boat moves.* If it's anchored, that could be continuously.

Get an antenna with a built in signal amplifier and be sure it can operater on 12 volts DC.* Marine stores carry suitable TV antennas.

*


-- Edited by rwidman on Friday 17th of September 2010 07:48:59 AM
rwidman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2010, 06:50 AM   #8
Guru
 
rwidman's Avatar
 
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,869
RE: 12 volt TV and digital antennas

Quote:
Rocky wrote:

So glad someone posted this thread. We are looking into this as well.

Steve, was the converter box for an analog tv? I'm thinking with HDTV you'd just need the antenna, right?

With a digital TV you just need an antenna.

*
rwidman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2010, 07:05 AM   #9
Member
 
Annapolis Jim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 9
RE: 12 volt TV and digital antennas

Hay--thanks to all on the TV/digital info.* Huge help, especially on the antenna.* I think we wore out the Capt'n Ron CD and will have to get a new one after we get set up, not to mention the boat drinks.*

I'll have to have my son show me how to download a pic of our new-to-us*trawler, "Leilani" for this web site.* A/J
Annapolis Jim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2010, 10:16 AM   #10
Guru
 
Capn Chuck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 897
RE: 12 volt TV and digital antennas

Can't speak for the TV but there are no digital antennas. Any that are sold to you as such are simply marketing ploys to get you to pay more. Digital TV is broadcast over UHF and you need an antenna that will pick up UHF. PLUS some are broadcasting over VHF still, so ideally you will want an antenna that is UHF/VHF capable. An added plus for an antenna is a booster if you are in a fringe area or plan to do a lot of traveling. The booster will bring in the weaker signals. With digital you either have a signal or you don't so weaker signals will not come in at all. Chuck
Capn Chuck is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Digital dehumidifier Dougcole Electrical and Electronics & Navigation 5 02-18-2012 05:44 PM
Duel mount for GPS antennas?? Fighterpilot Electrical and Electronics & Navigation 12 01-23-2012 02:02 AM
TV antennas while at anchor Annapolis Jim Electrical and Electronics & Navigation 11 09-30-2011 11:05 AM
WiFi Antennas JohnP Electrical and Electronics & Navigation 13 01-16-2011 05:17 PM

» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:46 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012