Digital TV stations breaking up

T

tbirdvet

Active Member
Sep 24, 2009
1,568
Michigan
Boat Info
Previous boat: 2008 330 Sundancer
Vetus Bow Thruster
Kohler Gen.
Engines
Twin 496 MAG, 375HP Bravo III,
OK, so I used my TV on my new boat for the first time and scanned for stations and found 10 digital stations. With the Glomex gain all the way up all the stations except 2 keep breaking up every few seconds. This is while docked at the marina. Is this usual for a boat? At home they all come in very well. How is the reception for the rest of you?
 
Sounds pretty normal to me. We have some stations that are always clear and others that we sometimes receive and sometimes we do not receive at all.
 
I get over 30 channels though some are repeats in HD. Reception is very clear with the digital converter box I installed. I don't think your experience is typical. I would start with checking the connections on the coax cables from the TV to the gain control then back to antenna.
 
I have found reception to be generally poor on the water ( low area )...the weather plays a large role also. There is a website ( I think FCC ) that shows all tower locations in your area and what signal strength you can expect....google it.
 
Your experience is the same as ours. Our marina is set down in a bit of a canyon. I have read that digital signals are line-of-site to the main antennas. If you lose the line-of-site, your signal isnt good.

I have tried a few different options, but not the Glomax. My best results so far have been bunny rabbitt ears with the cable running through the hatch. Looks pretty class-less, but thats what seems to work the best for us. They are not omni directional so they need to be adjusted from time to time.

How high is your glomax mounted? Could you put it on an 8' whip? The higher the better to maintain the line of sight.
 
My Glomex antenna is mounted on the arch and is fairly high. I probably should try reception out from my marina and see what happens before tearing anything apart.
 
How old is your boat? Now that air wave stations are all broadcast in High Definition you're lucky to receive any reception unless you have an HD television. Many boat owners with older tv's (usually tv/vcr or dvd combos) have upgraded to HD flatpanels for this reason. You can purchase a HD converter to hook into your "ship antenae" vs "shore antenae" switch which might save you some hassle and money without buying and installing a flatpanel.
 
I also experience some intermitent channels while in the slip (which has a metal roof), but everything is fine when I am out on the water.

Does your reception clear up when you are away from your slip?
 
danmarsh50 said:
How old is your boat? Now that air wave stations are all broadcast in High Definition you're lucky to receive any reception unless you have an HD television. Many boat owners with older tv's (usually tv/vcr or dvd combos) have upgraded to HD flatpanels for this reason. You can purchase a HD converter to hook into your "ship antenae" vs "shore antenae" switch which might save you some hassle and money without buying and installing a flatpanel.
Click to expand...

Digital Converter. That's what I did. Works like a champ.
 
danmarsh50 said:
How old is your boat? Now that air wave stations are all broadcast in High Definition you're lucky to receive any reception unless you have an HD television. Many boat owners with older tv's (usually tv/vcr or dvd combos) have upgraded to HD flatpanels for this reason. You can purchase a HD converter to hook into your "ship antenae" vs "shore antenae" switch which might save you some hassle and money without buying and installing a flatpanel.
Click to expand...

Non HD sets can receive a very good pic with cable or a digital converter box. Don't believe luck is a part of this issue.
 
My TV is LCD HD digital design. I went to the site that shows station direction. The stations that are breaking up are exactly due west of my Glomex antenna which sits next and below my radar dome (on the east side if you will). I'm guessing the radar is blocking the signal. I will turn the boat around so the antenna has a clear view and see what happens.
 
My tv works fine but a friend of mine has the same system and had trouble like you have described and he bought a extension for his antenna and raised it 1' and this helped his reception greatly. Try taking you antenna loose and raise it up see if it helps if it does he had an extension he got somewhere im sure at the local supply store.
 
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