Do you actually need a 'digital' antenna??? My 13 year old Dantronics antenna works fine with a fairly new LCD TV; it would NOT have worked with my ancient analog tube TV, which I saw as an excellent excuse for upgrading:) That old 9" TV would have required a digital decoder box to work with the Dantronics antenna. The LCD TV pulls in great high def TV, no digital box or antenna required. So what you need really depends on what type of TV you are using.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|344|302025|320623&id=1039493

I got a decoder box and a $ 20 digital antenna at Best Buy. I mounted the antenna behind the nav station in the aft cabin above the AC plug and ran the cable through the back of the power panel and to the TV. It works perfectly and I'm in a large marina with a lot of masts to interfere with the signal. Don't believe you need a fancy mast mounted antenna, because you don't.

Mike

Depends where you are distance wise from your local TV signals. We wouldn't be able to get any stations at all without the masthead antenna. With it, when we're out at Waupoos we get about 30 channels, mostly digital. We have an amplified unit, it is a Worst Marine cheapie, had an expensive Glomex on the last boat but the Worst Marine cheapie pulls in just as good a signal.

For us, the bigger issue is the actual TV programming nowadays, how many propaganda filled Cop, Lawyer, Hospital shows or inane sitcoms can one possibly watch? Network TV is pretty much of a wasteland these days.

I just had a discussion with a telecomm guy over the weekend and he brought up the fact that there is no such thing as a digital antenna. Radio waves are analog and always will be. The digital part is what happens when the analog wave frequencies are decoded by the box.

[QUOTE=bstreet;10003]how many propaganda filled Cop, Lawyer, Hospital shows or inane sitcoms can one possibly watch?[/QUOTE]

Never fear, Survivor will be back on soon.:D

Mike

We mounted a digital antenna on the mast top. It has an amplifier (mounted in the cupboard under the head sink), which makes the big difference. I suppose this is due to the long lead running all the way to the mast top.

While cruising we need to retune the channels at each new port. But once that is done, the picture is crystal clear.

I realize that you are not looking for digital antenna but an antenna for your digital TV. Any old antenna will work. The fact is that analogue channels that are below channel 7 requires much longer elements. You will definitely receive channel 7 and above with ease using a UHF oven screen type antenna for a maximum distance of about 65 miles.

Depends on the area you sail. We need cable at the dock to get any service at all!

Interesting thread....with my (new-to-me) C36mkII there is an intriguing TV cabinet opposite the head. It has that cool sliding wood door panel.

Qs:

1) What is the best HD-TV to put in there?
2) What size fits?
3) Can you remove the top and slide a slightly bigger screen in there?

Thanks!

The best HD-TV to put in there is the cheapest one you can get since it likely is going to have a short life (bashing around, salty air = short life). We have a 26" Toshiba LCD, it will fit in there but nothing bigger. I chose not to put it there, I put it in between the two lockers overtop of the small settee. Great nighttime entertainment from the pit.

My bride gave me a new digital TV for my birthday, I installed it onboard last weekend. Just using a set of rabbit ears in the back of the cabinet, I wound up getting 44 stations on the TV after it scanned. At least fifteen of these stations had an english speaking format.

I did note that with digital signals, you get the station or you do not. One station I was watching had a perfect picture for about an hour, but started to pixilate and freeze, just bit of twiddling with the rabbit ears just like the old days got it working again. The stations recieved were all local, I could see if I was a long ways from the brodcast tower a better antenna may be needed. The bulk of the stations received broadcast from Sutro tower in San Francisco, that is about twelve miles from my marina.

[QUOTE=Steve Frost;10245]... Just using a set of rabbit ears in the back of the cabinet, I would up getting 44 stations... [/QUOTE]

Steve, Rabbit ears are so late 1900s. I upgraded to White Fox ears and have been very happy. :D

Duane,

You have been getting very frisky with your replies. I am very proud of you.

[QUOTE=Steve Frost;10281]Duane,

You have been getting very frisky with your replies. I am very proud of you.[/QUOTE]

I hope I don't do it too often to offend, but I am trying to carry on the 'wise guy' humor that you have so often added. You were being lax in your posts, Steve.