Boating – June 2019

56 | BOATINGMAG.COM | JUNE 2019

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SAUCER FULL

OF SECRETS

All the antennas we

tested were designed

for VHF, but they only

reliably captured

UHF signals.

SPACE INVADER

The coax from this

Glomex antenna was

output through the

mounting fi tting for

weather protection.

TASTY FREEZE

This one looked like

an ice cream cone,

but it worked like a

champ with its auto-

matic amplifi er.

RANDOM

RECEPTION

We scanned for TV

channels repeatedly

and achieved more

or fewer channels

each time.

WHAT YOU NEED

TO KNOW

The Federal Communi-

cations Commission has

a cool website that lists

the channels broadcast

in practical receiving

range from any zip code

by an antenna posted 30

feet high, assuming line

of sight to the antenna

is not obstructed by ter-

rain, trees or buildings.

Though marine anten-

nas are omnidirection-

al, the website gives the

compass bearing to the

transmitting tower so

directional antennas

can be properly aimed.

The tool also indicates

the strength and ex-

pected quality of signal,

enabling cord cutters

to estimate the quality

of local programming

before cutting the cord.

Visit fcc.gov/media/

engineering/dtvmaps.

HDTV ANTENNAS

During the high-defi -

nition transition over

10 years ago, far too

much money was need-

lessly spent by boaters

switching to antennas

labeled “HD.” Over

time, elements and con-

nectors in antennas can

degrade, but the physics

of capturing HD signals

versus analog signals is

exactly the same. Now

broadcast content is

digitally segmented and

transmitted in pack-

ets that are essentially

streamed over the air.

HDTV receivers un-

pack that digital trans-

mission and buff er it in

the TV to play it in near

real time. An old pre-

HD antenna in good

condition is just as ca-

pable of capturing that

signal as new antennas

labeled “HD.” The sys-

tem allows broadcasters

to transmit more than

one channel from their

permitted frequency.

Channel 6, say, has other

networks at 6.2, 6.3, 6.4,

etc., making many more

channels available.

HOW WE TESTED

In the interest of expe-

diency, we posted the

antennas at 7 feet, under

a fl at asphalt roof. Test

antennas were approx-

imately 15 miles from

transmitting towers in

the fl at terrain of central

Florida. Trees surround

the area, adding inter-

ference. Further, our

test site is in the fi nal

approach, 12 air miles

away from Orlando In-

ternational Airport. It

bears noting that with

every antenna, radio in-

terference from passing

airliners partially and

momentarily disrupt-

ed the signal, causing

pixilation of the image

and slight garbling of

the audio.

Using the channel-

search function of a four-

year-old Vizio smart TV,

we counted channels re-

ceived and disregarded

channels with annoying

levels of interference.

We were impressed

with the quality of pro-

gramming available in

our test, and it gives an

idea of the relative effi -

cacy of the competitors

we tested. But proper

outdoor installation at a

more appropriate height

would likely greatly im-

prove results.

DEFINITIONS

GAIN is the pre-amplifi -

er output of the antenna.

NOISE is the environ-

mental signal loss of the

pre-amplifi ed antenna

output. The lower the

number, the better, but

zero-decibel noise is not

achievable.

OUTPUT is the ampli-

fi ed signal to the TV set.

If you’re under 30, you may never

have experienced free TV from

a rooft op or TV-top antenna. If

you’re over 30, you can’t recall

when you gave up free TV to pay as-

tronomical cable TV charges. Here

are several marine antenna options

that can help you cut the cable and

tune back into free HDTV.

CUTTING

THE CORD

For many boaters, marine antennas can

bring in dozens of channels and most major

networks, both in port and off shore.