Ahhh . . . so I have this VHF radio with an antenna high atop my mast.
Can I tap into that antenna for a TV?
Seems like it should work.
Scout

Yes, but the multipath will kill your TV picture. TV's require highly directional antenna to reduce the reception of multiple reflected signals. These reflected signals add "ghosts" and fades to your TV signal. If there is HDTV in your area a coat hanger would work for the signal. HDTV signals are digital whereas the regular TV signals are analog. The marine antenna may not work well on higher channels, it depends on its guts. What brand and model is the antenna?

The method of tapping is important as you do not want to transmit the VHF signal directly into your TV set. I would use a directional coupler with 20-30 of coupling. Use the direct ports for the VHF and use the coupled port to couple from the antenna, not the VHF radio.

You could also try a signal splitter with a large 1Kohm resistor in series with the TV line. You may get a crap picture with this set up.
"Scout" wrote in message . ..
Ahhh . . . so I have this VHF radio with an antenna high atop my mast.
Can I tap into that antenna for a TV?
Seems like it should work.
Scout

"Gilligan" wrote in message . ..
Yes, but the multipath will kill your TV picture. TV's require highly directional antenna to reduce the reception of multiple reflected signals. These reflected signals add "ghosts" and fades to your TV signal. If there is HDTV in your area a coat hanger would work for the signal. HDTV signals are digital whereas the regular TV signals are analog. The marine antenna may not work well on higher channels, it depends on its guts. What brand and model is the antenna?

The method of tapping is important as you do not want to transmit the VHF signal directly into your TV set. I would use a directional coupler with 20-30 of coupling. Use the direct ports for the VHF and use the coupled port to couple from the antenna, not the VHF radio.

You could also try a signal splitter with a large 1Kohm resistor in series with the TV line. You may get a crap picture with this set up.
"Scout" wrote in message . ..
Ahhh . . . so I have this VHF radio with an antenna high atop my mast.
Can I tap into that antenna for a TV?
Seems like it should work.
Scout

Thanks Gilly,
I just want to watch Oprah and then Action News. She might look better and the clouded weather reports will serve to keep me slightly over prepared.
Scout

"Scout" wrote
Ahhh . . . so I have this VHF radio with an antenna high atop my mast.
Can I tap into that antenna for a TV?
Seems like it should work.
Scout

I saw the *well, duh* so I thought it was something I could answer. :-) But I'm clueless about antennas and
radios and TVs. I don't have them on my boat. I don't want them on my boat. A little boom box with CD player
is all I need. I know how to put new batteries in....

Cheers,
Ellen

"Ellen MacArthur" wrote in message
reenews.net...

"Scout" wrote
Ahhh . . . so I have this VHF radio with an antenna high atop my mast.
Can I tap into that antenna for a TV?
Seems like it should work.
Scout

I saw the *well, duh* so I thought it was something I could answer.
:-) But I'm clueless about antennas and
radios and TVs. I don't have them on my boat. I don't want them on my
boat. A little boom box with CD player
is all I need. I know how to put new batteries in....

Cheers,
Ellen

Ironically, your technology is much younger and closer to state of the art
than mine ;-)
Thanks though, for all your responses

Scout wrote:
Ahhh . . . so I have this VHF radio with an antenna high atop my mast.
Can I tap into that antenna for a TV?
Seems like it should work.
Scout

I use a special splitter to share the FM with the VHF radio. IIRC, it
has the logic to shut down the FM side when the VHF side is
transmitting. Or maybe that was the excuse to get me to pay $15 for it.

For the TV we use the larger Shakespeare "disc" style omni directional
antennae that comes with an amplifier. It does a good job of pulling
in stations from 50 miles away. It is, however, 8 year old technology.

"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..
Scout wrote:
Ahhh . . . so I have this VHF radio with an antenna high atop my mast.
Can I tap into that antenna for a TV?
Seems like it should work.
Scout

I use a special splitter to share the FM with the VHF radio. IIRC, it has
the logic to shut down the FM side when the VHF side is transmitting. Or
maybe that was the excuse to get me to pay $15 for it.

For the TV we use the larger Shakespeare "disc" style omni directional
antennae that comes with an amplifier. It does a good job of pulling in
stations from 50 miles away. It is, however, 8 year old technology.

Thanks Jeff,
where did you mount the disc or is it inside the cabin?

Scout wrote:

For the TV we use the larger Shakespeare "disc" style omni directional
antennae that comes with an amplifier. It does a good job of pulling in
stations from 50 miles away. It is, however, 8 year old technology.

Thanks Jeff,
where did you mount the disc or is it inside the cabin?


Its on the mast, under the radar.
http://www.sv-loki.com/Summer_06/Misery_Cove-1.jpg

At this frequency, height is important, so being able to elevate it
some is important.

On our previous boat, we used the smaller version, but rather than
attach it to the mast, we laid it out on the boom, as high as we could
get. The results were mixed. A Practical Sailer review claimed the
21 inch disk was much better than the 14, but again, this is old info.

Much depends on your needs and location, so the first thing to try is
some very cheap solution, such as the wire "T" that comes with FM
radios.

"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..
Scout wrote:

For the TV we use the larger Shakespeare "disc" style omni directional
antennae that comes with an amplifier. It does a good job of pulling in
stations from 50 miles away. It is, however, 8 year old technology.

Thanks Jeff,
where did you mount the disc or is it inside the cabin?


Its on the mast, under the radar.
http://www.sv-loki.com/Summer_06/Misery_Cove-1.jpg

At this frequency, height is important, so being able to elevate it some
is important.

On our previous boat, we used the smaller version, but rather than attach
it to the mast, we laid it out on the boom, as high as we could get. The
results were mixed. A Practical Sailer review claimed the 21 inch disk
was much better than the 14, but again, this is old info.

Much depends on your needs and location, so the first thing to try is some
very cheap solution, such as the wire "T" that comes with FM radios.

wow, nice boat Jeff!
Scout

Shakespeare Ampified Omni Marine Antenna recalled:

http://www.zurichmarinespecialty.com...nerboating.pdf

Read about it on page 7. Apparently it wipes out GPS units for nearly 1/2
mile.