Digital TV converter

astrajls

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Mar 7, 2006
Messages
63
Reaction score
5
Points
8
Location
Lewes, DE
Has anyone installed a digital TV converter on their boat? What model did you use?

Thanks.
 

Capt Bill

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Mar 23, 2005
Messages
805
Reaction score
45
Points
28
Location
First State
Model
Sailfish
I installed a Zenith in the motorhome, and it works great. It has a feature called 'pass-thru'. That means if the converter is off, the antenna (or cable, as the case may be) is fed through the converter to the TV. So if you are at a marina that has cable, you don't need to disconnect cables to bypass the converter, or install any "A/B" switches. It done automatically.

The Zenith has picked up many more on-the-air digital signals than I would have expected, with the same old batwing antenna.
 

BobP

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Apr 27, 2005
Messages
4,746
Reaction score
6
Points
38
Location
Long Island, NY
Model
Sailfish
Why would a converter box be needed?

Aren't most of our TVs like the LCD ones already equipped with digital receivers?
 

astrajls

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Mar 7, 2006
Messages
63
Reaction score
5
Points
8
Location
Lewes, DE
I contacted GW with that question. They told me that I would need a converter and because it would require 120VAC that I would need to install a larger inverter. My 330 is a 2005 model. Maybe later models have TVs with digital tuners.
 

BobP

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Apr 27, 2005
Messages
4,746
Reaction score
6
Points
38
Location
Long Island, NY
Model
Sailfish
OK

These converters however, draw little power.
Surprised existing inverter can't handle it.

Perhaps a new LCD TV instead - being they are so low prised these days - is a better alternative than new inverter and converter?
They also have them with built in DVD players - if that's a preference.
 

astrajls

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Mar 7, 2006
Messages
63
Reaction score
5
Points
8
Location
Lewes, DE
I had considered a new TV. It seems that those that I looked at had a wide screen format that would not fit the space without alterations. As for the inverter size: it looks like GW pretty closely matched the inverter to the current load.
 

BobP

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Apr 27, 2005
Messages
4,746
Reaction score
6
Points
38
Location
Long Island, NY
Model
Sailfish
Can't find a 4:3 ratio ?

What happens if existing TV quits?

Check Crutchfield catalog. Google 4:3 LCD TVs.
 

seasick

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2008
Messages
9,154
Reaction score
1,314
Points
113
Location
NYC
I agree about the converters using little power. I would be surprised if your current (no pun intended) inverter wouldn't handle it. That statement however brings up another issue. The new digital signals are mostly on the UHF freqs. Assuming your current TV antenna receives UHF channels, the converter should work. The antenna also need to be unidirectional. With older analog transmissions, the TVs were a bit forgiving with signal quality. The digital boxes are much more demanding about getting a decent signal.
My friens who have installed converters use their TVs mostly while docked ( and connected to shore power). I don't know how well digiatl TV works while at sea ( Not far at sea either.)
 

BobP

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Apr 27, 2005
Messages
4,746
Reaction score
6
Points
38
Location
Long Island, NY
Model
Sailfish
They have other sets too smaller than 19 inch, too bad 19 inch doesn't fit, plenty of 19s around.
 

freddy063

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
566
Reaction score
31
Points
28
Location
Maine
i hope i don't need one will find out this weekend