Digital TV Converter/Glomax

[carterchapman]

In the "Gary's Going To Hate This/Slanted Antenna" Thread, Dave S. posted the foillowing:

Get a digital converter for your TV and you will get real time weather radar over the air. Thats much better than a generalized NOAA warning over your VHF to see what's really going on. It's amazing how many more stations there are in digital compared to the old analog signal. And the Glomax actually works and brings in those stations crystal clear! I have 26 over the air digital stations now.

Could those of you that have done this, post where you put your converter?

Thanks.

PS: For Dave S. - I tried to PM, but you don't have that option enabled.

 

[ChuckW]

Dave wrote a great article on doing this. Check it out at http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10888

 

[skolbe]

I bought a digital stream converter box and slid it under the TV in the slide out cabinet. I actually have it installed upside down with double sided tape. The front sensor is accessible via the remote. You can't see it and the digital stream converter box controls both the TV and the converter box. My TV is an LG.

 

[carterchapman]

Dave wrote a great article on doing this. Check it out at http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10888

Thanks Chuck W. And thanks to Dave S. for that great installation thread...

(I should have know better and searched first before I asked!)

 

[djboots]

I did not think that you got digital signal yet. I thought it did not started until June. Are the already broadcasting?

 

[ChuckW]

I did not think that you got digital signal yet. I thought it did not started until June. Are the already broadcasting?

The digital signals have been in the air for years now. The only thing happening in June (which was supposed to be Feb) is the termination of the analog signals.

 

[KayKook]

Does the Artec converter box mentioned in Daves' thread come with an AC adapter?
Some sites say it does, some say (car friendly)adapter. NoDC T/V on our boat, and I don't want to hard wire it in, just want to plug it in to A/C power when needed.

And yes, digital TV channels OTA have been available for quite some time. There are even more now than a year ago. We get about 20 stations in this part of Michigan.

 

[ChuckW]

Yes, if you follow Daves' thread, he wanted to hard wire it in. So he just cut the converter off and tied it in directly to 12v. The box is 12v and they ship an AC/DC converter so you can plut it into AC.

...The converter comes with a 110V plug in transformer. I merely cut the transformer off and spliced the wires into the existing 12 volt lines behind the Glomex...

 

[KayKook]

I just saw that. Thanks Chuck.

And shown here as well.
http://www.freedtvshop.com/fdtv/converters/t3apro.php

 

[Pseudomind]

If one already has only flat panel tv's installed,what good does this converter do with obtaining signal input to these tv's? :smt100

 

[KayKook]

If one already has only flat panel tv's installed,what good does this converter do with obtaining signal input to these tv's? :smt100

If'in your TV's already have a digital tuner installed, then these converter boxes will be of no use. If'in you have an analog tuner flat screen (like me) then you need a D/A converter box to get the digital channels. Flat panel does not necessarily = digital tuner inside.

 

[djboots]

I'm a complete idiot when it comes to this Digital TV thing i guess...I have cable at home so never bothered to worry about it.

Now I just bought this Sea Ray with a TV in it. So question..Do i just plug this box in to the TV and power and thats it, good to go? No anntenna required??

 

[ChuckW]

I'm a complete idiot when it comes to this Digital TV thing i guess...I have cable at home so never bothered to worry about it.

Now I just bought this Sea Ray with a TV in it. So question..Do i just plug this box in to the TV and power and thats it, good to go? No anntenna required??

Antenna required. That can be either the CATV hookup at the dock, an aerial antenna like the Glomex or a satelite signal like KVM.

 

[skolbe]

I'm a complete idiot when it comes to this Digital TV thing i guess...I have cable at home so never bothered to worry about it.

Now I just bought this Sea Ray with a TV in it. So question..Do i just plug this box in to the TV and power and thats it, good to go? No anntenna required??

There is a company in Nuvi, MI - that is an online retailer - call them or visit their site - www.solidsignal.com - they are good people. I know the owner - someone will walk through everything. They sell quite a few combinations of converter boxes.

 

[djboots]

I'm not sure if the antenna on this boat works. Right now i cant get any stations to come in clear at all. On top of the radar arch next to the radar there is an antenna that looks like a flying saucer...is that the antenna?? Also there is a dial just below the tv (that says attenna gain control i think). But there seems to be no power to it, it looks like a power light is on it but when i turn it on nothing lights up. So i dont know what the deal is:huh: any one have a simular set up. I assume is was a factory set up on the boat at the time

 

[ChuckW]

I'm not sure if the antenna on this boat works. Right now i cant get any stations to come in clear at all. On top of the radar arch next to the radar there is an antenna that looks like a flying saucer...is that the antenna?? Also there is a dial just below the tv (that says attenna gain control i think). But there seems to be no power to it, it looks like a power light is on it but when i turn it on nothing lights up. So i dont know what the deal is:huh: any one have a simular set up. I assume is was a factory set up on the boat at the time

Sounds about right, except for the power light. That should definately light up. May have a blown fuse or wiring issue in there.

The antennas don't work well inside a busy marina. Too much interferance from all the big boats, blow boat masts, etc. Figure out the power problem and try it out away from your slip in a clear area.

Mine doesn't pick up analog signals well at all in the marina. But digital is an either/or type situation. So you either get a great picture or nothing.

 

[Pseudomind]

If'in your TV's already have a digital tuner installed, then these converter boxes will be of no use. If'in you have an analog tuner flat screen (like me) then you need a D/A converter box to get the digital channels. Flat panel does not necessarily = digital tuner inside.

Thanks

+10
Your answer should go a long way towards clarification, my tv's have the digital tuners. I was not sure if these boxes mentioned were not some type of better amplifier for the Glomax and in the process also did the analog to digital conversion if needed.

:thumbsup:

 

[Dave S]

my tv's have the digital tuners.

:thumbsup:

Unless they are new TV's you installed yourself, they are likely analog tuners. Sea Ray was still installing drop down analog TVs in the 2008 260DA as far as I know so they may have put them in other models as well.

 

[EarmarkMarine]

Recent LCDs will have the built-in digital tuner (HD TV). But you never know how long a particular TV was in the manufacturing pipeline. If its got HDMI inputs its almost certain to be digital tuning. Digital channels are often a separate search and program set-up versus analog. So if you've got an HDTV LCD but you're not receiving the digital channels, check your set-up menu.

The flying saucer atop the arch (Glomex, SeaWatch, etc.) is the UHF/VHF antenna. Its poor gain because it has to be omnidirectional. This requires an amplfier but still produces poor analog reception.

At one end of the antenna amplifier gain control rotation is a click stop which switches from the ship antenna to the transom shore inlet. You might check its position if you're getting no signal.

There's no need to change antennas. Basically the old analog and new digital operate with different languages but on a similar bandwidth. Digital reception will be improved.

If your accessing RF distribution at the Glomex then you're not getting as good a picture as you will with line level connectivity (ie HDMI, component, S-video or composite). You might use the RF modulation function for wholeboat distribution (before the splitter) and also use line level into a larger salon TV. This way one tuner will facilitate all TVs and you get a better picture where it matters most.

If you want to totally conceal the tuner within a cabinet or behind a TV then consider an infrared repeater like a Xantech 29110RP kit.

Here's an example,

Hope this helps.

David
Earmark Marine

 

[hack4alivin]

If you want to totally conceal the tuner within a cabinet or behind a TV then consider an infrared repeater like a Xantech 29110RP kit.


David
Earmark Marine

Great idea, thanks! I have already installed the digital converter on my cabin TV without a problem and want to do the same for the flip down TV in the aft cabin. The problem is there is no convenient way to mount it, but this little device it just the ticket to solve that problem.