- Aug 25, 2008
- 1,819
- Boat Info
- 2006 320 V-Drives 6.2s, Bow Thruster, Generator, Raymarine C80, Radar, Fish Finder
- Engines
- 6.2 Horizons 320HP
This past weekend I decided to finally install the "free" digital tv decoder that I purchased last fall. There are numerous companies that sell these things, but after doing some research I purchased a TR-40 from DTV (the same people that bring you DISH network.)
The first thing I needed to do was to find the best place to "break" the cable run from the GLOMAX antenna and run the signal through the decoder. I discovered that there was a 3-way splitter behind the panel behind the front TV. This splitter has an input cable that comes from the back of the Glomax GAIN control switch and feeds the 3 TV's in the cabin.
In order to make room to work back there I first removed front TV by removing the 4 screws that hold the TV cabinet to the slide out tray. You need to pivot the TV until the screws are aligned with the 4 access points. You can see 2 of the 4 access points in this picture. The screws have already been removed. The picture was taken from the bottom looking up at the ceiling.
Next I opened up the back panel and disconnected the 3 way splitter from the single cable feeding the splitter. I installed a male to male cable connector and ran a 3 foot piece of cable to the input on the decoder box. I ran another 3 foot piece of cable back to the 3 way splitter. (I used the 3 foot black cable that came with the unit and 3 white cable that I already owned. There was enough room in hole that was drilled to feed the 2 cables through. I didn't need to drill anything new.
and
When I had the cables hooked up, I wired tied them to the existing cable cluster and used Velcro to hold the unit to the top of the cabinet, just behind the TV. The unit was thin enough that it sits there and doesnt interfere with the opening and closing of the cabinet.
I can now use my GLOMAX TV antenna to pick up local telivision signals in crystal clear digital quality and somehow DISH is even sendng down a TV guide to the box.
I am happy to say that it was a very easy job.
The first thing I needed to do was to find the best place to "break" the cable run from the GLOMAX antenna and run the signal through the decoder. I discovered that there was a 3-way splitter behind the panel behind the front TV. This splitter has an input cable that comes from the back of the Glomax GAIN control switch and feeds the 3 TV's in the cabin.
In order to make room to work back there I first removed front TV by removing the 4 screws that hold the TV cabinet to the slide out tray. You need to pivot the TV until the screws are aligned with the 4 access points. You can see 2 of the 4 access points in this picture. The screws have already been removed. The picture was taken from the bottom looking up at the ceiling.
Next I opened up the back panel and disconnected the 3 way splitter from the single cable feeding the splitter. I installed a male to male cable connector and ran a 3 foot piece of cable to the input on the decoder box. I ran another 3 foot piece of cable back to the 3 way splitter. (I used the 3 foot black cable that came with the unit and 3 white cable that I already owned. There was enough room in hole that was drilled to feed the 2 cables through. I didn't need to drill anything new.
When I had the cables hooked up, I wired tied them to the existing cable cluster and used Velcro to hold the unit to the top of the cabinet, just behind the TV. The unit was thin enough that it sits there and doesnt interfere with the opening and closing of the cabinet.
I can now use my GLOMAX TV antenna to pick up local telivision signals in crystal clear digital quality and somehow DISH is even sendng down a TV guide to the box.
I am happy to say that it was a very easy job.
