How to Get TV Reception on a Boat

Gaining television reception on a boat is similar to trying to get television reception at home, except that it carries additional challenges. Boats often travel in waters situated in valleys or near trees, which makes getting a high quality signal more difficult than a home in a fixed location. A high powered digital antenna designed for use on a boat is a necessity. Then, knowing where to mount your antenna is all that you need to get a good television signal on your boat.

Things You'll Need

  • Digital boat TV antenna with mounting kit
  • Drill
  • Screws and nuts
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a digital television antenna designed for use on a boat. Look for a model that's compact and easy to attach to the high point of your boat. Select a model that offers 360-degree reception and a screened power supply amplifier to prevent other onboard electrical devices from interfering with reception of the local digital signal.

    • 2

      Select a multi-axis satellite tracking system that provides digital television reception in domed units that range from 12 to 15 inches in diameter, making them relatively compact and discrete. Purchase satellite service from a satellite provider if you choose this option so that you can subscribe to the service that the provider beams out from its satellites across North America.

    • 3

      Locate the highest point on your boat that is also as far away from your VHF antenna as possible and mount the digital antenna there. Select a mounting spot near a radar arch or access plate that lets you access the mounting hardware from above and below the surface you mount it to.

    • 4

      Use a drill to make holes where the mounting plate for your antenna and the screws that secure it need to go into your boat. Thread screws through the holes and tighten nuts onto the underside of the screws to secure the mounting plate tightly to your boat. Attach the antenna to the mounting plate.