Simple TV for AC - stream? Aerial?

[Clipper 192]

Im thinking of installing (temporarily) a tv on the boat for the AC.  12V tvs are easy enough to come by, but am not sure whether to use mobile data to stream race coverage or to install an aerial for normal TV.

Will all the boats in the same area using the cell sites mean mobile streaming is too slow?

A quick google brings up some small omni-directional antennae. Anyone have any experience on how well these work?

[wheels 372]

Poorly. Depends on where you expect to be anchored, but you need to be fairly close to a good signal for a multi directional to work. I would suggest you could make it work in the Auckland Marinas, but I doubt it will from even just Waiheke. And it would have to be line of sight. Any island in the way will likely drop the signal too much.
The next choice is to go for a dish. If you can anchor and have a couple of stern lines so as you can stop the boat moving too much, there are some auto seeking Dish units available for Caravans that are not anywhere near as expensive as the Marine ones. But slightest movement will drop out the signal. Cost still starts at around $900 and go up from there. They do not have verticle seeking, so the boat must remain absolutey stable. The best choice is of course the Marine units. But they are expensive at $2000 to $3000 and on up.

[Clipper 192]

Yeah, nah, not going that flash. Just thinking of the AC courses, so within sight of the sky tower mostly. 

Budget is limited, not really a fan of TVs on boats, so will remove post AC

[tuffyluffy 72]

My advice would be to get a mobile data plan and stream it. As Wheels mentioned and in my experience, TV aerials on boats are a pain in the ass unless you throw considerable loot at it.

As a tip, when we've been cruising in remotish spots, a mobile hotspot gizmo in a bucket pulled up the mast will give you pretty good range and data speed 

[Clipper 192]

1 hour ago, tuffyluffy said:

My advice would be to get a mobile data plan and stream it. As Wheels mentioned and in my experience, TV aerials on boats are a pain in the ass unless you throw considerable loot at it.

As a tip, when we've been cruising in remotish spots, a mobile hotspot gizmo in a bucket pulled up the mast will give you pretty good range and data speed 

Thanks, thats useful advice

[harrytom 242]

i had one of those round cheapish ones,as long as you see the sky tower it worked,had to motor out towards tiri one night as coronation st got interesting,🤣Didnt work at kawau but worked panmure river.

[Dtwo 92]

Been using Wireless Nation for 3 years now, we now have an anchoring system that involves checking that we have 3 green bars.  Be fine for streaming AC I would hope.

[Fogg 163]

12 hours ago, Dtwo said:

Been using Wireless Nation for 3 years now, we now have an anchoring system that involves checking that we have 3 green bars.  Be fine for streaming AC I would hope.

Likewise using WN. Keeps whole crew connected 24x7 and never struggled with coverage expect in holes where there literally is no coverage like the blind spots out at Barrier that don't receive Spark or Voda.

[Clipper 192]

I assume wireless nation work s better than just hotspotting a mobile? Why? Is there a mounted antenna?

[CarpeDiem 5]

2 hours ago, Clipper said:

I assume wireless nation work s better than just hotspotting a mobile? Why? Is there a mounted antenna?

Wireless Nation mobile plans use the Spark Network via an MVNO agreement.  Any number of devices on the market can have an external antennas attached which will increase the range.

RBI connectivity uses 4G on the mobile network but can be carrier independent depending on where you are, it is typically set up with uni-directional antennas, such as a Yagi, resulting in maximum signal strength.  Uni directional is no good for a boat unless it's auto tracking - which is mega bucks.  RBI can and does work with omni directional antennas.  You aren't contractually allowed to move your RBI base station around willy nilly, it's priced to be a replacement for your fixed wire broadband and isn't intended to be used as a mobile service.  Technically your carrier may or may not detect or limit this, I believe that most lock you to a specific tower or two.

Fundamentally there is no difference to a Mobile Nation mobile hotspot or a Spark Mobile Hotspot.

For what you are looking to do, I would recommend a battery pack and a QUALITY phone in a dry bag hung off the pushpit, if you wanted to see if you could extend the coverage you could hoist it up the mast.

We have one of these units on board with it's own SIMM which is connected to the B&G wifi, this provides us with "Boat-Wifi".  I have mounted it at the top of a bulk head, have never not been able to get coverage on my phone and not the boat-wifi, often it's the opposite.  This is more a function of the boat-wif being left in one place, not having hands blocking the signal, not being put under a pillow, etc, than the fact it's any better than a phone, infact it is identical signal strength wise to a phone. I have not opted to install external antennas, but it has plugs for external MIMO antennas which would improve connectivity.

You're welcome to look at our set up - but if boat wifi isn't a permanent fixture you want then this is probably overkill.