www.iFourWinns.com

I thought the digital conversion would never affect me since everything I owned was digital but then I bought a "new to me" boat. here is my dilema. I knew I would need to purchase a new antenna so I bought a new digital antenna from Shakespeare. I hooked it up and I still get the same 3 channels, none of which are the local channels (HSN, WB, some religion channel). The TV is the original Toshiba TV/VCR from 1999 when teh boat was new. I thought just the antenna would do it but do I need a TV too? Thats fine if I do because I was hoping to switch to a flat screen TV/DVD combo this spring but just want to know if this is the case so I can try and eliminate any other issue as well. Should I run new cable from the antenna too? It came with the antenna but I figured if I could go without the hassle why not. Any help from anyone who has done this or knows about it would be great.

Thanks in advance

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1999 298 Vista [color=#FF0000]Sold!!!
twin Volvo 5.7GXI

Woody: Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Alright, but stop me at one...make that one-thirty

If I understand you correctly, you purchased a new antenna but don't have a digital converter box. The truth is, you didn't need a new antenna (though no harm done), just the converter. The converter box interfaces between your antenna and the TV and allows it to receive the digital channels (think of it like a cable box without cable). A new TV will obviously have a digital tuner built in. There is a very straightforward site about it all here.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

Purchase the Artec TA3Pro, it runs off 12V and is a direct, easy hookup.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

In Cleveland, you probably get more stations than we do here, but my dock neighbor bought the TA3Pro and hooked it up with his Shakespere antenna and non-digital TV, and it only got two stations, my boat next to his got 4 stations with the digital tuner built in to our TV and with only rabbit ears. A good TV will often have a better tuner than a cheap converter box.
Something to consider.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Thanks for the help, I knew I was missing something. For some reason I was thinking the TV would have already had a digital tuner in it but what am I thining its 10 years old? I was going to get a new TV anyways so that should fix the problem. The antenna was one of the higher end models so it has a built in amp and it connects to my stereo as well. Unfortunately my dock does not have cable yet so its nice to hang out and watch a game sometimes. Thanks again for the clarification!

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1999 298 Vista [color=#FF0000]Sold!!!
twin Volvo 5.7GXI

Woody: Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Alright, but stop me at one...make that one-thirty

dr.b, Make sure and purchase a higher end TV. The tuners ARE different. I've seen the small LCD VISIO brands miss 3 channels that a Sony hooked to the same antenna receives perfectly. My advise, stick with Sony or Samsung.

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H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

Thanks for the advice, I like sony for home but am partial to samsung for smaller tvs mostly due to the quality at a lower price as compared to sony.

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1999 298 Vista [color=#FF0000]Sold!!!
twin Volvo 5.7GXI

Woody: Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Alright, but stop me at one...make that one-thirty