R25SC Salon Television Cable/Satellite

[DenverReds]

Has anyone found a good way to equip the Ranger with a reliable TV signal? I can't find a cable line feed on the boat for COX Cable and the digital receiver that came with the boat doesn't seem to be activated or tuned to pick local stations in Santa Barbara (this could be a user error issue). Ideally I'd like to have the local stations for news when I'm at the dock as well as a breadth of additional stations like FOX and CNN plus streaming movies. It would be a bonus if I could get similar stations while on the hook in the Channel Islands. I've seen a couple of boats (even one new Ranger) with KVH TracVision in the Harbor but looking at those plans online they seem expensive for a monthly subscription. Anyone tried DISH or DirectTV systems with their white label satellite receivers on a Ranger? Thanks in advance for any guidance.

 

[Mastercraft]

I just wrote a long reply and for some reason it did not seem to post. Don't know what happened. I will write it again in short form. I can give more detail if someone wants. My boat TV reception works fine 10 miles from downtown Seattle. I mirror an iphone to my TV using an Apple adapter and USB cord. A non-Apple adapter will work for most everything except Netflix. Apple and Netflix must have a deal. Anything you see on phone will be on TV.

 

[gallatintug]

Assuming that you are in a marina with good WiFi or have good cell coverage (and a good data plan and can create a WiFi hotspot): Dish Network has an app called Dish Anywhere. You can download it onto an Amazon Fire stick. If you have a Dish Network subscription you can watch live TV (including locals) just using WiFi or your phone to create a hotspot. If you have their Hopper (DVR) you can also watch any of your recorded shows, which for us is a huge bonus. Attach an HDMI splitter (usually the lone HDMI cable to your TV plugs into your chart plotter), a firestick, and you should be good to go. Way cheaper option and you still have the regular OTA antenna.