TV or not TV that is the question.

I moved on Thursday, not a lot, just from my mooring by Morrisons to the other side of Banbury before bridge 163, first of all I needed to empty the cassette and take on water, the stop at the services was interesting, with a boat already on the water point there was nowhere for me to tie up, it’s only long enough for 1 boat, so I asked the chap if I could tie my bow to his bow he was quite happy but it left my stern drifting, I didn’t want to brest up (tie up to his boat side by side) as it’s close to the lock and I didn’t want to restrict the channel, so a very quick visit to the elsan achieved the first stage before my stern drifted out too far.

There is another water point the other side of the lock but after going through the lock, watched by numerous gongoozlers, I found there was a boat on that one as well, so I tied up and waited.

Waiting for the water point, lift bridge ahead Lock is right behind me.

It’s quite congested in this little section with a lift bridge, a lock and a water point all in a fairly small area  so I was entertained while I waited by various boats manoeuvring around trying to work out the best way to deal with it all, I was soon on the water point though and after filling I waited for someone to open the lift bridge (only a minute or two) and then I shot through before they did waving my thanks J, I then pootled through the very quiet town centre moorings.

Looking back at the lift bridge

and looking foward, plenty of available moorings.

It was packed solid when I came through before,  I carried on and found a mooring much nearer to Screwfix where I needed to buy my Tv Ariel .

Having ordered and collected my 3 parcels from Screwfix, Ariel, Mast and Signal Meter, I set about getting it all working, a cuppa was needed, the method I adopted was to look at the various bits and then scratch my head before deciding I really could do with a 5 year old child (you know the ones ‘it’s so easy a 5 year old could do it’), no 5 year olds to be found I eventually cobbled it all together with various cable ties and string, and it all worked. Now I have two systems, my original little digital Necvox which is great if there’s a good signal, and the new Ariel, I spent the evening working out how easiest to swap from one to the other.

Today I bought some nuts and bolts (well the cable ties and string wouldn’t last) and some TV connectors and finished it all off.

I am glad I don’t watch much TV, the Necvox is easy, set the Autotune on the TV and see if you find any stations, if not read a book.

This is my Necvox antenna.

The new Ariel is a bit more work, first use an app on the phone to see where the best transmitter is located and whether you need your Ariel horizontally or vertically aligned, assemble the mast and attach the Ariel, then use a compass to work out where the transmitter actually is, point the Ariel in that direction, set the Autotune on the TV, if at this point you find stations with a good picture celebrate with a large Brandy, if not fiddle with the Ariel, reset the Autotune on the TV, repeat as necessary until giving up, dismantling and storing everything and reading a book.

and this attractive beast is the new Ariel

I am sure it will be fine, eventually I will get used to being one of the many TV Ariel fiddlers I have seen on the canals, but only if the Necvox fails, and only in the event that there is actually something on TV worth the effort, Strictly Come Dancing, Formula One and maybe the odd film.

I should add here that the Signal Meter I bought was as useful as a chocolate teapot, but I am hoping it is because the signal is too weak here and when the signal is a bit stronger it will be useful.

Total Travel : 1 Mile : 1 Lock : 1 Lift Bridge : how’s that for neat and tidy.