TV aerial which direction?

trellis
trellis Forum Participant Posts: 1,102
1000 Comments
edited September 2016 in Caravans #1

Quick question,when traveling point end facing front or blunt end.Thanks.

Comments

  • birderbilly
    birderbilly Forum Participant Posts: 349
    100 Comments
    edited September 2016 #2

    Blunt - we have a label that specifically says the red/green window on the stem should face forward which gives blunt end forward.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #3

    Aerodynamically it's more important to have air leaving a surface efficiently than entering a surface. 

    All those roof boxes that you see may look better with the pointy bit facing forward but will use more fuel than one correctly fitted and pointing backwards . 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #4

    Blunt end forwards indeed

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #5

    Aerodynamically it's more important to have air leaving a surface efficiently than entering a surface. 

    All those roof boxes that you see may look better with the pointy bit facing forward but will use more fuel than one correctly fitted and pointing backwards . 

    Whilst largely true I don't think the drag contribution from our aerials constitues anything that matters compared to the overal units drag.

    However because the "lift" point is about one third along the chord of an aerofoil then the bending loads placed on the plastic coupling to the mounting tube are minimal, if placing blunt end forward. They would be quite different with the pointed end forward
    but as we see this so often practiced the aerial so far seems to live with it.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #6

    I was just trying to help the OP and give the simple reason why the aerial should point backwards. 

    I am also a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society and can confirm your post ocsid 

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #7

    Our dealer told us that the point should be at the front. Took us quite a while to find out that he was wrong.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #8

    I thought you were a fellow aviator Ian? 

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #9

    When travelling between 200 and 500 MPH I point the blunt end forwards.

    If travelling slower than that I don't bother checking which way it is!SurprisedHappy

  • spk
    spk Forum Participant Posts: 406
    edited September 2016 #10

     

    When travelling between 200 and 500 MPH I point the blunt end forwards.

    If travelling slower than that I don't bother checking which way it is!SurprisedHappy

    Write your comments here...

    just about sums it up.

     

    personally I have pointy end forward but never given it any thought, and I don't think I will worry about it now.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #11

    I find when sailing that the pointy end at the front works best. Wink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #12

    I was told at Feb show by man on their stand ,that its blunt end forward ,   as  the the pointy bit is longer than the blunt end and when tested can "lift"and put stress on jointWink

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #13

    I find when sailing that the pointy end at the front works best. Wink

    Would same apply if I carried a sail boat on top of the caravan? 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #14

    Though I knew which way an aerial should face, the dealer giving me the handover on my 'new' caravan the other month told me wrong too

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #15

    I find when sailing that the pointy end at the front works best. Wink

    Would same apply if I carried a sail boat on top of the caravan? 

    ..Depend if sails are unfurled i would think

  • trellis
    trellis Forum Participant Posts: 1,102
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #16

    Thanks for all the replies,blunt end first it will be .

  • Swifty 123
    Swifty 123 Forum Participant Posts: 100
    edited September 2016 #17

    On our van there is a red spot on the central pole which can be seen when the aerial is down, and in the manual it states that this should face the rear of the van when in travelling mode, which then means  the aerial has the pointy bit aft, blunt bit facing
    forward.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #18

    On our van there is a red spot on the central pole which can be seen when the aerial is down,
    and in the manual it states that this should face the rear of the van when in travelling mode, which then means  the aerial has the pointy bit aft, blunt bit facing forward.

    Ah! But who ever RT*M? Innocent

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited September 2016 #19

    Stopped somebody leaving site today with their aerial like the starship Enterprise in a tight turn. He was very grateful as it would probably have been ripped off as soon as he hit 60 mph.

Categories