Status aerial position

Tirril
Tirril Forum Participant Posts: 439
100 Comments
edited May 2016 in Parts & Accessories #1

Having had two Bailey Unicorns with Status aerials our handbooks have instructed that the aerial should be horizontal and pointing rearwards when travelling. Occasionally you see others pointing forwards, however I have see quite a number this year turned sideways with the leading edge downwards presenting a broadside into the wind. The arrangment now looks like a aeroplane flap angled deeper than 45 degress. Has the advice now changed. It certainly looks less aeridynamic and likely to strain the assembly

Comments

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,394 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #2

    They have probably just forgot to stow them properly.

    peedee

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2016 #3

    I've seen loads with them incorrectly pointing forwards. Wind pressure has obvioulsy turned the pointing forwards aerials sideways. I think that people mistakenly think that pointing forwards is the correct way of travel

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #4

    I've noticed that, too. Not just that, but quite often they haven't been retracted fully either. It's one of the things on my mental checklist before setting off, aeriel pointing rearwards.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2016 #5

    A caravan is stored on a local driveway with aerial pointing forwards ...... I want to knock & tell them it's wrong Wink

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,678 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #6

    I can forgive someone getting the aerial the wrong way.  Does anyone know what difference it makes?  It's not something I've looked into!

    David 

  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
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    edited May 2016 #7

    Our aerial mast has a red dot and an instruction sticker saying that it should be in the direction of travel i.e. the narrow end pointing forward. And so, for 130,000 miles in our motorhome, we have done just that without a problem. On the odd occasion that
    we have brushed against a low-hanging branch, the aerial has twirled around without damage, aided by the wedge shape.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2016 #8

    Our aerial mast has a red dot and an instruction sticker saying that it should be in the direction of travel i.e. the narrow end pointing forward. And so, for 130,000 miles in our motorhome, we have done just that without a problem. On the odd occasion that we have brushed against a low-hanging branch, the aerial has twirled around without damage, aided by the wedge shape.

    130000 miles or not, it's pointing the wrong way ...... 

    http://www.visionplus.co.uk/assets/pdfs/530_ENG/530_ENG.pdf

     

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,197 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #9

    Don't think its something we've ever considered .  Its always retracted to roof level. Comes down quite low and we have a roof light in front of it. Will check out which position its in when we go over to clean it tomorrow, hopefully! So it should be broad
    side facing the direction of travel? Have I got that correctly?

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2016 #10

    Don't think its something we've ever considered .  Its always retracted to roof level. Comes down quite low and we have a roof light in front of it. Will check out which position its in when we go over to clean it tomorrow, hopefully! So it should be broad
    side facing the direction of travel? Have I got that correctly?

    Pointy bit to the back of the vehicle and the red dot to the back too

  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
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    edited May 2016 #11

    Our aerial mast has a red dot and an instruction sticker saying that it should be in the direction of travel i.e. the narrow end pointing forward. And so, for 130,000 miles in our motorhome, we have done just that without a problem. On the odd occasion that
    we have brushed against a low-hanging branch, the aerial has twirled around without damage, aided by the wedge shape.

    130000 miles or not, it's pointing the wrong way ...... 

    http://www.visionplus.co.uk/assets/pdfs/530_ENG/530_ENG.pdf

     

    Well then, you're right, but Hymer say otherwise! We'll just keep pointing our aerial to the front for as long as we can keep going - health and rust permittingLaughing

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2016 #12

    Our aerial mast has a red dot and an instruction sticker saying that it should be in the direction of travel i.e. the narrow end pointing forward. And so, for 130,000 miles in our motorhome, we have done just that without a problem. On the odd occasion that
    we have brushed against a low-hanging branch, the aerial has twirled around without damage, aided by the wedge shape.

    130000 miles or not, it's pointing the wrong way ...... 

    http://www.visionplus.co.uk/assets/pdfs/530_ENG/530_ENG.pdf

     

    Well then, you're right, but Hymer say otherwise! We'll just keep pointing our aerial to the front for as long as we can keep going - health and rust permittingLaughing

    So .... the manufacturer of the aerial says one thing, Hymers contradicts it, but you're continuing to point it the wrong way cos you've always done that ....... no real answer to that Surprised

  • metz
    metz Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited May 2016 #13

    Hi, alot of the position indicators were incorrectly placed on the product, the pointed part should be facing the rear of the vehicle, the reason is that if you have it the other way round is the lift under the ariel from air pressure which can in some instances
    place stress on the roof seal and create the possibilty of water ingress. During the many damp tests i have carried out i have found this to be one of the causes of ingress around the ariel seal.

  • pcoleby
    pcoleby Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited May 2016 #14

    Having had two Bailey Unicorns with Status aerials our handbooks have instructed that the aerial should be horizontal and pointing rearwards when travelling. Occasionally you see others pointing forwards, however I have see quite a number this year turned
    sideways with the leading edge downwards presenting a broadside into the wind. The arrangment now looks like a aeroplane flap angled deeper than 45 degress. Has the advice now changed. It certainly looks less aeridynamic and likely to strain the assembly

    You may well have seen my 'van about. It's nothing to do with the advice given, it's just that in some high winds earlier this year the tilt mechanism was broken so I can't put it in the proper position. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2016 #15

     .... it's just that in some high winds earlier this year the tilt mechanism was broken so I can't put it in the proper position. 

    If you open the aerial casing up & have a look at the mechanism, you may well find that one of the nylon bevel gears has stripped teeth. I phoned Grade to ask about spare parts. When I told him what I wanted he said that as they'd since modified one of the
    bevel gears to brass he'd send me one FOC! Cool

  • pcoleby
    pcoleby Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited May 2016 #16

    Thanks for that MollysMumm, I'll try that and see where it gets me. If it means I don't have to buy a new aerial I'm up for that.

  • Dickdastardly1
    Dickdastardly1 Forum Participant Posts: 153
    100 Comments
    edited May 2016 #17

    A CC member has created a free APP called "freepoint UK" Wonderful app with all cc sites included with 3 transmiteers and satellite info