Omnidirectional aerials

G Cherokee
G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
100 Comments
edited August 2017 in Caravans #1

Our new sprite came with a omnidirectional aerial, I have read on various forums how rubbish these flying saucer type aerials are, but I was gobsmacked to find out what a useless piece of kit these are unless you are in a wide open space pitched up underneath a transmitter.

I have been trying to get a decent signal whilst sitting on my drive to no avail. So I recently purchased a aerial that i was intending to fit in my daughters loft. I assembled the aerial, stuck it on a makeshift pole about 6 feet long quickly joined the coax cable pointed it the same way as the house aerial, and hit the scan button. . . Boom!! 68 digital channels and with a small dorectional tweak, perfect picture on every channel. The aerial I purchased is not an expensive one or a huge sputnik satellite jobby. So I shall make it "mobile" and shall use that from here on. The beauty of this aerial is that just by undoing 3 wingnuts it stores flat.

Now I'm considering removing the space ship from the roof of the van.

What do you think??

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,150 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #2

    You are quite right that uni-directional aerials work far better than omni. Have you considered swapping your flying saucer for something like the Status 530/570 which we always found worked well? Also, the pole mounted equivalents are more compact for carrying than domestic aerials.

    http://www.visionplus.co.uk

    Personally, I wouldn't remove the useless aerial unless it's to replace it with a decent one.

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
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    edited August 2017 #3

    I have looked at the Status 580 long pole, and impressed by that type of antenna. We had one fitted to our old van. But £150 just so Jules can watch bloody Emmerdale ????????

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,150 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #4

    What price your OH's happiness?cool

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
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    edited August 2017 #5

    I purchased a second hand Status 570 directional off EBay installed it on my 'van instead of the Status 330 (?) omnidirectional fitted and sold the 330 for a similar price on EBay.

    Overall cost about £5. 

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
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    edited August 2017 #6

    Much less than £150! 

    She's happy as Larry and over the moon to be married to me! cool

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
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    edited August 2017 #7

    Several on my watch list fella 

     

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited August 2017 #8

    Have you switched it on, I have used an Omni for the best part of forty years with few problems.

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
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    edited August 2017 #9

    Switched it on????? If you mean the booster, then yes.

    When I hastily put the new aerial up, after I'd turned it in I realised that the booster wasn't switched on. It made no difference when it was powered up!

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #10

    I had an omni on my first van, it worked near perfectly at home on my drive but once on my chosen sites around Britain often nothing could be picked up. This may help explain and suggest better alternatives.

    www.aerialsandtv.com/touringaerials.html

  • Heethers
    Heethers Forum Participant Posts: 641
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    edited August 2017 #11

    You think that's bad you want to try the whip aerial, think that's made by the same company, how the caravan industry is taken in by these people is beyond me

  • lesbunny
    lesbunny Forum Participant Posts: 133
    edited August 2017 #12

    Personally I would check all the coaxial cables are connected properly on the Omni directional aerial as in a past caravan i found that the connection behind the tv socket had come so loose it was barely connected at all & once secured it cured the problem.

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
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    edited August 2017 #13

    That was my first point of call, checked all connections, and continuity of coax.

    Believe me people I`ve tried everything possible to get a half decent picture.

  • Phishing
    Phishing Forum Participant Posts: 597
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    edited August 2017 #14

    Had a status, excellent performance.

    Now have a whip, it is pants, or even worse, never got reception that was watchable.

    Now use DM log from www.aerialsandtv.com/touringaerials.html. on a pole. Superb, never misses.

     

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
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    edited September 2017 #15

    Tried the new aerial set up bank holiday weekend, well pleased with the performance.

    I purchased a Maxview side mount kit (plus an extra bracket). Everything worked superb.

    Happy days

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,150 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #16

    And a happy wife. laughing

  • G Cherokee
    G Cherokee Forum Participant Posts: 402
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    edited September 2017 #17

    Oh the brownie points are stacking laughing