Tv aerial question

Sharktale
Sharktale Forum Participant Posts: 52
edited July 2023 in Caravans #1

Hi all, I'm looking at getting a digital tv aerial, something like the vision 450. Are these any good? We have a little omni directional one atm which works fine on sites with good tv reception but wondered if these are better when the signal on site is listed as fair/poor. This is when my little one doesn't work. I'm not looking for anything too expensive as I've just paid out for my gas regulator to be changed, 2 new tyres and also need a new motor mover. The joys of caravanning😊

Thanks

Comments

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2023 #2

    An aerial which is both directional and switches polarity is the best solution combined with a decent signal ‘booster’. 
    here is a compact one but obviously the bigger the better.

    https://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-log-tv-aerial/797JR?kpid=797JR&cm_mmc=Google-_-Datafeed-_-Electrical%20and%20Lighting?kpid=KINASEKPID&cm_mmc=Google-_-TOKEN1-_-TOKEN2&ds_rl=1249401&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0rLEhtu5gAMVF4BQBh2IOQrgEAQYASABEgJVzfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

    It’s  basically the same by design as the Maxview directional aerial found factory installed on many caravans being a log design.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2023 #3

    When I say bigger, technically I mean the more elements (those arms stretching out along the length). The more elements the longer the aerial and potentially the better the performance.

  • Simon100
    Simon100 Club Member Posts: 665 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2023 #4

    I understand that you don't want to spend a lot, but it might be worth investing in this as fitted to new caravans

    https://visionplus.co.uk/product/status-570-directional-digital-tv-fm-dab-radio-antenna-system/

    You will, of course, also need an amplifier as well

    https://visionplus.co.uk/product-category/signal-amplifiers-finders/vision-plus-amplifiers/

     

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2023 #5

    Yes, the Visionplus model Simon mentions is a relatively good log aerial but as suggested it is on the pricier side. It is however relatively easy to use but could incur additional fitting charges if unable to self install.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383 ✭
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    edited August 2023 #6

    The cheapest way to improve TV reception is to buy yourself a jockey wheel mast and a decent directional TV aerial and forget the need for an amplifier which only amplifies rubish in rubish out. You can then either feed the coax lead in through a window direct to your TV  or you may have or you can fit an external connection point. The key is a good directional aerial. I found an 8 element wideband yagi works well in the majority of areas and is a good compromise with respect to size for carrying around.

    Pic below shows how I once did it on a motorhome using a jockey wheel mast and yagi.

    peedee

  • Sharktale
    Sharktale Forum Participant Posts: 52
    edited August 2023 #7

    Thanks all. I did see this

    https://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-double-yagi-high-gain-tv-aerial/195jr#product_additional_details_container

    Depends on size and I'd need the mast and brackets too. 

    Sounds so good I'm thinking of putting one on the house😂

    Or one of these

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sniper-Digital-Antenna-motorhomes-caravans/dp/B07W626818

    More compact so easier to store. 

    My little omni directional one I have works fine on sites where reception is good it's just when it's fair or poor reception it doesn't work. 

    Thanks

  • Sharktale
    Sharktale Forum Participant Posts: 52
    edited August 2023 #8

    Thanks all. I did see this

    https://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-double-yagi-high-gain-tv-aerial/195jr#product_additional_details_container

    Depends on size and I'd need the mast and brackets too. 

    Sounds so good I'm thinking of putting one on the house😂

    Or one of these

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sniper-Digital-Antenna-motorhomes-caravans/dp/B07W626818

    More compact so easier to store. 

    My little omni directional one I have works fine on sites where reception is good it's just when it's fair or poor reception it doesn't work. 

    Thanks

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383 ✭
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    edited August 2023 #9

    Labgear have a good reputation, I have one of their omni FM radio aerials on my TV pole and one of their low noise mast head TV amplifiers feeding aTV distrubution amplifier in the house. The latter two items have been in use for over 40 years and are still providing good digital TV reception. My house high gain TV aerial came from Antference, another supplier with a good reputation.

    My own view is that terrestial TV aerials on sale for the touring industry are over priced. It cost me £6.95 to provide that TV aerial for my last motorhome. If your intersted on how I did it, you can read about it >here< I still have it for use in my current motorhome if I cannot get a satellite TV signal although I mount the jockey wheel mast in a ground stake rather than have anything bolted to the motorhome.

    peedee

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,681 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2023 #10

    "although I mount the jockey wheel mast in a ground stake rather than have anything bolted to the motorhome."

    The method I use - for my wifi aerial - is a piece of wood with a hole drilled in it, the same diameter as the mast (or a bit bigger).  Mast goes in hole - piece of wood is simply trapped under jockey wheel.  Nothing moves and it saves having to bash in a ground stake.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383 ✭
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    edited August 2023 #11

    RandR I just use the suckers to semi permanently stick that Poynting aerial you recommended to the inside of my overhead cab window. I find I can get sufficient signal with it there although it would be better to place it outside. It saves me faffing about and it also means I could get a signal on the move.

    I didn't have a satellite dish on the motorhome when I mounted the mast on the ladder in the pic. I was solely reliant on terrestial TV in the UK although I had a freestanding 85cm dish which I used to take on the Continent. With the current motorhome having a TRAC vision satellite system installed, it is very rare for us to bother with terrestial TV and increasingly if we want alternatives we stream TV using a firestick or straight to our tablets. I am going to have to replace the TV ASAP because it will only receive the shortly to become totally obsolete SD channels and the next one will be smart with an integrated satellite receiver.

    peedee

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