We have just been away in our caravan and have a tv with built in freeview, we could not get a signal at all and noticed some people around us had an extra tv ariel or a satallite dish set up. We are not sure which we need to buy to get a decent freeview picture? any help would be appreciated.
It all depends on where you are in the country and the location within the campsite you are on! (satellite does not like tall trees or buildings in close line of sight)
We have both satellite and freeview and have got to know which to take with us depending on where we are going. Last weekend we had 100% freeview but I know our location this weekend can be a bit hit and miss so I will bring the satellite dish and freesat box.
I think it's best to have both options and make a note each trip which is best for your location.
I hope that helps and sorry there doesn't seem to be one solution for it!
I had the same problems - ended up buying an extra ariel that you clip to the side of the van and that was useless. Have now bought a Maxview Omnisat satellite dish set and it is BRILLIANT! Really pleased with it. You get loads of channels, plus your favourite radio stations - perfectly - with no breakup or snow. As Stressed Al said though, you can only use it where you have line of sight.
You use a regular ariel - the one on top of your caravan will do nicely - providing there is good signal in that area. There are a lot of black spots for Freeview. In the past 2 years, I have only managed to get a good signal twice - once on the Isle of Wight and once at Longleat. The rest of the time, I had to use analogue or watch DVDs.
I have a digital signal finder which helps find the signal (if you have a directional ariel), but I have found these to be no better that the built-in omnidirectional one on my roof.
Thanks, so really if i want to watch the tv and cannot get a signal for the freeview i either need to buy a satellite
dish and reciever or only use the sites where i can get asignal or don't bother and watch dvds!! I suppose you can't have everything can you lol :)
lol, it all seems harder than it should be doesn't it? We have a TV with built in freeview and use that with an co-ax cable when we're on a site which has TV hookup (such as Ferry Meadows etc) but we also have a satelite dish and receiver which we use when we're somewhere without TV hookup. We don't have a roof mounted ariel. I have an app on my iphone which shows me if we have trees etc between us and the satelite and I have also got to find a longer pole for my satellite tripod as that has caused a problem or two. Next job is to work out how to use my mutli-room sky box in the caravan.
Don't get me wrong, we're not telly addicts by any stretch of the imagination but when away it is lovely to let the kids wake up and watch TV while we have a lie in and after a busy day out with them it's nice to all settle down together to cuddle up to a DVD.
x
------------- If you see 2010 Hobby Prestige 720 UKFE twin axel 30ft caravan it may be mine.... it was stolen.
No we're not telly addicts either but my partner and i are emmerdale addicts and we don't like to miss it!! I didn't realize you could get tv hook up on a a caravan site ( you learn something new everyday). Thanks for the info and I'm sure we will get sorted eventually.
If the pictures on your profile are of your caravan i must say its gorgeous!! and very very big lol
You need this site which tells you which direction to point your aerial in, whether it's analogue or digital, so you know what to tell your TV when you tune it, and which way to tilt you aerial ie horizontal or vertical (They are mostly horizontal).
Type in the post code in 'location' , then click on 'received signal strength' on top of the map.
We almost always manage to get an excellent picture using our directional aerial (one you shove up and move about from inside) on top of our caravan and our freeview digital TV. If the signal is poor then if we are on a Caravan Club site they usually provide a coaxial socket on the EHU bollard. Failing either of those we can use the satellite but don't often take when in England. It's only so that OH can watch Match of the Day anyway !
I was also plagued with bad TV reception through the aerial.I now only use a sat dish and sky box. There are excellent deals on ebay for a tripod and zone 1 sky dishes for around £50.00. There are loads of second hand sky boxes about (you might be able to get one for free from a friend). As long as you have a line of sight for the astra 2 satellite you wont have a problem and they are easy to set up.
There are some interesting posts on this forum if you search.Alternatively you could also use a freesat system and the same tripod and dish.
Take a look at this site for setting up.www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk
Will this problem be a thing of the past once we all are getting digital next year. In the areas which have changed over getting great pictures at the caravan sites without fancy ariels ? Brian T
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Ariel or satallite dish??
