Anyone fitted a Status directional TV aerial, the sort that is fitted by drilling the roof and can be swivelled through 360 degress from inside the caravan? I'm tired of fiddling about with masts attached to the jockey wheel when it's chucking it down with rain!
I agree that getting wet is not great when out in the van but these things are not cheap. Last time I looked to upgrade ours it was about £140. I have not done it so I can not comment on the picture. I am sure others will be along to say how good / bad they are.
If you have a new van under warranty it may need to be a dealer fit to keep the water ingress warranty intact.
------------- "You can not change the wind, but you can adjust your sails"
I have a Status 530, not fitted by myself, but a brilliant aerial. For years I had the old flying saucer shaped ones on vans and to be honest I never got a decent picture. I eventually bought the VP 530 on a pole which did improve things a little. Anyway, the 530 is the best aerial I have ever had, most times I dont even have to put it up or even align it, and I use it for freeview too.
However, before you spend that sort of money have you considered getting a "Maplins" Satellite TV dish and decoder kit.
They are usually available for about £70 and with it, you can get all the free to air channels (except Channel 4 and 5, but these should be OK next year)
We also have a maplins satellite-in-a-suitcase and it's brilliant. We are into our motorcycle racing and carry an old analogue sat reciever in the caravan so that on motogp weekends, we can turn our maplins minidish to astra 1, and watch eurosport international in english for free!
That said, I like to keep my options open as there have been several occasions where the only free pitches have had no clear view of the south East sky so TV has had to rely on a jockewheel mounted aerial - hence the enquiry about the Status Directional.
Quote: Originally posted by dowdesap on 27/10/2007
Ulti-Mates,
We also have a maplins satellite-in-a-suitcase and it's brilliant. We are into our motorcycle racing and carry an old analogue sat reciever in the caravan so that on motogp weekends, we can turn our maplins minidish to astra 1, and watch eurosport international in english for free!
That said, I like to keep my options open as there have been several occasions where the only free pitches have had no clear view of the south East sky so TV has had to rely on a jockewheel mounted aerial - hence the enquiry about the Status Directional.
How about an extending tripod for the dish? Maplins do one for disco lights which will extend to the height of my upstairs windows.
Look at item numbers QK42V and PD78K on their website. I have the PD78K but only because I used to use it for disco lights. It is also aluminium with powder coating and therefore lighter than the steel version.
Disco tripods are a lot cheaper than satellite tripods and generally can be set higher and are heavier built. Disco lights can be very heavy.
Yes I can see that the Maplins disco light tower could do the job, but IMHO it would look a bit naff. I will choose a pitch with a southerly aspect to get the sun, and satellite.
We have the Maxview Semitronic dish on the van roof and the Status 530 aerial as fitted to the van
The reception on the TV via the Status is as good as the Sky dish most of the time but doesn't have the same range of channels
HRH can retire to bed to watch her football via the dish while I can watch the other TV via the aerial (sometimes through headphones if she wishes to sleep !!
We have a status 530 and use it with analogue and digital tv - never had any problems. Really easy to set up and all from the comfort of the inside of the van.
Jean
------------- Jean
Sometimes a little rain must fall before you reach a rainbow.
The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you finish the work.
We have just fitted one of these, my husband fitted it himself and he has done a good job. It's not leaked yet anyway!!.
As for the picture, Certainly better on terrestrial but we have never managed to get a digital signal yet. Having said that we where in Lakes and Buxton so in hills.
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Topic: Status Directional TV Aerial
