Tested on site in the south of the new forest, with below average signal.
Status type fixed antenna, very poor signal, only picked up three terestrial channels(I didn't know they had any left in the UK?).
Status type directional raised mast antenna, picked up most/all channels, good quality pictures apparantly.
Household digital aeriel mounted on 9 foot pole, 100% signal all channels. No real concievable difference between this and the mast antenna in good weather conditions.
Also note single A Frame bracket no good when on hard standing as the spike on the bottom of the pole had no ground to be pushed into.
Tested with jockey wheel clamps, very good, suprisingly rigid using two of these, or compo A Frame clamp and one jocky wheel clamp.
When I first fitted my status omni direction arial I was very disappointed. Tried 2 freeview boxes & could never pick up all the channels, & the ones that did were constantly freezing. I now have an alba LCD TV with built in freeview & the signal is perfect, picks up all channels & never freezes in an average signal area. So alot is down to the quality of the receiver. No hassle setting up. If I'm staying for more than a weekend I'll use the satellite.
You could have a good point there, hadn't considered whether the freesat unit could have an effect on the whole set up. Like for like though, I've used the same freesat box on both systems, with the results described above.
This last test included a buddies van, he has a telly with a freesat, I beleive made by Bush, he tested this on his Status first with the results above, then after disapointment then dragged out his aeriel on a pole and recieved the same results as myself. All channels, all good reception.
I think for some bizzare reason the Status aeriels of the same design also vary in capability sometimes, not sure why this is. But we've set up on many sites together, and he has had a poorer service than I have on the Status on my old van, and mine has never been amazing unless there is a full on signal in the area.
Quote: Originally posted by johnks on 15/2/2011
Never had a problem with our Status 530. If there is a picture then it will get it. If not we play cards!!!
Ditto ! Even though it is actually a Teleplus directional aerial (with factory fitted booster). Almost always have a fine picture whether it be analogue or digital ! We also have a 15m coaxial aerial lead for use on Caravan Club bollards. All much easier than dragging around huge poles and having to stick house aerials on top ! But each to his own.....
The main thing to watch out for when setting up a "house" aerial is the vertical or horizontal alignment of the main elements of the aerial. They should be horizontal to receive from a transmitting station and vertical from a booster station.
The best way to work this out if you don't have information to hand is to look at permanent houses nearby. Don't rely on looking at other caravans on site, they could be wrong!
TV antennas that you have on your house are what's called YAGI antenna's. they are shaped the way they are to enhance the forward gain, what that means is, the bit with the elements on, increases the received signal, and the large bit at the back is to null any signals from behind the antenna, so your average antenna with 10 elements with a folded di pole feed system, will probably give you a forward gain of around 10-12dbd, and in the region of 25db rejection front to back. Now if you compare the omni directional antenna, it receives signals from all around.
This is based on how antennas work (antenna Theory, the numbers wont be 100% correct as each type of yagi antenna is different) and numbers are kept simple for you to understand, and no line losses have been included.
OK, omni directional antenna receives a tv signal from transmission at say 10% strength the yagi antenna placed in the same location pointing at the same transmitter will receive the signal 10x stronger (based on the antenna having 10dbd), I wont go deeper into the theory of the antennas ect, but that's basically how your humble TV antenna on the roof works.
Image added:
Post last edited on 03/03/2011 21:15:58
------------- If it wont move, try a bigger hammer.
I think I've got that Mokas, effectively, directional antena's of a house type variety if pointed in the right direction can recieve a signal 10 times stronger than an Omnidirectional antenna like the disc type ones found on top of vans.
It occured to me that the disk areals are also sat right on top of a metal box (the caravan) where as on a mast, there is a little distance, so this might also go some way to explaining the difference aswell.
Do you think that this might have a bearing on it?
On some frequencies yes, but as for TV signals (due to higher frequencies) the answer would be no, only way to get any sort of distortion using an TV antenna would be probably having the antenna really close to the van but as its only a receiving antenna the answer could be no unless the antenna is sat on the van, then i doubt you would be able to tell the difference.
------------- If it wont move, try a bigger hammer.
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: Digital house ariel vs Status ariel.
