We are due to go to Damage Barton site in late July and have been warned by the site that our caravan's fixed omni aerial will not pick up a signal,so which aerial and mast should we buy? vision seem to be the market leader but the smaller avtex has decent reviews. Any opinions on all options would be appreciated.
I'm not familiar with this site, but it might be worth checking if they provide an aerial feed to the EHU post, if the reception is known to be poor; that way you can just supply a cable to link up.
Alternatively, ToolStation do a cheap'ish TV aerial with brackets, mast etc. This is a standard domestic aerial, but bundled with a mast/hardware etc to mount onto the 'A' frame of your caravan.
Note that there isn't really such thing as a 'digital aerial', although some aerials are packaged as being 'digital ready'.
Grade UK/Status also do a range of touring aerials too, click here. These can be a fair price though for what they are.
There have been reviews and comments of the smaller Avtex device, however these do rely on a fairly decent signal to start off with. Considering the information from the site, I suspect you need a reasonable aerial.
Finally, if you opt for an externally mounted aerial, I would suggest you invest in a decent quality signal strength meter too. Fringe Electronics do an excellent UHF TV Signal Finder, and these really do make setting up the aerial an absolute doddle.
I'll sit back now and await the satellite brigade to appear ...
Just get a "normal" house aerial and an alloy pole fitted to jockey wheel. It will cost very little (a fiver from screwfix) and give much better results than any "caravan aerial". The down side is they easily get bent in transit
buy a high gain household aerial and fix to front jockey wheel turn to point same way as other vans on site clamp secure to ensure any wind does not turn aerial retune telly to pickup nearest mast sit back and enjoy. I use three lenghts of old awning poles as my mast drilled on joints locked with self tappers.
Evidently this is the likely coverage you can expect at Damage Burton.
A moderate length of damp string should get you TV channels at this location so forget Log Periodics and high gain stuff as the people who say you need those are probably trying to sell you one!!
We were there a couple of years ago during the switchover when the digital tv and analogue tv were being transmitted from the same transmitters and so the digital stuff was on low power. That's no longer the case so it should be no probs now even with one of those circular status aerials on older caravans.
Also bear in mind a HIGH gain aerial is unnecessary in most places in the UK and if you do have a HIGH gain aerial and are in a good signal aerial you may well get no pictures on your telly because the damn thing gets too much signal and the TV (blocks) or in layman speak can't handle the large signal it gets!
As above post, an Ariel from Screwfix or tool station will do a good job, probably better than some of the fancy priced ones in the caravan shops.
Tool station do one for caravans complete with pole and bracket to bolt onto your jockey wheel and 10mtr cable to plug directly into your TV.
Whole kit for £24. 98.
I also agree with Davids point above about High gain. LINK
Thanks all for the posts so far, interesting reading, I have a spare 25m aerial cable purchased from the caravan club, if what I buy isn't supplied with cable will the one I've got work.
we bought a tv ariel from argos. extension poles that fit together to extend to whatever height you need and a bracket that fits to A frame at front of caravan.
we have also seen people with brackets that fit in awning rail.
nail 6" nail into ground next to your A frame and below your bracket.
first section of pole fits over 6" nail and nail prevents ariel slipping sideways. gently hammer first section down into soil if you want it more secure.
fit other sections. top one will have ariel fitted on it. turn to locate sat and you are set up.
have some baling string and tent pegs handy for if you are in a windy exposed position.( red baling string and a few tent pegs fold away to nothing ) use red string and pegs to secure ariel to prevent it turning. gent in suffolk showed me this one.
this set up has guaranteed us tv over the years.no matter where we go. never fails.
Quote: Originally posted by Andy Higham on 10/7/2014Log periodics are not high gain, they are wide band making them suitable for use in any location
Andy higham
I never said they were - if you had read what my post actually says you would see it reads, 'forget log periodics AND high gain stuff'
I do know the difference between wide band and high gain but Andy Higham most people on here will not want technicalities but something in plain English and easy to understand.
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 aerials
