Aerial

[borderdragon]

Hi Guys
I am new to the site and was wondering about aerial's
Thinking of fitting one to our van and would like some
advice on the best ones to fit the one that go on the roof
and not on a mast
any advice would be grateful

 

[Damian]

The better type are the Status 5 series which are mounted through the roof and are able to be turned to get the best signal.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

If you have an older van where the side window top hinge slides in a channel then THIS short pole fits between that channel and the awning rail and you can mount a smallish domestic aerial on the pole. It is of course directional and means you don't have to cut a hole in the roof. We used this pole on a couple of older vans and found it excellent.

 

[swpostie]

Bear in mind, though, that the ones that go on poles are a lot cheaper and a lot better!

 

[borderdragon]

Hi

so what you are saying that the ones on the roof are not as effective
as the ones fitted to the sides of the van

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

If the one fitted to the roof is directional then it should be OK, IF it is already fitted. If the one already on the roof is omnidirectional then it is CHEAPER to have a separate aerial than go to the expense of buying and fitting a new one on the roof; and it eliminates additional potential water leakage points.

 

[Damian]

Hi

so what you are saying that the ones on the roof are not as effective
as the ones fitted to the sides of the van

It depends what kind is fitted to the roof.
If it is the older "flying saucer" type with a centre spike, or the fixed metal "basket" type, then they are omnidirectional and rely on catching the signal on one part of the aerial, but you need to be in a very strong signal area for them to be effective.
If you have the type that you turn to the strongest signal direction, then they are directional and pick up a good signal in most places.
However, there will be some places that reception is abysmal regardless of type of aerial and those sites (CC & C&CC sites) tend to have a plug in aerial socket on the power bollard.

 

[swpostie]

This is what I use:

http://www.aerialsandtv.com/onlineaerials.html#CaravanAerialKit
I've always had a perfect picture with this compared to no picture at all (ever) with my roof mounted omni-directional!