Satelite dish on caravan roof.

[BigAl1]

Hello everyone.

I have eventually got fed up with trying to get a decent picture from my Status ariel and have joined the digital brigade.

I have purchased a Multimo dish and intend it to sit on the caravan roof when on site.

Can anyone advise on a method of keeping it still whilst on the roof so that it does not blow in the wind.

My first idea was to attatch magnets to its base and then remembered that magnets don't stick to aluminium.

Suggestions will be greatly received.

Thank you........

 

[cris_408518]

Use a U clamp and fix to these

http://www.tooled-up.com/MicroCategory.asp?MAN=Suction-Grippers&CID=14&SCID=630&MCID=2883

 

[BigAl1]

Use a U clamp and fix to these

]http://www.tooled-up.com/MicroCategory.asp?MAN=Suction-Grippers&CID=14&SCID=630&MCID=2883

http://www.tooled-up.com/MicroCategory.asp?MAN=Suction-Grippers&CID=14&SCID=630&MCID=2883[/quote
Thanks Cris

I will check out the web site

 

[Hamer_5041128]

Hi Big Al,

If your cravan is under warranty for water leaks and delamination check with the manufacturer to see if puting screws or holes in the roof will invalidate the warranty.

Most manufacturers will only allow their dealers to put screw holes in roof or side panels without invalidating the warranty.

Just a thought.

Hamer

 

[WatsonJohnG]

My friend has a metal plate stuck on to the van roof with mastic.

He has metal tube welded to the centre of the plate and plate with a circular clamp fixed to the bottom of the Multimo.

He puts this on the van roof via the Heki roof light.

The clamp plate is the circular top of the tripod sold by Leisure Power

www.Leisurepower.co.uk

He has considered using a magnetic from a large inspection lamp and that would go onto the metal plate on the roof minus the center pole.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

My friend has a metal plate stuck on to the van roof with mastic.

He has metal tube welded to the centre of the plate and plate with a circular clamp fixed to the bottom of the Multimo.

He puts this on the van roof via the Heki roof light.

The clamp plate is the circular top of the tripod sold by Leisure Power

www.Leisurepower.co.uk

He has considered using a magnetic from a large inspection lamp and that would go onto the metal plate on the roof minus the center pole.

http://www.leisurepower.co.uk/acatalog/Winegard_Tri_Pod.html

 

[cris_408518]

ps.

The suction clamps are tried and tested. A friend drove from Spa to Paul Ricard in a hired RV and had forgoten the largish dish was still on the roof it had twist itself but the three clamps still held it in place.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

ps.

The suction clamps are tried and tested. A friend drove from Spa to Paul Ricard in a hired RV and had forgoten the largish dish was still on the roof it had twist itself but the three clamps still held it in place.

If they can carry large sheets of glass with suction clamps they should do the job fine

 

[Ken_5040834]

Big Al

we have a Multimo and are very pleased with it - excellent picture north of Inverness and Southern France.

We did look to sit ours on the roof, but plumped for a satellite stand - advantages are that you can move the stand if there are trees, whereas if its on the roof, you are more limited. Also, less damage to your 'van if you have high winds which could dislodge or scratch your roof.

Just my 4penn'erth - good luck!

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Glad that you are happy with your Multimo and also happy that our friends are happy with their's as they got it because I'd got one !!

I stopped using Multimo when the 3rd LNB failed and as they are not the normal readily avaliable type I reverted to a dish with a fixed/folding arm.

That type of dish can also be fitted with a twin/quad LNB for use with Sky+

In the fixed bed (Oklahoma style) Sky+ is a big advantage as the reclined position on the long seats is so comfortable that without recording we would never see the end of many programs due to sleep taking over !!

 

[BigAl1]

Thanks John G

I am getting worried about the Multimo now......Has anyone else had theirs fail?

Big Al

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I wouldn't worry about it if its Ok

When I asked about the LNB failing I was told by my supplier that they had never had one fail.

Strange as they had already replaced 2 of mine under warranty

 

[JeremyClarksson]

I did mount our dish to the roof using the suction cups and it was very secure, what worried me is that the roof skin seems to flex quite freely and made me worry about potential damage.

I use a clamp to fix it to a spare windbreak pole, this works very well and is a bit easier to set up.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Garry I looked at several permanent roof mounted dishes at the N E C show last Feb and opted for the Maxview Semitronic because the load was taken by a pole that was fastened to an internal wall.

I too thought that the roof was rather flimsy.

Some of the roof mounted ones have a thicker plate about 1 ft square stuck onto the roof with mastic/glue

This method could be used to mount a clamp/magnetic fixing

With a steel plate it would be necessary to ensure total coverage with the mastic to avoid reaction between the steel and aluminium so thicker alloy and a clamp could be the best bet.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

Having tried both I think I will stick with my dish clamped to the windbreak pole -

Advantages

Very stable, particularly in the lee of the van awning. I usually stick mine at the rear of the van on long breaks where it also gets shelter from the awning annex.

I have never lost or had a signal degrade through movement of the dish.

Cheap solution - obviously

Very easy to set up - no balancing between the front seats playing tank commander.

No alterations required to the van

Damage from the aerial coming loose (unlikely in both cases as I said erarlier) is likely to be less. Imagine a loose dish on the roof in a force 8+.

If the van has no signal you can move the dish away from the van

Disadvantages

Potential of theft of the dish is higher, although I have not heard of a theft yet.

If people pass within a couple of feet of the dish the signal can be affected

I would put potential to get knocked off signal as a disadvantage but that is probably offset by a roof mount getting blown about (even a solid one).

All horses for courses though and I can imagine that there will be a situation where roof mounting is the best option for me e.g. winter rallies on school car parks.

I should add that we only bother with the satellite on long breaks or when we can not get a freeview signal and sometimes we do not even bother with TV.