Status aerial specification?

[phorbiuz_5071560]

Our 2006 Bailey Pageant Discovery came with a fitted Status aerial. One of the round ones that look a little mushroom shaped on top of the roof. As yet we haven't used it but as its coming into the winter weather we'll put a TV in.

Anyway, does anyone know if these receive digital channels? With the upcoming changeover to digital only I was wondering whether we need to buy a set with a digital tuner in it or whether the Status aerial will do the job.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rob_jax]

Hi,

The round "mushroom" status aerial is designed to receive terrestrial TV (and FM radio but NOT AM) broadcast channels in a strong signal area.

Digital (Freeview) TV is broadcast on the same frequency slot as analogue TV, so within it's limitations the mushroom status aerial will receive digital and analogue signals.

If you want to decode Freeview transmissions, then you will need either a digital set-top box and "analogue" TV, or a DVB TV with integrated digital tuner.

Status aerial limitations - the "mushroom" model you have is designed for strong signal regions, it is omni-directional - grabbing signals from all around - so can only be used where there is little or no interference from other transmitters. It may work for you or it may not - try it first.

Much better is the directional status aerial which needs to be rotated to point to the transmission tower - these are much better at ignoring interference and grabbing the signal.

Robert

 

[Chris_374224489]

Not too mince words I suspect you will find your mushroom aerial totally useless much of the time.

The problem is that Freeview is being transmitted at low strength until the analogue signals are turned off in a few years time. With analogue if the signal is poor you will still get a grainy picture but with digital you will not get a picture at all or one that keeps locking up.

The mushroom aerials were always in my opinion a waste of time. They were expensive & nasty & I never understood why anybody fitted them. Most places we stayed they simply did not work. I am afraid that my opinion of the latest directional aerials is that whilst they are better they are still not good. Look at the aerials around where you are staying that are fixed to houses. This is simplistic but if they need a aerial 4ft long and mounted high for clear reception why do you suppose you can get away with one much shorter & mounted much lower down? I know that caravans have an aerial amplifier then in poor reception areas - which seems to include much of where we stay - so do houses.

You might be lucky & I hope you are - but I doubt it.

ChrisE

 

[John_5127317]

We bought a new laptop this year, and a usb digital tv receiver. We thought that was us sorted for caravanning, tv and dvd player in a nice slim size. However, our "mushroom" aerial most times does not get us a signal, although sometimes we are able to pick up a few. The portable analogue tv came with us on our last trip.

 

[RonD]

Hi,

The round "mushroom" status aerial is designed to receive terrestrial TV (and FM radio but NOT AM) broadcast channels in a strong signal area.

Digital (Freeview) TV is broadcast on the same frequency slot as analogue TV, so within it's limitations the mushroom status aerial will receive digital and analogue signals.

If you want to decode Freeview transmissions, then you will need either a digital set-top box and "analogue" TV, or a DVB TV with integrated digital tuner.

Status aerial limitations - the "mushroom" model you have is designed for strong signal regions, it is omni-directional - grabbing signals from all around - so can only be used where there is little or no interference from other transmitters. It may work for you or it may not - try it first.

Much better is the directional status aerial which needs to be rotated to point to the transmission tower - these are much better at ignoring interference and grabbing the signal.

Robert

Hello Robert,

Your comments are exactly right..however you didn't add that at this stage in the progress of digital tv, not all sites are broadcasting digital. Most "off air" satellite sites for example do NOT radiate a digital signal along with analogue.

Ron (ex broadcast engineer)