I changed the supplied Status S315 to the directional S530; choosing the longer tube version.
It was easy to do but things that could have been be awkward, this time worked to my advantage. The original hole was where it needed to be and the roof was reinforced there.
With the longer tube version your positioning is to an extent restricted. This is to ensure that it's lower tube "support bracket" has a suitable vertical surface, like the wardrobe side to fix to.
This is not the case with the shorter tube version. The shorter version needs a more rigid roof, in the locality of the aerial, as its only support is from the roof structure. I am not implying any great stiffness requirement but sufficient to give some rigidity and avoid it vibrating in the air stream with consequent failure of the sealant as this ages.
In both cases the roof has to resist the compressive pinch of the screwed fitting, but you can insert pieces of wood though the large hole to achieve this if needed.
My greatest problem was having enough courage to drill a large hole in the roof of what was a brand new van.
I was fortunate that the new location was almost where the original unit was fitted, about an inch centre difference. The old unit is simply to remove, leaving the centre hole, about 12mm, and the four self-tapping fixing screw holes. I used the Status plastic plate sold for blanking off when an aerial is removed. I was able to fit this where the aerial was and bore my new hole through that; I moved the plate half an inch from the original centre and bored though the other halt inch off its centre. I marked the location I needed using a supplied paper template or one I made-up to the given dimensions, INSIDE the van, drilling a 3mm pilot hole. I purchased the correct size tubular cutter from B&Q and after a strong black coffee bore from the top of the roof. I was very fortunate I had a clean hole through a wood insert that I assume was there to reinforce for the wardrobe wall securing. As said earlier if the roof is not strong enough to take the clamping, the hole you have is big enough to be able to insert wood staves and reinforce it like building a barrel from inside.
Then its lots of good quality non setting sealant and screw it all together, ensuring the fixing screws of the plate and aerial centre bossing are out of phase.
The other bits and pieces need not special fitting description.
I have to say it's very worthwhile, no comparison performance wise with the dreadful thing it replaced.
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