Status analogue / digital aerial booster

[Dustydog]

Marvellous! Mine has packed up😥😥
It is 12 years old. Must I replace it like for like or is there a more modern replacement available?

 

[Jcloughie]

Mine has the built in signal strength finder. I think it works very well. It would be an easy replacement.

This is mine.

John

 

[Gralay]

People have changed their aerial boosters without a problem however I think it also depends on if the radio aerial is combined in the TV aerial, our Oklahoma has the radio aerial in the TV aerial (the radio aerials pull out of the sides of TV aerial)
Hope this helps
Gra

 

[Dustydog]

Mine has the built in signal strength finder. I think it works very well. It would be an easy replacement.

This is mine.

John

This will work for me. Mine has two outlets. One for TV, other for radio. 12v input. Original has an on/off switch. Never used it.

 

[Thingy]

The vp4 is the latest amplifier which has a built in signal finder. However i think it was designed for the 570 aerial so i would check compatability.

There is an excellent video on youtube with the Trudgians where he replaces both aerial and amp. It really is a very simple job to do.

 

[Jcloughie]

The vp4 is the latest amplifier which has a built in signal finder. However i think it was designed for the 570 aerial so i would check compatability.

There is an excellent video on youtube with the Trudgians where he replaces both aerial and amp. It really is a very simple job to do.

Good point, but there is a full explanation of which aerials this is suitable for on the Vision Plus web site. They also have one with 3 outputs plus a radio.

But there is a cheaper link here to save a few Bob.



John

 

[Thingy]

Thats the one

Designed to be used with Vision Plus STATUS antennas (with orange logos that don’t have pullout telescopics)

 

[Beachball]

Mine has the built in signal strength finder. I think it works very well. It would be an easy replacement.

This is mine.

John

Snap we also got signal strength finder in our caravan and it works great

 

[Thingy]

DD, this is the video that shows you what it entails. Really is a simple job.

Vision Plus Status 570 caravan antenna upgrade - YouTube

 

[Hutch]

Dusty Dog, when at Waterrow, you spen a lot of time sorting out the Sat TV. And it still didn't work, give up and get to the pub first,
Oh sorry your not getting to the Woosie fest, Thinghy Parksy and myself will let you know what the pubs like.

 

[Thingy]

Thingy already knows. Been many times. 😛

 

[Dustydog]

The following from Vision plus is excellent customer service. My original is obsolete. I have opted for the VP5 direct from Vision plus as it covers TV and Radio plus has a signal strength finder.


Hi Alan,

Thanks for getting in touch and supplying the image. We do not make that exact model of amplifier anymore, but you will be able to replace it with any of the current VP range of amplifiers listed below. There are four different ones to choose from, all give the same amount of gain (amplification) but some have a dedicated radio output and some have a built in signal strength LED (useful if you have a directional antenna).

https://visionplus.co.uk/product/digital-tv-amplifier-vp2 The VP2 has 2 x TV outputs and no radio output or signal finder
https://visionplus.co.uk/product/digital-tv-radio-amplifier-vp3 The VP3 has 3 x TV outputs and 1 x radio output, but no signal finder
https://visionplus.co.uk/product/digital-tv-amplifier-with-signal-finder-vp4 The VP4 has 2 x TV outputs, a signal finder but no radio output
https://visionplus.co.uk/product/digital-tv-amplifier-with-signal-finder-vp5 The VP5 has 3 x TV outputs, 1 x radio output and a signal finder

Kind Regards,

Mark Eatherington

VISION PLUS
8 Finch Close
Lenton Lane
Nottingham
NG7 2NN
0115 986 7151
www.visionplus.co.uk

 

[Thingy]

I have always had good CS from them too. Looking at the VP5 with the radio outlet, the Unicorn we have ordered is fitted with DAB radio, so I am assuming that we will get the VP5 and that the radio outlet therefore is DAB compatable.

 

[Woodentop]

I think everyone should read this - too many people don't seem to know.

The earlier Status aerials had the amplifier in the aerial head unit. The box inside the caravan was simply a filter/connection unit to provide power to the head amplifier. In this type of unit the printing on the aerial head was a purple/blue colour.

Later and current units have orange/red writing and the amp is in the box inside the caravan.
Thus the early version of the internal box - which looks very much like that in DustyDog's picture - cannot be replaced with a current VP series unit, but the later unit can. Having said that DD's box has orange writing on it so it should be checked (or confirmed with Vision) which type it is.

Despite all that the early ones were very reliable so it may be worth doing a few checks the simplest of which is to put a voltmeter across the aerial socket on the box and checking for voltage - red (positive) to the centre and black (negative) to the outer - this assumes of course the red LED on the box is lit. If it is not lit then pull out the power plug and check that - again positive in the middle. (It may be necessary to use an unfolded paper clip to get a contact in the centre 'tube' terminal.) If there is no voltage on the aerial connection it should be quite easy for anyone with simple electronics knowledge to repair it. Note also that the aerial on the earlier type does not provide DAB signals, only TV and radio.

Finally a tip for users of the VP series. The radio connection carries exactly the signal as the TV outlets BUT it is not amplified. Ergo if your radio signal is weak move the radio connection to one of the TV outlets.

 

[Dustydog]

I think everyone should read this - too many people don't seem to know.

The earlier Status aerials had the amplifier in the aerial head unit. The box inside the caravan was simply a filter/connection unit to provide power to the head amplifier. In this type of unit the printing on the aerial head was a purple/blue colour.

Later and current units have orange/red writing and the amp is in the box inside the caravan.
Thus the early version of the internal box - which looks very much like that in DustyDog's picture - cannot be replaced with a current VP series unit, but the later unit can. Having said that DD's box has orange writing on it so it should be checked (or confirmed with Vision) which type it is.

Despite all that the early ones were very reliable so it may be worth doing a few checks the simplest of which is to put a voltmeter across the aerial socket on the box and checking for voltage - red (positive) to the centre and black (negative) to the outer - this assumes of course the red LED on the box is lit. If it is not lit then pull out the power plug and check that - again positive in the middle. (It may be necessary to use an unfolded paper clip to get a contact in the centre 'tube' terminal.) If there is no voltage on the aerial connection it should be quite easy for anyone with simple electronics knowledge to repair it. Note also that the aerial on the earlier type does not provide DAB signals, only TV and radio.

Finally a tip for users of the VP series. The radio connection carries exactly the signal as the TV outlets BUT it is not amplified. Ergo if your radio signal is weak move the radio connection to one of the TV outlets.

Thanks Woodentop,
Mine is defo the later red version not the purple blue. The adjustable Status aerial has the extendable antenna which are for the radio. I’ve ordered a new one. There is power going in. The red light is dead and no signal. I’m happy the old unit is dead but thank you for your thoughts which will be very helpful for others.

 

[RogerL]

From memory, the Status aerial with FM extendable rods always had a cheaper version available without the rods - both types were fitted to caravans from various manufacturers , with some manufacturers using the cheaper version with a separate FM aerial mounted on the side wall for radio reception.

 

[Buckman]

From memory, the Status aerial with FM extendable rods always had a cheaper version available without the rods - both types were fitted to caravans from various manufacturers , with some manufacturers using the cheaper version with a separate FM aerial mounted on the side wall for radio reception.

We have never used either for radio reception. We had the separate aerial, but it worked okay without it being extended. Can't reach the extending aerials on the status, but then never found the need.

 

[Dustydog]

Dusty Dog, when at Waterrow, you spen a lot of time sorting out the Sat TV. And it still didn't work, give up and get to the pub first,
Oh sorry your not getting to the Woosie fest, Thinghy Parksy and myself will let you know what the pubs like.

Hutch. Missed that one. Yes my Sproket machine let me down! My fault, wrong setting on an old satellite🤬🤬. Works now. Have a few beers for me boys and girls. Great shame we miss this year.

 

[JTQ]

When our latest directional units amplifier went wrong, I replaced it with a Fringe unit
[Ours was the second failure, on an earlier van the purple head unit itself failed.]

fringe two way