TV Aerial mast

[Catcher]

Due to a change of van, which doesn't have a rail at the top of the windows to locate the bottom bracket of the TV aerial mast, I'm thinking of getting a 3m pole on which to mount the aerial. The usual place to fix such a pole is on the 'A' frame but my wife doesn't fancy this as it will affect the view out of the front. Always keen to keep in her good books my idea is therefore to fix the pole to the awning rail where it runs up the back of the van. To do this I would need some sort of clamp to clamp the pole to the rail, one clamp near the top and one near the bottom. Does anyone know of a clamp that might do the job?

Regards

Catcher

 

[BrianStAlbans]

Having seen the arial on my house flexing when it's windy I don't think I'd want to clamp one to an awning rail which is only fixed on with small screws.

 

[james108_374227417]

I would not fix to the awning rail.

At one time I fixed four guy ropes to the top of my TV pole and anchored them with awning pegs but in strong winds the pegs tended to loosen in the ground.

I have since made a bracket with two pipe clamps fixed to it which clamps onto the A frame, using an old stabiliser bracket, and this is far more secure.

 

[Lutz]

I have a clamp which goes on the corner handles and they are about as sturdy as you can get.

 

[Robert_374242026]

I have seen in the caravan stores a bracket which fits on the side of the van and another part fits on the awning rail. Surely you only need it to protrude just above the roof.

 

[Del_374232870]

I got a sattelite tripod on eBay a few years ago and a 4 peace mast. The advantage with the tripod is that you can move it around the caravan, I have also put 3 long guy ropes on the mast so that I can peg it in and it doesnt move in the wind. If there are no trees about I sometimes just bolt the mast to the jocky wheel. I wont put a bracket on the side of the van as I dont want to temp fate with putting presure on the awning rail.

 

[Catcher]

Many thanks for all the helpful replies. I hadn't thought about the pressure being applied to the awning rail - good point!

It looks like it will be an 'A' frame bracket or satellite dish base.

Regards

Catcher

 

[Ross_374321577]

The guy who services my caravan has suggested an aerial that has suction cups which can be secured to the side of the van giving free line of sight across the top of the van. He suggests using hairspray on the suction cups to ensure it stays attached. I tried it and it works a treat. The aerial is available from Davan.co.uk

 

[Colinn]

Vision Plus sell a mast that fits to the awning rail very securely with a wide clip (one at the top and one at the bottom if required, but i've never felt the need for the bottom one). I've used this successfully for a long time with absolutely no problems to the rail, and it's very quick and easy to fit and remove.

See:

http://www.towsure.com/product/1881-Vision_Plus_A-Frame_Mast

 

[Colinn]

Vision Plus sell a mast that fits to the awning rail very securely with a wide clip (one at the top and one at the bottom if required, but i've never felt the need for the bottom one). I've used this successfully for a long time with absolutely no problems to the rail, and it's very quick and easy to fit and remove.

See:

]http://www.towsure.com/product/1881-Vision_Plus_A-Frame_Mast

http://www.towsure.com/product/1881-Vision_Plus_A-Frame_Mast[/quote
...PS: if an awning rail is strong enough to take the buffeting of a 20+ kilo awning canvas in strong winds, i reason that it's strong enough to take a comparatively light van aerial in such winds, providing the load is spread, as it is with wide clips!!

 

[Fourtrack]

Catcher

I have used a mast and directional aerial for several years and have the poles and 2 uni brackets available from vision plus. these will clamp in a variety of places including the awning channel. I always tap the bottom pole slightly into the ground when i can and use brackets on top and bottom awning channel. They also come with a seperate uni plate which you can stick on side of van but i don't like "additions" on my vans.

I have never had any problems at all and would think that the light weight of the poles and aerial will have far less of an advers affect in wind than any sort of awning. As colinn says it is quick and easy to fit and i can put poles in to reach just above the van roof or in poor reception areas i have had 5 poles on it.

 

[Fourtrack]

Catcher

I have used a mast and directional aerial for several years and have the poles and 2 uni brackets available from vision plus. these will clamp in a variety of places including the awning channel. I always tap the bottom pole slightly into the ground when i can and use brackets on top and bottom awning channel. They also come with a seperate uni plate which you can stick on side of van but i don't like "additions" on my vans.

I have never had any problems at all and would think that the light weight of the poles and aerial will have far less of an advers affect in wind than any sort of awning. As colinn says it is quick and easy to fit and i can put poles in to reach just above the van roof or in poor reception areas i have had 5 poles on it.

catcher - sorry look on http://www.gradeuk.co.uk/products/accessories/masts.asp

 

[Alexander_374295091]

We use a 3 piece mast with a bracket on the A frame, I always hammer in a short spike to the ground and fit the bottom pole over it for extra support. I watched in horror once when the neighbouring vans mast bent just above the A frame bracket and the aerial crashed down onto his brand new Mondeo. I dont feel it spoils the view out the front window.

 

[allen1]

for years we used a 3 meter pole attached to the rear grab handle by a short bungee and tied to a tent peg hammered in the ground

 

[J.Lo]

Take two pieces of microbore copper pipe about an inch long a packet of cable ties thin enough to go through the pipe,thread one through bottom awning rail tother through top tie mast pole with the ties stake end of pole to ground if you need to. Easy simple cheap.

 

[Woody3]

Don't bother. Get yourself a secondhand Sky box and FreeSat card from Sky. Then a 60cm dish and a suitable tripod and you will get everything you need everywhere you go - UK or most of Europe! The dish will be only a few inches above the ground so Management will have nothing to complain about.

Look out for offers at Lidl.

 

[unclefester]

we use a ground spike with a 2m pole works fantastic with no risk of damage to the van, spike