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Topic: TV help for new caravanner please

Rivervole

22/4/2013 at 2:14pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Swift fairway 490

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Hi there
I have recently bought a caravan and although not yet taken out I definitely want to have a TV in it for hopefully the first trip. I have tried to understand what it is I need but I'm still confused

I was reading the post below which looked good until someone came along and confused me (sorry). I would love to know (in idiot language) what I will need to purchase to be able to watch basic tv with a decent picture. My husband would have less knowledge than me so I really need to understand it as he also dislikes caravans so no telly as well would probably put him off for good!

Many Many thanks and sorry to sound so thick!

Rivervole x

clever

22/4/2013 at 2:50pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Adria Altea 542DT

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I assume your caravan has an aerial on the roof ?

If so all you will need is a TV that has a Freeview tuner built in. (I think they virtually all do now)

Plug the TV into the aerial socket in the van and simply tune it in. Remember to tune it when you get to site as each site will have a different transmitter.

magnolia

22/4/2013 at 6:50pm
Location: North Yorkshire
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I am assuming you are going to be on electric.

We have a 19 inch freeview/DVD combo bought from Tesco for £68. I had a voucher for £10 off a £50 spend.

Using a 5 quid from wilkinsons aerial this weekend we had 90 channels all with good pictures.

We just popped the aerial out of the sunroof and pointed it in the direction everyone else had theirs.

Worked a charm.

Tesco TV

Bought ours just after Christmas in the sale. The sound isn't perfect but you would have to be a real purist to find it unwatchable.

John4703

22/4/2013 at 9:15pm
Location: Glasgow
Outfit: Elddis Avante 454

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I was away over the weekend and could only get a few channels on my TV. It has worked perfectly on other sites. I wondered if there is any sort of meter that tells me the signal strength from my aerial so I can move the aerial to the best possible position and then tune the TV and hopefully get a decent selection of stations. We only had 8 on the last site.
The aerial is the type that can rotate and also change from horizontal to vertical.

-------------
We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.

Stressed Al

22/4/2013 at 9:46pm
Location: Co. Antrim
Outfit: Bailey Pegasus Milan & Terracan

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Quote: Originally posted by John4703 on 22/4/2013
I was away over the weekend and could only get a few channels on my TV. It has worked perfectly on other sites. I wondered if there is any sort of meter that tells me the signal strength from my aerial so I can move the aerial to the best possible position and then tune the TV and hopefully get a decent selection of stations. We only had 8 on the last site.
The aerial is the type that can rotate and also change from horizontal to vertical.

I use one of these and it is really easy to tune to the strongest signal.

Signal Meter

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Al

G7ACU

22/4/2013 at 9:49pm
Location: West Mids
Outfit: Swift Ace Statesman & X-Trail 2.0

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Quote: Originally posted by John4703 on 22/4/2013
... I wondered if there is any sort of meter that tells me the signal strength from my aerial so I can move the aerial to the best possible position ...

Fringe Electronics do what I consider to be the best 'budget' option for TV signal strength meters - click here and scroll to the 2nd meter, UHF TV Signal Finder.
I've used one for some time and highly recommend. There are cheaper alternatives, but I've tried the others and they're far too sensitive to other unwanted 'spurious' signals, so difficult to use.

-------------
Paul

Every day's a school day!

Rivervole

23/4/2013 at 7:15am
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Outfit: Swift fairway 490

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Many Many thanks Clever and Magnolia for your replies. I will have a look today to see if it has an aerial on the roof. That actually all sounds quite straightforward.

Post last edited on 23/04/2013 11:28:18

John4703

23/4/2013 at 9:42am
Location: Glasgow
Outfit: Elddis Avante 454

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Thanks Paul & Al. I've ordered a signal meter

-------------
We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.

clever

23/4/2013 at 5:11pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Adria Altea 542DT

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The Fringe Electronics one that Paul mentions above is currently on offer via Ebay for £19.95 inc P&P

Just ordered one for myself. (at last)

G7ACU

23/4/2013 at 5:38pm
Location: West Mids
Outfit: Swift Ace Statesman & X-Trail 2.0

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Quote: Originally posted by clever on 23/4/2013
The Fringe Electronics one that Paul mentions above is currently on offer via Ebay for £19.95 inc P&P
Just ordered one for myself. (at last)

That's a good price for the Fringe.

Not wishing to rain on Stressed Al's response, I've tried the other meter that seems common to be sold under a variety of different 'badges' and found it not to be that good. Maybe I had a dudd, but I found it picked up spurious noise which interfered with giving an accurate strength reading.

As the Fringe device has 12 LED's to show strength (as opposed to just five on the competition), the Fringe meter gives a more accurate idea of the optimum aerial position before signal drops off again.

Although shown with an Aerial and TV socket to connect in series, you can simply use this easily with just a flylead from your TV socket to the Aerial connection while positioning the aerial; whole process takes a matter of seconds to set up now.

-------------
Paul

Every day's a school day!

clever

23/4/2013 at 6:42pm
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Hopefully I will get our new 'Fringe Electronics' version this week so I can give it a test when (if) we go away this weekend.

I will report back my findings.

Stressed Al

23/4/2013 at 7:58pm
Location: Co. Antrim
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Paul,

You are correct that the meter I have is not the most sophisticated of devices but I can't complain about its performance. It takes the 'stress' out of tuning in, no fiddling about with the aerial and the trial and error getting perfect alignment!

-------------
Al

cazza20

23/4/2013 at 9:10pm
Location: Atherton Manchester
Outfit: outwell Elddis Firestorm caravan

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I am going to get one of those

we have an aerial on the roof and booster which we have given up on. We now have an ordinary outside aerial which may not look the nicest on the site but at least we get channels

, well we do unless we are on the end pitch at kneps farm then nothing

cazza20

23/4/2013 at 9:11pm
Location: Atherton Manchester
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I am going to get one of those

we have an aerial on the roof and booster which we have given up on. We now have an ordinary outside aerial which may not look the nicest on the site but at least we get channels

, well we do unless we are on the end pitch at kneps farm then nothing

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