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Hope you can give me some advice please. We have a tv with freeview  and a cable to plug into sites with the tv plug in thingys. What should we use when site hasnt got that facility. Just come back from Haltwhistle and couldnt get any reception at all on tv. We noticed some other caravaners had satelite dishes, is that what we need or would a good caravan aeriel do. Our van has one of those round status things on top that dont turn!

On our first 4 or 5 trips in the van, we only ever got a TV signal once with the omni-directional Status aerial - and that was analogue - we never got a digital signal (yes, we did forget the amplifier the first time out). Campsites tend to be in fairly remote areas where the TV signal is weaker anyway, so it's amazing they work at all.

We bought a satellite kit for £80 (Aldi and B&Q regularily have these on sale for much less nowadays) and it works superbly, so would recommend that.

due to the way i use my caravan a tv is a must for me so i have 3 options so im never without tv to sit and relax watching after a hard days work.

i have 2 tvs both on 12v wired to an independant 12v battery securly fitted under double bed at rear of van,this battery has its own battery chargery that auto matically turns on and charges battery when 240v power is available.I also have a 12v recordable freesat box that i have at home and record as many programs/films etc that i can,this box is then taken with us when were away at weekends.as its a hd box i have a hd splitter 1 short lead for tv at rear 1 long lead feeding the tv to the main sitting area of caravan.

the hd freesat box allows us to watch tv with out setting up sky dish

i then have the option of setting up sky dish to watch live tv

the downfall of both of the above means we have to have same channel on both tvs but to be fair i think 2 tvs with diff programs on may become annoying.

3rd option is i have a 240v booster/signal amplifier fitted under a seat where 2 tv coaxial leads feed both tv's for built in freeveiw i do have a 12v booster but not got around to fitting it yet.

dont forget if you use freeveiw you need a tv arial and possibly a signal amplifier and you will need to retune every time you move to somewhere new.

if your using a satalite system you simply set it up once add your postcode and away you go.

I prefer freesat as i can watch my local channels (news etc) where ever i am once youve set it a few times you get used to positions etc and do it with no problems.

all 3 options have there good points and as previously mentioned I would be lost without my tv.

funny thing is I rarly watch tv at home