Hi all. So last year saw us foray into the world of camping and we’ve just bought our first (second hand ) caravan which we are very excited about.
Question if I may - we have bought an Elddis affinity 540 and we’ve set it up on the drive (no storage anywhere!). Tbh it’s nice to see 4 different walls for a change. Anyway, I digress, we’ve set a tv up but it’s a little pixelated - now I’m not planning to spend all our time watching tv but the option would be nice. How do I get a better free view signal?
I’ve looked at options online but I’d much prefer advice from this experienced in this.
Thanks in advance
Clair
I should have asked whether they are using a digibox. Think we need to know more about how it is connected to the aerial and type of TV. Being a digital signal a caravan aerial should not be hit or miss unlike analogue. However have they got the aerial pointing towards the transmitter?
I've used the aerial cable that came with the caravan (it has a built in aerial). I can get freeview channels but some are pixelated although the old analogue channels seem ok?
CLair
Quote: Originally posted by clair8998 on 25/2/2021
Hi
I've used the aerial cable that came with the caravan (it has a built in aerial). I can get freeview channels but some are pixelated although the old analogue channels seem ok?
CLair
We no longer have analogue channels? Is the aerial pointing in the correct direction towards the transmitter?
Quote: Originally posted by clair8998 on 25/2/2021
Hi
I've used the aerial cable that came with the caravan (it has a built in aerial). I can get freeview channels but some are pixelated although the old analogue channels seem ok?
CLair
You just need to tweak the aerial a bit to clear the problem.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Personally I would not entertain terrestrial TV for camping, mostly as we only go camping in France, so we use satellite for U.K. TV.
Even in the U.K. I would choose satellite over terrestrial, as with satellite you are almost guaranteed a signal wherever you are, with terrestrial you will often have to retune to the local transmitter, that’s if you can get a decent signal in the first place.
For U.K. use you can use a small antenna, like the Selfsat being a Prime Focus antenna, all you need is a angle finder to set it to the correct elevation for your location, a slow pan of the antenna will soon have you locked onto the satellite.
The “Sab Titan Micro” is a great little satellite receiver for camping, being about the size of a fag packet.
If the van has a built in aerial,there should be an amplifier in a cupboard somewhere. This has to be switched on.
If the aerial is directional you need to move it to get the best signal.
If its the omnimax type,(which looks like a flying saucer) there is not much you can do.
Your signal may be blocked by houses which could cause you to lose some channels.
You can get a phone app which tells you where the transmitters are from your location.
Some sites have a central aerial,with connections on the electrical post to connect your TV. You need a long coaxial cable for these.
We have a small satellite dish we used to use pre digital but in uk we rarely have a problem.
Can't be bothered taking it to France, we manage without as news etc is available online via phone or WiFi.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
We just use the built in aerial on the roof of the caravan and find it works well on most sites. If you have trees or buildings near your drive They may be blocking the signal, also avoid parking next to trees when on site if you can. We find the lower channel numbers 1-5 etc seem to be stronger signal than the higher ones, so get less pixilation. Also some sites have Built in co-ax sockets on the hook up bollard so we have a 25 metre co-ax lead to use if necessary, we just feed it through the caravan window and connect it directly to the aerial socket on the TV if we do use this facility.
Hope this helps !
I use a phone app called Freepoint UK. It has most of the UK sites listed so you can find the transmitters nearest to you and align the aerial.
Other apps are available.
If you have the status directional,aerial it can change between horizontal or vertical polarisation using the little winding handle on the bottom. The transmitters use different polarisation in different areas.
We usually take a look and see where people are pointing there aerials first!
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
I bought a tv signal strength meter several years ago. Plug it into the aerial socket then turn the caravan aerial until you get best signal. Saves a lot of searching for best direction of aerial. Plenty of them on Amazon.
I think we have managed to get a reasonable signal on most sites using this.
As mentioned we no longer have analogue TV. I still have a bad habit of not switching on the arial amp in the caravan. You can also tweek the signal strength on the amp. When parked up on the drive at the house I have no tv, this is due to the local enviroment, houses, trees etc. To test your TV in the van run a coax from your house arial to your van arial socket ie the amp and see what you get. It is handy to have a made up coax cable as you can plug into the EHU post on a lot of sites. My cable is the same length as my mains cable 25 mtr, found this to be more than enough.
Hi if you are talking about the amp for the aerial, it's normal in an over head locker the one under the aerial on the roof, but I may be wrong!
cheers Bruce
------------- Beer is the answer...
but i can't remember the question !!!