TV arial for caravan

[masma]

With digital coming in for tv's we'll need to up-date our caravan arial. Can anyone give us some advice regarding buying and setting up a satellite dish please, it needs to be easy to use if possible. T.I.A.

[ChuckFickens]

so is nhe question about a TV Aerial or a satellite dish?

[masma]

We've been told that to get a picture we'll need to replace the little aerial that's on the 'van roof with a satellite dish.

[ChuckFickens]

Satellite systems for caravans are not simple, you need at least a 50cm dish (possibly larger if you camp up north), a pole on a tripod and a mount for it, a decent compass and elevation meter and a signal strength meter. you would also need a satellite receiver that can run on what power you have available (if it's mains a normal one will do)

have a read here

http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/

[VHG]

Most modern aerials can pick up both Analogue AND Digital (as they do on most houses at the moment).

So the coming of Digital TV does not mean you automatically HAVE to replace your TV aerial, your existing aerial may be fine.

Note that once Analogue is switched off the Digital signal will get stronger so you MAY still be able to use the existing aerial.

Note you cannot replace an aerial with a satellite dish, they dont pick up the same signals. A satellite dish is for picking up satellite TV (normally Sky).

[ChuckFickens]

VHG, the problem is that most caravan aerials are omni-directional, this is fine with the analogue signals as you simply tune the TV to the correct frequency. with digital you really need to have a directional aerial to eliminate the chances of the TV picking up channels from the wrong place.

[redman41]

http://www.aerialshac...Nev8qACFcUrDgodLVWKFQ

Some useful info here as well.

[Graham-W]

Why not try tuning your TV for Freeview in the caravan and see if it works.
We have an omni-directional Status aerial on our caravan and it works fine on about 95% of the sites we visit. We use our old TV and a £20 digibox with scart lead with no bother most of the time.

[masma]

Thank you all very much for your advice - we'll take it all on board and, fingers crossed, will be able to start our holidays with a decent tv picture. Thanks again xx