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I have always consider leisure TV aerials to be overpriced so I set about fitting my own. I had already fitted an external aerial point for use on sites offering TV reception services, it was therefore a logical step to improve the reception from the Status flying saucer omni directional aerial and booster by fitting a suitable commercial aerial to the van. I didn't want anything too fiddly to erect and it had to be easily stored somewhere when not in use.
The attached pics show my quick fit kit, comprising a three section 3 metre Jockey wheel mast which I purchased at one of the shows many years ago and was lying idle in my garage. Today they cost about £15. The bottom section of the three piece mast will be bolted to the ladder using two "U" bolts, the other two sections just slot into this and each other. The Antiference wide band aerial, which I bought from a TV repair shop for £6.95, is suitable for both analogue and digital reception and is fixed permanently to a piece of 200mm x 22mm copper pipe which fits snugly into the top section of the mast and is held in place with a bolt fixed with a butterfly nut. The reflectors push fit into the end of the aerial and are easily removed to make a flatter package for storage. The 3.5m piece of scrap coax down lead I had, plugs into the external TV point on the side of the van.
The downside, I need to know in which direction to point the aerial but, get it right and it out performs the flying saucer! Mind you it doesn't take much
to do that.
peedee
Last edited by peedee on Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:12 am; edited 1 time in total ______________________________________________________________ The best journeys are not always in straight lines
For an account of our journeys click >here< (Last updated 1st March 2012)
[quote="peedee"]The downside, I need to know in which direction to point the aerial peedee[/quote]
Our golden rule is to make sure it points in the opposite direction and the other polarisation from that of the site manager. Twice now we've been at sites where reception is, we're told, dreadful but when we've adjusted the aerial is it excellent. Surprising how many people don't realise that the polarisation of the aerial as well as the direction it points can make a critical difference.
Can you explain 'polarisation' to those of us who don't realise it.
I never even considered putting a telly in our van until I booked a ferry that coincides with the world cup. Now I need to know everything about aerials
As for Peedee's excellent design, I may adapt it slightly by using a telescopic floor mop that we have.
Most TV transmissions are horizontally polarised. In simple terms you need to have your aerial and its elements mounted horizontally as in my picture.
Some transmission, mostly from repeater stations are vertically polarised, ie for best reception you need to have the aerial and elements mounted vertically. I think all the digital transmissions are horizontally polarised.
With the Status 315 Omni Flying saucer it doesn't matter it is designed to receive either but with the Staus 530 you should adjust it accordingly.
If you want to know about a particular transmission have a look at this site
______________________________________________________________ The best journeys are not always in straight lines
For an account of our journeys click >here< (Last updated 1st March 2012)
Peedees picture shows his aerial oriented for horizontal polarisation (the 'bars' on the front arm of the aerial are horizontal). For vertical polarisation, the aerial woud be rotated through 90 degrees in the vertical plane, and the bars on the front arm would be vertical).
TV transmitters (at least in the UK) transmit either horizontally or vertically polarised signals. In general, but not exclusively, main transmitters are horizontally polarised, and repeaters (local, lower powered transmitters) are vertically polarised.
Getting the best signal does not simply depend on pointing the aerial in the right direction, but also setting it into the correct plane.
The little point on the top of the status omni-directional aerial is supposed to help it cope with vertically polarised signals.
If you want to check, just look at the plane (not direction) of TV aerials as you go through different locations.
The downside, I need to know in which direction to point the aerial but, get it right and it out performs the flying saucer! Mind you it doesn't take much
to do that.
peedee
Hi Peedee
Good aerial setup and I like the price too
I too use a simple, small and very efficient aerial (Grade VP 530/14 UHF Antenna cost me £16.00 )..mine is mounted on a three section very lightweight aluminium pole (ex paintpad handle) fixed to the van using large suction cups and is positioned near the driver cab door. All I need to do is reach out of the cab window and rotate the aerial to get the best picture. It seems to withstand normal winds but I do lower it one section in gales It is much smaller than it looks in my pictures and fits easily into one of the tiny front overhead cupboards in my van. It is 12" wide at the widest and just 20" long.
If you have a laptop in the van and it has Autoroute you can go to the download section and there I have put an Autoroute pushpin .axe file that when loaded shows all the TV transmitter positions in the UK. (and whether they are Main (Horiz) or Repeater stations (Vert))
Last edited by spykal on Fri Sep 22, 2006 4:52 pm; edited 1 time in total ______________________________________________________________ When confronted by a problem, you can solve it easily by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger have handled this?"
Hi
I forgot to say that if you use the autoroute TV station file a compass comes in handy....unless Ray Mears has trained you
Mike
______________________________________________________________ When confronted by a problem, you can solve it easily by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger have handled this?"
I was think more of "moss on the sides of trees" sort of stuff
mike
______________________________________________________________ When confronted by a problem, you can solve it easily by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger have handled this?"
Unfortunately I don't have a laptop and have not had the pleasure of meeting Ray Mears, maybe that is why I have used the Omni for so long? Now if you had a set of TV stations for TomTom or MemoryMap OS maps that would be different. Guess I will have to rely on the mark one eye ball and look at
the aerials on the houses!
peedee
______________________________________________________________ The best journeys are not always in straight lines
For an account of our journeys click >here< (Last updated 1st March 2012)
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