Help to set up TV in new van please?

MaidinDevon

MaidinDevon

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Hi all

I have a new to me van with a Vision Plus Status 530 aerial fitted. I bought one of the Aldi special TV's ages ago, but havent really used it. It is a Bauhn 21.5 Full HD tv and dvd combo.

However it does not seem to have a Freeview tuner.

So I bought a Manhatten Freeview set top box today.
I have linked the set top box and tv with the supplied HDMI cable.
I have plugged the co axial cable into the set top box, and then into the aerial point in the van.

Select hDMI on the TV screen
Message says
To start, make sure your /aerial is connected and press OK
So I press OK and it tells me HDMI is not available.

So, I tried plugging the aerial cable direct into the power pack in the wardrobe.
Same result.
So, I had a One for all indoor aerial, which I have never used either,
I tried hooking up the aerial co axial cable from the indoor aerial to the set top box.
Same message,
I would have thought that if it was a prblem with the signal, it would at least try.
The campsite owner says they have good signal here.

So, what can I do.

Is the status designed to be used with digital TV, or is it too old.

Any answers gratefull recieved. At the moment I have a spaghetti junction of cables and some pretty blue lights on the TV and set top box, and a red light on the indoor aerial, but nothing is happening.

I am having a medicinal Gin and Tonic!

Karen
 
@meakwooders I have just downloaded the instruction manual for the tv and it does have a freeview tuner so you should not need a set top box. First time setup you should connect the arial to the tv and select dtv the setup menu takes you to an auto scan to tune in the channels.

the instruction manual is here http://www.bauhn.co.uk/_literature_150994/AT215D-0216_-_Instruction_Manual

You will need to go through a similar set up with the set top box as well if you use it.
 
Thank you Lunarman. I appreciate the link to the manual. I tried doing what you suggested. It tells me that the database is empty on DTV. Do you think that it is the aerial at fault?
 
If you have gone through the set up and done an auto scan then I would suggest that the ariel is at fault.
 
meakwooders said:
Thank you Lunarman. I appreciate the link to the manual. I tried doing what you suggested. It tells me that the database is empty on DTV. Do you think that it is the aerial at fault?
Click to expand...
If the database is empty it means one of three things:

* you haven't scanned
* you have scanned but there is no signal from the aerial
* there is no connection to the aerial

Reception of digital TV requires an aerial no better than that for analogue TV.

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The Arial is a directional device is it pointed the right way@ instruction for arial here Broken Link Removed
 
It's not just something as daft as the booster not being powered on?:doh:
 
Could you plug in a known good aerial (home for example) and try a retune?
 
I live in the van, i have a lock and leave flat but it doesn't have an aerial either. No point, i spend about 6 weeks a year at home.
I would test at my daughters house, but she has sky.
 
I dont know @Gellyneck. It has a red light, so it looks as though it has power. i tried plugging into the aerial point in the van, and on the power pack.

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have a look at the other units on the site see which way their aerials are pointing, set it the same and try another channel scan (y)
 
As already said....the aerial MUST point DIRECTLY at the transmitter mast and for full reception must be the correct polarity...vertical or horizontal.
Look at house aerials where you are located to see which way to point and which way the aerial 'fingers' lay.
Other motorhome aerial direction is NOT a good indicator....some folks can't tune in and just leave the aerial where it last was.
You will need to repeat this every time you move somewhere else.
 
In my van which was secondhand I had great trouble getting the TV to tune.

It transpired that there was also a TV point in the bedroom but it was that vacant point which was connected to the aerial and not the TV that I was trying to tune.

Make sure you don't have another cable aerial hidden in your cupboard that is not connected!
 
Are you sure that the aerial is actually connected up to the aerial point you are trying to use? Its not unknown for them to be 'dummy' points!
 
My status aerial has a blue light when it is switched on - there have been several occasions when I have tried tuning the tv in and then realised I hadn’t actually switched the aerial on!!!
If you can borrow a signal finder from someone you can check the aerial points in the MH with a length of coax - this way you will be able to ascertain whether the problem is the aerial or not.

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To eliminate a TV issue, why not ask one of the others on the site if you can try it in their camper/MH/caravan?
 
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Good morning everyone.

Thank you all for your help. It turned out to be the aerial. I managed to plug in to a different aerial, and it all worked. I was able to watch Strictly last night!

Now I need to buy a 12 volt omni directional aerial, so that I can still watch TV if off hook up. Does anyone have any recommendations.
 
I have Vision Plus and I’m happy with it.
 
meakwooders said:
Good morning everyone.

Thank you all for your help. It turned out to be the aerial. I managed to plug in to a different aerial, and it all worked. I was able to watch Strictly last night!

Now I need to buy a 12 volt omni directional aerial, so that I can still watch TV if off hook up. Does anyone have any recommendations.
Click to expand...


You would probably be better getting a directional aerial that could be rotated to point to the transmitter, certainly more efficient if the transmitter is a long way away. Being on EHU or not won't make any difference as the amplifier on the aerial would use very little power at 12 volts.

Dave
 
meakwooders said:
Now I need to buy a 12 volt omni directional aerial
Click to expand...
Wait for a windy day, take around £100 and throw it out the window.
Don't bother with omni aerials unless you aren't fussy about picture quality and pictures freezing and pixelating.
Buy a good directional one.
All motorhome signal boosters will run on 12v.

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Suggest you try and get a replacement Status 530 aerial so you can pull out the old one and push in the new one using the existing fittings.(y) Not sure if the updated models (570 \ 580) have the same fittings but might be worth a call to manufacturer.
 
Get an directional one, they are much better than omnidirectional. The new Status ones come with an amplifier which is also used as a signal indicator. As you turn the aerial the stronger the signal you get the greener the light goes.
 
Before you go to the expense of a new aerial, try connecting a new lead to the existing one if you can as it might simply be a break in the lead which will be a lot cheaper and easier to replace than a whole aerial.
 
I would download an app for transmitter close to where you are.
I was having issues but the good folk on here guided me in the correct direct.
The app helped me no end (y)
 

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