Multidirectional ariel

[travelpanda]

We have an Autotrail with roof mounted multi directional aerial but not picking up any channels. We’re in Scotland and was working fine in NW England. Should we be doing anything different than just pressing AQT on avtex tv?

 

[Martin How]

I assume you have an active (powered) antenna. Have you checked it’s plugged in switched on getting power etc?

 

[rb62]

Depends where you are in Scotland as you need 'line of sight' to the transmitters as the mountains and hills get in the way!

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/48614/stv_v2.2.pdf

 

[pappajohn]

If you have one of these (with a spike on top) you have very little chance of finding a signal.

 

[travelpanda]

I assume you have an active (powered) antenna. Have you checked it’s plugged in switched on getting power etc?

Yes and the light is on showing power.

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[Neil S]

multidirectional antennae's are only good in strong signal areas , you should consider changing it for directional vision plus with built in signal finder .
They will work better in weak signal areas

 

[Al n Val]

multidirectional antennae's are only good in strong signal areas , you should consider changing it for directional vision plus with built in signal finder .
They will work better in weak signal areas

I agree 100%

we had a multidirectional ariel on the Autotrail which was crap, we now have a directional one on the Rapido, same make and it’s never failed us yet

 

[travelpanda]

We’ll look at that. It would figure that where we have been may have poor signal.

 

[Bobbydaisy]

In lots of rural areas the TV is transmitted via a repeater which will be vertically polarised , so with a directional antenna it will need to be rotated 90 degrees to be vertical to receive the signal. On main transmitters ,like you probably have at home they are horizontally polarised hence your antenna at home is horizontal . And of course regardless ,pointing towards the actual transmitter . With an omni you can do neither.

 

[andykim]

Our Autotrail 2021 also has the same problem, no signal ! There is continuity at the coax and I've taken the saucer off the roof and the plug on the aerial has continuity . The coax going into the motorhome is now fine. How do I open the aerial?? Or is it a sealed unit??
Any ideas??

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[Trevor Wbm]

Everything that's been said plus, if you move, you probably need to retune the TV each time. All network transmitters use different frequency sets to minimise interference.

 

[scotjimland]

I have an omni-directional and had no problem with it.. even in weak signal areas.. such as where we live where everyone has a high mast and a multi element directional aerial .. the TV transmitter mast is about 12 miles away ..

Unless we are out in the wilds, where there are no houses close by, I find it generally works fine.

As said, you have to retune when you move area...

 

[enark]

Scotland, been bumpier than England is much more difficult to transmit a TV signal too, hence why the majority of TV broadcast towers are there.

agree directional will give you a much better chance. Just needs a big hole in the roof!

 

[scotjimland]

Better than a terrestrial TV aerial is a portable sat dish ..

I have a Multimo dish that I use abroad.. easy peasy to use and rarely if ever can't get a good signal . ..

bought it a while back . and did a review

Multimo Portable Sat Dish : Review

Just purchased one second hand from @Koppersbeat and an delighted with it .. thank you Helen, and also thanks for taking the time and effort to send by courier. Now down to the review.. It comes with a base that can be used on a table or on the ground, a U bolt for clamping to a tri-pod...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[andykim]

There's something wrong with it, there is continuity between the braid side and core centre on the aerial itself.

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[Lee Rasberry]

There's something wrong with it, there is continuity between the braid side and core centre on the aerial itself.

That's normal. Can you share some photos?

 

[andykim]

It's just a generic aerial. I thought if the braid touched the core it wouldn't work. Having continuity between the two is the same surely??

 

[andykim]

I'll have to get some coax and bypass all the fittings and connect straight from aerial to TV.

 

[Lee Rasberry]

It's a folded dipole array antenna, so it is normal to have continuity between the braid and core. If you've got a short somewhere in the cable, or at the connector end, that will cause issues, but ultimately you should always see continuity.

If you connect the aerial straight to the TV, it likely won't work as you won't have enough gain without the signal booster. You could try connecting it directly into the signal booster though, hence bypassing the foot and related cabling.

 

[andykim]

I've got a spare coax from the MH to the house aerial and picks up 203 channels I tested the continuity and it was open. Checked the continuity on an old crappie aerial and that was open too. Checked the coax from the booster to the tv and that is all good. So it's either the booster or rhe aerial.

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