TV, radio, DAB aerial recommendations - affordable

[Theo]

Hey folks, I'm wondering what you would recommend for an effective and affordable aerial for our motorhome? There are so many options out there it would be good to get the benefit of lived experience from folks. And if anyone's got something good secondhand, I'm interested- thank you. Theo

 

[Theo]

Hey folks, I'm wondering what you would recommend for an effective and affordable aerial for our motorhome? There are so many options out there it would be good to get the benefit of lived experience from folks. And if anyone's got something good secondhand, I'm interested- thank you. Theo

I should add, our TV can take all inputs, and I have a radio that can take a DAB dongle, as well as original FM aerial

 

[Bobbydaisy]

Same issue , our existing tv antenna is useless, having searched this forum this seems to get a lot of likes, got one on order and will try it on our next trip .

High Gain HD Freeview TV Aerial HD DAB FM Magnetic Base Antenna Indoor Outdoor 5053047001511 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for High Gain HD Freeview TV Aerial HD DAB FM Magnetic Base Antenna Indoor Outdoor at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Had fitted this to my previous Adria Twin , not much better than what we have now and expensive so wouldn’t want you to buy that type .

Caravan TV Aerial BALLADE Supergain 12v Antenna DVBT / TNT Motorhome Camper Boat 8051566302529 | eBay

Supergain Ballade 12v Tv Antenna. (Using Glue) Apply the Glue (Sikaflex) on the Bottom of the Antenna Mount and Place It on the Surface Where It Must Be Mounted. (Using Screws) Secure the Antenna on the Surface Where It Must Be Mounted by 4.8x19 Supplied Countersunk Head Self Threading Screws.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Theo]

Same issue , our existing tv antenna is useless, having searched this forum this seems to get a lot of likes, got one on order and will try it on our next trip .

High Gain HD Freeview TV Aerial HD DAB FM Magnetic Base Antenna Indoor Outdoor 5053047001511 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for High Gain HD Freeview TV Aerial HD DAB FM Magnetic Base Antenna Indoor Outdoor at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Had fitted this to my previous Adria Twin , not much better than what we have now and expensive so wouldn’t want you to buy that type .

Caravan TV Aerial BALLADE Supergain 12v Antenna DVBT / TNT Motorhome Camper Boat 8051566302529 | eBay

Supergain Ballade 12v Tv Antenna. (Using Glue) Apply the Glue (Sikaflex) on the Bottom of the Antenna Mount and Place It on the Surface Where It Must Be Mounted. (Using Screws) Secure the Antenna on the Surface Where It Must Be Mounted by 4.8x19 Supplied Countersunk Head Self Threading Screws.

www.ebay.co.uk

Thank you

 

[Theo]

If i works well, the high gain freeview jobby is priced keenly and worth a punt! Cheers

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[dash300]

If i works well, the high gain freeview jobby is priced keenly and worth a punt! Cheers

For the cost I will be ordering the same when the new van arrives. Having taken apart a status aerial in the past there is very little inside the space disc! We have a Ballade on the boat and that works reasonably well but a pop on top magnetic aerial which uses the surface of the van as part of the aerial has got to be worth a try.

 

[NRM]

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01MAXT66E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You wouldn't think that this aerial would work well, but it does even in poor reception areas. Have one in the house and the other in the motorhome, both placed in the window in a poor reception area and get most channels. Being Amazon worth a try and you can always send it back.

 

[Verteuil Man]

I needed a replacement radio for our motorhome and weighted up the options. Did not want a CD player but wanted Bluetooth and MP3/4 player. FM, AM (was MW and LW) as long as I can get radio 4 LW for cricket. DAB. Never really seen the point of this other than the stations that are only broadcast on it or online ( online meaning a UK broadband connection). After travelling France and Spain I have yet to find DAB stations. So with the cutting out issues in urban built up areas and no (as I have found) stations in Europe, DAB is not required by me.

 

[ambulancekidd]

I use my Status directional aerial for DAB & TV signals, it's perfect for both, DAB on the hoof is fine, but leave your aerial on the vertical setting to get the best from it.
The older Status directional aerials can do both jobs too, but with the addition of the newer Status booster with DAB function or a gadget called a diplexer.
Both gadgets are inexpensive in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Bobbydaisy]

Digital TV in the Uk from main transmitters is Horizontal polarisation, hence leaving your antenna vertically is incorrect and not the best way to receive the best signal, your antenna should be horizontal, however if you are in a poor signal area and served from a Repeater transmitter, it will be vertically polarised hence your antenna should be vertical. For us it’s a problem as we have an Omni directional antenna on our PVC ( many do) so can’t point it in any direction nor change the polarisation , hence overall poor gain , looking for something better. Agree the little one on eBay is still Omni directional but has better gain than what we have currently.

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[Richard n Ann]

If i works well, the high gain freeview jobby is priced keenly and worth a punt! Cheers

They are well made and work very well, I bought the DTA240 so hopefully the 250 is even better.

 

[Theo]

Digital TV in the Uk from main transmitters is Horizontal polarisation, hence leaving your antenna vertically is incorrect and not the best way to receive the best signal, your antenna should be horizontal, however if you are in a poor signal area and served from a Repeater transmitter, it will be vertically polarised hence your antenna should be vertical. For us it’s a problem as we have an Omni directional antenna on our PVC ( many do) so can’t point it in any direction nor change the polarisation , hence overall poor gain , looking for something better. Agree the little one on eBay is still Omni directional but has better gain than what we have currently.

That's some good knowledge you got there! I'll report back on the omni jobby in due course....

 

[Bobbydaisy]

Yep me too , will post on its performance once I get it and have had a few tries when out and about . Going to fully remove the existing omni as it useless and it’s big and white on a black van .

 

[Richard n Ann]

I'd never have bought the August DTA240 but I borrowed one from the Funster next door in desperation (I was in proper trouble for forgetting the memory stick with back up programmes on)
We were in a valley with no reception at all. I though we'd at least need a high gain directional multi element monster to pull any channels in.
Anyway stuck the DTA240 aerial on the roof, did a retune and 47 watchable channels how the hell it does that I have no idea

 

[Bobbydaisy]

Got the new antenna an August DTA250, was going to wire it in permanently but gave it a try at home in the van first ,connected in through the amplifier as per existing antenna. Got 6 LESS channels than existing antenna, bit of a disappointment as I was expecting better or at least the same , 97 might be the max number of channels I can receive in this location but DTA250 only gets 91 and existing antenna 97. Will try it at a few locations once I get out and about touring in a week or so ….photos attached 1st existing antenna, 2nd the DTA250.

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[Richard n Ann]

Got the new antenna an August DTA250, was going to wire it in permanently but gave it a try at home in the van first ,connected in through the amplifier as per existing antenna. Got 6 LESS channels than existing antenna, bit of a disappointment as I was expecting better or at least the same , 97 might be the max number of channels I can receive in this location but DTA250 only gets 91 and existing antenna 97. Will try it at a few locations once I get out and about touring in a week or so ….photos attached 1st existing antenna, 2nd the DTA250.View attachment 670739View attachment 670740

What have you got the aerial on? Our roof is a metal skin so that will probably help, the bigger the better

 

[Bobbydaisy]

What have you got the aerial on? Our roof is a metal skin so that will probably help, the bigger the better

It’s a pvc , metal , antenna on the the roof in the middle .

 

[Richard n Ann]

It’s a pvc , metal , antenna on the the roof in the middle .

It gets a similar review score on amazon to the DTA240 I'd try moving it to a different place on the roof, also try it without the booster. I didn't need the booster with our DTA240

 

[Theo]

Got the new antenna an August DTA250, was going to wire it in permanently but gave it a try at home in the van first ,connected in through the amplifier as per existing antenna. Got 6 LESS channels than existing antenna, bit of a disappointment as I was expecting better or at least the same , 97 might be the max number of channels I can receive in this location but DTA250 only gets 91 and existing antenna 97. Will try it at a few locations once I get out and about touring in a week or so ….photos attached 1st existing antenna, 2nd the DTA250.View attachment 670739View attachment 670740

Doh!

I received mine and it didn't fit as it has a smaller screw coaxial fitting and my TV is the older usual coaxial! Think I need an adaptor ....

 

[Sasbo]

Bobbydaisy, interesting. A couple of weeks ago someone gave me a DTA 240 to play around with so I hooked it up through the Status aerial amplifier and was surprised it got about 30 channels less than the Status aerial. So tried it directly connected to the TV and got an extra 20 odd channels.

I've a coach built so the roof is fibreglass. I then used the magnetic base on the DTA240 and stuck it on a biscuit tin lid then put it on the roof. Retuned with the aerial lead direct to the TV and got the same number of digital channels I was getting with the Status aerial.

So, do these aerials work, in my experience yes they do and I've now purchased a DTA 250 as a back up.

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[Bobbydaisy]

Bobbydaisy, interesting. A couple of weeks ago someone gave me a DTA 240 to play around with so I hooked it up through the Status aerial amplifier and was surprised it got about 30 channels less than the Status aerial. So tried it directly connected to the TV and got an extra 20 odd channels.

I've a coach built so the roof is fibreglass. I then used the magnetic base on the DTA240 and stuck it on a biscuit tin lid then put it on the roof. Retuned with the aerial lead direct to the TV and got the same number of digital channels I was getting with the Status aerial.

So, do these aerials work, in my experience yes they do and I've now purchased a DTA 250 as a back up.

Yeah thought it might be the amplifier, hooked it up direct to the tv and got even less!! So the amplifier is giving a gain to both antenna .

 

[Richard n Ann]

The 250 does look a bit different design. I'd have stuck with the 240. Sometimes they'll cut manufacturing costs on later models, or if it's made in China I think it's called product fade or something similar

 

[Richard n Ann]

Quality fade:

What is Quality Fade and How Can You Avoid It? - Insight Quality Services

Quality fade is the slow, gradual degradation in the quality of a product over time. It is common in China and other low-cost countries. Why does it happen?

insight-quality.com

 

[Bobbydaisy]

Yeah it’s the 250…….it’s an August branded antenna ….it’s manufactured in China …..but what isn’t nowadays…..fade as in signal fade I am afraid . Will try it as comparison and as a back up at various locations and post the results . Chalk it up to experience

 

[Bobbydaisy]

Yeah it’s the 250…….it’s an August branded antenna ….it’s manufactured in China …..but what isn’t nowadays…..fade as in signal fade I am afraid . Will try it as comparison and as a back up at various locations and post the results . Chalk it up to experience

Update , been to few sites where TV signal was good so existing antenna worked ok , at Melrose in the Scottish Borders and TV signal non existent on existing antenna. Shoved the August antenna out skylight and connected to TV , found 12 channels . So going to plumb in the August permanently and bin the big white omni .