Which aerial or dome for our PVC?

[Teasy2007]

We have an omnidirectional aerial, looks like a car aerial, which moves in the wind and pixelates the Avtex TV

Knowing how Mike hates tuning things in (our first suitcase satellite dish nearly went into the bin) we need something

1. which will tune in easily, preferably on its own

2. Does not need power all the time, another pet hate

3. Does not have to be stuck to the outside of the van with wires all over the inside.

4. Will plug straight into our Avtex TV which has satellite as well as digital, we don’t want a decoder

5. We wont be using our Sky box, so cheap and cheerful rather than a Dome which is expensive and white (our camper is dark grey).

6. An omnidirectional aerial which works would be the ideal, but which one?

Any advice and experience very appreciated.

Ginny and Mike

 

[Langtoftlad]

My WildAx PVC came with a Glomex omni-directional with included amplifier. For Freeview terrestrial TV.
Seems to be pretty effective.

Not cheap though.

 

[Teasy2007]

I’ve been looking at Glomex, they have good reviews.

Has anyone used the Roadpro Mini Dome, that seems to fit our criteria!

 

[Blue Knight]

I kept it simple and cheap but if you're prepared to do a bit of DIY on your Globie then how about hardwiring a Necvox ANT536 for £35.

I get 154 x DTV and 50 x radio channels when I'm out and about and it fits directly into the back of my Avtex.

Post #'s 673 and 674 refer:

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/globecar-modifications.144156/page-34

All the best,

Andrew

 

[Two on Tour]

I kept it simple and cheap but if you're prepared to do a bit of DIY on your Globie then how about hardwiring a Necvox ANT536 for £35.

I get 154 x DTV and 50 x radio channels when I'm out and about and it fits directly into the back of my Avtex.

Post #'s 673 and 674 refer:

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/globecar-modifications.144156/page-34

All the best,

Andrew

The reviews on the Necvox ANT536 seem to be very mixed with some saying it's the best thing that's happened to them other than their kids being born to other who consider it snake oil.

You don't get a lot for your best part of 40 quid other than a coil of copper rod under the plastic cover.

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[Devon Sue]

My WildAx PVC came with a Glomex omni-directional with included amplifier. For Freeview terrestrial TV.
Seems to be pretty effective.
View attachment 300867
Not cheap though.

We have had 2 weekends away in our Wildax with a Glomex aerial, excellent reception one weekend, totally unwatchable due to pixellation the second.

 

[TheBig1]

if you go for a white dome, get it painted to match the van, wont effect the way it works

 

[TheBig1]

if you go for a white dome, get it painted to match the van, wont effect the way it works

 

[Blue Knight]

The reviews on the Necvox ANT536 seem to be very mixed with some saying it's the best thing that's happened to them other than their kids being born to other who consider it snake oil.

You don't get a lot for your best part of 40 quid other than a coil of copper rod under the plastic cover.

View attachment 301020

I've not seen that version before - this is our unit as fitted by myself. It seems that the Funsters who have bought them to date are happy with them, myself included:

 

[Two on Tour]

I've not seen that version before - this is our unit as fitted by myself. It seems that the Funsters who have bought them to date are happy with them, myself included:

View attachment 301024

It's the same as yours just as I said with the plastic cover removed.

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[Blue Knight]

It's the same as yours just as I said with the plastic cover removed.

Crickey, there's not much to it then. I should have saved my money and bunged a coat hanger on the roof

 

[Two on Tour]

Crickey, there's not much to it then. I should have saved my money and bunged a coat hanger on the roof

Our van came with the Avtex small whip aerial which on occasions have been known to pickup a signal.

I fitted a Snipe satellite system on our van just because it is a pretty well guaranteed way to get a picture on the box in the UK and half way down Europe plus you do not have to re-tune ever time you move on to a new location, but that said I still want an aerial to replace the Avtex whip that will on 9 out 10 times pickup Freeview with a watchable picture.

Having read umpteen reviews on different aerials for campers, motorhomes and caravans, I'm convinced there a one fits all aerial out there that I would spend big money on, but I'm going to have a punt on the August DTA240 aerial which looks to be a copy of the Necvoc but only costs 12 quid.

I'm thinking that maybe the reason you get good reception with your Necvoc is that being an all steel panel van it makes a great ground plane for your aerial.

 

[Korgrocker]

I have a RoadPro satellite dome. Works well in the Uk, as long as there are no obstructions. Haven't tried it abroad yet. Essential for most of Scotland as terrestrial TV is not a reliable option outside the Central Belt. However, I have to be aware of the extra height when approaching low or arched bridges, particularly as it was fitted to the roof off centre.

 

[Larrynwin]

We also have a Roadpro dome never fails in U.K. and also worked across in the near continent.

 

[Two on Tour]

As I said in an earlier post in this thread, our Avtex twig tv aerial is bloody useless.
Spurred on by this thread, I spent a good few hours trawling the net for real user comments on which aerial for terrestrial tv aerial suitable for our motorhome to go for.
Based on something that most users said worked, cost and not looking like invaders from outer space had landed, I went for the Supergain Ballade TV Antenna which seems very popular with the boating and canal living futurity.

Fitted it yesterday and hit the retune button on the tv and bearing in mind at present our motorhome is parked down our drive between two houses one of which is blocking a direct line for the tv transmitter signal, it picked up 118 tv stations and umpteen radio stations.

We will be at the Holbeach bring & buy this weekend so will be able to give it a test of it's performance.

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[Shrimp]

All domes and dishes will let you down at some point.
We have a dome which is not affected by strong winds-like a dish-but snow or heavy rain will knock the signal out and like a dish it doesn’t like trees etc.

 

[tonyidle]

All domes and dishes will let you down at some point.
We have a dome which is not affected by strong winds-like a dish-but snow or heavy rain will knock the signal out and like a dish it doesn’t like trees etc.

Trees and heavy rain block the signal. It isn't a reflection on the quality of the aerial simply the laws of physics.

 

[Shrimp]

Agree, we are happy with our dome altho we do lose the signal if we go too far south in France! You need a big dish if you’re going south.