I recently bought a cheap digital omnidirectional TV antenna on eBay after asking GNs if they had a similar type and whether or not they would recommend it. The vast majority of posts were positive. However, Bill 12 said his gets a bit of bashing in the bush which doesn't help the fragile nature of the antenna. Sooooo, my auto electrician came around to install it (plus a few other things). After thinking about it sitting on a pole above the roof line, increasing the height of the camper, getting buffeted in the wind, and having to drill holes in the roof to attach it, he suggested having the pole "portable".
The pole is in three separate sections that can be assembled and disassembled easily and quickly. He attached the antenna to the top section, which is now stashed away in the storage box together with the remaining two sections - all fitting neatly into place. All the leads and wiring are in place. including the booster. When I camp, it's just a matter of driving a tent peg (large plastic one) partially into the ground, fitting the three sections of pole together, placing the open-ended bottom of the pole over the tent peg, plugging in a few leads and whammo, telly time.
Having the pole free to move around has saved the hassle of having it sitting permanently on the roof and drilling holes. Probably not everyone's cuppa but it works for me... and is hopefully an option for others to consider.
wendyv said
04:31 PM Apr 11, 2014
When we had the van, had a similar set up. Driver welded a bracket to the A frame and the assembled pole sat in that. Quick and easy to set up.
valiant81 said
06:02 PM Apr 11, 2014
Hi Garykelly;
When we first started out with camper/ caravans i had a small multiband antenna that mounted on to the end of a pool cleaning pole. This pole is telescopic and are avalable in two differant lengths. I had the small one and it collapsed down to just under 6'. I used that set up untill i invested in a satilight set up ( Vast ). There are mouning brackets that allow you to attach the pole the draw bar of your caravan ( A frame ).
moamajohn said
08:26 PM Apr 13, 2014
Gary ,prior to my new van with its wind up thingy ,we always had ours fitted to the A frame with 99% success always .All the best .
grahamg said
12:30 PM Apr 14, 2014
I have an adjustable tent pole, there is a small bracket on the A frame.
Put the pole thru the bracket into the ground and attach a small , normal TV antenna on top of the pole. run the cable into the van thru the screen in the pop top. Simple and cheap .
-- Edited by grahamg on Monday 14th of April 2014 12:31:27 PM
-- Edited by grahamg on Monday 14th of April 2014 12:33:03 PM
Kendo said
10:07 PM Apr 15, 2014
After a lot of looking around at what's available in antenna's and getting totally confused as to what to buy and amazed at the cost of some of them. I have just put together the same sort of setup as described above.
First let me say "If your aerial works for you then great". However many years ago I use to be into Amateur Radio and learned a little about how antenna's work. After investigating many available in the market and feeling a little rusty with what I could remember, I went and talked to an "expert" at a local communications shop. He tried to sell me the best thing he had ever come across for a caravan. What was it? well for those in the know it was a simple "dipole" antenna. For those not in the know, it was basically a set of "Rabbit ears on a pole". the fact that this guy had a shop full of "Yagi" antenna's (you know the ones with lots of elements like the real ones on your roof at home) and a display of expensively priced "caravan antennas" that he obviously was trying to get rid of. I walked out of there totally pee'd off.
Well I took the plunge and put together many of the little hints and tips I had read in many forums I had read recently.
The following is what I came up with -
7 element Digimatch Aerial from Jaycar $70
Coax, fittings and pole clamp from Jaycar about $20
Extendable painters pole from Bunnings $30
I used the base from my new sidewinder trailermate jack as a base (and drilled a couple of holes to whack in a tent peg or two for stability)
I drilled a couple of holes in the rear bumper of the van and attached the pole clamp. Assembled all the above, point in the right direction and all worked a treat.
NOTE: Internally the van was already setup for TV and just needed the external stuff.
We had our first trip with the van last weekend and this setup worked very well.
It may not be the flashest setup out there but for $120 I'm sure it's a damn site better than the $250 "Rabbit ears on a pole" that that expert tried to sell me.
For another $50 (from Jaycar) I am going to fit a masthead amplifier to the setup and then I should be able to pickup any signal available out there, and I've still got change from the rabbit ears!
Again, I'm not criticising what works for you. If your rabbit ears on a pole works, thats great :)
I recently bought a cheap digital omnidirectional TV antenna on eBay after asking GNs if they had a similar type and whether or not they would recommend it. The vast majority of posts were positive. However, Bill 12 said his gets a bit of bashing in the bush which doesn't help the fragile nature of the antenna. Sooooo, my auto electrician came around to install it (plus a few other things). After thinking about it sitting on a pole above the roof line, increasing the height of the camper, getting buffeted in the wind, and having to drill holes in the roof to attach it, he suggested having the pole "portable".
The pole is in three separate sections that can be assembled and disassembled easily and quickly. He attached the antenna to the top section, which is now stashed away in the storage box together with the remaining two sections - all fitting neatly into place. All the leads and wiring are in place. including the booster. When I camp, it's just a matter of driving a tent peg (large plastic one) partially into the ground, fitting the three sections of pole together, placing the open-ended bottom of the pole over the tent peg, plugging in a few leads and whammo, telly time.
Having the pole free to move around has saved the hassle of having it sitting permanently on the roof and drilling holes. Probably not everyone's cuppa but it works for me... and is hopefully an option for others to consider.
Hi Garykelly;
When we first started out with camper/ caravans i had a small multiband antenna that mounted on to the end of a pool cleaning pole. This pole is telescopic and are avalable in two differant lengths. I had the small one and it collapsed down to just under 6'. I used that set up untill i invested in a satilight set up ( Vast ). There are mouning brackets that allow you to attach the pole the draw bar of your caravan ( A frame ).
I have an adjustable tent pole, there is a small bracket on the A frame.
Put the pole thru the bracket into the ground and attach a small , normal TV antenna on top of the pole. run the cable into the van thru the screen in the pop top. Simple and cheap .
-- Edited by grahamg on Monday 14th of April 2014 12:31:27 PM
-- Edited by grahamg on Monday 14th of April 2014 12:33:03 PM
After a lot of looking around at what's available in antenna's and getting totally confused as to what to buy and amazed at the cost of some of them. I have just put together the same sort of setup as described above.
First let me say "If your aerial works for you then great". However many years ago I use to be into Amateur Radio and learned a little about how antenna's work. After investigating many available in the market and feeling a little rusty with what I could remember, I went and talked to an "expert" at a local communications shop. He tried to sell me the best thing he had ever come across for a caravan. What was it? well for those in the know it was a simple "dipole" antenna. For those not in the know, it was basically a set of "Rabbit ears on a pole". the fact that this guy had a shop full of "Yagi" antenna's (you know the ones with lots of elements like the real ones on your roof at home) and a display of expensively priced "caravan antennas" that he obviously was trying to get rid of. I walked out of there totally pee'd off.
Well I took the plunge and put together many of the little hints and tips I had read in many forums I had read recently.
The following is what I came up with -
7 element Digimatch Aerial from Jaycar $70
Coax, fittings and pole clamp from Jaycar about $20
Extendable painters pole from Bunnings $30
I used the base from my new sidewinder trailermate jack as a base (and drilled a couple of holes to whack in a tent peg or two for stability)
I drilled a couple of holes in the rear bumper of the van and attached the pole clamp. Assembled all the above, point in the right direction and all worked a treat.
NOTE: Internally the van was already setup for TV and just needed the external stuff.
We had our first trip with the van last weekend and this setup worked very well.
It may not be the flashest setup out there but for $120 I'm sure it's a damn site better than the $250 "Rabbit ears on a pole" that that expert tried to sell me.
For another $50 (from Jaycar) I am going to fit a masthead amplifier to the setup and then I should be able to pickup any signal available out there, and I've still got change from the rabbit ears!
Again, I'm not criticising what works for you. If your rabbit ears on a pole works, thats great :)