We have a standard winegard antenna and invariably have poor reception.Am considering the update winegard to attach to current fixings or maybe a dome type 360 degree roof antenna.OR do we go satellite.Would appreciate any input.
We have a standard winegard antenna and invariably have poor reception.Am considering the update winegard to attach to current fixings or maybe a dome type 360 degree roof antenna.OR do we go satellite.Would appreciate any input.
We had the same problem but after trying several different aerials we purchased a Kingray booster from Dick Smith and problem solved. Have to disconnect it when camping but when on 240v no worries.
A lot depends on where you plan to travel; if you're going bush or around Oz, save yourself heartache and go satellite. Might cost around $600 but well worthwhile 'specially if you and/or partner enjoy TV
Fried Rice
Your Winguard antenna will have a built in amplifier, it could have failed ( unlikely ) but these amplifiers also need a 12 Volt power supply. This is sent along the coax cable and best and easyest way to check is with a multymeter or a test light. Disconnect the coax cable from the antenna and check. No power = amplifier not working and no television reception !!!
As for me, after 30 odd years as a electronic teck and the same amount time also installing television antennas ( commercial and domestic ), what do i uses for my own caravan..........Satilight of course. over the years have tryed many antennas for reception, some work, while some are, well just junk.
Satilight is a bit of a learning curve when setting up , but practice makes perfect ?? But haveing said that the Vast service will work all over Australia and will offer near perfect reception if set up correctly.
Hi Robo , we just purchased a satellite system advertised in the CMCA Wanderer mag $ 499 for the complete setup , hasn't arrived yet , we are supposed to be back at Greens but cant leave until this bloody thing arrives , hopefully Monday now , but it comes with a collapsible dish , 5mtrs cable , compass , sat finder and carry bag . Hope this helps.
We have the older style Winegard and haven't had a problem with it anywhere there is normal TV reception. We do run the booster that comes with it and the only time it never worked was at Windyer near Mudgee BUT nothing worked there even the van park was on satellite.
We have both digital (Wineguard) and satellite, I much prefer the satellite. The critical piece of equipment with a satellite setup is the satellite finder - make sure you get a digital unit tuned to the Optus satellite (Optus C3 I think). Any vegetation between you and the satellite will stop it working so think about that when you park your van.
I remember going back to the van supplier who also installed the Wineguard system and complained about the lack of digital signal and he asked what happened when I pressed the switch to power up the mast head amplifier and I said, "What switch?". Well it was switched off and when it was switched on, blow me down but the Wineguard system started working a treat. It always pays to read the instructions.
My van was fitted with a Winegard and on the coax wall plug is a push in switch with a green LED light. This is the booster and you need to have it on or no TV reception. We've just spent 3 mnths travelling round WA and if there were TV masts on ay houses, you always got good 'van reception (don't get temporary dementia like I did at one place and forget to re-tune my TV - took me 3 days to work out why I couldn't get any reception - duh!!)
I have a sat dish from Access here in Perth, WA which you can buy on-line. I bought it from them after many people on this Forum said their gear was better and the service was better. I went into their shop and not sure about the counter service we received (but they always seem to be very busy), but the gear is good. But invest in a turner that you plug in at the dish end which shows you the picture being received on a small TV screen in the hand-held unit. Using a compass and the standard multi meter type unit that comes standard is a painful process. You can also download a free app from Wikicamps which displays a compass bearing on your tablet or smart phone so you can point the dish in the correct direction (it is easy to align to the wrong satellite and get no pics as a result). The problems with using a compass is the metal mass in your 'van or minerals in the ground can make your compass reading a waste of time (solution is to put dish well away from van - not always a great or practical idea - and haven't come up with an answer for all the iron ore in the ground.
Access and others do sell as a separate item the little TV monitors, but theyre not cheap - almost the same price as the sat dish package. But you can use google, search for them and buy them on-line from an Aust supplier (no doubt made in China) for $99 and pre-tuned for the Optus satellite (that is critical to make sure)
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
This is maybe off the planet, and I am not about to enter debate on what is best antenna, but we had big drama getting and not getting reception (sometimes did, other times didn't). Inquired about buying a new antenna but then had a chap check out what we had and he found a faulty connection where the antenna cable joined the caravan. New connection; no more problem. Could it be that simple?
We have two antenna outlets in the van. One at the outlet from the antenna and includes the amplifier and 12v socket. On the other side of the van where the tv is mounted is a second amplified outlet. We have trouble with this second outlet when signal is weaker. Must be a bad connection somewhere between the two. I have a cousin who works in the tv signal business so will get him to check it out for me.
Sometimes we make the problem more complicated than it actually is!!!! like a corroded joint or similar...
