new aerial or dish

On our first trip we were near trees so no tv, i know setup works as i get 100s stations while parked in our drive. What is best near or under trees another mobile aerial or a mobile dish, I'm not on sky so only want freeview 

On a budget at the moment so what is out there that will help and not cost me a arm and leg.

Recall very poor/no signal in our previous 2009 Broadway EK when set up on CC site that was a former railway cutting mostly surrounded by trees. Successfully gained some stations simply by repositioning van a metre sideways on the pitch. This prompted the site warden to make a passing comment that the van was not in line with the white post. Didn't get round to moving the van again so enjoyed uninterrupted signal for the rest of our stay. It is most likely that you can solve future problems by buying an Avtex STH3000 Digital TV Ariel or Vision Plus Image 620 or 630  Systems all of which can be mounted on a pole the required distance from your van to gain that signal. Prices range from approximately £50, £60, £75. Regards

Thanks Paramedic

After living on a boat for eight years and using "Petal" for the last six years I have a healthy scepticism when considering satellite dishes.

One winter in Toulouse they built a huge block of flats between us and the satellite but the only time the TV cut out was when the crane was operating.

On the other hand, when mooring alongside the canal all it took was a single leaf wobbling away on the branch of a tree within 100 metres of where we were moored and that was enough to stop all satellite signals!

It very much depends on where you are located as to whether or not you will get a satellite signal.

Also, up until about 2014 you could get ASTRA 2 (the satellite that transmits most of the UK stations) all the way down to the south of Spain.  This year we couldn't get a satellite signal for ASTRA 2 when we were just south of Limoges in central France.

The good news is that I recommend the satellite system despite the associated problems.

On "Petal" we have an Avtex TV, Caro Automatic Satellite Dish and an International Satellite Receiver but at home in the UK we use a FreeSat like this ...

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertainment/digital-and-smart-tv/set-top-boxes/humax-hb-1100s-freesat-hd-smart-set-top-box-10159640-pdt.html

With an ordinary small TV, a suitable satellite dish, tripod, coaxial cable and satellite finder it would be a piece of cake to set it up and use it in the UK.

Enjoy.

Depends what you want to do with it, our van has a £3000 fully automatic sat system and  we have used it once so far. I have a unlimited data plan so I plug the phone into the avtex TV and have any channel, no problems in high wind as well.
 Things would be different if we are retired and not doing things everyday when away.

jennyandpeter wrote:Depends what you want to do with it, our van has a £3000 fully automatic sat system and  we have used it once so far.

We resemble that remark!

We've had auto dishes which worked occasionally when parked at least a mile from the nearest sapling, and a Maxview Crankup which was much better in so far as it was comparatively cheap, and I was in control!

Then we came to terms with how little we watch the TV when away in the van. (Just been for a month in Provence and it never came out of its box, even to watch the several DVDs and programmes carefully stored on a USB stick!  )

During the dark evenings or when it rains all day we can watch a DVD when we get fed up with reading. I know a lot of people can't seem to exist without the telly, as can be seen by their first action after pulling on the handbrake!  We like to get away from it, and there's always plenty to do when away in the van!

Each to his own, but if TV is essential I would agree with Dutto. A cheap and simple tripod dish with a good signal finder will be the easiest and most reliable budget system.

Our first week away weather rain wind mrs never got out MH just need it for these occasions.

Further to my last, it appears  from your avitar that your Berkshire is the same as our previous Broadway where the tv arial sits below the roofline. The result being that on occasions the tv signal was interrupted by this design and then further comprised by the trees. If we had not exchanged to our current van, I would have replaced for directional system that could be raised up further from the roof. Er, is your avitar the wrong way round?

Paramedic wrote:Further to my last, it appears  from your avitar that your Berkshire is the same as our previous Broadway where the tv arial sits below the roofline. The result being that on occasions the tv signal was interrupted by this design and then further comprised by the trees. If we had not exchanged to our current van, I would have replaced for directional system that could be raised up further from the roof. Er, is your avitar the wrong way round?

Think you are right there the MH its self causes a problem being hid behind the top of van, maybe a new directional aerial on top that can be extended up over top of MH