Author Topic: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper  (Read 7545 times)

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Offline Timnshell

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TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« on: November 29, 2017, 11:52:24 AM »
Hey guys,

Can anyone point me in the right direction re. a tv antenna for the camper, its an Outback Newell.

Down in Cape Patterson over the Christmas / New years period and would like to kick back with  the cricket on in the background.

Been searching but have not had much luck, I figured there would be either an antenna with a bracket to attach to draw bar or even could just cable tie to one of the awning poles.

Anyway if anyone could point me in the right direction it would be appreciated.

Cheers Tim

Offline HKB Electronics

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2017, 01:08:11 PM »
You can get a mast bracket that attaches to a jockey wheel:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/U-V-Bolt-Mounting-Bracket-Adapters-For-1-Mast-Portable-Aerial-Satellite-Dish/311932591457?hash=item48a0a19d61:g:ZXIAAOSwA3dYCOQ-

Another option that works well in towns is one of these and an antenna amp, note antenna needs to be mounted on a ground plane:

http://laser-antenna.com/product.php?product_id=287

« Last Edit: November 29, 2017, 04:54:22 PM by HKB Electronics »
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Offline pabhar

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2017, 02:56:15 PM »
If you have any caravan antennae mount it on a painters pole which extends and attach to any sturdy upright pole. This way you can get it up a bit higher (3M) and it is easy to manoeuvre for perfect reception. Big green shed sell them...

https://www.bunnings.com.au/monarch-1-8-3-8m-professional-extension-pole_p1662498


Offline Cruiser 105Tvan

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2017, 05:08:45 PM »
Put this into your Google search:-

  best caravan antenna digital tv

You'll get heaps of results.
Or call by a local caravan spares business.
Robert. 
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Offline Humphreythebear

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #4 on: November 29, 2017, 05:45:46 PM »
I have a wanderer - basically looks like bits of conduit stuck together .....has worked everywhere from nsw to sa .
But just get a cheapy tv aerial and a digital booster , only challenge my be 240v supply ?

Painter pole sounds like an awesome addition !!
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Offline Cruiser 105Tvan

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #5 on: November 29, 2017, 07:37:21 PM »
Just to add, if you get a caravan one they usually require a 12 volt supply for a built in mast head amplifier.
Usually come with all the gear to hook it all together. 
You will need a short run of two core and suitable plug to get the power from your trailer to the insertion box  too.
Then the power goes up the antenna co-ax to run the amplifier, quite common and no real problem.
And a short run of co-ax from the insertion box to the laptop or TV.
You will need to get a pole or similar to hang the antenna on, as already suggested.
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Offline macca

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #6 on: November 29, 2017, 07:57:37 PM »
The one I've got come from Jarcar, i cant do the link thing, but it was about $50 and it works great, i have had plenty of people come up to me and ask where i got it because they cant get reception. The amp is 12volt but goes at the bottom, i have it hard wired in the trailer and run a TV coax extension between it and the antenna. What i thought was a wank is it has a motor in the antenna housing to rotate it that is powered thru the antenna lead and a remote control,  but it is great when your laying in bed and can fine tune it when you have a poor signal

Edit just checked and the catergory number is LT3143 and they are $64.95 now. I am going in to get a new one as this one has been bashed around in the old tent days.  They dont look much but mine has lasted for years and works great am only replacing it cause ive built a nice new camper

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« Last Edit: November 29, 2017, 08:22:30 PM by macca »
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Offline prodigyrf

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #7 on: November 29, 2017, 08:37:16 PM »
You won't have to tune the HW-DT8 much and you can add the TV finder booster to really try and stretch the range but generally if that aerial doesn't pick up a signal nothing will-
http://www.caravantvantenna.net.au/hw-dt81
All these aerials work best in horizontal and vertical mode depending on the signal type and that's why the HW has the gooseneck adjuster and I inherited this mast setup for the Jayco wind-up that cleverly uses the roof lock down clamp (bottom pic) as I discovered-
http://www.caravantvantenna.net.au/multi-fit-bracket
but you can rig up an extendable ally painters pole and the like
We free camp so obviously you want a 12V telly and the Kogan one with DVD and USB is the best bang for buck and it runs on 240V power pack too-
https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-24-led-tv-dvd-combo-series-6-lh6000-a/
Yeah I know it seems silly the aerial cost more than the telly but it's the aerial that makes it go when you're stretching the friendship with the signal source.



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Offline HEM19X

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #8 on: December 03, 2017, 02:45:43 AM »
Hey guys,

Can anyone point me in the right direction re. a tv antenna for the camper, its an Outback Newell.

Down in Cape Patterson over the Christmas / New years period and would like to kick back with  the cricket on in the background.

Been searching but have not had much luck, I figured there would be either an antenna with a bracket to attach to draw bar or even could just cable tie to one of the awning poles.

Anyway if anyone could point me in the right direction it would be appreciated.

Mate, we had a 3 piece [4.8m] antenna pole that came with mounting brackets.. attached to the drawbar, combined with a Phased Array [big sucker] antenna we could get reception in most places. similar to this:-

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Explorer-RV-Draw-Bar-Mount-Telescopic-Mast-Pole-for-TV-Antenna-Caravan-Boats/282241554314?hash=item41b6e8578a:g:PrAAAOSwB09YGVYU
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Offline corndog

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #9 on: December 03, 2017, 09:28:50 AM »
Have one of these. Used it from Melbourne to Cape York.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Topline-UHF-Directional-Digital-TV-Caravan-Antenna-ANT-TLTEN-CH-28-69/272164858171?hash=item3f5e4a293b:g:QW8AAOSwj0NUccDJ

Picked up the signal when it was available. By that I mean if your behind obstructions or just too far away from the tower you didn't get the signal. For example we stayed in town in Bundaberg with next to no signal. Wasn't the antenna as I tried 3 different ones. We were behind a large tall building and the tower was 100ks away.

I now have one of these.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/UHF-VHF-Digital-TV-Antenna-Aerial-w-Booster-Amplifier-for-Motorhome-Caravan-Boat/140804125829?epid=1842688552&hash=item20c8947485:g:ohAAAOSwTLlZyfOR

It does need a 12v supply, has picked up a signal when I thought it wouldn't but the signal might have been there anyway.
I just bought a cheap extendable pool cleaning pole from bunnings and attach the antenna to that.


Offline Diver

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #10 on: December 04, 2017, 05:32:04 PM »
You won't have to tune the HW-DT8 much and you can add the TV finder booster to really try and stretch the range but generally if that aerial doesn't pick up a signal nothing will-
http://www.caravantvantenna.net.au/hw-dt81
All these aerials work best in horizontal and vertical mode depending on the signal type and that's why the HW has the gooseneck adjuster and I inherited this mast setup for the Jayco wind-up that cleverly uses the roof lock down clamp (bottom pic) as I discovered-
http://www.caravantvantenna.net.au/multi-fit-bracket
but you can rig up an extendable ally painters pole and the like
We free camp so obviously you want a 12V telly and the Kogan one with DVD and USB is the best bang for buck and it runs on 240V power pack too-
https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-24-led-tv-dvd-combo-series-6-lh6000-a/
Yeah I know it seems silly the aerial cost more than the telly but it's the aerial that makes it go when you're stretching the friendship with the signal source.


Prodygyrf-----  Any issues with Kogan delivery?.   I am wary of getting a TV sent by courier due to breakage.   I had a bit of a win on the weekend - From a garage sale I picked up an aussievan digital TV antenna with telescopic pole and all the bits still in the original box for $10.  Rang the company and asked about a 12v lead for it- he laughed when I told him I paid $10 and said he retails the antenna for $259. In any case a 12 lead is and extra $16.   Now to get a TV/DVD
« Last Edit: December 04, 2017, 05:38:04 PM by Diver »

Offline prodigyrf

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #11 on: December 20, 2017, 10:00:00 AM »
Prodygyrf-----  Any issues with Kogan delivery?.   I am wary of getting a TV sent by courier due to breakage.   

No probs as they're boxed pretty well and supported by foam packing either side of the TV. So much so I carry it that way in the Jayco by slipping the packers back on it and sliding it back in the open bottom box. Just a trick in doing that as when you fix the base stand on you have to relieve both foam packers (cut slots) to accommodate the base so the screen fits back in the box with the stand remaining outside.
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Offline gronk

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #12 on: December 20, 2017, 05:36:36 PM »
I have the same Kogan TV ....just been sent a new one today....the old one lasted 13 mths and they covered it under warranty. Doubt whether it will get here before boxing day ( when I go away ), so may have to take my "new" little laptop for watching a dvd or 2 !!
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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #13 on: December 20, 2017, 05:41:38 PM »
Quote from: gronk
so may have to take my "new" little laptop for watching a dvd or 2 !!
get a couple of small external speakers for the laptop - you will be much happier
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Offline edz

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #14 on: December 20, 2017, 05:49:50 PM »
[quote ]
No probs as they're boxed pretty well and supported by foam packing either side of the TV.
[/quote]
Just an idea for you ..
If you can get hold of  a small tin of fibreglass resin [ Bunnings / car shops etc ], Paint the box outside  with resin then,  Tape a couple of wraps of a cotton sheet or tea towel around the TV box and coat them through with resin to form a hard shell box for it ..
« Last Edit: December 21, 2017, 10:04:04 AM by edz »
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Offline gronk

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #15 on: December 20, 2017, 07:18:50 PM »
get a couple of small external speakers for the laptop - you will be much happier

The "new" laptop is very good for speaker loudness. The "old" Toshiba has always been crap, can barely hear it sometimes.

I have an external speaker......will test it out tomorrow..

I also have a couple of DVD's that you don't want it too loud....wink..wink !!   :-*

As for the OP's question, I have a Jaycar tv antenna, which mounts on an extendable pool pole.....works well.
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Offline Timnshell

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Re: TV Antenna for Soft Floor Camper
« Reply #16 on: December 27, 2017, 08:51:59 AM »
Hey guys,

Thanks for the replies, picked up the jaycar antenna and pole was going to cable tie to a pole but setting up the camper yesterday and was eyeing off the base of the clothesline absolutely perfect fit now sitting in cape Patterson with the cricket in HD, happy days!

Cheers Tim