How to get a good TV signal in a caravan
No matter how far you travel in your caravan, sometimes all you want to do is put your feet up and watch a little television. Whether it’s catching up on your favourite show and sports highlights or injecting some familiar entertainment into your routine away from home, watching television in your caravan doesn’t have to be out of the question.
You don’t need to put up with pixelated images or unreliable TV signals either. With the following guide, you’ll be clear on how to get a good TV signal in your caravan, including how to decide between omnidirectional or directional aerials, how to detect a TV signal and the benefits of signal boosters.
Omnidirectional vs Directional Caravan TV Aerials
One of the first decisions you’ll be faced with when sorting out the TV signal in a caravan is whether you need an omnidirectional or a directional TV aerial. So, what is the difference between the two?
An omnidirectional caravan TV aerial detects TV signals from a 360-degree radius. That means that you’re likely to experience more interference, such as pixelation, poor signal and missing channels.
A directional caravan TV aerial detects TV signals from one direction only. The antenna must be correctly aimed at the closest tower to your caravan. A directional caravan TV aerial is the best option for a TV aerial in a caravan because it suffers less interference.
Top tips to improve your TV signal in a caravan
There are several major factors that will impact the TV signal in your caravan, such as your provider, pitch location and the surrounding landscape. Once you’ve assessed these factors, you’re free to move onto improving your TV signal using proper placement techniques, satellite finders and signal boosters.
1. Select the right provider.
Before you detect a digital TV signal, you’ll first need a provider. Common providers include Freeview, Sky and Freesat. Aside from having different costs and payment plans, different providers have access to different channels.
For instance, a Freeview box will be able to pick up local and country-specific channels when you travel, meaning you won’t be able to access UK channels outside of the country and vice versa. There will also be limits on what you can and cannot watch using providers like Sky, depending on the country you visit.
The right provider will be one that’s affordable for you and accessible in the countries you’ll be travelling to.
2. Check the location and the environment of your pitch.
Your pitch’s location and the surrounding landscape both play a big role in the quality of your TV signal. Large structures such as buildings, trees and metal garages can all physically block a TV signal from reaching your aerial. You might also find that neighbouring caravans or motorhomes can interfere with your line of sight to the nearest tower.
Pitches that are on high ground are likely to have a clear line of sight to the nearest tower. You should try to avoid pitches located in valleys and hilly or mountainous terrains, as these types of natural features can disrupt your signal by blocking the line of sight to the tower.
3. Locate your signal.
Once you have selected your provider and settled on a pitch that’s in a good position to pick up a TV signal, you need to locate the nearest signal. Satellite finders are available from major retailers or outdoor gear brands and often come as part of a TV satellite set. These can pick up signals from big European satellites.
These devices emit a high-pitched beep when they are placed in a position and direction that picks up a strong TV signal.
Another option is a signal finder app. These allow you to enter a postcode and locate the closest towers to your pitch with a good line of sight. However, you’ll still need to work out where to place your aerial, either using a satellite finder or trial and error.
4. Correctly position your satellite.
When you place your satellite in the direction and the position determined in the previous step, there’s still an art to making sure that it’s set up correctly. As a rule of thumb, the satellite should be angled at around 145 degrees and the dish should face upwards by around 25 degrees.
5. Make sure that your satellite is connected to your receiver box.
Your satellite should be connected to your receiver box. The receiver box should then be hooked up to your television.
6. Consider using a signal booster.
A signal booster, also called a signal amplifier, can increase the quality of your TV signal by amplifying weak TV signals around your pitch.
It doesn’t matter how weak your signal is: a good signal booster will (as the name suggests) boost the TV signal to the point where you don’t have to worry about pixelation.
The more remote your location, the more powerful your signal booster will need to be. Typically, a signal booster should create a signal boost of at least 23 dB for areas with low signal strength.
The signal booster should be connected to your TV and satellite using coaxial cables, which can be brought from major retailers and electronic stores.
FAQ
Should I use an omnidirectional or directional TV aerial in my caravan?
When positioned correctly, a directional caravan TV aerial has less interference than an omnidirectional TV aerial.
How can I boost my TV signal in my caravan?
A signal booster will boost the strength of weak TV signals in your caravan, especially in remote areas and those with a poor line of sight to the nearest tower.
How to get a good TV signal in a caravan
To get a good TV signal in a caravan, you should correctly position a directional caravan TV aerial using a satellite finder. You’ll need to ensure a good line of sight with the closest tower. Use a signal booster to improve the quality of your TV signal.
How do you align a TV aerial in a caravan?
Pointing in the direction of the closest tower, your TV satellite should be angled at around 145 degrees and the dish should face upwards by around 25 degrees.
Can you use normal TV in a caravan?
A small, standard TV is fine to use in a caravan as long as you’re staying on a pitch that has electric hook-up. When you don’t have access to electric hook-up, you will need to use a TV that has a 12V DC option or a specialised TV that can run on 12v.
Now that your TV signal is sorted, check out our guides to caravan accessories or caravan storage too.