You’ve most probably done your research and discovered that in order to consistently receive good TV reception all along your caravanning routes, your caravan TV will need the right antenna. This can either be part of a satellite TV set (that includes the antenna or satellite dish, and the receiver or decoder), or it can be a dedicated antenna that you append to your system to boost its signal reception. So how do you go about installing your new caravan antenna?
Location, location, location
Your caravan TV antenna is a physical contraption that needs to be suitably placed in order to receive your favourite channels while you drive around the country. Deciding where to put your new antenna is the first step of the installation process. Factors to be considered include the strength of your caravan’s structure, its height, and so on. For instance, if you’re installing your new antenna on the caravan’s roof, you’ll need to make sure that all the screws and junctions are completely sealed, else they could develop into a leakage problem. Again, if you have a pop-top, you might want to reinforce the area where the antenna will sit, so as to support its weight. If your antenna goes into a wall-mounted housing on the side of your caravan, you’ll need to make sure it isn’t coming in the way of any wires or cables running along the body of the caravan.
The antenna installation process
Caravan TV antennas are a little different from the antennas you’re accustomed to at home. The latter needs to be manually oriented in the direction of the nearest transmitter, while a caravan antenna is typically optimized to receive the maximum range of signals with minimum effort on the part of the user. As such, you don’t need to worry about directionality here. What you do need to do is follow the instructions in your new antenna’s installation manual, and you’re good to go. Installing most caravan antennas is fairly simple, and just involves screwing or bolting a few parts in place. Of these, installing retractable antennas (such as the Foldaway Antenna) is especially simple, involving just the mounting of a housing on the side of your caravan. So let us walk you through the basics of installing a more elaborate setup, such as the Wineguard Sensar antenna.
- Decide upon the location of your new antenna, making sure that you maintain at least 10” from the edge of the caravan’s roof.
- Drill holes through the roof and ceiling, as per the instructions and dimensions given in the installation manual. Ensure that you don’t drill through any wiring or cabling.
- Drill a hole through the roof only (not the ceiling), for running the cable down to the location of your caravan’s power supply.
- Install the antenna mount, and align the lifting shaft with the hole drilled in step 2. Now cut along the profile of the mount, and lower the system into place. Fasten as instructed.
- Install the antenna on the mount, and seal all junctions between the mount and your caravan’s cut-out.
- Make all cable connections as outlined in your user manual.
- Place the ceiling plate on top of the directional handle and slide the assembly into place in the ceiling (from inside your caravan).
- Assemble the final parts including the directional handle and elevating crank.
- Connect the decoder to the antenna, power the system on and complete the registration process.
You should now be ready to start viewing your favourite TV channels on the go. It's important to remember though, if you're not confident with the process just give us a call or shoot us an email and we'll be more than happy to help you out.
DISCLAIMER* Please note, this advice is general in nature and we strongly recommend consulting the product manual and where relevant, a professional installer.
