Recently purchased an ex-rental Merc Sprinter campervan.
It came with what appears to be a Majestic UFO X TV Antenna - 27cm diameter fixed disc.
Where there is a strong signal (Capital Cities) reception is excellent however moving to the sticks (Gin Gin, Byron Bay etc) things deteriorate rather quickly.
However in looking to improve things (new antenna, Booster) it would appear that the Majestic is primarily designed for a marine application - for RV use, they recommend a ANTRV01 which is specifically designed for ground dependent installations.
I know bugger all about these things and being located in Cairns experts are thin on the ground.
I want to keep things as simple as possible and am not keen on installing a Winegard and the like which would entail drilling further holes in the roof.
Has anyone had any experience with the Majestic UFO X, the ANTRV01 and whether installing a booster would be worth pursuing, or know anyone in the Cairns area that would provide a font of knowledge and wisdom in the matter?
Oh, and any other suggestions would be appreciated except those relating to spelling, grammar
Gee jonesboy, you have taken all the fun out of it for the few Forum English Teachers that hang out here You spoilt sport you
I have a Jack antenna on my aluminium teepee and regularly stay at GigGin and Byron Bay and I too have trouble in both those areas. I also have big problems getting reception on the farm in Young NSW I frequent a lot. The teepee is down low in a paddock and the TV town mast is up high but over the hills from the farm and I also have to get through a heap of big trees. So the poor Jack is behind the eight ball before he starts. I get good Telstra cover though so just stream any TV I want to watch. I have a 'smart' TV and I have a big data plan for Internet use so all good.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Can't help you with your TV if you don't want a Wineguard. But ..
For your spelling and Grammar .. try the free 'App' Grammarly. It offers correction to both including punctuation. LOL
I carry back up movies on an external HDD & DVDs for my TV and Laptop. I rarely use them though. When there is no TV I revert to the radio and a supply of books, both hard copy and on my Kindle.
Hi,
The Magestic antenna has an inbuilt amplifier, the antenna cable should have a small black box called a power inserter, which will have an in and out tv cable connector, and also a 12 volt dc input, this box helps power the amplifier in the antenna. I would never have regarded them as a good RV antenna, check it has 12 volts connected.
You are brave people, Petensue, Mike Harding is sharpening his punctuation/capital letter usage critique at this very moment.
Byron Bay might have it's attractions for some, but I think it's the end of civilisation as we know it. The Gin Gin bakery is OK but the caravan park behind the servo is somewhat.....challenging.
Still searching for solutions to my TV reception woes.
It may be worth looking at a second hand satellite system if you enjoy tv.
We have a Winegard antenna, but can have issues with reception. A VAST receiver and satellite set up will get tv in a great majority of situations, and will not cost a great deal more than a new antenna. It will give you reception not only in towns but also in the outback, or when you are REALLY where civilisation has never existed!
As you can often pick up a second hand system for around the $300 mark it may work for you. I picked one up for $270, and spent another $50 to get a few additional bits, and we use it often to overcome shortcomings with the antenna.
Good luck.
-- Edited by TheHeaths on Thursday 23rd of January 2020 10:05:45 AM
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Regards Ian
Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done
jonesboy,
Hi! You are located in Cairns & consider Gin Gin & Byron Bay to be out in the sticks? You must be like some of my former workmates who had not been past Charters Towers!
Or like some of the people who answered my query on another forum about the stupid shark fin aerial that they put on cars these days. I said I wanted to be able to use the AM band like I used to in my former Nissan Patrol - some 3-500kms away from a good transmitter. They thought a range of up to 200kms was good! And the car manufacturer thinks I should only listen to FM or the internet!
Like several others above, we have the Wineguard aerial & where it peters out, then it's book reading time. Check the 12v is present to your aerial/amplifier - get a multimeter if you haven't got one (they can cost as low as $10-20).
And don't worry about your grandma - there are some "interesting" postings on here!
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
Most caravan antenna's are a compromise between physical size and mounting convenience, although a booster can assist a signal it can only work on the signal it receives from the antenna.
The antenna is the critical part of the system and a great receiver /television will be useless with out a good antenna.
As with any receiver of radio (TV) signals the sensitivity of the radio or television can make a difference, the gain or ability of the antenna to capture a signal is important, height and location away from structures that can inhibit signal is also a factor, VHF and UHF (very high and ultra high frequencies ) signals at Australian TV frequency travel by "line of siight' therefore distance from a transmitter and earth surface curvature will affect distance for a given signal.
Polarisation of the transmitted signal plays a part also, though now most major cities in Australia transmit with a Horizontal pattern although vertical patterns are also transmitted as in inner Melbourne (I believe) Canberra is vertical and Darwin a combination of both.
Transmitter power from a given location also plays a part as does the height and location of transmission antenna's.
Therefore given where you are located the type of antenna , polarisation, size and direction will have an effect.
The best scenario, IMHO, however and certainly not the most convenient for daily moving on type travel is a seperate mast attached to the drawbar or caravan back bar with a larger type hi- gain antenna that can be rotated in the desired signal originating direction.
The higher the better and away from particularly metal obstacles, iron roofs etc.
We have this ability when our Wineguard (improved_) antenna is insufficient and often other caravanners are often surprised that we have signal when they haven't.
But its not without some work to extend the telescopic rod (attached to rear bar) the antenna is mounted on when required, i use a telescopic "pool type cleaningextension " to mount the hi gain Hills brand house type antenna when required. They are available at most large chainstores of the K'mart, Big W ilk. The antenna its self unless on very rough roads can be left mounted and hovers facing forward over the rear of the van sometimes with a foam piece zip tied to cushion it.
As others have stated only Satellite reception will give reception when outside normal transmission areas!
PS we have noticed a variation in sensitivity of televisions
Sorry my final summation was cut off, we find that the Kenwood, JVC and Pioneer brand of car type radios superior in sensitivity for MW and FM radio signals and also provide 2 shortwave bands when well outside local xmission areas, I left Sony's out due to their units not having shortwave here in Australia however they are excellent units for MW and FM.
Sadly due to the demise of Radio Australia's shortwave service, we can't get local news when in say Boulia, Betoota daytime, etc but Radio New Zealand and "China Drive" in English boom in.
At night AM or MW signals are well received from many stations on our Pioneer units in tow vehicle and caravan.
You spoilt sport you 
