The best caravan TV aerial will be an important piece of touring kit, allowing caravanners to relax and enjoy their favourite television shows with a picture-perfect image.
Nowadays, the best caravan TVs will typically come with built-in Freeview tuners, which allow you to plug in your caravan aerial and then start enjoying your favourite shows.
You may already have considered whether a smart TV will work in a caravan or not, but the advantage of one of the best caravan TV aerials is that it will help you enjoy live television even if you don’t have good access to the internet in a caravan at your chosen campsite.
The most common type you will see is a roof-mounted omnidirectional caravan aerial. If you’ve toured before, you will most likely have seen one of these. They have the benefit of being fast and simple to set up, but reception can sometimes be hit-and-miss. You will also need to tune it in carefully when you’ve arrived at your chosen site.
There are also directional aerials – these see the reception focused on one direction. The benefit of such a system is it results in stronger reception, but the downside is it isn’t as fast to set up as an omnidirectional aerial, and will also require at least vaguely knowing what direction the TV mast is in.
To help you find the best caravan aerial for your tourer, we’re sharing our favourite picks on the market, including options from Milenco, Avtex and more.
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What is the best TV aerial for a caravan?
Vision Plus Status 350 Omni-Directional Digital TV Antenna
Milenco Power 900 Omni-Directional TV Aerial
Vision Plus Status 355
Avtex STH3000 Digital Caravan TV Aerial
Falcon Amplified Portable Magnetic DTV Aerial
Mercury 120.910UK
Vision Plus Status 570 Directional TV and Radio Antenna
Sniper Automotive Portable Digital TV Aerial
The best caravan TV aerials:
Vision Plus Status 350 Omni-Directional Digital TV Antenna
Reason to buy:
- Good cable length, ideal for digital TV
Reason to avoid:
- Doesn’t receive DAB radio or FM signals
We think the Status 350 is a well designed option if you’re looking for a caravan TV aerial that is suited to digital television. However, we should point out that unlike the Status 355 that features further down our list, the Status 350 doesn’t receive FM or DAB radio signals, something which could be a deciding factor for some.
However, the omnidirectional TV aerial does come with a VP2 TV signal amplifier, while we reckon the five metre integrated coaxial cable will provide plenty of flexibility for creating the viewing experience that best suits you. If you want even more versatility, a model with a 10-metre cable is also available.
The TV aerial comes with three fitting options. These include the permanent option, a 25mm mast fitting and, lastly, a suction pad fitting.
Milenco Power 900 Omni-Directional TV Aerial
Reason to buy:
- Should work well in low signal areas
Reason to avoid:
- Quite expensive
Milenco is a well-known and trusted brand within the caravanning accessory sphere, with this impressive omnidirectional TV aerial coming packed with features to ensure you get a good picture when pitched up in your tourer. Coming with a 38dB gain, the manufacturer says it should even work effectively in low signal areas.
As it’s 4G compatible, it means 4G phone networks should not impact your picture, while its omnidirectional properties should make setting it up straightforward, as, unlike a directional aerial, there is no need to move it to face the signal.
One thing we will highlight is it’s a bit bulkier than some of the options in our guide, coming to a height of 32cm, a base diameter of 26cm and a top diameter of 48cm.
We will also point out that the coaxial cable that plugs from the antenna to the amplifier is only 1.3 meters, while the supplied coaxial cable to connect the amplifier to the TV is 1.5 meters, something to factor in when creating your setup.
However, we like how it offers good durability, thanks to its UV-resistant and waterproof ABS exterior.
Check the latest price at B&Q now.
Vision Plus Status 355
Reason to buy:
- Suitable for digital TV and FM Dab Radio
Reason to avoid:
- Not suited to those after a directional aerial
If you’re looking for a way to enjoy digital television and radio on tour, this could be the device for you.
This caravan TV aerial from Vision Plus is not only suitable for digital TV, but also for FM DAB Radio (88-108 Mhz). The omni-directional device also comes with a power amplifier to help you achieve the best picture. It can be fitted to the roof of your tourer or mast mounted, while there’s also an optional sucker mount.
We like that you have the opportunity to adjust the angle too, taking any sloping surfaces into account.
It comes with a five metre cable, making it easier to position your TV in your place of choice within your tourer.
Avtex STH3000 Digital Caravan TV Aerial
Reason to buy:
- Very lightweight
Reason to avoid:
- Cable is only three metres
Avtex is a well known name in the electronic world, and it’s not surprising that they’ve made an appearance here, through the STH3000 Digital Caravan TV Aerial. We like how lightweight the device is, coming in at only 0.29kg. We also like that it is small in size and simple to use – essentials, we think, when you’re on tour.
It comes with an integrated 20db amplifier and a 12/24v DC power inserter.
The waterproof product also has a UV-resistant housing for added benefits. The one thing we would highlight with it is that the supplied cable is only three metres long, so you will need to ensure this will reach where you want to place your TV.
Falcon Amplified Portable Magnetic DTV Aerial
Reason to buy:
- Has an amplifier, portable
Reason to avoid:
- Amplifier requires a USB socket
Made by Falcon, a brand you may have come across when looking for a tourer TV, this portable caravan aerial is suitable for achieving DVB-T Freeview Digital TV and DAB signals.
We like how it features a built-in amplifier which is powered by a USB, helping you achieve reception even in areas with poor signal. We’re also fans of how straightforward it is to fit, simply requiring plugging into your TV’s antenna and USB sockets, before positioning it on the roof so you can watch your chosen channels. Thanks to its omnidirectional properties, it shouldn’t require moving around either.
We also reckon its five-meter rG-58 coaxial cable should make it easy to set up in the position of your choosing. Coming with a magnetic mount base, we like how the aerial is only 5″ tall, providing some useful portability too.
Check the latest price on Amazon now.
Vision Plus Status 570 Directional TV and Radio Antenna
Reason to buy:
- LED indicator makes it straightforward to tell signal strength
Reason to avoid:
- Directional option requires an idea of where the TV mast is
Our third Vision Plus model to make it onto our round up of the best caravan TV aerials is a directional option. The slim and compact Status 570 is ideal if you’re looking for a Digital TV directional aerial that also provides DAB & FM reception.
One thing we really like is the LED indicator; this will swap between red, yellow and green, based on the strength of the signal. The aerial also includes the VP5 Digital TV Amplifier and the integral Signal Finder.
Mercury 120.910UK
Reason to buy:
- Comes with a splitter, good six metre cable, built-in amplifier
Reason to avoid:
- Not omnidirectional
Suitable for HDTV digital TV and DAB/FM radio signals, this outdoor aerial from Mercury comes with a built-in amplifier which should help you achieve a good picture.
The supplied clamp will let you mount it on a pole that is up to 38mmØ. The kit also includes a splitter that will let you connect a second radio or TV too, while we like how the six metre connection cable offers some useful flexibility to create a setup best suited to your tourer’s arrangement.
Sniper Automotive Portable Digital TV Aerial
Reason to buy:
- Budget-friendly price
Reason to avoid:
- No amplifier
We think this omni-directional Freeview DVB-T and DAB Antenna is ideal for anyone who wants a portable aerial for a caravan at a bargain price.
Thanks to its magnetic base, it can sit on the roof of your caravan, and the protective rubber cup will help to prevent any marks being left on the surface of your ‘van.
It comes with a five metre lead too, that is also fitted with a TV Co-axial connector.
How to choose the best caravan TV aerial
The crux of this decision comes down to whether you’d prefer an omnidirectional caravan aerial or a directional caravan TV aerial. Both types have their own pros and cons.
Starting with an omnidirectional caravan TV aerial, these generally look like plastic discs and are commonly seen at campsites. Capable of simultaneously receiving a signal from every direction, these aerials are quick to install and set up – then, once in position, you can leave it to it. However, the downside of an omnidirectional aerial is it can struggle to get a good picture in an area with weaker reception – here, an amplifier will be required, which some of the options in our guide come with.
The other type is a directional caravan aerial. These focus reception in a single direction, making reception both stronger and more reliable. However, the downside here is you’ll need to have an idea of where the TV mast is, and it can take a few minutes to set up once you’re pitched up.
How to get a good TV signal in a caravan
The method for achieving a good TV signal will, in part, depend on whether you go for an omnidirectional caravan aerial or a directional caravan aerial. If you’ve opted for an omnidirectional aerial, you’ll need to see whether or not it comes with an amplifier – if it doesn’t, it’s well worth investing in one. These can boost the incoming signal so it has the required strength for your TV. However, a note of caution – these could end up boosting unwanted signals as well, something which can be an issue if you’re in a more built-up or urban setting.
When it comes to directional caravan TV aerials, you’ll need to have an idea as to where you should be pointing it – and whether to put it vertically or horizontally. You may be surprised by the difference the orientation can have, potentially deciding whether the channels are only found intermittently – or not at all.
To identify where the signal is, you can consider buying a TV strength meter. These work by finding the direction the signal is coming from – to use, just plug it in where the TV is connected in your tourer and then rotate the aerial until the signal levels change – you’ll then know where the mast is. At this point, you can lock the aerial into position and make tweaks to the orientation as required. Then remove the meter and tune the TV.
An amplifier can also help here if it has a built-in signal meter, simply requiring the rotation of the aerial until the indicator changes colour.
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