Our setup used a wind-up antenna that required manual rotation to point toward the nearest transmission tower. This type, known as a directional antenna, only receives signals from one direction. So when we camped between two regional towers, we could only pick-up one town’ s broadcasts, missing out on the other entirely.
To complicate things further, Australia’ s broadcast towers use two types of signal polarisation. About 60 per cent are horizontal, and 40 per cent are vertical. Unlike in the US, where all signals are horizontally polarised, Australia’ s mixed system means some imported antennas simply don’ t perform as well here.
And then there’ s the noise. Windup antennas can rattle and hum through the night, making sleep a challenge. Twice, we even forgot to lower the antenna before driving off, resulting in damage and eventual failure. The system was due for a modern upgrade.
ENTER THE VANTENNA
After sharing my frustrations with GoRV editor Max Taylor, he introduced me to VanTenna, a product from Australian company Cowfish Technologies. Founded by fellow traveller and radio frequency expert Evert Smit, Cowfish was born out of the same reception woes we faced. Evert’ s solution? A purpose-built antenna for Australian conditions.
VanTenna is a sleek, domeshaped, omnidirectional antenna that receives signals from all directions, no pointing or rotating required. Even better, it’ s engineered to pick-up both horizontal and vertical signals, ensuring maximum coverage wherever you park.
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