Satellite reception – antenna selection

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The choice of antenna for satellite reception in a motorhome is often accompanied by the question of which of the various designs is technically best suited, whether the inconspicuous flat antenna, the slightly higher dome antenna or the usual parabolic antenna.

Basically, to get the answer straight away, a parabolic antenna with increasing diameter always has the highest reception quality. Why? Because the mirror focuses the satellite signal onto the LNB (receiving antenna) and thus amplifies it in advance - purely optically - similar to a magnifying glass that can concentrate the incoming sunlight onto a point and thus amplify it.

Flat or dome antenna

A flat or dome antenna measures this pre-amplification of the parabolic mirror and - only partially compensating for it - has several antenna elements arranged in one plane. The received signal is therefore generally comparatively weaker.

While the flat antenna was developed for applications with the smallest amount of space and visually largely inconspicuous, the focus of the dome antenna was on the low wind load and seawater resistance for boat and ship installation.

As with all antennas, rain is the enemy of electromagnetic waves because they cover any surrounding housing with a conductive film of water, which at least hinders reception, if not makes it impossible. Flat and dome antennas have a very large housing/radome surface area compared to the very small LNB cover of the feedhorn.

Reception while driving

Anyone who relies on satellite reception while driving, rarely in a motorhome, but mostly on boats and ships, cannot do without a very powerful radome antenna, such as this SAT DOM 77 M-GS of Oyster, around. The equivalent of a 50cm parabolic mirror. The built-in gyro control ensures continuous alignment with the selected satellite while driving and consistently good reception.