Satellite TV for Motorhome.

Touringboy
Touringboy Forum Participant Posts: 9
edited November 2016 in New to Caravanning & Touring #1

I am looking to set up some sort of TV system in my motorhome that will work in Europe as well as UK. It Currently has a manufacturers standard TV and aerial but isn't very good. I have managed to set up a nowtv box but this relies on a good stable Internet
connection which isn't always available. So I have decided to go for Satellite but prices seem to range so much and I am unsure what is the best option.

Comments

  • mickysf
    mickysf Club Member Posts: 6,492
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    edited November 2016 #2

    HI, there are lots of threads on here which extol the virtues of both free standing and fixed dishes, automatic and manual ones etc. It really does depend on your need and that of your vans. Me, I'm a manual freestanding advocate.

  • H B Watson
    H B Watson Forum Participant Posts: 183
    edited November 2016 #3

    I totally agree with mickysf, it's horses for courses. Personally I'm a fixed, automatic fan, in other words lazy, but thay all work, it's just how much you want to spend in the end.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited November 2016 #4
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  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 14,063
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    edited November 2016 #5

    I would have thought that if you are going to the bother of having a roof mounted dish the minimum requirement should be that it is automatic as it saves so much time. Domes are apparently good in windy conditions but they have a small sized dish in them
    and you will be unlikely to pick up much in the way of UK programmes much south of the Loire. THis really leaves you the clam style folding dish and as BB suggests 85cms is really the size you should go for. Even these come in so many different varieties,
    Standard LNB, Autoshew LNB and Twin LNB. We went for the standard which works for us in most circumstances. If you are going to be at the edge of the footprint a lot then autoshew might be worth the extra money. If we are out of range we just accept that and
    can often pick up a few news programmes on other satellites. We always have the DVD player in the TV if we get stuck.

    David

  • iffajobsworthdoing
    iffajobsworthdoing Club Member Posts: 94
    edited November 2016 #6

    Have a look at the Oyster Cytrac, great piece of kit and although pricey is very simple to install and use.

  • Paragon
    Paragon Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited November 2016 #7

    Just a quick point on the satellite front and that's trees are your biggest enemy. I've been on many sites where I've been next to a motor home with an expensive fixed motorised dish and no picture due to trees and I'm watching my Sky on the pitch next door
    having found a gap in the trees with my 30 quid multimo that I bought off eBay. 

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    Unknown
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  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,960
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    edited November 2016 #9

    Now you see that is our dilema, we currently have an 85cm freestanding dish and tripod. we have used it very successfully all over France/Gemany/Belgium/Luxembourg and even a bit into Spain (no BBC or ITV though)

    OH is now having a fully automatic 85cm Oyster dish fitted as he is fed up setting it up (think pouring rain or 1 night stopover) also having to cart around a big dish and tripod, i think he's getting old and grumpy.

    My concern is the trees, we've been on lots of sites and like 'paragon' have received a signal while others with roof mounted haven't. So on his head be it if he can't get a signal because of trees, when I want to watch my soaps Wink 
     BB does it really make that much differance being on a South facing pitch, the dish rotatesUndecided 

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited November 2016 #10
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  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,960
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    edited November 2016 #11

    Thanks BB, sorry was being a bit pedantic there wasn't I apologies.Embarassed

    OH has a compass app, there is also one on the satnav and we have a hand held one from his Army days, talk about belt and bracesLaughing

    Guess we are going to have to be a bit more selective, that should please him, I'm bad enough now Laughing

     

  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,464
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    edited November 2016 #13

    i use an app called "dish align" ,it's free  Happy

  • Natasha2
    Natasha2 Forum Participant Posts: 306
    100 Comments
    edited November 2016 #14

    Last year we were staying on a campsite in the beautiful Lot valley.  It was a gorgeous sunny day to enjoy a walk in the lovely surrounding countryside or to cool off in the site pool.  What are they doing next door only sat in the caravan watching repeats
    of Eastenders and the Chase. 

    I realise we are all different but it's not for me. 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 14,063
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    edited November 2016 #15

    I think that when you have a roof mounted dish you tend to get a sixth sense on what pitches would be best. The trouble is so has everyone else with such a dish!!! BB is right about looking at where the sun is and from late morning to early afternoon if you have a clear view you are likely to lock onto a signal. TG you will be like the cat that got the cream, or at least Phil will, when have the dish up and running. It is often a much asked question at campsite reception so there will also be local knowledge. ON a municipal in France I asked about using a satellite dish and the lady said I must pitch here and she was right. On another the lady manager of the site insisted I moved pitch because I couldn't get a signal. I doubted her but she was right!! When on CC sites I download the site plan as they are usually marked with north on them so easy to see where south is and the likely best pitches.

    David

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,960
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    edited November 2016 #16

    Thanks DK, he will certainly be a lot easier to live with if he doesn't have hassle setting it up Wink We do have an aerial for use in the UK and have so far not had a problem getting a signal with it, but we want to do the very North and Islands at some stage so the dish will come in handy then as well as abroad.

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2016 #17

    We have suffered with no signal on a few CC sites namely Longleat, Battle and Putts Corner.  Luckily there were plenty of free pithces so it was a simple job of moving the van quickly turning the TV on and waiting 30 seconds for it to tune in (or not).  BB
    advice regarding clear vision to the south is good except when its hissing down and the sun is nowhere to be seen !!Worried

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited November 2016 #18
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  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,960
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    edited November 2016 #19

    TG, one other thing (before plumber arrives, lol), we used to have a Camos flatsat on the Bolero and any tree leaves etc seemed to have a big impact on the signal....however, the larger 85cm dish hardly seems affected by stray leaves etc, pulling in a signal
    even when you might think it would struggle.

    bigger, certainly better, in this case....Happy

    Laughing

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