Best satellite set up for France/spain

Atley j
Atley j Forum Participant Posts: 59
edited March 2017 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Hi we are thinking  of buying a satellite set up to use in our caravan when we are in France and Spain we dont want one that goes on the roof  but a free standing one, any help from the good people on here we be much appreciated thank you.

 

Comments

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Club Member Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2017 #2

    Hi, I am sure that there will be better advice than I can  give on use of satellites, and the size required, but it depends on how far South you are going.

    A couple of years ago the 'beam' of the satellite was changed from a broad giving wide coverage to a spotlight type with very limited cover outside of the UK.

    We have tried the satellite in France but gave up and have now gone for a solution that will use wifi but, like any way that I have looked at, it is a bit hit and miss! We have got a wifi ariel and hope that we can pick up a Fon signal but even if it just makes it easier to pick up paid for wifi onsite we will be happy. I would say that it is just to catch up on news etc so no too bothered if we can't get a signal.

  • Simon100
    Simon100 Club Member Posts: 666
    500 Comments 100 Likes
    edited March 2017 #3

    You will really struggle to pick up BBC or Sky TV in the south of France or Spain without a very large dish due to the footprint of the signal.

    Your best bet is to use Google to search on this topic as there are so many variables.

    Try these for a start:

    https://www.satellitesuperstore.com/caravan-satellite.htm

    http://www.outdoorbits.com/sattv.php

    http://www.satgear.co.uk/portable-satellite-kits

    http://www.quicksatuk.com

    http://www.maxview.co.uk

     

  • Atley j
    Atley j Forum Participant Posts: 59
    edited March 2017 #4

    Thank you alanandjean also Simom 100 Ithink we will look into wifi 

    thanks for all your help.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited March 2017 #5
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Monkey104
    Monkey104 Forum Participant Posts: 55
    edited March 2017 #6

    I have a freesat box with 1 TB of memory.

    For the Monkey fest extravaganza this year we have started to record programmes and series links so that when we leave we can take the box with us in order to watch tv.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #7

    I'm a bit like AD, not too worried if there is no TV reception. A free standing dish is probably your best bet, it is certainly the cheapest option and with practice is not too difficult to set up. The most practical to carry is in my view 85cm, that should work as far south as Barcelona. Any further south and you will need a much larger dish to receive the UK public service channels. However, if you are a Sky subscriber you should still be able to receive some of their channels because some of them are on the European beam.

    peedee

  • Atley j
    Atley j Forum Participant Posts: 59
    edited March 2017 #8

    Thanks once again for all your help.

  • obbernockle
    obbernockle Forum Participant Posts: 616
    500 Comments
    edited March 2017 #9

    We used to use a dish and satellite box in France and Spain but gave up when the satellite transmission changed. These days we use wifi from any source available ie camp site and have a iBoost which helps to keep the signal particularly when it is poor in the evening. We get plenty of radio on the iPad. We also have a few hundred films on memory sticks which occupy no space and are light weight. These plug into the usb port on the TV.