Satellite dishes on 'vans

[CaptLimey]

Hi to all 'vanners.

Has anyone information, experience or a good website regarding satellite dishes that are suitable for mounting on a caravan to receive U.K. broadcast signals in Spain and/or Portugal?

Regards CL

[lacroupade]

http://www.conrad-anderson.co.uk/

while you are looking at their cruise control stuff....

[wildbri]

Hi captn, I understand that the bbc have reduced the size of there satt foot print, which means you may need a very large dish in spain. problem with fixed dishes as motor caravanners have found is its all line of site, so you fine a lovley shaded site with grand view and there is a large tree or hill in the way. With a dish thats not fixed you can move it around your pitch and have it sat on a tripod.......... or you do as we do....... take lots of books and let the world destroy its self, whilst we are happy and unaware... regards bri

[CaptLimey]

Many thanks to Lacroupade and Wild Bri for the response.

Lacroupade, the web link is interesting, he's got lots of stuff I simply can't live without! Many thanks.

Wildbri the advice re tripod mounted moveable dishes versus fixed dishes is much appreciate and very sound. It can be best described as 'a blinding glimpse of the bloody obvious'. If one pitches in a shady spot, it is unlikely to be in line of sight to any satellites! So all these expensive direction controllable or self seeking fitted systems have their limits.

Re taking a heap of books, I totally agree and we always do but we also like to keep in touch with current news. But to be honest, on our return, we always find that our absence from home has had little effect on world affairs!

Kind regards, CL

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

Bri, can you recommend a tripod suitable for a domestic 60cm dish. Towsure have
jacked up their price by a tenner for 09 catalogue!

[lacroupade]

is that £54 one on the above link too dear TtT2?

[terranolady]

We got hold of an old sky dish and when we went on to sky +,kept the old sky box.We then used the frame of one of those portable airers as the stand and put the dish on that. Works a treat ! We can get all the freeview channels as we kept our old card.(Dont want to watch too much telly on hol' ! but its great in the evenings )

[zippy656]

We got hold of an old sky dish and when we went on to sky +,kept the old sky box.We then used the frame of one of those portable airers as the stand and put the dish on that. Works a treat ! We can get all the freeview channels as we kept our old card.(Dont want to watch too much telly on hol' ! but its great in the evenings )

now that sounds like a good idea for getting sky + !!

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

is that £54 one on the above link too dear TtT2?


cant see it maybe having a blonde moment, but if hd tripod soundsok as said towsure
stuck a tenner on theirs this year. mind new van has omni aeriel and have bought a
new lcd with freeview built in. unless desperate seems more clutter to carry unless
got a roof mounted dish - if can find space as it has 6 roof vents and would consider
a fixed solar panel than cost of a noisey heavy genny.

[lacroupade]

http://www.conrad-anderson.co.uk/mobilesatellitetelevision/B2554-LNB.htm

theres a price list in there somewhere that had it at £54.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

http://www.conrad-anderson.co.uk/mobilesatellitetelevision/B2554-LNB.htm

theres a price list in there somewhere that had it at £54.

certainly looks the tripod, pity made redundant by above thoughts.

other disadvantage is more pitch clutter, something else to get nicked!

[lacroupade]

certainly looks the tripod, pity made redundant by above thoughts.

other disadvantage is more pitch clutter, something else to get nicked!

I thought vanners were salt of the earth and all that?

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

I thought vanners were salt of the earth and all that?

sure most are but doesnt stop other theiving magpies visiting the field. heard of whole
sites being ransacked for aqua rolls etc. on rallies where generally you get to know
everyone or someone knows others you dont 'aliens' atleast stand out.

[(RIP) PLANK]

we have a smalll free view box they work fine with all newish status type antennas and we have no issues, though to be honest i rarley set the TV up and preffer a book!

[CaptLimey]

we have a small free view box they work fine with all newish status type antennas and we have no issues, though to be honest i rarley set the TV up and preffer a book!

Hi Plank

Forgive my ignorance but can I ask what is a 'status type antenna' and where can I find one?

Also, do you know if one will work on our free view box in France and Spain?

Regards CL

[tezzer]

hi capt, there the white , round things with a point on top, you see on roofs of caravans, most of the later vans have then, as for working in spain, i cant help im affraid.:nenau



tezzer

[zippy]

Hi Plank

Forgive my ignorance but can I ask what is a 'status type antenna' and where can I find one?

Also, do you know if one will work on our free view box in France and Spain?

Regards CL

Hi There

Status is a company. They make caravan aerials. The status 'omnidirectional' aerial is the mushroom type on the top of the vans. They are worse than useless. The newer Status directional aerials look more like conventional aerials. They are on an extendable mast which you push up and turn from inside the caravan to get the best picture. They are great and i can pick up even quite weak signals. You can retrofit them to the van but it involves putting a hole in the roof - not for the fainthearted!

Regards
Lee

[(RIP) PLANK]

Hi Plank

Forgive my ignorance but can I ask what is a 'status type antenna' and where can I find one?

Also, do you know if one will work on our free view box in France and Spain?

Regards CL


they are the standard roof mounted antennas on most modern vans, they aree a bit pricey but can be bough at mst caravan dealers or from ebay, the later ones do pick up digital signals very well. though i have one on a 1999 caravan that is not so good but on a 2004 brilliat picture so they must have improved them.

but if i didnt have one fitted i would perhaps go for somehting cheaper, as yo dont need anything special ariel wise to pick up freeview just a decent ariel pointed towards the closest transmitter, remember with a normal ariel you can set it up quite well by lookingat the direction of everyone elses, and making sure you also have the elements either horizontal or vertical to match those around you.

when you have no reference poitn and are just moving it around to try and find a decent signal, you need to try the areil in both planes to get the best results.

[CaptLimey]

My thanks again to Tezzer, Zippy and Plank for the 'Antenna 101 lesson', I'm such a newbie at this stuff!

Still have a blank re what might work best in Spain to get Freeview/Astra signals to my new Freeview equipped TV. Do I go for a conventional terrestrial antenna, the latest 'Status' or a huge tripod mounted satellite dish?

I'm leaning towards the latter - anyone got one or have experience of receiving Freeview/Astra signals with one in Spain?

Regards CL

[(RIP) PLANK]

i would go for a conventional anteena, cheaper and usualy more flexible if a bit more trouble! if you get a black tipped univesal one you should have no problems in virtualy any location status do one complete with an extending alloy pole system and various clamp options.

The round ones with a pointy top i reffered too do have their drawbacks and if you really need tv you do some times end up resorting to a conventional antenna on a pole anyway, so why spend all the money and cut holes in the roof?

[(RIP) PLANK]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Status-image-530-18-2-directional-caravan-tv-aerial-NEW_W0QQitemZ120384315924QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Cam pervan_Caravan_Accessories?hash=item120384315924&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318

i have a really old one of these, i bought it with no cable second hand about 12 years ago for £1 and it has allways worked very well for me!

I htink the big thing is being able to get it up high enough to get a signal past any obstructions, ground mounted dishes are even worse as if another unit pitches up in front you have to start again, and i just cant be arsed to keep messing all the time im not that much of a telly addict.

[zippy656]

we dont have TV when away in the caravan.

just family time, playing games and reading.


the kids love it


we do have twin screen dvd player, for then rainy evenings.

[CaptLimey]

Hi Plank & Zippy

Yeah I think you have it about right, no TV is good TV!

We also, like you, do a lot of reading as French TV is worse than that in the U.K and I can't imagine what Spanish T.V. might be like - but we have yet to be educated!

So our primary focus is not for access to local/national terrestrial TV signals in Spain/Portugal but more towards international (Freeview) satellite transmissions. We just like to keep abreast with national/international news.

However I'm becoming less convinced that all the grief of buying/installing/co-ordinating the necessary gear is actually worth the effort? We can always go to the TV room of our chosen camp site!!!!

We're more Internet addicts and so we're inclined to put our emphasis on seeking camp sites with WiFi access, as we find surfing the 'Net and logging in to 'The club' much more entertaining.

Another thread contributor has suggested a mobile phone network USB plug in pay-as-you-go gizmo, for the country in which we are touring. We have no experience of these, therefore any recommendations of how to progress in that direction when caravanning abroad, initially for us it will be in Spain, would be much appreciated.

Regards CL

[zippy656]

family time is what campiang and holidays are all about.

[CaptLimey]

Hey Zippy don't worry about the thinking head, we love you just the way you are!

Regards CL

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

I've been wondering about wifi access, cos it could be hampered by fact your
in a tin box. suppose its possible to get an external aeriel for wifi then cable it
into 'van, perhaps a router or access point to allow more than 1 lappy to share
improved signal.

what would be handy is if sites adopted network over mains where the signal
is placed onto the voltage with a mains adapter type of thing in van to then
remove it and put onto ethernet cable. would be cheaper for site than running
ethernet to each pitch though would make super pitches super duper.

[zippy656]

I've been wondering about wifi access, cos it could be hampered by fact your
in a tin box. suppose its possible to get an external aeriel for wifi then cable it
into 'van, perhaps a router or access point to allow more than 1 lappy to share
improved signal.

what would be handy is if sites adopted network over mains where the signal
is placed onto the voltage with a mains adapter type of thing in van to then
remove it and put onto ethernet cable. would be cheaper for site than running
ethernet to each pitch though would make super pitches super duper.

laptop.. wifi.. you ment to me away, on holiday relaxing.. chilling out.

also would put the cost up more

[zippy656]

Hey Zippy don't worry about the thinking head, we love you just the way you are!

Regards CL

thats good, cause ive not found it yet.

[Paul]

I've been wondering about wifi access, cos it could be hampered by fact your
in a tin box. suppose its possible to get an external aeriel for wifi then cable it
into 'van, perhaps a router or access point to allow more than 1 lappy to share
improved signal.

what would be handy is if sites adopted network over mains where the signal
is placed onto the voltage with a mains adapter type of thing in van to then
remove it and put onto ethernet cable. would be cheaper for site than running
ethernet to each pitch though would make super pitches super duper.
Bit of topic, but the other weekend when we had the blinds down we had no signal on our moblie phones, so was thinking we will get the same when we take the laptop to use the internet.:nenau

[Paul]

This any good to anyone?
Just seen it..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CARAVAN-ADAPTED-ZONE-1-SKY-SATELLITE-DISH-INC-CABLE_W0QQitemZ110364017415QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_C ampervan_Caravan_Accessories?hash=item110364017415&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[dinky]

Most sites now have wifi for small charge,also use phone as a modem and connect through that.OK if you can get signal.

[rogerneale]

Hi to all 'vanners.

Has anyone information, experience or a good website regarding satellite dishes that are suitable for mounting on a caravan to receive U.K. broadcast signals in Spain and/or Portugal?

Regards CL

You'll need a 2 metre dish in Spain to receive any of the UK based channels.

If you use a smaller dish, you'll only be able to get the signals from Hotbird on 10.3 degrees and the old Astra on 19.2 degrees. Most of this is German, Italian, Belgian or Dutch , unless you count the Pornography from Luxembourg.

Use you're jockey wheel clamp to mount a 5 foot pecie of tube and put your dish on that, it'll be much more stable. It's easy really and they have a good selection of receivers etc in Maplin.

[CaptLimey]

Many thanks to Dinky, Paul and Rogerneal

I'm fast coming to the conclusion that perhaps the effort and kit necessary to receive UK TV signals direct to our 'van in Spain is just not worth the hassle. I can't imagine carrying, unloading and mounting a 2 metre satellite dish every time we move camp site. So thanks guys for all the good advice, it has helped me decide to use the new DVD/freeview equipped TV just for DVDs!

Regarding WiFi access at camp sites, those who are internet junkies, like us, might be interested in a gizmo I've just bought from the U.S. I haven't had the opportunity to use it just yet but the claimed performance might be useful at sites that offer WiFi access. Check out the 'Wi Fire' long range directional antenna at www.hfield.com.

Regards, CL.

[(RIP) PLANK]

Many thanks to Dinky, Paul and Rogerneal

I'm fast coming to the conclusion that perhaps the effort and kit necessary to receive UK TV signals direct to our 'van in Spain is just not worth the hassle. I can't imagine carrying, unloading and mounting a 2 metre satellite dish every time we move camp site. So thanks guys for all the good advice, it has helped me decide to use the new DVD/freeview equipped TV just for DVDs!

Regards, CL.

I agree I dont like carting allthat stuff about either, even for UK use there isnt anything on the TV worth going to that much trouble for! Some caravaners make me smile they have that much stuff their caravan arrives on site like a mobile shed and they have to empty half a ton of loungers microwaves bikes sattelite dishes, water prters, waste masters, fridge freezers etc etc before they can even get in and have acup of tea! I like to keep our caravans ready to use! Just wind the legs down and put the kettel on thats enogh work for me!
:thumbs

[Paul]

I agree I dont like carting allthat stuff about either, even for UK use there isnt anything on the TV worth going to that much trouble for! Some caravaners make me smile they have that much stuff their caravan arrives on site like a mobile shed and they have to empty half a ton of loungers microwaves bikes sattelite dishes, water prters, waste masters, fridge freezers etc etc before they can even get in and have acup of tea! I like to keep our caravans ready to use! Just wind the legs down and put the kettel on thats enogh work for me!
:thumbs
Like the TV or radio on just for background noise, living on a main road we have noise 24/7 so feels odd without it. :confused: (If you know what I mean)

[(RIP) PLANK]

I agree paul, I have a small wind up radio for background noise it is usefull when our 4 year old is asleep so talking doesnt disturb her. As for traffic noise i think it is difficult to truly get away from that no matter where you go these days!

[Paul]

I agree paul, I have a small wind up radio for background noise it is usefull when our 4 year old is asleep so talking doesnt disturb her. As for traffic noise i think it is difficult to truly get away from that no matter where you go these days!
Tell us about it, so used of cars & that passing in the day & night, feels odd when it's all quite :eek:

[(RIP) PLANK]

Tell us about it, so used of cars & that passing in the day & night, feels odd when it's all quite :eek:

have you noticed when there are less cars they seem to go faster and make more noise so you dont win either way! and the 'revvin kevin's' with thier sub woofers you can hear the bass coming before the big exhaust :lol