satellite dish in a box kit

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

Been offered a kit, think about 35 cm dish 12V receiver with mains adapter
various mounts including suction, cable special compass. looks new in box
other than card board sleeve a bit worn.

Say Comag on box and 803, under receiver say Lidl.

Reckon new equivalent kit on the bay for £99-120

toyed with idea before but not got round to getting one, other than having
a spare house dish 80cm and 240V tv box, rejected as too bulky and maybe
pain setting up.

So whats this one worth, nice and compact in blown plastic box, though still
going to take some space up in caravan, maybe in wardrobe. might just go
under bunk where tv stores.

appreciate any thoughts on how good these are, worth the trouble etc.

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

i don't watch the telly much at all and it all seems a lot of bother to me, I usually don't even bother taking a telly, but I'm weird so wait for a few replies from sensible people :thumb2

 

[Deleted account DD]

Well im not sensible cos i bought one

Throughout the summer youll see kits on offer at lidl , aldi & maplins usually for around the £50 to £75 mark, some have better kit in than others.

The one we got (and its a decent one) is crap. Technically/electronically its fine. Setting it up and more to the point keeping it set up is more hassle than its worth imho.

The suction cup is an absolute waste of time, climbing up on the bunks or bed to reach through the skylight to try and set it up is a ****ing nightmare. In theory its ok but the flexibility of the roof panel means it can wobble, worse than that it will fall off at some stage

Id suggest you work out some kind of pole affair for the jockey wheel area or get a tripod. Even then its more weight & more hassle. Lightweight tripods wobble too much in the slightest woosiest breeze.

If you want to use it touring its a pain in the arse making sure youve got no obstructions in the right direction it needs to point.

We leave it at home most of the time, may take it away this summer because expectations are so low anything would be ok.

We found a better option was a flat screen tv with freeview built in which works fine off the status aerial and booster most places :thumb2

hope that helps :augie

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

an interesting echo of my thoughts. A satellite dish needs and uninterrupted view of the satellite (I used to install satellite systems - years ago - for Thorn EMI) so if anyone walks on front with their dog, or kids are playing or anything your picture will go, unless it's above head height and you choose a spot with no trees, buildings etc in advance - go freeview!

 

[illy]

I got one, used jockey wheel mount with about a 7ft alloy pol. Think mine is a silvercrest from Aldi cost £65. I'm using it right this minute on a wall mount on the side of my house, just takes about 3 minutes to take it down and chuck it in the van. No probs with mine superb picture in the van on my 19" LCD TV. Ace

illy

 

[Deleted account DD]

I got one, used jockey wheel mount with about a 7ft alloy pol. Think mine is a silvercrest from Aldi cost £65. I'm using it right this minute on a wall mount on the side of my house, just takes about 3 minutes to take it down and chuck it in the van. No probs with mine superb picture in the van on my 19" LCD TV. Ace

illy

Not doubting it works fine, we've had some superbly clear Israeli documentaries on whilst parked up in somerset ...no BBC 1 but hey, next time Ill get them to fell the trees felix you there ??? :lol

Our box works fine on the dish at home and similarly if the dish is set up to mimic the home one its spot on :thumb2

BUT 3 minutes to take down isnt really the point how long does it take to set it up ? :augie

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

this says silvercrest, somewhere abd under set top box says lidl.

wondered about flex, dont like suckers, often seem locked on then
relax, classic is tomtom mount, trying to catch it as drive along...

seen this tiny dishes mounted to jocky wheel winder, ok if facing south
ish, and no one obstructs it.

the stb is tiny, neat and handy that is 12V though of cause camping
without mains how long will battery last with tv on inverter. ok if get
proposed solar panel different/another story.

got a factory fit status 'ufo' already and where good terrestial signal
happily feed freeview into the lcd tv.

at one time had though if was buying said status would plump for fixed
folding dish. still for what we watch tv well dunno if worth it all.

logic is terrestial has to be poor and on mains until get 'unlimited 12V'
and staying more than a weekend and not be a rally.

kind of limits need?

so whats new second hand kit worth do you think if brand new £100?

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

i would think it's worth about a third to a half of the new price.

amazing but true, i have stayed in a caravan for 3 months on the same leisure battery without a re-charge!

 

[Deleted account DD]

Tbh its worth what you want to pay for it.

Absolute tops for me ,£50 if you really want it because if you hang on and watch the flyers youll get a brand new one for around that during the summer :thumb2

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

cheers guess trying to talk myself out of it anyway,

its worth something but can see it just filling seat box.

summer evenings more likely a walk round local seafront
and that means those winter evenings where it would
be wanted be spent going out to adjust it....

will give it back, then might be given it anyway.

think its friends of dad that have given up touring
anyway so if cant be arsed to flog it....


c'mon plank how does a batttery last 3 months was this
back in the days of gas lights?

any thoughts on solar panels, atleast 60 watt output
for long term avoidance of hookup or a gennie. not for
mains even via an invertor but just to run factory 12V
stuff.

 

[geoffdown]

cheers guess trying to talk myself out of it anyway,

its worth something but can see it just filling seat box.

summer evenings more likely a walk round local seafront
and that means those winter evenings where it would
be wanted be spent going out to adjust it....

will give it back, then might be given it anyway.

think its friends of dad that have given up touring
anyway so if cant be arsed to flog it....


c'mon plank how does a batttery last 3 months was this
back in the days of gas lights?

any thoughts on solar panels, atleast 60 watt output
for long term avoidance of hookup or a gennie. not for
mains even via an invertor but just to run factory 12V
stuff.

i got a 80w pannel from ebay brand new for £169 posted used it 1 weekend so far and it is doing a good job i also got the portable sat system from b&q was listed for £75 but when i went to self service it came up £28 so i got it for £28 :thumbs

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

£28 wow.

was looking at 60W last year now see 80s for same price, a lot of my mates in a
caravan rallying swear by 'em. They say go for atleast 43W.

do you have it on a stand on the field or on roof, fixed or temporary?

think the sustanability is a big point, help offset the carbon foot print of getting
the rig to the site lol

 

[Coop48]

I got a £69.99 kit from Maplins. added it to a tripod kit off e-bay. Use it all the time when out in the van to watch news and weather. Really good never had a problem anywhere in the UK. Just program out all the channels you dont want or it takes ages to get through them. Runs a treat on 12v as well.
Gary

 

[Deleted account DD]

Really good never had a problem anywhere in the UK.

We,ve found it works on big sites, they tend to be open plan or hedges. However we spend loads more time on CL type sites. Big barns & trees tend to be more prevalent and its those that tend to kill off the height/distance ratio :thumbs

 

[geoffdown]

£28 wow.

was looking at 60W last year now see 80s for same price, a lot of my mates in a
caravan rallying swear by 'em. They say go for atleast 43W.

do you have it on a stand on the field or on roof, fixed or temporary?

think the sustanability is a big point, help offset the carbon foot print of getting
the rig to the site lol

i made brackes so when towing its in side the caravan once at sight i open up the rooflight slide it back put solar pannel through roof light hock in to brackets then i can tilt it towards the sun or bolt it down if high winds its agood setup works for me and cant blow over on a free standing stand:thumb2

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

i made brackes so when towing its in side the caravan once at sight i open up the rooflight slide it back put solar pannel through roof light hock in to brackets then i can tilt it towards the sun or bolt it down if high winds its agood setup works for me and cant blow over on a free standing stand:thumb2

sounds good, got what i reckon is a nice asized area behinf the front lounge sunroof.

probably could even fix permanently there and be protected by sunroof. just unsure
about gluing to roof and then getting wiring in, temp wise can drop down side into
battery locker. guess do that first see how get on.

 

[geoffdown]

sounds good, got what i reckon is a nice asized area behinf the front lounge sunroof.

probably could even fix permanently there and be protected by sunroof. just unsure
about gluing to roof and then getting wiring in, temp wise can drop down side into
battery locker. guess do that first see how get on.

just becaerfull to allow some air flow round the back of the pannel as they do get hot and need air flow round the back, and to get the most out of the pannel u need to tilt it towards the sun not so bad in summer but winter months or spring and a 80w pannel which is flat will give out the same out put as a 40w

 

[illy]

Not doubting it works fine, we've had some superbly clear Israeli documentaries on whilst parked up in somerset ...no BBC 1 but hey, next time Ill get them to fell the trees felix you there ??? :lol

Our box works fine on the dish at home and similarly if the dish is set up to mimic the home one its spot on :thumb2

BUT 3 minutes to take down isnt really the point how long does it take to set it up ? :augie

10 minutes

illy

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

well i,ve decided to give it back.

for few times i'd use it and the then fiddling around assembling it
and securing it probably not even to me worth £20 factoring
storage.

if didnt have a factory fitted omni aerial and was going to buy
one would plough that investment into a fixed mount folding
dish.

my other error now was not buying my lcd tv without a dvd built
in though atleast can add one easily, then its just more clutter
with box and cables....

thanks for advice everyone.

 

[briggie]

well i,ve decided to give it back.

for few times i'd use it and the then fiddling around assembling it
and securing it probably not even to me worth £20 factoring
storage.

if didnt have a factory fitted omni aerial and was going to buy
one would plough that investment into a fixed mount folding
dish.

my other error now was not buying my lcd tv without a dvd built
in though atleast can add one easily, then its just more clutter
with box and cables....

thanks for advice everyone.

the reciever will work with a existing sattelite dish at home for example . or someone who hasnt got a sky box anymore for example :augie