We've had some great advice on here about the dish/receiver that we should get for our caravan - but when left to our own devices it all gets very complicated - what cables do we need, how to we fix it the caravan etc. etc.
We've come across the Comag 39cm EasyFind Camping and Caravan Satellite TV Kit. Looks like a really simple plug and play solution.
Has anybody got this - can you recommend it(or otherwise)?
That Dish size will be fine for all UK and even Northern France.
I would say that you are better using a free standing Tripod to mount the Dish, you can get a specific satellite Dish Tripod, I use a Lidl Bike stand that has Four legs.
The Comag satellite receivers are very good and we carry a 12v model as back up.
But mostly use a Humax Foxsat Freesat PVR, it's a bit bulky but does a fine job.
In fact I am looking to change for a Sab Titan Micro, which is a satellite receiver the size of a fag packet than can also work as a PVR.
The best tip I can give is to ensure that your Dish is set to the correct elevation at your location, before you start searching for the Bird.
The easy way to do this is to calibrate your Dish at home, using the Astra2 satellite.
Then when you get to your chosen campsite, look up the Elevation for where you are, plenty of google sites have the info, you can check before you set of.
All you need then is a cheap Digital Angle Finder to set the Dish to the correct elevation.
You will then find the satellite in a matter of seconds.
Sounds easy, and it is, just practice at home a few times before you go, and you will soon get the hang of it.
Some folk make a real dogs dinner of finding the satellite, and often give up blaming the kit, this is because they treat finding a satellite signal in the same way as would if finding a terrestrial signal, the two methods are of course completely different.
Thanks again Francais. You seem to know your stuff so I've got a lot of respect for your advice. However from what I've read if I want guaranteed coverage in Scotland I need a 54 cm dish. Is this just the manufacturers being cautious? As long as I can get a signal in all but the most remote parts of Scotland then I'm happy - but manufacturer guidelines are pointing me to bigger, clumpier dishes which start to become a less attractive "portable" proposition!
Prior to 2014 it was recommended that the larger Sky Zone 2 Mini-Dish was to be used in Scotlant, but since the Satellite changes in February 2014 a std Sky Mini-Dish is fine for all UK and even Northern France.
I have the Comag 39cm kit. My only criticism is that the plastic dish stand supplied is a bit flimsy and unstable. I agree with Francais that a tripod mount would be better if possible. However, after getting it lined up and pegging the stand to the ground it hasn't given me any trouble. I even got it to work in northern France, although I did lose the signal in rain. The EasyFind LNB is very useful for lining up the dish with the satellite.
Yep, the Sky Zone 1 Mini-Dish will cover the whole of the UK including Scotland.
Although at just 43cm x 53cm it is classed as a 45cm Dish as it's Eliptical shape is very efficient.
When looking for a regular Ofsett Dish, you need to compare the Gain not the size, the Sky Dish will have a Gain as listed below.
10.70Ghz = 32.30db
12.75Ghz = 33.70db
Any Dish with the same spec or above will do fine, for UK use.
Edit = as for cable Raydex CT-100 or Pope-H109 are a good choice as specific satellite cables, Air Spaced cables tend to be more flexible, whilst these days Solid Foam is the industry standard, as it is less prone to water ingress, although either would be fine for camping duties.
For all UK use I would consider the Arcon Sweety 43 cm Antenna at 33db Gain, or the uber compact SELFSAT H-D10 at 32.8db Gain.
The spec for the Comag Dish that the OP mentions is barley 32db Gain, although probably fine for UK use for Astra2, I would consider it borderline at best.
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Topic: Comag 39cm EasyFind Sat Kit
