Hi I am looking for a Satellite dish for camping and has to be easy to set-up.
I have just bought an aldi Satellite dish and i could not get a quality signal, i even pluged the sky coax cable into the aldi reciver and it worked great of the dish on my house, so took it back
I have a 3 m tripod ready for a new dish but realy need some advise on what product and how to find a quality signal.
If UK - we just use a plain old digi box, no satellite required. If we go to Spain, we have an 80cm dish (cdtronix) and an aldi receiver (tevion) and we get a perfect signal. Can't comment on sky box as we don't have one, but I'm sure there are lots of people on here that can help you with that.
A satellite dish is not the easiest thing to align. The aldi one is good value and a good bit of kit. You have taken back the one item that fulfils the requirements best of all, probably because you didn't read the instructions properly or don't have the patience to set a satellite dish up.
Most camping satellite kits are the same as the aldi one with a bit of badge engineering.
Quote: Originally posted by LegsDownKettleOn on 05/7/2011
A satellite dish is not the easiest thing to align. The also one is good value and a good bit of kit. You have taken the one item that fulfils the requirements best of all, probably because you didn't read the instructions properly or don't have the patience to set a satellite dish up.
I purchase a proper sky dish from a aerial fitter, he supplied the dish about 5mtrs of coax and the two connectors you will need, the standard brackets on the dish will fit an upright pole.
I have put an aluminium scaffold pole in replacement of my jockey wheel, this once tightened up will not move at all, this is probably easier for me as the van is sited, but there is no reason why you can't use a tripod.
I would say that, on my camp site, 8/20 people ended up buying a proper sky dish.
The dish can then be used for sky or freesat as they both use the astra satelelite.
I use a bog standard dish and Analogue Sky box. Providing you have good visibility of the sky. ie no trees. Using a meter connected to the system, point it east and then gradually move it south until you get a whistle from the meter. move it around until you are sure you have the best and loudest whistle from the meter, then check to see if you have the sky startup music. If so tighten everything up, remove the meter then you should be up and running. Sometimes it is this easy, sometimes you end up moving the tripod, lifting the dish up and down. I have wasted hours on this. As well as the meter, you can use the sky box to see the signal build. On your remote, press services then 4 then 6 and you can see the bars that represent signal quality and strength etc. ( this relates to the old anologue sky box). When all is well the unit automaticall locks in. Remember only move the dish gradually and waiting a few seconds in order to see the result. Plenty of info on the web. Hope this helps
We've got an Aldi one and the first twice we couldnt get a signal then a fellow camper helped, showed us exactly how to do it and we now get a signal every time. They are VERY sensitive though and you have to get it in just the right position before you lock it off.
To be honest we rarely use it because the freeview gives almost as many channels (worth watching) so we only take it if we know the normal signal is iffy.
love my dish but just back from elvaston castle CClub site and we all gave up trying.normally 5 minutes to set up now,first time three hours.lol.one guy moved the van three times as he had an auto find on top of the van. forgot to say very large trees all the way round.
Post last edited on 05/07/2011 18:10:17
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
Michael gave you the link to Satellites for caravans. Print up the charts and note the elevation angles as well as the directions. Things change as you move around the country or abroad.
A tripod allows you to adjust for elevation - a cheap spirit level will help plus a Satfinder - B&Q do an SLX for about £15 cheap home sky dish works fine in UK and many parts of EU.
You have to turn the dish slowly and keep stopping otherwise you can go past the signal. Correct elevation is important plus a clear view to the satellite - no trees,buildings etc.
Quote: Originally posted by Briandsange on 05/7/2011
I use a bog standard dish and Analogue Sky box.
As well as the meter, you can use the sky box to see the signal build. On your remote, press services then 4 then 6 and you can see the bars that represent signal quality and strength etc. ( this relates to the old anologue sky box).
Quote: Originally posted by LegsDownKettleOn on 05/7/2011
A satellite dish is not the easiest thing to align. The aldi one is good value and a good bit of kit. You have taken back the one item that fulfils the requirements best of all, probably because you didn't read the instructions properly or don't have the patience to set a satellite dish up.
Most camping satellite kits are the same as the aldi one with a bit of badge engineering.
You read so many posts on this site about new satelite systems being taken back, when the real problem is with the setting up,you have to be spot on with the settings, it dont matter how mutch you pay if its not set right, its not set.
my system cost £20 from B&Q and is spot on.
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Topic: Satellite dish for camping
