Amazingly, since analogue was turned off, our much-maligned, often sworn at Status Omnidirectional aerial has been receiving every Freeview channel available, so much so that, this weekend, I've taken the satellite kit out of the van and its eBay bound. A seminal moment....
------------- 'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain
We are new to caravans this year, but we have always had good reception everytime we have been away. I was expecting to struggle with our Status aerial from reading various posts on here and was thinking of getting a better aerial.
We are the opposite, I always use our satelite kit, picture perfect, almost not in parts of Scotland.Our caravan only 12 months old fancy status aerial fitted, but what a palava getting a signal, wind it this way push it up that way, booster box on, so its a case of sticking to what you find the easiest.
Quote: Originally posted by Trunnion on 06/6/2012
We are the opposite, I always use our satelite kit, picture perfect, almost not in parts of Scotland.Our caravan only 12 months old fancy status aerial fitted, but what a palava getting a signal, wind it this way push it up that way, booster box on, so its a case of sticking to what you find the easiest.
I have both and cannot for the life of me see how you think that
Finding a pitch avoiding trees, getting the tripod out, setting the tripod up on level ground and pegging it down, assembling the dish and fastening to the tripod, connecting the coax, trailing it through a window, getting out the receiver, plug scart lead into TV, coax screwed into receiver, set the elevation on the dish, and rotate to find the RIGHT satellite..... then hoping it does not get too windy as the signal may be lost.
Is easier than plugging the coax in either end, ensure booster box on, loosten locking nut and raise and rotate to right direction before setting TV to auto tune.
Like I said, I have both and the dish will not be coming out as long as the status can pick up a signal.
I would hang fire until the 4G sale goes ahead , problems are envisaged with the present digital signal in certain areas when it goes live , have to agree at moment signal is very strong ,but be aware 4G will have a big impact on this
I have a awning pole which clamps to the jockey wheel, the pole breaks in half, my dish clamps to this with cable attached,I carry this in front locker, when I connect to mains hook-up in battery box I connect cable to satelite box cable which inturn is obviously in caravan. switch power on posision dish 28% east, thats it. If no mains power I just use 12v & solar panel, infact I try and do this most times as it cheaper than paying for a hook up, its what you get used to I suppose, most of my mates do the same, its them who converted me!
I have a awning pole which clamps to the jockey wheel, the pole breaks in half, my dish clamps to this with cable attached,I carry this in front locker, when I connect to mains hook-up in battery box I connect cable to satelite box cable which inturn is obviously in caravan. switch power on posision dish 28% east, thats it. If no mains power I just use 12v & solar panel, infact I try and do this most times as it cheaper than paying for a hook up, its what you get used to I suppose, most of my mates do the same, its them who converted me!
Which solar panel do you have, Trunnion? I'd love to go down this route, but I'm having difficulty finding a solar panel that will do the job without being the size of the roof!
I wouldn't get rid of my satellite kit...ever!
Although we use an aerial most times for freeview, there have been the odd times when we just couldn't get a picture due to the caravan site being in a valley or in a very poor reception area (even in these days of digital reception they do exist.)This is when the satellite kit comes in very handy.
------------- Nothing succeeds like a budgie with no teeth
Satellite comes into its wn if you are travellinf in Europe. In the UK it coes in handy from tie to time. Since digital came along dont find it so useful n UK
Quote: Originally posted by Tonkarav on 23/8/2012
Satellite comes into its wn if you are travellinf in Europe. In the UK it coes in handy from tie to time. Since digital came along dont find it so useful n UK
I agree - I have used my satellite in France and Italy without problems (56cm). Before I go to any site I always check the Freeview website (N.Ireland digital switchover not until late Oct) and if I can get a signal I only need the TV. If I can't get a signal, it's the dish, tripod, set top box etc etc.
Agree 100% with Lee10, the last few outings have had great reception on the TV Freeview with the caravan aeriel. However it will happen when I wont be able to get a decent signal or will be fragmented and out will come the Maxview!
Also we take the dish to France so that we can use it there if we want to.
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Topic: Farewell satellite kit...
