<span class="highlight">Satellite</span> <span class="highlight">TV</span>

Paul.
There is plenty to see without TV but if you must I suggest you look at WWW.cmca.net.au you may choose to log on and get some first hand reports.
Eric.

I am astonished that anyone would travel half a world and want to watch TV!?

If you're camping in remote bushland - enjoy the bush in your free time.

If you're camping in a formal campsite - chat to the locals.

At a more practical level if you're coming from the UK then TV in Oz will drive you round the bend as, generally, it's crap. The commercial stations are unwatchable mainly due to the frequency of adverts but also due to the programme content.
The other two stations (ABC & SBS) can be pretty good but not a patch on the BBC.

Satellite dishes usually require precise alignment with special equipment, the smaller the dish the better alignment required and no hire company is going to let you fit one to their vehicle.

Forget it - enjoy the country and read some books.

Mike Harding

you will be surprised where you can get tv these reception these days. even quite small town have sat recievers that broadcast for the town so terrain dependant you can get tv 5-10k from towns. an example of where you can get tv without a dish is daly river, daly waters, Yulara, Hermansburg etc etc. Naturaly when bush camping no tv is available. As an alternative to Tv I grab a torch and walk around to see what is there at night. If you are near water especially you can be amazed for hours checking out frogs, baramundi, crocs (fresh) depending on where you are

Gawd, forget the TV and buy more beer.

The JLG price is not bad but you could do a bit better.

Try
http://www.hualin.com.au

Reciever $250
80 cm Dish $100
KU Band LNB $35
Aurora Card $100
Sat meter $60
Cable about $2 per meter
f type plugs $5
Compas $10

Total just under $600

Stand (a pole stuck in the ground, or lashed to camper trailer, spare wheel whatever the tripod shown on the jlg site would be of little use if it cant be pegged down somehow)

The satelite you will be recieving from is Optus C1 this puts out a very strong signal all over Australia and often the signal strength meter in the reciever is adequate to find this brid. These cheap type sat meters can be more of a pain than a help becasue the beep whenever they find ANY satellite where as the reciever can be tuned to indicate a specific satellite frequency.

There are smaller portable dishes around but the minimum you want is 65cmm. 80 will give a decent recptional just about all over Australia. You may lose signal in very heavy rain.

The channels you will be able to recieve are
ABC
SBS
Imparja
Golden West
WIN
And a few radio stations (ABC national JJJ et al)

Good idea that TV stuff while camping. Don't want too may children after the second. May have to get one. Other remedy is to over indulge in beer, lose all performance, but costs alot and you don't feel that good in the morning.

I got good info from this website and e-mailed the guy for some more assistance and it was great. I also bought my solar panels from the same guy for $200 cheaper than any other outlet
Satellite TV link

NOrmally I would say , forget the knockers , if you want TV while camping . . . thats your business . . . HOWEVER . . . in this case.

You have to be kidding . . . . coming over from the UK for 6 weeks and wanting tv . . .

Dont waste your time.

Nothing worth spending a thousand or so dollars to watch.

If you MUST have TV . . . buy a cheap one , and a Caravan Aerial , and take your chances. Total cost . . . about $250.

Hi Paul,

Welcome to Australia. With all these other replies, I do hope you understand the Ozzie sense of humour.

What a fantastic holiday - I hope you have a wonderful time. We have just spent 6 months wandering around the country. We have a little TV and an aerial, but honestly we hardly ever watched it. The opportunity to chat to your partner or other travellers, watch any nocturnal wildlife and to see the stars as you have never seen them before takes over any wish to watch telly.

I do agree with the post about the quality of TV too. I can't believe you want to watch out of date episodes of the Bill! If you really want something to watch have you thought about a portable DVD player? If you are really interested in keeping up with current affairs a radio might be the answer, or newspapers.

I hope you enjoy your trip and go back to UK looking forward to your next trip.

Cheers
Anni