Satelite TV
Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 20:57
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tonka toy
We spent most of our hoidays outbush with a caravan.
TV reception is always a problem.
Has anyone had experience with a satellite dish?
Is it difficult to find the satellite?
Does the signal come down as a digital signal?
How would rate the reception?
Is it worth the trouble?
Cost?
Thanks for the help that will come as I have not much success so far gaining the info I require for a decision to buy one.
TT
Reply By: DIO - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 21:29
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 21:29
Finding the satellite is made easier using a satellite finder. There are quite a few different types on the market ranging from $20 or so up to thousands (professional type). Like many things, there are techniques to setting up (finding the satellite) and practice does help to make it easier. One good thing with being in the southern hemisphere is that the satellite is always in the northern sky over the equator.
The signal is indeed digital and once the equipment is correctly set up, the quality of picture is extremely good although things such as trees or heavy rain can cause a drop in picture quality.
Is it worth the trouble, depends on how much time you want to spend watching TV, how much extra equipment that you'll have to carry, how are you going to power the equipment (mostly 240 volt although some 12 volt is available and with the correct battery setup you can use an inverter if you only have 240 volt equipment.
As for the cost, you could pay thousands for one that would include an auto seeking/tuning dish setup or for less than $500 you can buy some good quality equipment. The expense is once only.If you have pay TV it is possible to use your card to receive pay TV on your (
camping) equipment.
A couple of links that will point you to a good supplier willing to help you with choosing equipment etc
SatPlus or another site you could try for real cheap equipment and no real after market support might be someone like Best Buy Australia
http://bestbuyaustralia.com/shop/ (copy and paste link into your browser).
There are also quite a few forums around that you can also gather info from as
well as Caravan and
Camping type groups. Just remember you don't have to pay a fortune to get good quality TV (satellite) in the bush.
Good luck with. There will probably be lots of other users with varying opinions all of which should help you to work you way through selecting and buying etc.
AnswerID:
268209
Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 23:26
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 23:26
Hey Dio,
Thanks for your succinct summation. I hope to convert from tent camper to caravan within eighteen months and have mulled over the
satellite TV thing with pretty much the same queries.
You have managed, without drowning me with technicalities, to give a pretty fair overview of the options. Now great revelations, but removed much of the mystique of sat TV.
Ta muchly,
Ian
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 23:27
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 23:27
Delete "Now".
Insert "No".
Ian
FollowupID:
530756
Follow Up By: PeterInSA - Thursday, Oct 25, 2007 at 09:24
Thursday, Oct 25, 2007 at 09:24
I agree with DIO re good systems for under $500 and SatPlus has some good gear, you can see what they have on the Web.
Two things though, I would buy a digital Sat finder rather than one of the analogue units that look like a meter as they are a lot harder to use. Also if you are going on a trip say to Northern WA (ditto NT) it is a lot easier to pick up a signal with a 90cm Oval dish rather than a smaller dish.
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Follow Up By: time waster - Thursday, Oct 25, 2007 at 16:02
Thursday, Oct 25, 2007 at 16:02
I can recommend satplus too there service is excellent. We have just sold our 240v coship decoder and ordered the strong 12v version. If you can make your own stand satplus will do a kit delivered for around $350 -$400 prices on there web site, I never use the sat finder I find it easy just to have the volume up on the tv, set the angle of the dish from there very easy instruction book rotate dish N to NE until you hear the volume.
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Reply By: dbh - Thursday, Oct 25, 2007 at 20:53
Thursday, Oct 25, 2007 at 20:53
We have a TravelSat with a large satellite dish (and digital signal). I am told we will be able to receive a good reception all over Australia. At this stage we have only used it in South Australia and the reception has been very good. I would say it is
well worth the trouble of putting it together, you can also connect your pay television to it as
well.
Cheers dbh
AnswerID:
268338