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Hi Everyone,

Not been on here for ages, so sorry if this topic has already been discussed/answered.

Don't normally take a TV abroad with us, but just got a new one for caravan with freeview etc.

I like to keep abreast of the news etc when abroad, and have taken a world service radio in the past, but have not really had too much success with it.

If I take the new TV, will I be able to get British news e.g. BBC News Channel etc., just using the caravan aerial? The news is all I'm interested in really, nothing else.

Going to France, Lux, Austria, Slovenia, Germany, Belgium.

Cheers for any help/info.

I don't think you can get anything using an aerial (maybe in Northern France?). We have an Oval Maxview satellite dish and take our Sky box and viewing card with us, otherwise you can get a freeview box but not sure which news channels you could get with it.

Anne

In a word - No

You'll need a satellite receiver and potentially a large dish in order to receive UK channels while you're abroad.

There's a rough guide to dish size needed for most BBC channels here:

http://www.ses-astra.com/business/en/satellite-fleet/satellite-list/astra2d/index.php

If you only want BBC News (and radio), you should get away with a smaller dish:

http://www.ses-astra.com/business/en/satellite-fleet/satellite-list/astra2a/index.php

We never did take a TV with us when we went abroad for the normal 2/3 week holiday but since we have retired we have gone away for longer and last year for the first time we were away until mid October so its nice to be able to keep up with UK programmes. The only option really is to buy a satellite system. We have a FTA receiver and an 80cm dish. This is OK as far south as Northern Spain and we have used it in Northern Italy, Austria and parts of Germany. This is a useful web site www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk It can seem a bit daunting but after a couple of read throughs things become clearer!

David

Hi Tenz.

           I read on here once that France is using the same Terrestrial Digital system as UK, although from the amount of Sattelite Dish's on houses I guess the coverage for Terrestrial Digital is mostly in built up area and not out in the country ie CampSites, from memory the Digital siganal is only good upto 12 miles from the transmitter, I don't think France is going for a Terrestrial analogue switch of program, as thier SECAM system was always better than our PAL system.

Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 08/5/2010

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Does anybody know if a modern Uk digital Tv can be used in France with a normal aerial to recieve the French terrestial digital channels, ie TF1 2 & 3 etc?

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Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 08/5/2010

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Does anybody know if a modern Uk digital Tv can be used in France with a normal aerial to recieve the French terrestial digital channels, ie TF1 2 & 3 etc?

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Yes it is as its now the same system, unlike the analogue which was a different system. We have watched Grand Prix's in France on their digital terrestrial programmes via our Status Aerial and got an amazingly good picture.

David

http://www.sky4caravans.co.uk/dish_sizes_for_europe.html

Try this site.