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The 'summer'* weather this year has reluctantly persuaded us that it may be prudent to take a television or tv enabled laptop with us on longer breaks. I have seen several suitcase type systems that include satellite dish, cables, mounts and control box.

 They offer up to 2000 channels. (Goodness only knows why, the main players struggle to adequately fill the five main channels with quality product).

My question is, are these 'satellite' systems really anything more than a more dependable aerial? Surely, a substantial proportion of these extra channels will be either 'foreign language' or 'subscription' services?

Will it provide any more stations than, say, a freeview box? Are there any free to view stations out there that I cannot access via freeview, but could with a 'satellite' dish. Assuming that there are, are they worth tuning into?

Defender

* 'Summer' that period of the year between June and September where the Sun* shines, the sky is blue, birds sing, everyone is content.

* 'Sun' A mysterious round, bright object that, legend has it, hung in the sky and provided warmth and light. Many now believe this to be nothing more than folklore!

You could always take a suitcase dish and either your home digibox, or a DreamBox to allow you top watch all Sky channels if you're a subscriber.

The freebie recievers most of these packages come with are only really useful for watching unencrypted content - so pretty much the same (slightly more) than Freeview.  That being said, they are infinately more reliable than trying to get a freeview signel from a portable aerial.

We decided on a satellite system because for the first time in 20 years we wanted to take the TV to Europe with us. It has also proved useful in the UK because unless you are on a site with a TV hook up it was often difficult to get a decent picture on the Status Aeriel. However, it is something of a dark art as far as I am concerned! Sometimes we have just switched everything on and its worked in seconds and other time we have still been trying to get a picture the following day! With an aeriel you will always get a picture of sorts but with satellite you either get a picture or none at all. You do need a clear view of the sky to the satellite, you will get picture break up in heavy rain. The web address Paul posted is really useful with lots of information. Its run by a guy called David Sullivan and he has proved very helpful when I e-mailed him with problems when I was in Germany.

David

Quote: Originally posted by timtheenchanter on 30/8/2008

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Be aware the smaller the dish the more accurate the alignment has to be. a standard minidish has a 3degree tolerance on it, but I am told with a sat finder its easy enough.

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Thanks for all your advice. I was in two minds as to whether to set up a 'satellite' system (non subscription, used as an aerial only) or buy another more traditional roof-style aerial. The suitcase systems are useful in that they pack away more neatly and appeared to ofer benefits over a traditional aerial.

It's interesting that you mentioned 'heavy rain' (see my comments surrounding summer marked with asterisks above!) as we have a digital television at home and I must say that the reception is not as good as our old analogue set. In poor weather conditions the screen, or portions of it pixellate and quite often we receive the infuriating 'no or poor signal' message.

As far as the regional BBC services are concerned, with a 'satellite' system, could I for example, holiday in Cornwall or Scotland, but still receive the London & South East news etc?

Quote: Originally posted by Defender on 30/8/2008

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As far as the regional BBC services are concerned, with a 'satellite' system, could I for example, holiday in Cornwall or Scotland, but still receive the London & South East news etc?

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Yes, we have watched Look East in Europe! However I have noticed that sometimes the BBC and ITV signal varies from region to region but you should be OK in the UK.

David 

David

Would the ability to watch UK regional programmes extend to one of the 'receivers' supplied with a campsite satellite system, or is this only available via 'Sky'?

I do like the sound of that. Although we do not yet holiday overseas, we hope to one day. That's obviously where the satellite style system would score over a traditional aerial set-up.

I think that I'm talking myself into one of these portable kits. Just have to wait for one on the site that shall remain nameless at a reasonable price; or for one of the high street stores to offer them again. I think that Maplins used to sell theirs at a reduced price from £99.99 to £59.99 from time to time. I've heard that Lidl occasionally sell something similar as well.

Thanks for all your help and advice.

We've got a 2nd hand receiver & dish from previous owners (only 6 months old) but the receiver instructions are terrible & although we bough a signal finder, we've had no luck so far. Compared to setting up Freeview for instance, it's been a nightmare!

...or perhaps it's just us...!! Anyway, we'll take it to France next week & try it all again...

It is worth rememberingthat,the Maplin type box and the lidl one which is identical are set by default to the wrong satellite.  It is an easy job to change this to the correct one which is Astra 28.2 this is the correct one for English language.  If you are getting pictures but only foreign languages then pound to a penny this is the problem.  You need to select the correct Sat. Standing behind the dish then twist the dish left a bit and down a bit.  btw Channel 4 and its associated channels are now available for free C4 is found on channel 8350 I think C5 is still encrypted as far as I know.