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We hardly ever take a TV now, but for most of the time with the standard aerial the picture is fuzzy at best.  The only way we could ever get a reasonable picture was to buy a booster aerial that plugs into the mains. Around Mountainous areas, I doubt you would get a picture at all.  It all really depends where the nearest transmitter is.

The only way I am aware of getting English home channels abroad is with a portable satelite dish.  I used one with quite good success and this was many many years ago.  I know they have improved now.

Check out this site regarding satelite tv for you van

http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/

The only way at present to watch uk tv in france is sattelite, good for this country to.

You can buy a sat digi box that works on 12 volts...expensive tho.

Perhaps a better idea and save some money is to buy mains digi box, tv and inverter, We got our sattelite system out of loot for £50, portable tvs are 10 a penny, use a clothes dryer from argos for a tripod base for your sat. dish (£10) You would need a 400 watt inverter £50-70s. Drawbacks? You need a good battery and you will only get 3 hours veiwing at a time, before you will need to charge the battery.

Quote: Originally posted by kate1959 on 19/09/2005

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We are going to buy a12/mains tv for our FC.What is the reception with one of these in mountainous areas

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The 12v tellies should be no better or worse than a normal one, but different models of TV can perform better than others

In a mountainous area you will often get worse reception or none at all, you normally need a line of sight view between aerial and TV transmitter this view can be completly cut off by a mountain. And there are fewer transmitters in mountain areas anyway.

A signal booster might help if your TV has generally poor gain, but can make no differance or even make things worse with a good set.

With terrestrial TV the only guaranteed way to improve the picture is to get a larger high gain directional aerial and put it on a tall mast so that it is away from ground clutter such a trees, caravans and buildings.

Have alook here

Satellite tv in the van.