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We're looking at this satellite kit to use in France - can anyone tell me if it's any good? Also, there are a million and one options (if you scroll down). What options do we really need?

I don't want to pay over £200 for a complete kit as it's our xmas present and our budget is £100 each!

Thanks in advance,

Claire x

Quote: Originally posted by SilverLiving on 27/8/2007

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your link looks expensive - its just a dish set up bascially, you have to take your own receiver with you!

Note that Sky has a limited footprint in mainland Europe. The sunnier the clime, the less chance you have of receiving it!

The ALdi/Lidl systems are excellent value, but remember that these will be free to air channels only. Lots of German TV and teleshopping......

Id check out the channel listings in What Satellite magazine before you buy anything to see what sort of programmes you will be able to pick up from the various european satellites.

Dont forget you can buy a lot of DVDs for £200, or a good radio with BBC world service on it!

SL

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Rubbish it depends on dish size and receiver thats all 

Astra 2 North Beam

Astra 2 South Beam

Quote: Originally posted by Mick+Tina on 27/8/2007

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Quote: Originally posted by SilverLiving on 27/8/2007

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your link looks expensive - its just a dish set up bascially, you have to take your own receiver with you!

Note that Sky has a limited footprint in mainland Europe. The sunnier the clime, the less chance you have of receiving it!

The ALdi/Lidl systems are excellent value, but remember that these will be free to air channels only. Lots of German TV and teleshopping......

Id check out the channel listings in What Satellite magazine before you buy anything to see what sort of programmes you will be able to pick up from the various european satellites.

Dont forget you can buy a lot of DVDs for £200, or a good radio with BBC world service on it!

SL

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Rubbish it depends on dish size and receiver thats all 

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Size is important!

Never took our tv to France ,didnt see the point never missed it and found better things to do ,i actually read 2 books which is not something i usually do,lets face it we watch enough of the crap on tv in UK without it spoiling our holidays whilst abroad.

.................Alan.............................

As a rule of thumb the further South you go the larger size dish you need. Our 66cm Maxview Dish worked through to the South of France for BBC,ITV and other Sky Free to View Channels. In the far South you can still receive Sky News,Men & Motors a few other free channels and Radio 2, 4 etc with the same set up.

We're using a 1.65dish and decent quality 0.2 LNB and get BBC1, 2 (evenings), 3 & 4,ITV 1,2,3,4 and a lot of the free to air channels. However on the odd days when the weather is really bad we can lose some of them. Once you get above this dish size you are really looking at a permanent fixing though, The other thing to consider is which model Digibox you're using as I've tried several and they do give varying results.

http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/ is about the best site I have found for infromation.

I must admit that when we're just away for weekends we tend not to bother anyway though.

Quote: Originally posted by Delboy5465 on 27/8/2007

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Never took our tv to France ,didnt see the point never missed it and found better things to do ,i actually read 2 books which is not something i usually do,lets face it we watch enough of the crap on tv in UK without it spoiling our holidays whilst abroad.

.................Alan.............................

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Depends how long you are going for. I went for over 6 weeks this year. I read several books, sight seeing etc etc, and had time to selectively watch TV.

Hi Clare

We take our own Skybox [+ remote] an old 50cm dish which I mount on an old camera tripod and I have a cheap plastic compass. We have had no signal problems in France - Dordogne/Alsace regions plus UK of course. Just check with compass BEFORE pitching that you have a clear site of Satellite and are not blocked out by trees, buildings etc.

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

I endorse what NickW says about the above site - first class.