TV Ariel and satellite dishes

Mark · Senior Member

TV Ariel and satellite dishes

Flicka9736 · Veteran Member

There is an Ariel that comes with our New Age van (not sure of brand) but it's supposed to be some kind of awesome. Like everything on their vans, apparently. I'm wondering though, eve with the bestest Ariel, do you reckon we'll need a satellite dish? Are the expensive and do you guys reckon they're worth it? Is Tv reception really that difficult to find, does a satellite dish make that much difference .

Dunmowin · Guru

Our van came with a wineguard aerial, which in cities and major regional areas, has been quite suitable, however in some outback or remote, we have had limited reception even though we purchased an extension piece for the aerial, which gave us better digital pictures.

We recently bought a VAST system for around $700, as the area we are in is just out of any suitable reception area and analogue is about to be switched off. All we could get was SBS. We now get in the region of over 100 stations - realistically there are only about 15 different stations, we get multiple SBS and ABC variations. The set top box, which is required to work with the dish, is the first one made that runs on 12volt. We put off buying one until this was available.

Note: We have heard bad reports about "itec world" who advertise widely in the caravan magazines. We purchased ours through Albany TV in Western Australia. There are cheaper versions around, but for ease of set ups, the stand and design of the dish is paramount for quick, stress free setups. TV reception is not difficult to find (with the system we have), and yes, the dish does make a difference (except in the case of torrential rain)

Unfortunately, regardless of whether you watch TV via an aerial, or a sat dish, current viewing is crap, we only watch the news and sunrise.

Mark · Senior Member

Stay away from I-Tech, the dish is rubbish and the further north you go the harder it is to tune in. If you go to Darwin there is a guy there who deals in satellite TV and his rear yard is full of the I-Tech world "floppy-dish" honestly I have seen more strength in a bean can!!

Try looking at Access Antenna's web-site and in particular the dish with the flat top and bottom (Azzure Shine) they supply the whole kit and caboodle with elevation inclinometer and compass etc, very easy to deal with and very helpful.

However, as Dunmowin say's, 100 ++ channels and it's all crap.

One point though is to register as a traveller in NT and you get access to all stations.

Mark

Mark · Senior Member

Stay away from I-Tech, the dish is rubbish and the further north you go the harder it is to tune in. If you go to Darwin there is a guy there who deals in satellite TV and his rear yard is full of the I-Tech world "floppy-dish" honestly I have seen more strength in a bean can!!

Try looking at Access Antenna's web-site and in particular the dish with the flat top and bottom (Azzure Shine) they supply the whole kit and caboodle with elevation inclinometer and compass etc, very easy to deal with and very helpful.

However, as Dunmowin say's, 100 ++ channels and it's all crap.

One point though is to register as a traveller in NT and you get access to all stations.

Mark

Dunmowin · Guru

Mark wrote:
Stay away from I-Tech, the dish is rubbish and the further north you go the harder it is to tune in. If you go to Darwin there is a guy there who deals in satellite TV and his rear yard is full of the I-Tech world "floppy-dish" honestly I have seen more strength in a bean can!!
Try looking at Access Antenna's web-site and in particular the dish with the flat top and bottom (Azzure Shine) they supply the whole kit and caboodle with elevation inclinometer and compass etc, very easy to deal with and very helpful.
However, as Dunmowin say's, 100 ++ channels and it's all crap.
One point though is to register as a traveller in NT and you get access to all stations.
Mark

Yes, forgot to mention the "traveller" bit. As a traveller, we were able to get free to air, digital all stations straight away. as a permanent, we would have had to wait up to two week. Only difference is that when we cross a state border we have to let vast know we are moving, and re-register every 6 months (no charge)

Flicka9736 · Veteran Member

So who do we register with on NT? Can I get FTA There with my normal aerial? Howcan tthey do that in NT and not other states? I'm a llittle confused, sorry. So are you saying it's not really worth getting a sat dish? We don't watch a whole lot of FTA tv, but big brother will be on soon and I'm obsessed Lmao. Also, not having access to broadband internet, we won't have as much access to download/hire movie etc. Wireless Internet is soooo much more expensive than broadband and I'm too scabby to pay for it lol. We justwwatch the shows we want to watch online, no adds or crap, so I guess we're going to have to make some changes. It's like $90f for 5-8 gig and we currently pay $80 for 200g. What to do, what to do? Lol

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

sat tv is worth every cent, you can register in any state, if you reg as a traveller in Vic and do not change your settings with VAST then you can watch the 2030 movie at 1830 then go to bed early. biggrin

Now to reg go here http://www.mysattv.com.au/travellers.aspx

also do NOT go to ITEC World.

go here and they will post everything you need to get started, Philip in Vic is a great guy, very fast service http://www.satplus.com.au/categories/Caravan-and-RV-Products/Caravan-Satellite-TV-Kits/Free-To-Air-Portable-Satellite-TV-Kits/

Here is some more info http://hobohome.com/news/?p=593

sufil · Guru

We made the mistake of buying from ITECH. There was no way we could level the dish and find the satellite... well we could have done but it involved a lot of levelling of the ground and making it permanent and isn't something we could do when back on the road. We thought we had asked for the dish with the tripod but when we opened it up back at the van it was on a flimsy triangle base.They had made a sale, denied we even asked about the tripod model and weren't interested in helping us out.
Found out that there is a local installer so rang him to come and advise us. The dish is crap( and we bought the big one), and is not suitable for travellers but the rest was good...latest model 12/240 set top box with recording program. So he is providing us with a second hand dish and new tripod and will set it all up for us. He told us he charges $580 to provide and set up the latest system for home or van. We paid ITECH $600. so hopefully we don't get too big a bill or it will be an expensive way to watch a bit of telly!!(we haven't switched it on for 6 months but now it is getting too cold to be outside so thought maybe it is time we dusted the spider webs of it and used it.)

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

I did forget to mention, dish on a tripod is the best way to go, not the one on the ground, thanks sufil for the reminder.

sat plus sell the dish on the ground make sure you ask for the tripod, maybe a bit more expensive.

For your first reg of VAST http://www.mysattv.com.au/travellers.aspx

Travellers Renewal Only http://www.mysattv.com.au/Cert_Renewal.aspx

If you forget to renew within 6 months you will need this form https://www.myvast.com.au/register/reactivate