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Post Info TOPIC: Satelitte dishes
Tezzaworth


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Hi all, new member and first post. Just retired and heading off for our second journey, this time through the center of this great country. We are now in our third day at Ayers Rock and can't believe we cant get any coverage of the cricket and only limited AFL. The pub hasn't even got fox I know we come away to get away from all that stuff but a bloke has to know whats going on in the world of sport. I've given up my Grand Final seat for this 3 month trip. Now my question, what do you know about satellite dishes and digital boxes and VAST. On perusing the net there are plenty of options out there, but on reading some blogs there are some shockers. I see some advertised in the caravan and camping mags, but when you read the reviews on them you get some mixed opinions. I will be in Alice Springs in about 3 days and I've been told I could get one there. Has anybody got some advice, I don't want to end up with a dud. And can you get them in 12 volt so you can use them free camping.

I heard this morning that there's been an election called. I wonder if Julia will win? See what I mean.       



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Wombat 280


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I thought John Howard was running for PM

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Tezzaworth


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You need a sat dish too. I'll see if I can get a bulk buy

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Patto44


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Go to www.satplus.com.au.

They can deliver to your next van park.!!!!!!!

You need a dish and a decoder (similar to a set top box).

Register as 'traveler' and away you go.

Hope this helps,

Patto



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Tezzaworth


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Thanks Patto, Good looking little camper your got there, Tell me have you got one yourself and what sort of dollars am I looking at.

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Patto44


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We have had one for several years now. It cost about $ 600 all up. They now have a better decoder/pvr box which has a 500gb hard drive etc. etc. which is advertised on TV. I believe that is about $600 by itself, if you need it.

The dish packages are about $250 - $300 plus the Vast box which was around $ 300 for the one we bought.

Cheers

Patto

 



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Patto44


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Also, go to www.mysattv.com.au   ---  lots of info.



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Delta18


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Six Greenbacks should get you set up.  As said, go to www.satplus.com.au and talk to them.  I would recommend the Satking box, 12/240v with PVR function.

That box is around $270, then you need a dish & LNB, (140ish)  tripod, cables & connectors maybe another 1-150$.  That box has a built in sat finder but I would suggest a programmable sat finder for around $100. 

Stay away from the van mag kits, you may (IMHO) be disappointed.

Feel free to PM me if I can help.

Cheers Neil



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Tezzaworth


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Thanks Patto, have been looking at the satplus site will do a bit more homework and contact them about possible delivery. Helps to hear direct from a happy purchaser. How many K's per litre do you get pulling your 5th around.
Cheers Tezzaworth.



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Patto44


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Tezzaworth wrote:

Thanks Patto, have been looking at the satplus site will do a bit more homework and contact them about possible delivery. Helps to hear direct from a happy purchaser. How many K's per litre do you get pulling your 5th around.
Cheers Tezzaworth.

 I have a 6.7 litre Dodge RAM as a tug. With the van on I get about 18 litres per hundred k's.

Worst I've had was from Wentworth to Broken Hill with a strong head wind all the way and used 23 litres per hundred.

 



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Tezzaworth


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That's pretty good considering my V8 turbo diesel is only getting 5.5klm per ltr which comes in the same as 18lts per 100 pulling my 6.5 mtr van, that's on pretty good days sitting on a 100. What weights your 5th wheeler looks like 1/2 a house.

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Tezzaworth


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Thanks Neil (Delta 18) between you and Patto you seem to have me on the right path. Nothing like getting the nod from happy users.
Cheers Terry

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Dunmowin


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Our sat dish & 12v decoder, cables & LNB, tripod and sat finder cost us $700.00 ready to go, fortunately, our van was already wired for satellite, and we had a 12 v digital tv.  We bought ours through a reputable company in Albany WA - Albany TV & installation.  They set up the entire thing for us, including instructions on how to find your satellite.

 

Watch out for the company who advertised for cheap setups in the caravan mags, it has already been discussed in previous posts that these guys only look after them selves. 

My advice is to talk in person to someone in Alice Springs when you arrive.



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Tezzaworth


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Thanks Guru, I understand where your coming from & if I cant get the right answers I won't be getting one until I know its OK. I realise that electronics changes rapidly so I don' t want to get stuck with old stock being run out as this months specials. 



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PeterInSa


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And get the Sat finder that only locks onto the C1 Sat. also from Satplus.

I also have:
A small digital Thingo that tells you the dish elevation

And a DVD showing every town in Oz with the elevation and North East parameters to point the dish at, but only use this info to get the dish elevation, then you set the dish to the right elevation point the dish roughly North East and slowly rotate the dish and the C1 Sat finder lets you know when you are on the Sat, then do some fine tunung.

Peter

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retiree


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we purchased a satellite complete kit everthing included on Friday from satplus  sunshine coast branch full cost 720.00  came back to bus and hubby fully set up registered with vast  and up and running in a hr only took about 30mins to set up this is being first time only takes about ten minutes now all decoder all in its place very happy with it and service we got from satplus everthing explained hope this helps you cheers cherylle



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NeilandRaine


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When we were in Alice Jaycar had a complete vast set up for about $500. Jaycar is in the laneway beside KMart

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Patto44


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Tezzaworth wrote:

That's pretty good considering my V8 turbo diesel is only getting 5.5klm per ltr which comes in the same as 18lts per 100 pulling my 6.5 mtr van, that's on pretty good days sitting on a 100. What weights your 5th wheeler looks like 1/2 a house.

 Re your sat dish --- I have 2 sat finders (one came in the package and I bought another one from Jaycar) both work reasonable but can be a bit fiddly in some locations.

I now have an app for my 'smart' phone (I use the word 'smart' very loosely sometimes). It is a freebie called SatDirector and allows you to set it on C1 and is very easy to use.

The dish, LNB, and cables etc are not 'old stock' regardless of where you buy them. The vast decoder I have has been superceded but does not affect anything. The new box is dearer but has a hard drive and can be used as PVR.

The van is legal to 4490kg and the tug 5535kg (gvm). Both come in under their maximum allowable.

 

Patto



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KFT


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G'day Tezzaworth,

I agree with the comments regarding Satplus and also Satgear.

In Alice Springs you can get all the satplus gear at a company called Alicetronics in one of the shopping centres. I would steer clear of Jaycar as they seem to push the old analogue satfinders which are next to useless.

frank

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Tezzaworth


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Thanks Frank, I've seen that mob advertising on the tv whilst I've been up here, if they h got the right system in stock it would save issues with postage to future camp spots or post offices. 



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Tezzaworth


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Thanks Cherylle. It sounds like Satplus is the preferred setup by all on this forum. Will check them out when i get to Alice in a couple of days.

Cheers Terry



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Delta18


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In my opinion don't get the dish that unfolds and sits on the ground.  Get a normal style dish and a tripod. Much easier to set up and secure against wind.  It is very simple then to (later) add a pole to your van on the front or back to take the dish which is even stronger & quicker.

Get a dish with a 'quick release' LNB arm rather than a 'folding' type, they are more accurate.

I would definitely look at the SatKing decoder, it is the latest on the scene so is latest technology.

Cheers Neil



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Neil & Lynne

Pinjarra 

Western Australia


MY23.5 Ford Wildtrak V6 Dual Cab / 21' Silverline 21-65.3

' 1260w Solar: 400ah Lithium Battery: 2000w Projecta IP2000 Inverter

Diesel Heater: SOG Toilet Kit: 2.5kw Fujitsu Split System A/c

 

 
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