SATELITTE TV OPTIONS FOR TRAVELLERS

robynandpaul · Newbie

SATELITTE TV OPTIONS FOR TRAVELLERS

Joe50 · Guru

Hi Robyn&Paul

Firstly, welcome to the forum - you'll find lots of information and good advice here.

For satellite TV, best place to start for VAST information is http://www.mysattv.com.au. For equipment, I can recommend Access Antennas http://www.accessantennas.com.au/, based in Perth but with an outlet in Brisbane. Previous advice on this subject suggests you should exercise caution with products from iTechworld.

Unfortunately I don't have a fixed dish, but Access Antennas's tripod is very solid and sturdy. Suggest you get an 85cm dish if you're travelling around central Australia and in northern WA.

Cheers
Joe

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

IMHO fixed dish is not a good idea but everybody will have an opinion.

when you register with vast make sure yo use the traveller option.

I use Satlink WS-6933 for finding sats
http://www.accessantennas.com.au/perth-discount/satellite-products/satellite-alignment-tools/

also if you do a search for sat info there is a lot on this site.

-- Edited by _wombat_ on Sunday 10th of August 2014 08:40:23 AM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Welcome Robyn and Paul .. Good info guys.. I have the Oyster www.satplus.com.au/products/Oyster-Digital-Automatic-Satellite-System.html. System on roof has no receiver or not hooked up properly . Was the same didn't know which system ...

norto · Member

Altec now have a TV with the vast box built in, but you will still need

to acess the satellite signal, I use a large dish which i mount on a speaker tripod.

Golddetectornomad · Senior Member

Every time I think seriously about getting a 'satellite system' I follow the links, attempt to understand it all and then lose all enthusiasm as every gadget/gizmo I buy seems to be outdated within a week..and I invariably hear.... 'you should have waited and got this one, you just press one button and it does it all itself'.......even attending the local caravan/life fairs doesn't really settle things for me...get all the brochures..listen to all their spiels, and walk away to think about it....am I an orphan in thinking like this?.....if I get TV reception with my 'wing keeled Wyngard wherever I am, I feel God intended it..otherwise I go gold detecting or fishing..
.I have a powerful radio to listen to essential weather reports...at my age I don't need to look at the weather "girls"....although the ABC's Morning Weather, Vanessa O'Hanlon I wouldn't miss....she gets back to Hobart after a whip round Australia and I havn't heard one weather report she has said..but I wouldn't miss her for quids...Dang!......Hoo Roo

Glenelg · Guru

Ever time i look at the links . i'm the same cant be bothered , maybe when i do get on the rd and talk to you guys i'll change me mind.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Aha I'm not the only one !

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Aha I'm not the only one !

it is so easy once you get into it, now I'm talking about vast tv biggrin

BUT there is not a lot on tv these days, good for news and weather, then news is not always good.

ken thomas · Guru

did a survey for the C & M magazine and got an email saying I had won a prize ?/
Got a card from Aust post to pick up at PO and guess what, a satalite dish and assessories from itechworld, will not say no to that
all I have to do is get another van and try it out
Ken

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

ken thomas wrote:
did a survey for the C & M magazine and got an email saying I had won a prize ?/
Got a card from Aust post to pick up at PO and guess what, a satalite dish and assessories from itechworld, will not say no to that
all I have to do is get another van and try it out
Ken

somefink for nufink grab it, why do you need a van? set it up at home.

Golddetectornomad · Senior Member

Ken, wasn't that just the dish they were offering without all the hardware...its why I didn't go into it...I would be in the same dilemma or worse just having the dish....then I would feel duty bound to get all the works and jerks...which may be their intention in giving the dish?....Hoo Roo

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Golddetectornomad wrote:
Ken, wasn't that just the dish they were offering without all the hardware...its why I didn't go into it...I would be in the same dilemma or worse just having the dish....then I would feel duty bound to get all the works and jerks...which may be their intention in giving the dish?....Hoo Roo

a dish is a dish and will work with any decoder so if it is only a dish that will maybe only need a LNB and decoder and some coax

bowsie1 · Veteran Member

We have one paid $4900 dollars from access antennas perth could not be more happier with the unit so easy to use set up push 1 button

40 secounds later we have t.v . Iam sure people will comment on this but hey you carnt take ya money with you.

Cheers bowsie

Janno · Veteran Member

I have a roof top satellite dish which, together with my gas heater, is up there with best money I ever spent. I had the dish installed by Vansat when I was travelling through Mackay two years ago and they registered it with VAST for me. I have travelled 40,000km over the past couple of years and stayed in some very remote areas, and as a solo traveller it is nice to have the company at night. I also enjoy watching my favourite TV shows no matter where I am in Australia.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Do you get internet through it ? Janno ..

D and D · Guru

I don't understand how a fixed satellite dish would work. The dish needs to point to the satellite and the direction in which the satellite lies would vary according to the direction the vehicle is parked so if the dish was fixed you'd sometimes get reception and other times (I reckon most times) you wouldn't. The difference is in whether the dish is adjusted manually or automatically. If you can afford it, the automatic option can save you hours of grief but if you elect to go down the manual path then I'd recommend you get a digital satellite finder tuned to the Optus C1 satellite that way you don't get confused over what satellite you're tuning into.

Regards

Dave

Janno · Veteran Member

The satellite dish works by remote control. With the press of a button it automatically searches for and fixes on the correct satellite. No Aus-Kiwi, I don't get internet through it.

ken thomas · Guru

The dish came with all the cables, compass, meter pegs but no decoder box, but as long as it gets all the free stations who cares
its free
Ken

Oz Gypsy · Veteran Member

We have a Vast decoder and portable satellite dish which hubby sets up on a tripod pointing in the correct direction & elevation - which does change depending on where you are in this big country.

We prefer the portable dish because we have frequently been parked under or very near to trees which would block the signal on a rooftop antenna. At least with the portable you can move it around until you find the best signal, instead of having to relocate the van to get the roof clear of signal obstacles - that can be very difficult if you are in a caravan park with not much choice on site selection.

KFT · Guru

ken thomas wrote:
The dish came with all the cables, compass, meter pegs but no decoder box, but as long as it gets all the free stations who cares
its free
Ken

Ken I was wondering how you are going to view the free to air stations with the setup you have detailed above?

-- Edited by KFT on Monday 11th of August 2014 03:06:28 PM