Hi aussiepaul, yes, we have minimax. About to sell it as we won't b travelling outback as planned. Rocket n strop

We have had the minimax system for a few years now and have found it a plus even in towns that have a tv reception.

It is easy to set up once you have used it a couple of times. 

macka17 wrote:

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What do these "kits" cost nowadays?.

Most of us (pre VAST) just bought a dish. Strong Box and ant tuner with some cable.
and got TV everywhere.
just get Sat bearings and lattitude elevations from net.(there were 3)

I thought it was only the box that had changed.
Telstra had it's own card and shonky ones were always avail elsewhere.
I've still got them.

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 Actually it is quite easy...just click on aussie pauls top link and you will have the information you seek.

Yes you are correct you can get the set up figures needed anywhere on the net.

I have had the original set up pre vast, and I can tell you my new kit is streets ahead of all the mucking around to get a signal from the old type units.

As far as price is concerned, it matters only to the person buying it...if you are happy to muck around setting it up the "old way" then go right ahead.

Me personally, I think the sat finder that is supplied by the above retailer is truly a "marriage saver"

I can set my dish up within a minute or two and go into the caravan and watch tv.

The unit that aussie paul enquired about is as easy, if not easier than the one I have.

For anyone interested here is a web site for aligning a sat dish in Australia and NZ

http://www.satsig.net/maps/satellite-tv-dish-pointing-australia-new-zealand.htm

With the Sat finder i would be watching tv before most people opened the web page and wrote down the required figures let alone beginning to set up their dish.

LLD wrote:

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What channels do you actually get with VAST? With my aerial, we usually get ABC, SBS & essentially 7, 9 & 10. However sometimes we do not get all of 7, 9 or 10. Also, the state that the transmission are coming from vary. On the WA end of the Eyre Peninsula and north central NSW, we got one network from NT (Imparja), one from Vic & one from NSW. On one occasion, I was under the impression my aerial was pointing to a ground station that was receiving a signal from a Satellite. Hence I'm thinking that using VAST, I would get the same transmission as per WA end of the Eyre Peninsula and north central NSW. Anyone know if that's correct?

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 You get ABC, SBS from every state,  imparja [9], central 7, Ten and their axillary channels. Local news on channels 400 up.

Their are different areas to get connected to.  Southern or Northern Australia or WA. [Only one area at a time.]

Buy no smaller then an 80 cm  disk as the smaller disks are not good enough in central and western Australia.[ I found out on a trip up the centre and down the west coast.]

Satplus is one of the better places to buy your satellite equipment as others have said. They are very helpful and will not sell you gear that is no fit for purpose.

Hey.

Which is the best MFG's VAST box to get.

With old system it was the "Strong" boxes.
But I got out of it just as the Vast System was just coming on line.

That's how long it is since we went serious caravaning.

Been going O/S ever since then.

I've got dish. Cabling, and finder already.(several LNB's.)
Just need a box and card.

http://sattvguide.com.au/?id=3

Aussie Paul. 

LLD wrote:

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What channels do you actually get with VAST? With my aerial, we usually get ABC, SBS & essentially 7, 9 & 10. However sometimes we do not get all of 7, 9 or 10. Also, the state that the transmission are coming from vary. On the WA end of the Eyre Peninsula and north central NSW, we got one network from NT (Imparja), one from Vic & one from NSW. On one occasion, I was under the impression my aerial was pointing to a ground station that was receiving a signal from a Satellite. Hence I'm thinking that using VAST, I would get the same transmission as per WA end of the Eyre Peninsula and north central NSW. Anyone know if that's correct?

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 Hi LLD,

once you leave Port lincoln and head west many towns have repeaters which give you Imparja and the abc and sbs and if you are lucky, central 7 or a derivative

while I have not been west of Port Lincoln since getting my new VAST when I tune it in at home I get an amazing variety of channels including some WA stations as well.

As KFT reported there are many services which are available when you tune in.

The only problem I have is that you dont get the SA AFL unless your own SA team is playing a Vic or NSW side but the way my team is going this year it does not really matter .  

macka17 wrote:

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Geoff.

DOn't wast time watching pong pong.

Tune in to Proper footie.
League, or Union.

A much more understandable game.
I tried watching it once. GF at time was avid Port Adel supporter.

Sorry. Over my head.

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 Hahaha macka, you make me laugh mate.

i was actually born in NSW the (original) home of RL.  Tongue in cheek.

West Tigers which is Balmain and Western Suburbs is my team.

I still watch an occasional game if time and opportunity permits.

SA does not have an RL team any more after attempts to establish one here failed.

VAST does provide reasonable coverage of RL through Imparja and when I am more permanently on the road I may have to switch codes.

In the mean time I guess I will just have to endure the almost predictable failure of Port Adelaide to win a game at the AFL level and when using VAST I at least have a choice.