Absolute Satellite Beginner (1 Viewer)

Bacchus

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I am almost embarassed to post this, but...

My old Hymer has two satellite dishes, but no TV or anything.

I have absolutely no idea how satellite TV works, would I be able to use either of these dishes? Why might it have two? what equipment would I need to get to receive Freesat - all on 12v at the mo, but am considering fitting an inverter, I know a little about those (c:
 
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Old Soldier

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Hi Baccus.
I assume your dishes are portable or is one mounted on the roof? Do you not have a receiver of any sort?.
 

Wildman

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stick with 12v for the receiver or just go with an avtex TV which runs on 12v and includes both terrestrial and sat decoders. Are the sat dishes manual or automatic, wind up or dome. I suspect one of each or no point of having two. a photo or two would help.

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Bacchus

Bacchus

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Hi Old Soldier, the dishes are both roof mounted. All I have done with them for three years is collect moss...

There are handles inside the van for elevating and rotating them, but no, I have no equipment- my limit in this field is putting up a TV aerial on the house and connecting it to a freeview box...
 
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Bacchus

Bacchus

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stick with 12v for the receiver or just go with an avtex TV which runs on 12v and includes both terrestrial and sat decoders. Are the sat dishes manual or automatic, wind up or dome. I suspect one of each or no point of having two. a photo or two would help.

Hi Wildman

Dishes are both manual winders, I will get a couple of pics in the morning.

So I could just connect an "avtex" TV and plug the satellite into the back? As long as the satellite was aligned it would work like "normal" TV?
 
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Old Soldier

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Sounds like Wildman might have the answer.

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lorger

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Just a thought could one be for satellite internet, seen a van at Chester meet with two dishes and one was for Internet.
 
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Bacchus

Bacchus

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Just a thought could one be for satellite internet, seen a van at Chester meet with two dishes and one was for Internet.

It's a 1991 van... It may have had satellite internet added of course. I will get some more useful details in the a.m
 

mjltigger

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I'm just wondering if they are actually both sat dishes.. to the uninitiated some campervan / caravan ariels look like sat dishes..

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Wildman

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Hi Wildman

Dishes are both manual winders, I will get a couple of pics in the morning.

So I could just connect an "avtex" TV and plug the satellite into the back? As long as the satellite was aligned it would work like "normal" TV?
yes just make sure the model you get is DRS the "S" being satellite. just plug in align dish and away you go and uses under 2 amps so battery will last longer.
 

JeanLuc

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Before you spend any money, check that the dishes are for digital satellite reception. If they are old ones, they may have come from the analogue satellite era and no longer work. A picture will help identify this and you could do worse than make a call to Roadpro (or similar supplier) if you need technical advice.
RoadPro | Practical Products on the Move
 
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Bacchus

Bacchus

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Hi All, thanks for the advice thus far!

I have clambered up the back and taken a couple of photos, no idea whether they will help to identify. This is the main dish

Big Dish.jpg


this is the controller underneath

control.jpg


And this is the other dish; I am beginning to wonder whether this is just some kind of TV aerial...

Little Dish.jpg

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  • control.jpg
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Top is a Maxview crank up Satellite dish, and the lower one is a TV aerial. (y)
As long as the dish feed cable and the LNB ( device on the end of the dish arm) are OK you should be able to set it up for a Satellite receiver or a TV with a built in receiver.
 
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first ones a maxview wind up dish for satelite tv and if pointed at astra 2 with an appropriate receiver will give you tv, the second is a tv/radio antenna for terrestrial services and will give you digital tv if you have a receiver for that.
 
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Bacchus

Bacchus

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woo-hoo - many thanks!!

I shall buy a TV and give it a go.

I quite like being away from the TV when I am with GF Bacchus, but will be heading off for a week or two solo and it would be a nice to have (c:

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Hammie

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I am almost embarassed to post this, but...

My old Hymer has two satellite dishes, but no TV or anything.

I have absolutely no idea how satellite TV works, would I be able to use either of these dishes? Why might it have two? what equipment would I need to get to receive Freesat - all on 12v at the mo, but am considering fitting an inverter, I know a little about those (c:
I haven't got mine going yet either, are you the man who I met at Baker Tyres?
 
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Bacchus

Bacchus

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I haven't got mine going yet either, are you the man who I met at Baker Tyres?

Hi Hammie, sorry, not I. Never heard of Baker Tyres...




As an addendum to my post, I have also found this:-

Signal finder.jpg


Which I guess I just connect to the satellite output and wiggle the dish aorund until the green light comes on? No power supply, but presumably gets enough gain from the satellite cable.

And this:-

Booster.jpg


Which looks like some kind of signal booster.

An enterprising previous owner has put a dual switch system with a "main" switch inside the hanging locker and a microswitch on the overhead locker door, so with the main switch on, this box is activated when the locker door is opened.

Now, must get myself a telly... (I am not going to ask which one on here, that seems to be as divisive as "anchor" threads on a sailing forum I go on :whistle: )
 

Hammie

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Baker tyres Thorpe lea road. Met a man from Warwick Avenue (truly) same campervan

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Hammie

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Have got maxview satelite as well thinking about maxview satellite Finder but it is £30 instead of £13? Other option is £9 on Amazon for another brand not sure which way to jump
 

Hammie

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I love previous owners output, solar panel, awning, Safari room, satellite dish, love my new second home. Too much red nite nite
 
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Bacchus

Bacchus

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Baker tyres Thorpe lea road. Met a man from Warwick Avenue (truly) same campervan
Oh that Baker Tyres...

Amazing. A few hundred metres from my house, but no, not me!

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Hammie

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Good for tyres and they were inflating mine and the other mans before a trip. Where do you go to inflate yours?
 
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Bacchus

Bacchus

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"Where do you go to inflate yours?" - weirdly, in three years of ownership, I have never had to!!
 

Rooky Vanner

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Hi
I have a maxview satellite finder and it is the only way I can ever find the things, love it! Wait until it screams its head off, annoys everyone on site and you will be sure of a picture. Tried loads of others cheaper to no avail.
Good luck, took me weeks to see a pic!! but thats me!!

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Hammie

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Ha ha thanks. Me too. Will order it now. Mary
 

Hammie

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"Where do you go to inflate yours?" - weirdly, in three years of ownership, I have never had to!!
Won't you damage your tyres? We just give them a £5 tip before a trip at least that's what the man with the same Motorhome as you told me he did. I am worried that the tyres might crack if they get low? Expensive tyres. They said it can't be done in a garage as the compressors are too small.
 
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Bacchus

Bacchus

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. They said it can't be done in a garage as the compressors are too small.

Never tried it, mine run at around 70psi, I would imagine that most garage compressors will run to that but you're right, it would be a good idea to be sure.

Mine haven't lost any pressure, so haven't pumped them up

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Hammie

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Amazing lucky you!
 

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