Sat dish from Maplins (1 Viewer)

Loujess

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Is there a thread on here about those satellite dishes you can get at Maplins? We just got one today and are going to try it out in the driveway over the weekend but it looks mighty complicated and sparks might fly. There is a cable which plugs the box into the 3 pin plughole, but what happens if you are on 12v. The 3 pin things don't work then. Or will there be something with the package that will help? I'm dreading this. :BigGrSatin:

Ivy
 

lesleyjean

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Think positive Ivy:Smile:

Throw away the instructions:Smile::roflmto:

Spend hours trying to figure it out:Smile:

Search for instructions:Smile:

Give up:Smile:

Look at it another day:Smile:


Next time..........

Penny drops.......

Works a treat.....:Smile:










Good luck:roflmto:
 

lesleyjean

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sorry Ivy:cry:


Someone will be along in a minute to help you.:Smile:

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greyman1

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if you have got the suitcase set up meant for caravans/ mh etc it should have a 12v cig adapter with it . if it is the type meant for free to air at home it may well be 240v only ! garry
 
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Is there a thread on here about those satellite dishes you can get at Maplins? We just got one today and are going to try it out in the driveway over the weekend but it looks mighty complicated and sparks might fly. There is a cable which plugs the box into the 3 pin plughole, but what happens if you are on 12v. The 3 pin things don't work then. Or will there be something with the package that will help? I'm dreading this. :BigGrSatin:

Ivy

Hi if you look in the classified ads I am giving away a suitcase sat system complete but no reciever. If you can use this with what you have let me know.
 

hilldweller

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Is there a thread on here about those satellite dishes you can get at Maplins?
Ivy

Many.

Usually ending in "The funeral will be tomorrow......"

First tip - look around, see where the other dishes point.
Second - give thanks to Allah.
Third - give thanks to Jesus.
Fouth - praise Buddha.

Fit the signal meter in line - you did buy one !

Note the dish does not point up, it's more or less vertical.

Make sure you have a clear line of site to satellite.

Now do a load of Z moves, side to side a bit, up, side to side a bit.

If you find a squeak on the meter but no picture you could be on the wrong satellite, move it just a few degrees and start again.

Open that bottle of Vodka you've kept for emergencies.

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Geo

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If it were a 12 volt version it wouldn't have a 3 pin thingy would it:Doh:

It would have the cig lighter lead and the same single pin socket with a 240v to 12v transformer
Me thinks with a 3 pin socket thingy your stuffed its mains 240v only:RollEyes:
 

pappajohn

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If it were a 12 volt version it wouldn't have a 3 pin thingy would it:Doh:

It would have the cig lighter lead and the same single pin socket with a 240v to 12v transformer
Me thinks with a 3 pin socket thingy your stuffed its mains 240v only:RollEyes:

not neccessarily Geo.

my old (very old) Comag Porty receiver (aldi i beleive but bought privately) has both 12v and 230v leads...permanently (factory) fitted.

no black box....its all inside the receiver.

230v on/off switch (button) on the front and a 12v on/off rocker switch on the back

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Loujess

Loujess

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I think this is what we've got. It has got a cig connection but we have a U shaped lounge with the tv, obviously, at the back and it's a long way to the cig connection. However, I'm sure Maplins have an extension for that.

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::bigsmile:

Ivy
 

hilldweller

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I'm sure Maplins have an extension for that.

Ivy

Much better if you fit a permanent socket in the lounge then it's there for other things. And a touch safer.

You might need to search ebay for a sturdy old tripod to make mounting easier.

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Loujess

Loujess

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Yes - I would have preferred a tripod but will the dish fit on any one or do I need a specific size/type? ::bigsmile:

Ivy
 

pappajohn

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Yes - I would have preferred a tripod but will the dish fit on any one or do I need a specific size/type? ::bigsmile:

Ivy

mines clamped to an old camera tripod.

just needs a little ingenuity figuring out the clamping arrangement.

running an extension from the lounge to the cab may cause a volt drop.

as Brian said....a permanent socket near the tv would be better and easy to do if theres already a 12v socket for the tv.
 
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hilldweller

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mines clamped to an old camera tripod.

just needs a little ingenuity figuring out the clamping arrangement.

Ditto.

Of course the problem with a low mounted tripod can be total lack of reception.

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Loujess

Loujess

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We do have a 2 flat pin socket for the tv when we don't have EHU, but does this mean that we will still need another 12v socket in the same place for the sat box as well? I'm sure it will all become clearer on Sunday when we get cracking with it. ::bigsmile:

Ivy
 

pappajohn

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Ditto.

Of course the problem with a low mounted tripod can be total lack of reception.

certainly can be a reception problem when the dish is at ground level...so many things can block signals...houses, trees, walls, other motorhomes, TINFOIL. :Angry::winky: .

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pappajohn

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So now what you need is a caravan socket to cigarette socket adaptor. Does this look right ?

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or possibly this type.

Brians image shows two angled flat pins...this one has two parallel flat pins, one slightly larger than the other so it only fits one way round.
 

TheBig1

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many many years! since I was a kid
for my tripod, I went for a more substantial one choosing a DJ type speaker stand. cost £25 at the time from maplins.

it hods the dish very solid and can be raised from 3ft to 6ft for sites that have problems with bushes and low trees. as a rule of thumb if a tree or other object is obscuring your direct view of the satellite you need to be at least twice the distance from the object as it is high.

oh and forget the awful little satellite dish in the kit. other than in the strongest signal band you will struggle to get a signal. certainly wont get a signal as far north as scotland or south in france. after struggling a couple of times to get and keep a signal, I bought a cheap 60cm house type dish. pick up a U bolt from a local exhaust fitter or ebay and a couple of wing nuts. couldnt be simpler
 

GJH

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or possibly this type.

Brians image shows two angled flat pins...this one has two parallel flat pins, one slightly larger than the other so it only fits one way round.

In our Autoquest the only 12v socket was that pattern. I bought one of those plugs and replaced the cigar lighter plug on a multi-socket adapter with it. I was then able to run both TV and (Aldi) Sat box from the one van socket (both very low power so no chance of overload).

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