auto satellite dishes - advice please

[Allan & Loren]

We've got a manual sat dish on the roof which we cant be bothered with as it takes so much time to set up and in windy conditions is more trouble than its worth.

Been looking at auto sat dishes and wondering whether worth buying and what others have and are using.

Any advice welcome. Thanks

 

[Lenny HB]

I have a Snipe, as cheap as some of the manual ones. Works very well, reception on Astra 2 as far south as northern Provence.

 

[Allan & Loren]

Thanks lenny. Did you fix it with the mounting plate.

 

[Jaws]

I can only offer advise based on my own experiences and those of folk I have spoken to on the subject..
We have an 80cm Oyster system.
It has worked really well and has given us full sky coverage all over Europe.
I know a couple of people who have the domed type units who have been unable to get Sky very far down Europe at all.

On top of that, the domes are, contrary to what you would expect, far from aerodynamic and do nothing for fuel consumption.. where as the Oyster ( and similar systems ) lay very flat to the roof and cause little windage

I can recommend any of the traders on Fun as suppliers and fitters as they are all, without exception extremely competent and competative, and also Jacksons if they are closer to you than other options.

If you are mechanically able and wish to fit a system your self it is pretty straight forward and I, along with many others, would be able to assist either physically or verbally should you decide to just buy a kit and 'have a go'

 

[seanoo]

depends where you want to use it . if you are wanting to use it in spain or portugal then the bigger the better and in my opinion you cant get better than an oyster vision 85 cm dish. if its uk and northern europe use then as said the snipe is a great little unit.

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[Wildman]

setting up a manual dish is easy once you have an idea what other sats are either side of the one you want. They are not on the same elevation either. Understanding is 99% of the answer. Anyone who comes down is welcome to a free tutorial and demo.

 

[DavidG58]

we have a dome, very easy to use and apart from tree obstructions has always found a good picture in the UK, not so when abroad, but we don't tend to use as much anyway

As for mpg, we get lousy mpg anyway, but I tend to think that is due to pushing something the shape of a brick and weighing 5 tons, I really cant see the round dome on top affecting it enough to moan about

 

[gloworm]

We have a camos dome, on our recent return journey from spain we used it on our first night in France (AGEN) we had a perfect picture on Astra 2 N, never thought about aerodynamics but dont think its a problem.

Eric

 

[Lenny HB]

We had an Oyster 80cm on the last van, as said now have a Snipe not noticed any difference in reception throughout France. Biggest problem with the Oyster and other large dishes you loose reception or need to put the dish down in high winds, not had that problem with the Snipe.

 

[treetops1]

Yes we have the Oyster 80cm and we do bring it down in strong wind ,Not sure how good the Snipe is by comparison lol

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[Jaws]

We have a camos dome, on our recent return journey from spain we used it on our first night in France (AGEN) we had a perfect picture on Astra 2 N, never thought about aerodynamics but dont think its a problem.

Eric

france is not the problem, but further afield....................

We had an Oyster 80cm on the last van, as said now have a Snipe not noticed any difference in reception throughout France. Biggest problem with the Oyster and other large dishes you loose reception or need to put the dish down in high winds, not had that problem with the Snipe.

Why ? About the only reason I could think of for dropping our dish is if it was poorly fitted.
Ours ( self fitted ) has been up in some pretty lively stuff ( 80mph once though I must be honest and say that time did make me bloody twitchy !!!! )

To paraphrase Scottie from Star Trek, 'ya canna change the laws of physics capt'n'

Just as there is no real replacement for cubic inches in an engine, there is absolutely no replacement for dish size !

Ultimately it is the choice of the individual, and if you do not intend travelling too far the Snipe ( which really is a most excellent system ) will be fine.
If like us you intend going a little further than France and northern Spain then you will need an 80cm dish to give you the best chance of success

 

[Allan & Loren]

Thanks everyone, lots to think about but great feedback and always good to get first hand experience rather than salesmans patter.

 

[Techno]

If I was buying again (I have a 40cm roadpro dome) given the price I would without doubt buy the Snipe but with twin LNB and mounting plate at only £669 delivered it is a steal.

 

[Daz n Tina]

If I was buying again (I have a 40cm roadpro dome) given the price I would without doubt buy the Snipe but with twin LNB and mounting plate at only £669 delivered it is a steal.

What do you think of the snipe max pro, how far south do you think that would work and is it worth the extra dosh?

 

[Techno]

No idea but my dome works throughout France

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[Allan & Loren]

I can get a new snipe with mounting plate from germany inc postage costs for £540 which is a steel. Ive also been offered a 2nd hand oyster vision 2 perfect condition but from a right off mh for £750. Or neither !!!

 

[Techno]

I can get a new snipe with mounting plate from germany inc postage costs for £540 which is a steel

What do you do if it goes tits up?

UK seller with 2 yr warranty £589

Twin LNB @ £669 is worth the extra IMHO

 

[Allan & Loren]

What do you do if it goes tits up?

UK seller with 2 yr warranty £589

Twin LNB @ £669 is worth the extra IMHO

Good point. Thanks

 

[Allan & Loren]

If I was buying again (I have a 40cm roadpro dome) given the price I would without doubt buy the Snipe but with twin LNB and mounting plate at only £669 delivered it is a steel

Have you contact details for this uk supplier?

 

[Allan & Loren]

What do you do if it goes tits up?

UK seller with 2 yr warranty £589

Twin LNB @ £669 is worth the extra IMHO

Have you got contact details for this uk supplier please

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[Techno]

OR make offer
Broken Link Removed

 

[Allan & Loren]

Thanks techno

 

[Jaime]

I have RoadPro. Works nicely. I like the whirring noise when I switch it on. Haven't taken it abroad though.