Satellite questions. (1 Viewer)

[haganap]

Ok so ive finally been dragged and kicked in to the 21st century. I have always resisted the temptation to have TV in the van when away as there are to many other things to be doing. However as a trial Im purchasing a little suitcase saterllite system.

However, I have a tv dongle for my laptop and was wandering if I could just plug that in to the laptop and then connect the dish to it to get my tv?

Or if I take my TV i am told I will need a saterlitte receiver box. I am having sky+ fitted next week and was thinking that I could keep my old box and just use that in te van, But I will have to have a viewing card yes? if so where can I get one? I apprieciate I could just take the one from my box at home with me but then I wont be able to record on Sky + whilst away? is this all correct? any help greatly received for tv un treccie.

 

[andyman]

I use a standard Sky box and a £25 sky card. I'm not sure Sky will sell you the £25 card if you are already a customer so we used Lynn's office address. I use a normal sky dish on a tripod,that came from freecycle. If you want a dish i have one in the shed you can have.

 

[N Luyetund]

The laptop dongle should enable you to input from a terrestrial aerial or the feed from the sat box...

 

[Road Runner]

The dongle will work with free view but could work from satellite but I would stick to freeview, you must have an ordinary aerial on you van so plug it into that (its a later van so surely has an existing aerial?)

Sky dish will add to the costs.

 

[Thepips]

If your TV dongle is analogue you could simply run a bit of aerial lead from the sky box to the dongle. If it's a freeview then that won't work but you may still be able to do it using composite or s-video depending on what connections your dongle and digibox have.
DVB-T (Freeview) is getting better and better all the time. Even so, I'm keeping my Sky dish on the RV as I can watch our favourite programs even when abroad. I'm seriously thinking about getting one of the new Freesat HD digiboxes as soon as the price starts to drop.

Regards
Doug

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[smokey]

Hi all
I have just joined the forum at the moment to ask this question, although I have owned a series of Volkswagon camper vans for many years now.

Exactly what is a dongle.
What does it do.
Where can I get one.

PS, this is because I is a geriatic pensioner, still camping.

 

[haganap]

Thanks all.
And welcome Smokey, a dongle is something you buy that plugs in to your laptop and allows you to watch TV.

John I have an ariel on my van and it is the status ariel. Problem is that unless I am staying on the CC site at Crystal palace i rarely get a signal with it. When I use it in doors, no problem.

So what I can digest, am I right in thinking that if I use 1) a sat dish 2) a freeview box and of course my TV I can get all free to air channels?
If I take away my Sky Box and card I can get what I get at home?:Blush:

 

[Wildman]

currently TV is analogue and will require a freeview box once the digital changeover is complete. Freeview is a landbased source of TV signals and currently very hit and miss. Free to air channels are satallite based and therefor available from just about anywhere withing the footprint of that particular satalite. what combination one uses in the van depends on how you use the van and what power source you use, on a site with hook up adaquate power any combination you wish. Sufficient solar panel power can give you the same choice. Running on battery power the best choice is a 12v freeview box and a cheapo old analogue TV, makes it less desireable to thieves as well. Currently the dongle route for freeview is very hit and miss, when close to a transmitter fine otherwise the signal level is too low, even with a decent antenna plugged in. Try before you buy, that way you will not be disappointed.

 

[smokey]

Hi all
I have just joined the forum at the moment to ask this question, although I have owned a series of Volkswagon camper vans for many years now.

Exactly what is a dongle.
What does it do.
Where can I get one.

PS, this is because I is a geriatic pensioner, still camping.

Hi all

Thanks for your replies.

I had thought that Dongle was a generic term like widgit, then when I ran Dongle through Google I found it was going to cost me £15.00 a month, so that's a No No

 

[pappajohn]

Hi all

Thanks for your replies.

I had thought that Dongle was a generic term like widgit, then when I ran Dongle through Google I found it was going to cost me £15.00 a month, so that's a No No

wrong type of dongle mate....the one you refer to is an internet dongle.

you need a tv dongle which you buy outright from a computer shop, currys, comet ect, simular shape and size but totally diferent thing.

it is basicly an rf modulator that converts a tv signal so your laptop can understand it.

john.

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[ourcampersbeentrashed]

dont know whether its true or not but I am sure someone told me when we were away that sky provide a card for £20 for use in motorhomes

 

[pappajohn]

Ok so ive finally been dragged and kicked in to the 21st century. I have always resisted the temptation to have TV in the van when away as there are to many other things to be doing. However as a trial Im purchasing a little suitcase saterllite system.

However, I have a tv dongle for my laptop and was wandering if I could just plug that in to the laptop and then connect the dish to it to get my tv?

Or if I take my TV i am told I will need a saterlitte receiver box. I am having sky+ fitted next week and was thinking that I could keep my old box and just use that in te van, But I will have to have a viewing card yes? if so where can I get one? I apprieciate I could just take the one from my box at home with me but then I wont be able to record on Sky + whilst away? is this all correct? any help greatly received for tv un treccie.

hi paul, for an aerial you need a freeview box and for satelite you need a sat box either with (sky) or without (freeview) a card slot. with the sat (sky) box with card slot will get you the same as at home, without will get you a few hundred but not all english speaking.

the freeview box (terestrial) will get you around 80 channels, music and video mixed.

we use one without the card (Zender brand around £80)and it does us just fine.

the two boxes are totally diferent and sat wont work on a terestrial box and visa-versa.

john

 

[N Luyetund]

the dongle I have has Digital video broadcasting over terrestrial (DVB-T) thus no need for a freeview box...

 

[haganap]

hi paul, for an aerial you need a freeview box and for satelite you need a sat box either with (sky) or without (freeview) a card slot. with the sat (sky) box with card slot will get you the same as at home, without will get you a few hundred but not all english speaking.

the freeview box (terestrial) will get you around 80 channels, music and video mixed.

we use one without the card (Zender brand around £80)and it does us just fine.

the two boxes are totally diferent and sat wont work on a terestrial box and visa-versa.

john

Thanks John I think ive got it now,
So if I have a sat dish I need my box to come with me from home?
If I want to use my rubbish status ariel I just take my freeview box from home?

So I cant take my Freeview box from home and rig that up to the saterlitte dish, I have to take my Sky box?:Blush:

 

[N Luyetund]

John, if your dongle is dvb-t than you don't need the freeview box to use your rubbish status aerial... 50% reduction on boxes you need to take

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[pappajohn]

Thanks John I think ive got it now,
So if I have a sat dish I need my box to come with me from home?
If I want to use my rubbish status ariel I just take my freeview box from home?

So I cant take my Freeview box from home and rig that up to the saterlitte dish, I have to take my Sky box?:Blush:

correct :thumb:

if the status is a flying saucer type dont expect miricals.....they really are crap and even worse with digi box's and in my opinion arnt worth the space they take on the roof.

 

[smokey]

wrong type of dongle mate....the one you refer to is an internet dongle.

you need a tv dongle which you buy outright from a computer shop, currys, comet ect, simular shape and size but totally diferent thing.

it is basicly an rf modulator that converts a tv signal so your laptop can understand it.

john.

Thank you John
Re-investigating Dongles for TV

 

[smokey]

Thank you John
Re-investigating Dongles for TV

Hi all
Thanks for your help, odered one of the below from Amazon.


Amazon.co.uk: August PC/Laptop USB Freeview/HDTV Receiver - Silver (Star Winner of "What Hi-Fi", "What Video" & "Active Home" Magazines) - Vista Compatible: Electronics & Photo

 

[Satandpcguy]

Or if I take my TV i am told I will need a saterlitte receiver box. I am having sky+ fitted next week and was thinking that I could keep my old box and just use that in te van, But I will have to have a viewing card yes? if so where can I get one? I apprieciate I could just take the one from my box at home with me but then I wont be able to record on Sky + whilst away? is this all correct? any help greatly received for tv un treccie.

this may help, i did this today as clients have been asking about freeview and freesat....links in the post show what channels you can get on what platform and with what card...

Link Removed


hope htis helps..