tv Forums

julie798

Hi

We have bought a motor home and in it is a sat box and on the roof a diamond shaped box that you wind up, there was no tv, we have bought a tv with freeview, so do we just plug that in and forget the sat box and wind up the ariel thing, because when I have done that, it says no signal and I don't know what I am doing wrong, can anyone point me in the right direction, do I need to put their box on, i thought the tv freeview would do the same job, also if I get it working, does a freeview box give freeview foreign channels, when in say spain, i mean spanish freeview.
I would put a sky box in, but from what i read I would need to take a flying saucer with me Lol.
Thanks

JollyJack

gaspode · Moderator

Sounds like what you've got on your roof is a Kathrein satellite dish - they're not all shaped like flying saucers. Wink

Bought a German van I take it?

You certainly won't get any signal on Freeview with it but I think it'll work OK with a satellite receiver.

Someone will be along shortly who knows all about these things.

Snelly · Eastern Rally Co-ordinator

Hiya

I recon Ken's right... its a kathrein squarial type satellite dish.

First things first, you need to know the difference between satellite and terrestrial signals. Satellite (freesat/sky) comes via your dish and terrestrial (freeview) comes via an aerial. The receivers are not interchangeable. Satellite dishes pick up signals transmitted from the satellite in the sky (stuck in one position above the equator) and terrestrial signals come from a land based transmitter. The main satellite we use for picking up english channels (BBC/sky etc) is Astra2, which is located at 28 degree's East (of south). Google "Astra2 footprint" to see its footprint and also hopefully the dish sizes required and elevation angles you need your dish at according to what part of europe your in.

You have a satellite dish, so you need a suitable satellite receiver and need to learn how to find the correct satellite position. The set up you have (if german) may have a receiver already, maybe a Kathrein, but its more likely to be unsuitable for english digital transmissions. The satellite for caravans site will help you learn how to align your dish.

Do you have a receiver you can use (i.e. spare Sky digibox)?

julie798

I do have a spare sky box with a card, so if we plug this in and its tuned to the channel we would have in the house, do we still have to find the satellite ? Sorry, but how do I do that, orry to be such a pain Embarassed

silversurfa

You wont get much without looking at the satelite. Astra 2d. You dont need a sky box to get sat tv? sky are only a contractor on the satelite, any reciever with the correct size dish will get you all the channels* you want (more than a sky box) for uk 40-60cm dish . for sth Spain 1.1-13 mtr . if its the old katherin box its not much use . you can put together a sat system for 150£ or less. once you get the hang of it ! will only take 5/10 mins to set up.

*all bbc /Itv regions ect +radio

julie798

Hi Siversurfer
Our van we bought from Belguim is 2006, does that make the sat old in the world of tecno? Theres is a box with it, looks like a free view type of box, but they said it had satellite, so i guess its a satelitte box. I don't care if i never see a tv again, but I will need some viewing to keep the hubby happy Smile

Snelly · Eastern Rally Co-ordinator

Your box out the house will do fine to experiment with. In my experience the Kathrein manual square dishes are not user friendly. They have no guide to tell you what elevation the dish is on or direction its pointing in. I had one on my euramobil I imported from germany and it sometimes took ages to align the dish!

Simple instructions. Wind dish up quite far, so its nearly pointing upright. Find south. Turn dish to south and move it south to east slowly and see if you get a picture. If not, alter the elevation (angle of the dish) and repeat your slow south to east scan.