Fitting a Satellite Dish Feature

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Fitting a Satellite Dish.
Lindsay Porter shows how a roof-mounted satellite dish
can be fitted to your caravan.

Article published originally in the December 2006 edition of Caravan Magazine.
Caravan Magazine. December 2006/January 2007. www.porterpublishing.com

The Job
Conrad Anderson, one of the country's leading suppliers and fitters of caravan electrical and electronic equipment, has kindly agreed to demonstrate what's involved when having a satellite dish fitted to your van. This is a job best done by our experts or your local caravan workshop.

Graham Baldwin: fitting a satellite dish

Why do this job?
Satellite TV provides the best quality picture and almost guarantees reception of British programmes anywhere in the UK, anywhere in Europe, in fact! Hundreds of free channels are available, just avoid nearby trees or building obstructions when on site.

How much will this cost? (Prices subject to Change).
The Maxview Omnisat Semitronic semi-automatic costs around £472 (fitting cost £200 inc. VAT). The Maxview Omnisat 66 manual Crank-up costs around £472 (fitting cost £200 inc. VAT).

You'll also need a receiver. The Maxview MXL014 12v/230v, with no card slot, Free-to-air is available for around £89. The Kathrein UFD 540 12v, with card slot, plus £20 Sky Freesat card, costs around £280.

How we fitted the satellite dish


1. This is a very well made Maxview Omnisat Semitronic kit. At about a quarter of the cost of the cheapest fully-automatic systems it's a great compromise between convenience and price.	2. Graham from Conrad Anderson drilled a pilot hole upwards form the inside the wardrobe, cut a larger hole from above then fitted the mast pivot assembly to the top of the roof.

3. The stainless steel and plastic components were fitted with plenty of sealant to prevent leaks. Tapering rubber seals allow fitting on some sloping caravan roofs; not needed on flat roofs.	4. The Semitronic mechanism was passed up to Graham, while Andy, from below decks inserted the tubular mast from beneath. They fed the cables through the centre of the mast.

5. With the two clamp support legs secured over the stainless steel disc, and the mast pushed up into the clamp, the two Allen key bolts were tightened.	6. The last job, topside, was for Graham to attach the dish to the Semitronic motorised unit using the stainless steel bolts and lock washers provided with the kit.

7. Inside the caravan, the mast was bracketed to the inside wall of the wardrobe. The threaded mechanism allows the unit to be locked for travelling and when tuned to the satellite.	8. Graham fixed the control box in place and found a fused 12v feed from inside the wardrobe base. Otherwise, he would have run a new one from the battery.

9. Next, power and antenna cables were connected to the control unit. One button raises the dish to the exact required elevation (otherwise a fiddly job); another folds it away again.	10. Turning the dish to 'find' the satellite comes next. This Avtex TV/DVD player is widely praised for presenting high quality satellite images to their full effect. Cheaper sets can show screen pixels.

Lindsay says...
You can pay £50 for a fiddly little satellite dish in a box but you have to pay literally thousands for one that 'finds' satellites automatically. The Maxview Omnisat Semitronic seems to me to offer the best compromise. Setting the elevation means button pressing until the angle shown on the chart appears on the control box. Turning the dish takes a lot longer, up to 30 minutes at first, though old hands master it in two minutes flat. I'm down to about five!
Self fitting is okay if you're fully proficient and don't drill through anything important on the roof.

Maxview, Common Lane, Setchey, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE33 0AT.
Tel: 01553 811000 or see www.maxview.co.uk

For links to our full Satellite TV range and more information on the subject please go to our Mobile Satellite TV Systems Home Page.