Article
published originally in the March 2008 edition of the Caravan Club Magazine.
To
discover how to tune into satellite
TV, I picked the brains of Maxview, manufacturer
of the Omnisat satellite dish and one of the UK's leading
caravan satellite
equipment suppliers, and Conrad Anderson in Birmingham, one of its foremost installers.
| The
case for Satellite TV
You can pick up the perfect picture almost anywhere
in Europe as long as there are no immediate obstructions, such as tall buildings
or trees. As
well as all the main UK TV channels and radio, there are loads of other free channels,
far more than on non-satellite Freeview. Though whether any of them are worth
watching is another matter... A
full list of channels can be obtained from the Astra website - www.ses-astra.com. Inside
information: before tuning a satellite dish, its base needs to be perfectly
level or its angle of elevation will be 'out'. For a caravan-mounted antenna,
level the caravan meticulously first. Where's
the satellite?
There are lots of them, but we need to look for a cluster
of satellites commonly known as Astra 2, which carry our UK channels. Astra 2
satellites are in a geostationary orbit - maintaining their exact position 22,500
miles above earth. To find them, you'll need a chart and a compass.
Here's
part of a lengthy chart on the website www.satellitesforcaravans.co.uk run by
David Sullivan - which has locations for Astra 2 all over Europe. |
|
Dish
Elevation (Deg) | Compass
Bearing (Deg) | | Aberdeen |
20 |
145 |
| Belfast |
20 |
141 |
| Birmingham |
26 |
145 |
| Cardiff |
25 |
142 |
| Edinburgh |
20 |
144 |
| King's
Lynn | 24 |
146 |
| London |
26 |
146 |
| Manchester |
23 |
144 |
| Penzanze |
24 |
139 |
Important
note: different systems use varying mehtods of antenna elevation and direction
adjustment, so make sure you read the instructions first. David
says how it only takes him a couple of minutes to tune in. However, the first
time you try it, you might have to spend half-an-hour working out just how small
each movement of the dish needs to be, how many seconds you have to pause at each
stage to allow the picture to fire up and just how narrow is the beam you're looking
for. But when you've got it, you'll be the toast of the caravan and the envy of
your on-site neigbours as long as you keep the volume down!  |  | | 1.
This is the 12V or 230V Maxview DVB satellite receiver which is compact and light
enough to mount on its side. It is a Freesat box (not Freeview) and it picks up
over 200 free TV and radio channels, including all the mainstream ones. | 2.
The first job is to set the angle of elevation using the markings on the antenna,
when fitted. With most dish systems you can use an elevation map that is provided
to aid your dish adjustment to within a few degrees. Don't worry if the dish seems
to be lower than it should; it could even point downwards to northern Europe.
You don't point the dish at the satellite; you aim the satellite's beam into the
centre of the dish so it is focused onto the LNB, which gathers in the signal. |  | 3.
Tilt the dish to the precisely correct angle of elevation and you're more than
half way there. Don't guess - take your time. This Omnisat Camping Kit can be
used while still in its case by adjusting the supports (arrowed) on the lid. |
|  |  |  | | 4.
Many portable satellite antenna, such as this Omnisat 66 kit, are tripod mounted.
The tripod can be secured with the tent pegs provided and can work under an awning. | 5.
The dish, complete with LNB on its folding arm, is then fitted to the tripod.
The unit must now be levelled with the spirit level. | 6.
Set the elevation to the figure shown on the chart using the scale on the dish
support. Other systems may use differing methods of adjusting the angle of elevation. |  |  |  | | 7.
Now you'll need to turn on both the TV and the receiver box. Here, the receiver
has been set to show a signal strength on the Avtex TV's screen. | 8.
Another guide to signal strength is a signal strength meter such as the Omnisat
Sat finder. Watching the TV screen is easier but if you can't see the TV or hear
the audiable tone given from it, you'll need an assistant with good lungs, or
one of these meters. | 9.
You'll need a chart again and a compass to find the direction of the satellite.
The instructions with purpose-made compasses explain where the satellite is found.
This compass clips on to the back of the Camping Kit's dish when used in free-standing
mode. |  | 10.
Here's how to produce a picture. From the UK, Astra 2 is just to the east of south.
So, point the antenna due south initially, just 'past' the satellite.
- Move the
dish in really small increments towards the east, pausing briefly at each stage.
This could take several minutes.
- If
your compass says you've gone too far, you've probably moved too far, too fast.
The angle is quite critical, so be patient.
- If
your signal strength shows you have a signal but there's no picture, you've located
a different satellite. You won't see picture though, so just keep slowly searching
for Astra 2. When you've found it, lock the dish into position.
|  | 11.
A satellite TV picture is so good, you'll benefit from a quality TV to watch it
on. The Avtex W151D has a high-grade 12in LCD screen, DVD/CD player, a SmartCard
reader for viewing digital photos, an RDS Radio and can be used as a PC monitor. |
Maxview,
Common Lane, Setchey, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE33 0AT.
Tel: 01553 811000 or
see www.maxview.co.uk |
