TV set up in a Outlook Duo

[tentpeg]

The way ahead now seems to be satellite now we have freesat and the prices are more reasonable. How would you go about though mounting one? I would be very nervous of holes being drilled in that monocoque bodywork.

What do people here recommend. Does Ant have a recommendation what does he suggest?

Thanks

[tentpeg]

Is this impossible in a Romahome?? No replys??? Are there problems? Has nobody done this?

[lunnie]

Martinw has a tv ariel socket mounted on the outside of his C15, he may have not noticed this thread.

[martinw]

Hi Joan and tentpeg,

Yes I do have an ariel socket mounted on the out side of my van,
and an ariel on a long pole about 4 meters high held upright by a sort of tripod,which is a modified mounting for a camping cloths airer, with guy lines to support it.
I can pick up digital in most places, but not all, but when analogue is finally switched off and they increase the digital output, which they will do because at the moment if its too high it interferes with analogue, it will be much better

But none of this is any good for satellite.

A quick search for satellite on some camping shops shows a lot of different methods of going about a satellite system.

Just had a look on Maplins site, they may be the better place to go www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=217921&doy=14m7 this seems to be quite good, it doesn't give much info about mounting, but I would think it could be mounted on a proper tripod with a short pole specially made for the job, do a search for satellite on Maplins site and you get a whole list of items come up.

One point, I would not screw anything to the camper body as big as a satellite dish, nor would I put it on with suction cups or anything like it because it has to be taken off when you want to go out, and then re setup when you come back on site, I think the tripod method is the way to go, you just unplug the LNB lead and away you go.

Hope this is of some help to you.

Martin

Just found this www.satalogue.com/section5/page1.htm Full System complete with Dish Mountings and Cable at £149.99 at todays prices it dosent seen too bad

[tentpeg]

Thanks Martin I am wondering though if they will make new motorhomes with satellite systems already installed. You can have them fitted to the roof etc, the problem with tripods I would imagine stability problems in wind. Aerials now that there is freesat seem to be not the way to go anymore.

It seems to me that if starting out from scratch now satellite makes more sense.

[martinw]

Hi tentpeg

Still not sure about a satellite dish on top of a GRP roof, without SUBSTANTIAL strengthening

I don't think stability with a tripod is a problem, the ones that I have seen have quite a large foot print and are staked to the ground with large rock pegs and are on a short pole and stand no more than about 1.5 meters high to the top of the dish.

Aerials now that there is freesat seem to be not the way to go anymore.

Quoted from www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a109843/free-satellite-uptake-overtakes-freeview.html

Subscription-free satellite services were the fastest-growing digital TV platform in the first three months of the year, according to Ofcom research.

The regulator is also preparing for a more significant boom in free-to-view satellite in the next batch of statistics, following the launch and marketing of Freesat by the BBC and ITV in early May.

So it seem that ariels are becoming out dated fast.

Martin

So when HUMAX brings out its Digital Free to View Satellite Set-Top Box- PVR
that will be the time for the ariel to come off the roof of my house

And yes, I know, there are other makes of free to view (and paid for) satellite PVRs, but I don't want others. M

[tentpeg]

I was concerned about damaging the GRP etc... but I am surprised that Romahomes do not come equipped ready for television in the modern age.

What is HUMAX by the way? I am just aware of sky and the BBC FreeSAT alternative.

[lunnie]

\Most of the Romahomes are quite old my is just a young 10yrs

[martinw]

Hi Tentpeg,

Humax is a company that manufactures Audio/video goods.

You must have heard of Terrestrial Digital Television, if you haven't you are going to get a shock in a year or twos time when your analogue tv will stop working, but I am sure you have heard about the changeover to digital TV.

Humax make, amongst other things, a set top box to receive Digital Terrestrial TV, but this one will record the programs on to a hard disc, like a PC, and you can watch them at a later time, just like a VCR. but MUCH, MUCH better quality, pause live tv for up to TWO hours then restart it (E.G. to answer the phone), record TWO different channels and watch one you have previously recorded at the same time, but it will only receive Terrestrial Digital not digital from a satellite, but Humax has one in the pipe line, for next year I think.

With this box I never watch live TV any more, and skipping the ads is a doddle.

This magic box of tricks is known as a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) there are other manufacturers, but I think the Humax is the better value for money.

Here is a link to the one I have www.humaxdigital.com/uk/products/pvr-9200t.asp

I do have a PVR fitted in my camper, not a Humax, but a good one in its time - Digifusion 200 - and it works very well.

SKY?? I WILL NOT PAY TO WATCH ADVERTS no wonder SKY make ££MILLIONS££ in profit

Sorry for the shout but thats how I feel.

Hope this helps

Martin

[martinw]

Jul 19, 2008 15:57:34 GMT lunnie said:

\Most of the Romahomes are quite old my is just a young 10yrs

Hi Joan,

Sorry to hear about the brakes, and the cold, the caliper is probably 10 years old too.

Not changeing the brake fluid every two years can cause that.

Have a good shot/s of brandy and all will be well.

Martin X

[tentpeg]

Martin I know EXACTLY how you feel regarding sky, agree. However where I live digital conventional will never reach and the normal signal is quite awful as well. Having to subscribe to sky though has resulted in years of only being able to watch BBC 1 on a good day.

However have USED sky they have a deal to install a dish for £69 one off fee with 4 months free basic sky and they hope they they will forget to cancel your direct debit. Needless to say I have cancelled of course.

[martinw]

Don't forget, tentpeg, that when all analogue is switched off the digital signal will be increased from the transmitter so that "most" places in the country will be able to receive terrestrial digital.

Where abouts in the country are you? Very remote?

Martin

[tentpeg]

Not particulary but located in a deep valley. Before digital there was no good signal, BBC 1 was constant snow. The plans state it digital will not be available in our area. Ariel needed replacing as broken in a strom... cost £75.00. Satellite on this deal £69.00. Have to say having seen how good the reception is with a satellite..... well even if I moved to a good signal for digital via ariel I would go to satellite.

[martinw]

I see , thanks, Martin

[Graham]

The Humax PVR sounds the same as we have got with Virgin Media its called V+ and like you Martin we hardly ever watch live TV.

We can record 2 programmes whilst watching another one and as you say I haven't seen an advert for ages we just skim through them. We paid a one off £150 to have it installed and they come out and fix it if it goes wrong. A couple of weeks after we had it installed it went down to £75 - typical!

Graham

P.S. Should have said we use it at home, can't take it in the van so I've gone off topic a bit, sorry.

[martinw]

Is that cable Graham, if it is there is no chance of them putting cable across the Fens, in the towns my be but not in the small villages.
Ive herd that you can get some good deals with a combined TV and phone set up.

Martin

P.S. now we are getting off topic with phones, but that is not a problem in the van with the technology we have today

[Graham]

Jul 22, 2008 6:57:35 GMT martinw said:

Is that cable Graham, if it is there is no chance of them putting cable across the Fens, in the towns my be but not in the small villages.
Ive herd that you can get some good deals with a combined TV and phone set up.

Yes it is cable, I understand they are working on some new technology which will enable everyone to receive Virgin Media, all a bit hi tech for me to understand let alone explain but you never know you might be able to get it in the future.

Graham

[martinw]

Jul 22, 2008 7:11:31 GMT Graham said:

will enable everyone to receive Virgin Media,

May be some sort of satellite then?

Martin

[Graham]

Jul 22, 2008 7:22:38 GMT martinw said:

Jul 22, 2008 7:11:31 GMT Graham said:

will enable everyone to receive Virgin Media,

May be some sort of satellite then?

Martin

No I don't think its satellite, its something called IPTV Internet Protocol TV whatever that is.

I have pasted this from the Cable TV forum:

- An extension of VM services outside of the existing cabled streets by way of IPTV, enabling the rest of the UK population outside urban areas to access the full range of VM's services.

I read it here CABLE FORUM

Graham

[martinw]

Thanks for the info Graham.

Got this from Wikipedia-

quote
IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is a system where a digital television service is delivered using Internet Protocol over a network infrastructure, which may include delivery by a broadband connection. A general definition of IPTV is television content that, instead of being delivered through traditional broadcast and cable formats, is received by the viewer through the technologies used for computer networks.

For residential users, IPTV is often provided in conjunction with Video on Demand and may be bundled with Internet services such as Web access and VoIP. The commercial bundling of IPTV, VoIP and Internet access is referred to as "Triple Play" service (adding mobility is called "Quadruple Play"). IPTV is typically supplied by a service provider using a closed network infrastructure. This closed network approach is in competition with the delivery of TV content over the public Internet, called Internet Television. In businesses, IPTV may be used to deliver television content over corporate LANs.
end quote

I think I understand it now.

Martin

[lunnie]

Good for you ;D

[Graham]

Jul 22, 2008 19:29:15 GMT martinw said:

I think I understand it now.

Martin

You're a better man than me Martin, I wish I did. ;D

Graham

[martinw]

Note the word "think", Graham ;D