We now have our van and have done 2 short trips. The 2 caravan parks I picked had no tv reception. The one just out off Ballina did have cabling for every caravan so we did have tv the one at Wooli did not an no one with a normal caravan set up had tv. So I am batting 100% this is ok for me as I am happy having a wine and listening to the radio or CD but wife not happy. We have a we have a Wineard Sensar HV with booster, is it worth setting up a external Antennae you can move around the out side of the van and change it height or just go for a portable Satellite set up. As if wife not happy not good.
If your winegard anntenna doesnt get reception mostlikely nothing else will use your time and money wisely just go satellite. Satellite is not perfect as you do need to have line of site to the satellite but would be my first choice.
Hi If you travel around a lot and like your tv, go for a satellite system, you will have virtually no trouble anywhere with the correct setup. Only need to use satellite if you can't get local channels, which at times in outback towns are very very limited.
Don't skimp on the dish size as the smaller dishes are known to give trouble in certain areas, 85cm dish is good in most if not all cases. A good set of instructions and you can't go wrong.......well, most people that is.
Have fun choosing
Ian
-- Edited by Wanda on Friday 27th of April 2018 03:52:42 PM
We now have our van and have done 2 short trips. The 2 caravan parks I picked had no tv reception. The one just out off Ballina did have cabling for every caravan so we did have tv the one at Wooli did not an no one with a normal caravan set up had tv. So I am batting 100% this is ok for me as I am happy having a wine and listening to the radio or CD but wife not happy. We have a we have a Wineard Sensar HV with booster, is it worth setting up a external Antennae you can move around the out side of the van and change it height or just go for a portable Satellite set up. As if wife not happy not good.
Was she not happy about not having any TV reception or was she not happy about having to make conversation with you?
Tell her not to fret, these days there's nothing on TV worth watching anyway.
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Was she not happy about not having any TV reception or was she not happy about having to make conversation with you?
Tell her not to fret, these days there's nothing on TV worth watching anyway.
Well there is that but it is a start. Traveling in a caravan is about both so need to compromise so I am use to free camping in a camper no mod cons wife not so hoping it will grow.
-- Edited by Mackayak on Friday 27th of April 2018 11:22:51 PM
Was she not happy about not having any TV reception or was she not happy about having to make conversation with you?
Tell her not to fret, these days there's nothing on TV worth watching anyway.
Some fantastic documentaries, nature and history shows DD.
Aussie Paul.
We'd rather be out & about experiencing nature first hand, not sitting on our backsides watching it on the box.
Most people watch tv at night,not explore nature all night ,people that are outdoors of night exploring nature would be in the minority,unless sitting around the campfire...
Mackayak portable Satellite will be the way to go. Its lovely that you consider what makes your wife happy. Keeping those around you happy is what life and relationships are all about. All the best....Kisha
I've installed a few house antennas. For difficult locations which do not have 'line of sight' to the tower a phased array antenna can do a better job than a conventional type (house type). I wonder if it'd be worth trying one of those (they're not very expensive). You'd have to do some kind of rig to hold it, then work out where the tower broadcasting the best signal is (phone apps for that).
The other option is a PVR (personal video recorder) and record stuff (when you have a signal) to watch when you have no reception. If you tell the PVR to record from the EPG (program guide), the TV needn't be on using power when the PVR is recording.
Or use a service like Netflix, Stan etc via your internet connection (either a 4G device or even your phone as hotspot). You can also get devices for caravans that boost your reception of the mobile phone signal for that.
If you go well beyond reach of conventional broadcast TV signals, then yes, satellite. Here's just one site I plucked from googling (I'm not recommending them as I have no experience with satellite). A good place to start if only for info about what is required. Seems to be a dish and a decoder box or TV with cabling between. Satellite signal meter to help find the direction to point the dish. The cheapest kit there has a box that can record one channel onto SD card, but you could upgrade to a box that records two channels (looks to be 240 volt though).
They have systems that mount on the roof or that sit on the ground (these look much cheaper). From about $700! Still not cheap. I think there are cheaper options around, particularly on ebay, but you'd want to watch the quality and know what you're doing as you'd most likely be on your own (except for forum or paid help).
-- Edited by wfdTamar on Monday 30th of April 2018 03:30:41 PM
We now have our van and have done 2 short trips. The 2 caravan parks I picked had no tv reception. The one just out off Ballina did have cabling for every caravan so we did have tv the one at Wooli did not an no one with a normal caravan set up had tv. So I am batting 100% this is ok for me as I am happy having a wine and listening to the radio or CD but wife not happy. We have a we have a Wineard Sensar HV with booster, is it worth setting up a external Antennae you can move around the out side of the van and change it height or just go for a portable Satellite set up. As if wife not happy not good.
My opinion, (so I could be wrong)
To keep the wife happy, buy a satellite dish, but do some research as some have a bad name
There are many places in Australia, which do not have TV reception
If you are staying in caravan parks, then you could ring to ask about TV reception, or just set up the sat dish, anywhere in Australia
