insignia Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 We have a status 530 antenna on our van which was on it when we purchased it. It is our intention to buy a TV with freeview built in, we would like to know if we will be able to view all freeview channels in most countries in Europe or will we need a satelite dish,any advice would be much appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 You will not get UK freeview, which is digital terrestrial, outside UK. The Status antenna is digital/analogue, so may receive foreign signals when abroad, but cannot receive a signal broadcast from UK (except possibly near Calais). If you want UK free to air broadcasts while abroad, you will have to get a satellite dish. Broadly, the further South on mainland Europe you go, the larger the dish you will need. The only dish that would perform as you indicate, to allow reasonable quality viewing in "most countries in Europe", will be large. Depending on dish type and other factors, maybe up to 1 metre diameter. Try "Googling" for RoadPro, for much more information regarding satellites, their footprints, and appropriate dishes, decoders, finders etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porky Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Brian Kirby - 2009-12-11 12:48 PMYou will not get UK freeview, which is digital terrestrial, outside UK. The Status antenna is digital/analogue, so may receive foreign signals when abroad, but cannot receive a signal broadcast from UK (except possibly near Calais). If you want UK free to air broadcasts while abroad, you will have to get a satellite dish. Broadly, the further South on mainland Europe you go, the larger the dish you will need. The only dish that would perform as you indicate, to allow reasonable quality viewing in "most countries in Europe", will be large. Depending on dish type and other factors, maybe up to 1 metre diameter. Try "Googling" for RoadPro, for much more information regarding satellites, their footprints, and appropriate dishes, decoders, finders etc. We are in the costa del sol at the moment and all the "serious" motorhomers here have at least 1 m dishes many even larger free standing. We have a camos 40 which picks up all the news channels but nothing else. I think it improves as you go north. We shall see. We also have freeview and we can pick up spanish channels (saw some premiership rugby and football on teledeportivo) but definately nothing from uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insignia Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share Posted December 11, 2009 Hi Brian, Many thanks for your valuable advice and speedy response to my question it is very much appreciated, regards Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philman Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 There are two main free uk satellite channels that you can receive in many parts of Europe. They are Freesat from BBC and Freesat from Sky. Lots of people use an 80 cm dish as this is fairly easy to stow when travelling and quite stable when used on a tripod. This size will give you lots of channels over most of Western Europe and parts of Eastern Europe. You will need a digibox for whichever system you choose, a dish and tripod, a low noise LNB, a compass, a satellite meter, some connecting cables - I suggest one 20m long, 1 10m long and 1 1m long, also a back to back adapter. This can be used for joining 2 cables to give increased length when necessary and also for joining the short length from the LNB to the longer one connected to the receiver once the meter has been removed. Some dishes come with a folding LNB arm, these are quite useful as they avoid the need to assemble or dismantle each time you move. Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyishuk Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Everything and more you need to know (and more :D ) Excelent site http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/ Rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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