Guest Frank Wilkinson Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Has anyone any experience of, or can advise on, the respective merits of two semi-auto satellite dishes?I'm probably going to choose between a Teleco Voyagermatic or a Maxview Semitronic, both of which are around £600 fitted.I prefer the ones with an auto inclination system as it will compensate if the MH isn't perfectly level. Also, as I've previously found no problem with a totally manual satellite-dish/tripod combination, I don't need a totally automatic model with its very high cost and more chance of something going wrong.Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Hi Frank, Does the auto inclination compensate? I was advised it wouldn't be suitable on ours as we have a front to rear slope on our roof and it would not incline correctly. Bas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 As far as I'm aware only a fully automatic system will compensate for off level motorhomes because they actively search for the signal. The semi automatic models (Maxview Semitronic for example) can be set to remember a particular elevation and return to it but this will only be any use if the van is level every time. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Frank Wilkinson Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 This is what it says:http://www.leisuretechservices.co.uk/security/Voyager_Matic.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 I have no experience of the Teleco semi auto system but the info on the site you posted fails to explain how it allows for vehicle inclination. I have to say though that the Teleco does look like a better engineered piece of kit than the Maxview semitronic. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 I may be wrong,but , I think calling the Voyagermatic 'semi-auto' is overstating its caperbilities. I think its a manual system with electronic readout of elavation that compensates for tilt of van. Can anyone confirm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Fully automatic Camos Dome ??? Its been a subject of debate on this forum previously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Frank Wilkinson Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 I just thought that I'd follow up on this as a few people have tried to help. I phoned the supplier who told me that, in his opinion, I would be far better going for the crank-up model which saves £200. I too think that the website may be overstating its capabilities. The only way that it can automatically compensate for a sloping 'van is if it has some kind of built-in electronic plumb line, which knows that the dish isn't level and I don't think that it has.Anyway, the decision is made ! I'm picking up my new motorhome on Saturday December 1st and on Monday I'm having a Gaslow refillable-cylinder system fitted. On Tuesday I'm taking it to have the satellite dish installed and whilst there I shall probably choose a reversing camera and a cycle rack. I'd like to get everything done as soon as possible so we can have a trial weekend!I already have a Pace satellite box from my touring-van setup but it's only mains operated. I'm on the look out for a new one that's both mains and 12v so that we'll be self-contained for the odd night that we don't have an electricity hook-up. If anyone knows a good and compact 12/240v box I'd appreciate any references.Thanks for all your help everyone.Edited to say: I don't want a 'Free to View' box but one that receives Sky's free programmes using the £20 card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted November 19, 2006 Share Posted November 19, 2006 Go to ebay type in search 'pace 12 volt' pricey but mines been ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Frank Wilkinson Posted November 19, 2006 Share Posted November 19, 2006 Yes, I've done all that and all I can find is one at £199 but I just hoped that some members of this forum may have come across a more reasonably-priced one. In fact on ebay I don't think I even found a 12/240v box. There were plenty of 'Free to Air' boxes but no Sky digiboxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 If you type the search term as I said you will find two, first is £178+10p&p, second is £129+13.50p&p, the alternative is to enter 'pace mini*' you will then be given a list of second hand boxes which fetch around £80-£100, and will run off 12v but you may need to purchase a lead or modify the lead supplied (it should come with a 12v transformer), my only warning will be as with anything ebay buyer beware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Frank Wilkinson Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Thanks for that. I'd already done a search before your post and hadn't found the right thing but your search criteria turned up one at £99.99. The seller seems very genuine and has good references so I'll go for that.Thanks again for a good tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euroanchor Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 This may be stating the obvious, but whats wrong with using an inverter, you allways pay over the odds for 12 volt models and i'll put money on their being plenty of cheap 240v units available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Frank Wilkinson Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 I've already got a 240v Pace as it happens but I automatically shy away from inverters for two reasons, one of which is probably wrong and I would welcome advice.My first reason is the clutter of another device but the main one, which may be wrong as I know nothing about electrics, is that I suspect that running a 240v product using an inverter, will drain a leisure battery faster than using a bona fide 12v equivalent.Please tell me that I'm wrong and I'll consider buying an inverter and wiring it in permanently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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