Maxview portable sat system

Hastings campers replied on 20/07/2018 15:56

Posted on 20/07/2018 15:56

I thank all of you have replied to me earlier questions -much appreciated. This might well be the last -honest! Caravan suppliers round here are loathe to fit a sat system on to the Bailey Unicorn roof for fear of water ingression, and so we are thinking of a portable system. Has anyone direct experience of the Maxview Precision 75cm dish? Does it quickly find a satellite or is there a lot of hanging around involved? How far from the van could it go if trees are in the way? Do I need a twin LNB if we only really want the customary terrestial channels? I am technically useless, so is installation easy? We are usually only ever in Holland or Western Germany and so 75 cm should suffice.

Thanks as ever in anticipation of your reply.

ocsid replied on 20/07/2018 16:58

Posted on 20/07/2018 16:58

I don't think it "finds" satellites even the right ones, it seems just a manual package and it has a built in "finder" [I sense a dumb one at that], and pretty elevation adjustment. 

You would have to do the "finding" by manually moving it about.

The "easy find" technology found elsewhere is a lot better in that it responds only to the "right" satellite, not any thing out there. Even that finds nothing but indicates when you have found the right thing.

Being tall is good for seeing over hedges, but a nightmare when it is windy; IMO anything but a real attribute. Also note that the signal we seek is coming down at about a one in two angle, so stand the dish at least twice as far away from a hedge as that is high and you will see over it anyway. A tad higher makes no real difference if a tall tree is close by in the wrong direction.

IMO there are better value solutions to be had. I might have totally misunderstood what it is, though I am pretty sure it "finds" nothing.

Twin LNBs enable those users with  the right type of recording boxes to be watching one channel whilst recording another, that here is the only reason for twins.

DavidKlyne replied on 20/07/2018 17:13

Posted on 20/07/2018 17:13

Hastings Campers

I appreciate that I am digressing from your question but surely your Bailey caravan is the same construction as my Bailey motorhome? Before having my roof top system installed I actually e-mailed Bailey to check that it was acceptable and they were perfectly happy. In the main I don't think the generality of caravan dealers would be considered experts at fitting such dishes but certainly Road Pro in the Midlands and Van Bitz in South West are and those are the sort of people I would be going to in order to have a roof mounted dish. I mention those two as I have had personal dealings with them and I am sure there are many more of similar quality in other parts of the country. 

On another part of your question you mention using the dish in Germany and I think you would need to check the footprint to check how far into Germany you would get a signal.

David

John4703 replied on 20/07/2018 20:38

Posted on 20/07/2018 20:38

I use a Satgear system and there is a light on the dish that changes colour when it finds the correct satellite. 

I spent ages trying to get a signal recently at Chapel Lane site and another member showed be an app on his phone.  It is SatFinder Lite and it shows the satellite as a dot on the phone screen.  It was clearly behind some tall trees.  I thought it worth sharing this handy app.

lornalou1 replied on 21/07/2018 14:27

Posted on 20/07/2018 20:38 by John4703

I use a Satgear system and there is a light on the dish that changes colour when it finds the correct satellite. 

I spent ages trying to get a signal recently at Chapel Lane site and another member showed be an app on his phone.  It is SatFinder Lite and it shows the satellite as a dot on the phone screen.  It was clearly behind some tall trees.  I thought it worth sharing this handy app.

Posted on 21/07/2018 14:27

there's also an app for your antenna. great free app called antenna aligner.

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