Satellite Television Spain/Portugal

[Nicholas_5080853]

Thanks for everyone's patience and responses to my many questions. You will be relieved to hear that we are now booked to leave next month although i have only pre booked two sites in France on the way down for our extended winter trip and will be taking ym laptop with me so no doubt will continue to bombard the Forum with never ending questions.

It seems that the only reliable way for the wife to get her TV fix (not that I would ever admit to needing such a thing) is some form of satellite system.

Does anyone have any recommendations of equipment that will a) not cost a fortune in subscription fees and b) not require an upgraded larger vehicle to carry the extra equipment, along with awnings, chairs., tables, blow up dolls erm beds etc...

Thanks for your help

Nick

 

[Lutz]

The necessary dish size to receive transmissions on Astra 2D varies tremendously throughout Spain and Portugal, depending where you are. In northern Spain you can get by with a 80cm dish but in some parts of southern Spain and Portugal you will need one over 2m diameter - hardly the sort of thing one normally carries around in the caravan.

For information as to where you need what dish (footprint of the satellite) have a look at http://www.brymar.co.uk/info/europe_dish_size/Spain/Dish-Spain.gif

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I recently asked this question on Digital Spy Satellite Site but I was asking about the old analogue system for a friend who is going to Malaga.

You can still get news and Eurosport in English free on analogue and a lot of German channels.

The answer I got was that with an 80 cm dish I would be able to receive the channels in the south of Spain.

You can pick up an analogue box at car boots for

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I recently asked this question on Digital Spy Satellite Site but I was asking about the old analogue system for a friend who is going to Malaga.

You can still get news and Eurosport in English free on analogue and a lot of German channels.

The answer I got was that with an 80 cm dish I would be able to receive the channels in the south of Spain.

You can pick up an analogue box at car boots for

 

[Lutz]

I think you must be referring to transmissions on the other Astra satellites at 19.2

 

[WatsonJohnG]

That's the one (19.2) that I use sometimes.

When finding the digital satellite I start from the south and turn the dish towards the east.

You get a strong signal then another strong signal from the analogue satellites and after dropping the dish a few degrees continuing toward the east you pick up the digital signal.(SSE)

Before ITV was on Sky we would watch the Grand Prix on RTL with the sound turned down and if in range listen to the commentary on Radio 5 Live.

We take the analogue box as an insurance and usually end up lending it to someone on a rally!!

 

[Nicholas_5080853]

That's the one (19.2) that I use sometimes.

When finding the digital satellite I start from the south and turn the dish towards the east.

You get a strong signal then another strong signal from the analogue satellites and after dropping the dish a few degrees continuing toward the east you pick up the digital signal.(SSE)

Before ITV was on Sky we would watch the Grand Prix on RTL with the sound turned down and if in range listen to the commentary on Radio 5 Live.

We take the analogue box as an insurance and usually end up lending it to someone on a rally!!

Thanks for all the help , and especially your kind offer John. I think we will wait until we get down there and maybe find sites with cable hookup as our payload is in danger of spiralling out of control.. Heaven forbid but we may actually have to talk to each other.

 

[woodbush]

Try a website called www.satcure.co.uk they have loads of information of satellite systems. I bought a 60cm dish complete with tripod and satfinder from www.brymar.co.uk for about

 

[JeffinSpain]

Nick, go to uk.geocities.com/fincadelapiedra and not only can you plug into their satellite at no cost, but, they also have internet.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Nic we had TV hook up in Holland and you could see the site CCTV as well.

We could see the main gate,the swimming pool and our caravan.

We made sure the blinds were well down at night to avoid being offered a contract on Sky Grab a Granny Channel