TV in europe

[barry_374350985]

Hi seasoned Europe motorhomers,

I intend taking a small flat screen TV + a digibox on our travels to France, Italy etc. Will I be able to receive programmes OK or do I need a different type of TV altogether ?

 

[Tim2]

Hi Barry

I'm afraid a UK tv will NOT work in most other Continental countries. We have a one which works on the different systems used in Continental countries. French Digital TV is different too I believe. I must admit, however, that unless you are fluent in the language concerned it is of little value. We can manage the weather in French. If you are any good at lip reading(LOL) a lot of the French detective and other series are American ones dubbed into French.

A number of people use Satellite TV but we haven't gone down that road yet. I understand that the

 

[ally_374305385]

Barry

I was across Belgium last year with my Maplin suitcase set up. I worked great able to catch up on the UK channels

ALLY

 

[JTS]

Ally.

You say you used a Maplin set up in Belgium. What UK channels did you receive. JTS.

 

[JTS]

Barry.

You say digibox. What digibox. You will only receive Uk TV in France using a Satellite Receiver and your TV will work off that but your TV will not pick up French TV. Your TV will work in Italy as they use the same system as us. You are unlikly to receive UK Satellite TV the other side of the alps without a very, very large dish.Good Luck. JTS.

 

[Lutz]

You will be able to receive any free-to-air satellite transmissions, even the French, with a satellite dish setup. With the dish aimed at the right satellite, I sometimes watch them, even at home.

 

[Charles_374240409]

Barry

We went to France last year (Normandy)and just took the Skye box from home. We got the full range of programmes, and even our regional stations, 'cos it thinks we're still at home.

Charles

 

[Graham_374228415]

We took a 90cm dish and our sky box from home to Almeria and got all UK channels except 4. However the m/home next to us with a fully automatic system and an extra booster which cost

 

[Mike_5041144]

We have used our Skybox and a Minidish in Alsace & Dordogne no problems. Hoping Ardeche will be OK this year.

 

[PeakPaul]

I've taken my Sky box to Cambrills in Spain & got most channels but not all.

I had a trip to the south of France (Frejus) and drew a complete blank, but a year later on the same site got limited channels again.

In my experience the quality of the Sky box makes a difference. The box I used in France would have probably got absolutely nothing in Spain.

 

[giovanni_5060838]

there are a fair few tvs out there now that can recieve not only the english PAL system, but THE PAL BG [i think thats right] which covers a large part of europe and SECAM the french system.

So alot depends on the TV you have..

 

[Lutz]

If you are receiving satellite signals with a seperate sat receiver, it's immaterial what the television system is (PAL or SECAM).

 

[Lutz]

If you are receiving satellite signals with a seperate sat receiver, it's immaterial what the television system is (PAL or SECAM).

 

[giovanni_5060838]

lutz. yes i do understand that. I have been scouting ebay looking for a good value 15inch lcd tv, that covers europe rather than just the uk.

Whilst parked up on site for the longer duration,. say 10 days,then its fine to get the portable sat kit out and swear like hell whilst i spend the good part of an hour or two trying to tune it in.But for overnight stays i thought a tv that recieves the local langauge would be a much better idea. Even if you dont understand the language the weather reports and local news stories seem alot easier to get on with....

 

[JTS]

Giovanni, it should not take you more than 15 mins to set up and locate your satellite - get organised mate. Good luck.JTS.

 

[martin.]

I don't want to sound like Victor Meldrew(as i'm only 37) but there seems to be a lot of people asking this question about watching TV abroad and getting UK channels, we've been going abroad for a few years now and it's a pleasure not having to watch TV, I can't understand why people can't go back to the old fashioned way and play cards or board games or even talk to each other.

Surely being on holiday is about doing things you don't usually do at home, going for walks, relaxing with a book, sitting out on a nice night chatting to other vanners, we love not having the TV there because it makes us do other things and it gets the kids minds stimulated, and even they appreciate not having a holiday dictated by what's on telly.

Sorry to sound like a fuddy duddy but, leave it at home....

 

[joeby]

we stayed over christmas and new year in valanova south of Barcelona in spain and using the Sky box and a larger dish we had all the programms that we recieve at home in the Uk , it takes 5 minits to up and running ,just make sure you dont get a pitch with too many trees around it ,we also had our laptops with us so we paid 30 euros for the month to log onto the sites WIFI and we able to use MSN messenger or SKype to keep in contact with family and freinds back home ,

 

[giovanni_5060838]

Martin. I don't think you are being a victor,but i do believe there is a big difference between having a working tv set up and just watching tv all day.

When we are abroard,just little things like the local and regional weather forecast can play a part in what you do the following day,an example. a few years ago 2004,we stayed at the figline site near florence.the next days forecast was for a lot of rain,but 60 miles away in lucca the forecast was for a much better day so thats where we went, a tv is usefull for just that type of info.

Or after a busy day sometimes just putting your feet up for a few hours,watching local channels to improve your language skills can be very helpfull too.

In 1997 we were again in figline, but no tv,and we learned of princess di's death whilst on a train into florence,and that was our first trip into florence and all we remember it for is the news of princess di's death.Had we had a tv,it would have helped us change our plans.

So you see its not a matter of sitting infront of the tv for long periods of time just keeping up with things..

regards gio

 

[joeby]

Martin not every body watches tv all day ,while i was in spain i used to like watching the news in the morning ,while eating my break fast at 7 in the morning ,once i have eaten the i used to sit outside in the sun relaxing talking to my neighbours ,who happened to be German ,then we would go and play tennis ,or go to the gym ,have a nice swim ,and a sauna ,then in the afternoon we would go sightseeing ,and late afternoon we come back for dinner ,maybe watch a bit of TV before we went out to a near by bar or maybe ,we would socialise and have few beers with neighbours ,and about 10 or 11 in the evening i would watch the Tv for an hour before going to bed ,so i think i have a pretty full schedule for a 63 year old ,so if somebody asks about a TV it does not mean they are watching it all day ,and if any writes in and asks about s cooker or shower ,power mover ,are you going to tell them to leave it at home ,

 

[JTS]

Martin. So you do not like TV, OK by me but, LIVE and LET LIVE.

Good luck.JTS.

 

[martin.]

Martin not every body watches tv all day ,while i was in spain i used to like watching the news in the morning ,while eating my break fast at 7 in the morning ,once i have eaten the i used to sit outside in the sun relaxing talking to my neighbours ,who happened to be German ,then we would go and play tennis ,or go to the gym ,have a nice swim ,and a sauna ,then in the afternoon we would go sightseeing ,and late afternoon we come back for dinner ,maybe watch a bit of TV before we went out to a near by bar or maybe ,we would socialise and have few beers with neighbours ,and about 10 or 11 in the evening i would watch the Tv for an hour before going to bed ,so i think i have a pretty full schedule for a 63 year old ,so if somebody asks about a TV it does not mean they are watching it all day ,and if any writes in and asks about s cooker or shower ,power mover ,are you going to tell them to leave it at home ,

cookers and showers are important

 

[martin.]

Martin. So you do not like TV, OK by me but, LIVE and LET LIVE.

Good luck.JTS.

Love my telly JTS, just don't want to watch it while were on holiday, surprising how quickly you can get used to not watching it, went to Egypt 8 years ago, first time i'd been abroad, no tv, came home and it was 5 weeks before I turned it on again, thought I was losing my mind, lol.

 

[martin.]

Martin. I don't think you are being a victor,but i do believe there is a big difference between having a working tv set up and just watching tv all day.

When we are abroard,just little things like the local and regional weather forecast can play a part in what you do the following day,an example. a few years ago 2004,we stayed at the figline site near florence.the next days forecast was for a lot of rain,but 60 miles away in lucca the forecast was for a much better day so thats where we went, a tv is usefull for just that type of info.

Or after a busy day sometimes just putting your feet up for a few hours,watching local channels to improve your language skills can be very helpfull too.

In 1997 we were again in figline, but no tv,and we learned of princess di's death whilst on a train into florence,and that was our first trip into florence and all we remember it for is the news of princess di's death.Had we had a tv,it would have helped us change our plans.

So you see its not a matter of sitting infront of the tv for long periods of time just keeping up with things..

regards gio

I can see the upside to it gio and it can be important sometimes, I just feel at times our lives are ruled by it and it's nice to get back to reality and just be in your own little world, even if it is only for a couple of weeks.

 

[rayc]

I feel a " I have observed ....." coming on.

I have observed whilst holidaying in Europe that caravan and motorhome owners have SAT systems which they use for tuning into stations from their own countries. Why do they bother touring, they could stay at home and watch it?

Sorry just had the urge!

 

[Lutz]

Answer to the above question:- Why forsake creature comforts when away from home? Lots of people take bikes with them when on holiday because they enjoy cycling not just when at home. Same goes for watching TV. They're both just trying to reconcile two favourite pastimes.