Is this Maplins kit any good for a newbie? - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

Atom-man · 01-07-07, 11:17 PM

Hi,

Like a lot of folk I need some advice on kit - I've read through this and other forums and am getting a mite confused

I'm on the verge of buying this sat kit from Maplins

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...C=EBook&U=Ecat

I'm a contractor and tend to move around the UK quite a bit to very remote areas so the sat TV keeps me reasonably sane

I spend anything from a month to a year in one spot so don't need a very small dish but would like something that pulls in a sensible volume of channels. If the FTA can be "enhanced" with patches so much the better but thats not high on my list at the moment.

Is my homework OK and will the Maplins kit deliver or do I need to re-think?

?? Do I need to provide any other data?

Thx

Atom-man

imported_ALBERT · 02-07-07, 12:05 AM

Hi Atom-man
You maybe better with this one.http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=48737&doy=1m7
You will get much the same and do not have to attach dish to a wall.Bit like man in a suitcase.

ALBERT

Atom-man · 02-07-07, 12:12 AM

Hi Albert,

Yeah saw that one but was put off by the "parts of scotland and ireland" coverage info. For better or worse

I sometimes end up in the far reaches of scotland

where I NEED tv more than ever to stay sane

Thats why I was looking at a kit with a larger dish as I understand that size matters

in this respect.

Atom-man

imported_ALBERT · 02-07-07, 12:20 AM

Hi Atom-man
Yes I thought it would be less hassel putting dish up and down.And yes you would be better with bigger dish.You could possibly get a tri pod stand to set dish up.
I had one in the back garden for a few years best setup i had.
ALBERT

Atom-man · 02-07-07, 12:28 AM

looking at the tripods but also considering attaching to the two inch post that locks into the caravan jockey wheel clamp. All I have to do then is secure a pitch facing south

at the campsites and pop up the dish - mind you I don't know what the wife will say when she comes a visiting as the view out the front windows is likely to be the back of the dish

failing that a good tripod will probably save me from those stoney silences :?

imported_ALBERT · 02-07-07, 12:29 AM

Hi atom man
Like this.http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=48679&TabID=1&C=SO&U=strat15& doy=search
ALBERT

Atom-man · 02-07-07, 12:34 AM

Yeah thats the sort of thing that may save my bacon if it comes to views versus channels

But what about the main bit of kit will the Maplins sat kit get me started or is it a chunk of junk? or is there better for the same sort of cash outlay £100

imported_ALBERT · 02-07-07, 12:37 AM

Hi atom man
Do you have a pc in your caravan?
ALBERT

Atom-man · 02-07-07, 12:46 AM

No,

Why? :?

imported_ALBERT · 02-07-07, 01:02 AM

Hi atom man
The reason I ask is it can make a difference to what you can do with a receiver.There are some quite good and reasonable ones that can be programed with the help of a pc.
Also there are some that have Cam and card slots which is an advantage over a free to air.receiver.To enable you to view encryptted channels also.
ALBERT

01-07-07, 11:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Atom-man Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Is this Maplins kit any good for a newbie? Hi, Like a lot of folk I need some advice on kit - I've read through this and other forums and am getting a mite confused I'm on the verge of buying this sat kit from Maplins http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...C=EBook&U=Ecat I'm a contractor and tend to move around the UK quite a bit to very remote areas so the sat TV keeps me reasonably sane I spend anything from a month to a year in one spot so don't need a very small dish but would like something that pulls in a sensible volume of channels. If the FTA can be "enhanced" with patches so much the better but thats not high on my list at the moment. Is my homework OK and will the Maplins kit deliver or do I need to re-think? ?? Do I need to provide any other data? Thx Atom-man

02-07-07, 12:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
imported_ALBERT Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 114 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is this Maplins kit any good for a newbie? Hi Atom-man You maybe better with this one.http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=48737&doy=1m7 You will get much the same and do not have to attach dish to a wall.Bit like man in a suitcase. ALBERT

02-07-07, 12:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
Atom-man Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is this Maplins kit any good for a newbie? Hi Albert, Yeah saw that one but was put off by the "parts of scotland and ireland" coverage info. For better or worse I sometimes end up in the far reaches of scotland where I NEED tv more than ever to stay sane Thats why I was looking at a kit with a larger dish as I understand that size matters in this respect. Atom-man

02-07-07, 12:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
imported_ALBERT Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 114 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is this Maplins kit any good for a newbie? Hi Atom-man Yes I thought it would be less hassel putting dish up and down.And yes you would be better with bigger dish.You could possibly get a tri pod stand to set dish up. I had one in the back garden for a few years best setup i had. ALBERT

02-07-07, 12:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
Atom-man Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is this Maplins kit any good for a newbie? looking at the tripods but also considering attaching to the two inch post that locks into the caravan jockey wheel clamp. All I have to do then is secure a pitch facing south at the campsites and pop up the dish - mind you I don't know what the wife will say when she comes a visiting as the view out the front windows is likely to be the back of the dish failing that a good tripod will probably save me from those stoney silences :?

02-07-07, 12:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
imported_ALBERT Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 114 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is this Maplins kit any good for a newbie? Hi atom man Like this.http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=48679&TabID=1&C=SO&U=strat15& doy=search ALBERT

02-07-07, 12:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
Atom-man Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is this Maplins kit any good for a newbie? Yeah thats the sort of thing that may save my bacon if it comes to views versus channels But what about the main bit of kit will the Maplins sat kit get me started or is it a chunk of junk? or is there better for the same sort of cash outlay £100

02-07-07, 12:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
imported_ALBERT Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 114 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is this Maplins kit any good for a newbie? Hi atom man Do you have a pc in your caravan? ALBERT

02-07-07, 12:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
Atom-man Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is this Maplins kit any good for a newbie? No, Why? :?

02-07-07, 01:02 AM	#10 (permalink)
imported_ALBERT Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 114 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is this Maplins kit any good for a newbie? Hi atom man The reason I ask is it can make a difference to what you can do with a receiver.There are some quite good and reasonable ones that can be programed with the help of a pc. Also there are some that have Cam and card slots which is an advantage over a free to air.receiver.To enable you to view encryptted channels also. ALBERT