Caravan Satellites: What are My Options?

For many caravan and motor home owners, television is an essential part of their touring experience. This is reflected in the wide choice and availability of products on the market, which can confuse customers looking to for a system that suits their needs. Whilst TV aerials can be relied upon to provide a signal in most parts of the UK, caravan satellites are often the choice of many people choosing to tour Europe and further afield.

At Auto-Mate (UK) Ltd we recommend that, when it comes to purchasing and installing new equipment, all motorhome and caravan owners should consider the following questions:

How important is it for you to receive constant, clear TV coverage?
Will you require English speaking TV channels abroad?
Where specifically are you thinking of touring?
What are your budget considerations?
As already mentioned, TV aerials cover most of the UK but only in areas that are receiving a signal from a transmitting mast. For a constant, crystal clear TV picture that is available wherever you choose to go, satellite dishes provide an effective mechanism for your vehicle on the move.

Caravan Satellites and Media

Receiving pictures from satellites is a well known problem for caravan owners, especially as you move further away from the UK and across Eastern Europe. Here, the size of the dish you set up is an important factor, and we recommend that you ask your retailer for advice on the right product for you.

Broadly speaking, the type of satellite dish that you can look to fit and install on your caravan or motor home can be split into one of these categories:

1. Manual: these dishes need to be manually aligned to the source of your TV signal i.e. the orbiting satellite. Offers good, reliable service year on year.
2. Fitted Manual: these use a manual handle within the caravan to set the elevation of the dish, which again is a manual process that requires a satellite finder.
3. Automatic: these dishes self-seek the orbiting satellite, often in as little as one minute. As a general rule, the larger the dish, the greater the range the satellite will have.
4. Dome: all satellite dish components are protected from external forces by an outer shell. The range of Dome satellites can be quite limited.

Whichever choice of satellite you decide on, make sure to test your satellite dish prior to any prolonged trip or tour abroad. If you require any assistance or would like to know more about any of the satellite-related products and media available today, please contact Auto-Mate (UK) Ltd by phone or email.