Re: TV in France

by Bad Penny Sat Jul 30, 2016 12:44 pm

Many thanks Peter, you have confirmed what I thought.

Regards Leighton

by meanchris Sat Jul 30, 2016 12:45 pm

Does the handle fold away Peter, so that it doesn't brain you as you walk underneath, and does it also turn the dish and adjust the elevation/skew?

by Gromit Sat Jul 30, 2016 12:54 pm

Peter's offline Chris, so maybe I can help.

Yes the handle does fold away, so no cracked cranium.

No it doesn't rotate the dish - it only elevates it. (BTW - When you have discovered how many turns of the handle it needs for the correct elevation it's very quick and easy.)

There's a big ring surrounding the handle that is used for rotating. It's marked in degrees and has a datum point that you set to North, as indicated by your compass. Then you can rotate the dish to the correct heading, which can be obtained from a smartphone App.

(There are loads of satellite finder Apps, but I can't advise as I've never used one. I use a digital signal finder these days, and that is very good, so I guess the Sat variety will also be OK.)

This refers to the improved model, which looks a lot neater and more efficient than the one I had. The video should tell you all you need to know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3weoX_4-vA

Hope this helps

Dave

by meanchris Sat Jul 30, 2016 12:58 pm

Thanks Dave, what about LNB skew?

by Gromit Sat Jul 30, 2016 1:01 pm

I don't think the Crankup has a skew. Mine didn't, but I never had a problem locking onto a half decent signal.

This gives a bit more info - have a browse as there's quite a lot on the web.
http://www.maxview.co.uk/crank-up-manual-roof-mounted-satellite-system

Dave

P.S. Just looked more closely at this link. It does have a skew, but it looks like a ladder and roof job. Unavoidable I guess, unless you can stand on the seats and reach it from the Heki. It also has a twin LNB. Quite a big upgrade from the one I had. allthumbz

by meanchris Sat Jul 30, 2016 1:08 pm

Thanks again Dave, hmmm, manual skew adjustment only, which can be critical in France and Germany.

That means either climbing on the roof or reaching through the big Heki if it's possible.

by Peter Brown Sat Jul 30, 2016 4:17 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYSKiDolX-0

Above is a video of the one I have. As you can see you can adjust the skew but you have to get up to it to do it. I have mine set to an 'average'. Sky news is usually the post powerful signal so its good to use for aligning the dish. The snipe which is the same aerial on an auto base adjusts skew automatically.

by paul bullock Sat Jul 30, 2016 4:25 pm

Hi have just entered a good quality compact sat dish in "classifieds" if anyone interested Regards Paul

by inspiredron Sat Jul 30, 2016 7:11 pm

meanchris wrote:Just remember a couple of things Ron, it'll help you when you're having problems:

Finding the Azimuth and Elevation isn't that difficult. Once you've managed it the first few times, and with the help of an app and compass, you'll get the feel for it.

Most Important:
A good SKEW is everything, you have to adjust it specifically for your lat/long location.
If you don't, then you can be fooled into thinking that there's no signal, when it's just some of the transponders missing and you've happened to choose one of those channels to use as a datum.
I've watched people give up because they have the skew completely the wrong/opposite way, even though I could hear their sat finder whistling away with a strong signal. (I helped of course)

That is something that I would never have considered! Thanks

by Bad Penny Sun Jul 31, 2016 12:52 pm

Hi Peter, I am now a contender for the Camos plus crank up dish.
Where I wish to place it is tight for room inside but convenient for wall mounted tv etc, but plenty of room outside.

What I would like to know is the diameter of the crank up unit.

Regards Leighton.

by Peter Brown Sun Jul 31, 2016 1:35 pm

http://www.outdoorbits.com/images/camos/camos-crank-up-plus-dimensions.jpg

by Bad Penny Sun Jul 31, 2016 2:23 pm

Thank you Peter.

by Bad Penny Tue Aug 02, 2016 11:26 am

I have just had a quote for fitting a Camos crank up from Roadpro for £250, cost of dish £369.

Seems expensive to me, any ideas out there.

Leighton. confused3

by Peter Brown Tue Aug 02, 2016 1:54 pm

In August 2012 mine was installed by Motorplus. Dish cost £499 inc vat, installation £237.60 inc vat

by Bad Penny Tue Aug 02, 2016 11:01 pm

So that seems to be the going rate then, I'm totally out of touch with prices these days.
Once again Peter many thanks.

by steve00136 Wed Aug 03, 2016 6:44 am

To save space I have utilised the table leg and stand to support the satellite dish.

TV in France - Page 2 Temporary_zpsla6tsqyh

Just means we can't use the small pedestal table inside whilst on satellite.

by Peter Brown Sat Aug 13, 2016 5:16 pm

I've just finished installing an Axtex L188DRS (Ron, please tell me where to send the bill) in lieu of my W164DR and Maxview free to air satellite receiver. Its fitted to a pull out bracket in a bespoke cupboard and required a replacement of all connections in a very confined space.

I'm very well pleased with the ease of operation and quality of picture and sound and looking forward to watching hd terrestrial tv in France in September.

by inspiredron Sat Aug 13, 2016 11:41 pm

Sorry, Peter! When I started this thread it was intended to be informative rather than directive.
Thanks for the feedback - I am currently considering upgrading myself.
One thing puzzles me - the online manual for the 187 (also HD) says optimum screen resolution is 1366x768 but full HD is 1920x1080! Is the 188 the same? Even the non HD 164 is also 1366x768.
Presumably the picture is downsampled to the lower resolution?

by Peter Brown Sun Aug 14, 2016 10:26 am

http://www.12vtv.co.uk/avtex-12v-tvs/avtex-l188drs-indepth.asp

A good over view at the link above.

The spec does say the optimum mode is 1366x768.

When tuned to UK HD it is receiving 1080 dpi, for German HD it is 720 dpi. Not tried any others yet.

The 187 is ok for UK and French HD but not German, to include them you need the 188, the first shipment arrived in the UK last week.