Intellian i2

[Piers]

I am thinking of adding this to the ever growing list of changes I'm making to Play d'eau. But I can't find to get a coverage map for the areas of Europe this covers when using Astra satellites.

I specifically want to be able to use if on the est coast of Brittany. Any experience?

Thank you.

Piers

 

[David of Essex]

Have had the i2 fitted to our boat for 2 years now, we are based east coast UK have found the system very good and any advise from Intellian has been friendly and good.
David

 

[aquapower]

Here's a link to the coverage page of the satellites which shows the dish sizes required for KVH http://www.caclase.co.uk/satellitecoveragemap.html

 

[Hurricane]

Here's a link to the coverage page of the satellites which shows the dish sizes required for KVH http://www.caclase.co.uk/satellitecoveragemap.html

Sorry but I think that link is quite unhelpful and miss leading -typical of KVH IMO.

I assume that you want to watch BBC1/2/3/4/ITV etc

Have a look at this link for the correct footprint (from Astra)
look at the UK Ku bant spot beam.
http://www.ses.com/4628614/astra-1n

And here is a link to some very useful information about things happening on the satellite front.

http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/newsat.htm
IMO, this site is the gospel for anything to do with UK satellite TV receptionin Europe

I suggest that a larger dish might be better for the Brittany area but the smaller one might work.

I think your selection of Intellian for your dish is good (IMHO of course).
I personally think that Intellian are streets ahead of KVH - see a recent comment on these forums from me - I'll find the link if you can't.

 

[Piers]

Sorry but I think that link is quite unhelpful and miss leading -typical of KVH IMO.

I assume that you want to watch BBC1/2/3/4/ITV etc

Have a look at this link for the correct footprint (from Astra) look at the UK Ku bant spot beam.
http://www.ses.com/4628614/astra-1n

And here is a link to some very useful information about things happening on the satellite front.

http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/newsat.htm

IMO, this site is the gospel for anything to do with UK satellite TV reception in Europe

I suggest that a larger dish might be better for the Brittany area but the smaller one might work.

I think your selection of Intellian for your dish is good (IMHO of course). I personally think that Intellian are streets ahead of KVH - see a recent comment on these forums from me - I'll find the link if you can't.

This is really helpful, Hurricane. Thank you. May I check my understanding so far?

1) The Ku band is used to cover Europe and that's therefore the band I need to receive.

2) I agree that the Intellien i3 would be better for the west coast of Brittany.

3) Since the Intellien currently comes with a free decoder box, what else do I need?

4) Will I need a TCV licence?

Thank you!

 

[Hurricane]

This is far too big a subject to answer in a single post - especially as I am currently on the boat with a slow internet connection.

I strongly suggest that you take the time to read www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk
Some of it is interesting reading anyway - his history for example.
From his site you will find links to other interesting information.

Anyway to answer your question very quickly.
An Intellian dish/dome setup with a Freesat TV box and a TV should give you all the UK free to air TV channels wherever you are in UK waters - even at sea.

The further away you go from the UK, the bigger the dish you need. For example, here in Spain we cant get BBC1,2,3,4,ITV etc at all when using our 60cm dome. If I want to watch BBC etc, I erect a domestic 800mm dish on a tripod. Sky TV on the other hand is broadcast over a much wider beam and we can pick up most Sky TV channels on our dome more or less anywhere in Western Europe. Sky TV involves using a Sky box and you would need to get your head round a whole lot more technical issues (default transponders etc) - all this is on www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk though. As I say earlier - the gospel for this kind of stuff.

BTW - have a look at Raymarine's dishes. They are actually rebadged Intellian dishes anyway.
Not suggesting that you get a Raymarine one - just compare prices etc.
I have Raymarine ones but I think I would buy direct from Intellian if I were ordering again.
They have a slightly different spec and I've always found Intellian very helpful at boat shows etc.
I certainly wouldn't' buy a KVH though - technically inferior IMHO of course.

 

[Nick_H]

Mike, i'm sure you're right because you know loads more about this Sat TV stuff than me, but when I switch on my KVH dome (M3), it locks on Astra 2A South regardless of whether the Humax receiver is switched on or not, which seems to contradict your previous thread. It does move from horiz to vert, and from low to high band as you switch channels, but surely all dishes need to do this depending on how the specific channel is transmitted? (ie. the dish can't second guess which channel you want to watch before you even switch the receiver on). I'm clearly missing something.

 

[Hurricane]

Interesting, Nick
My neighbour here in Spain has a G6 and his definitely doesn't work if you don't connect a Sat receiver.
Yours makes more sense.

I may be wrong but the way I see it is the set top box decides if it needs the LNB to receive low or high bands and if it needs vert or horizontal polarity. The set top box then outputs the relevant signals and the LNB switches accordingly. I think this is what you are saying.
My dish (and my neighbour's) have 4 channels - like most domestic units so each set top box (or Sky+ box with twin inputs) can individually select high/low - vert/horiz etc.
In the past, I have assumed that the marine dish/dome manufacturers have a special LNB which provides them with an extra channel which they can "listen on" and control the dish without affecting any other channels. They definitely have the ability in their software to provide frequencies for high/low and vert/horiz so that the dish knows when it has the correct signal.
My neighbour's G6 doesn't work like this - backed up by the specialists that came out from the UK. BTW they DID seem to know what they were talking about.

So, I'm a bit confused.
Yours seems to work the way I would expect.

I wonder if there are any experts on here who can shine a light on the subject - or put me straight. I'm very happy with my system but it would be interesting to know why this G6 doesn't work as expected.