On board satellite reception

[Nickcf]

Had a good chance to test sky reception on board during a recent 4 weeks cruise to CI and France. I'm using a Multimo dish ( http://www.towsure.com/product/2925 )feeding an old Sky digibox with a freesat card. I think an expired subscription card will also allow reception of all the usual tv channels. Oddly the sky box receives Ch 4 and Ch5 without pairing the card to the box anymore so I guess Sky must have changed something (which makes life easier). Also great because you can get dozens of Uk radio stations on the sky feed (see http://www.wickonline.com/fta.htm and scroll down for the listings).

Got really good reception throughout even when the boat was rocking all over the place in less protected marina's like Fecamp. It seems to take a significant movement before the picture starts blocking although it is necessary to keep the boat moored close to the pontoon and rely on the fenders to prevent excessive swinging.

I just sit the dish on the flybridge, setting up with a sat finder takes about 3-4 minutes. So long as you point the dish east (elevated to about 25deg) and then swing towards south the sky satellite is the first one you find. If the dish is set up properly the tolerance to movement is really very good.

The dish was worth the money just to be able to watch the last two F1 grand prix live!

 

[Hurricane]

Yep - agreed
WE have the same setup - worked well last season.
We went to St Malo - still a goot signal - just as in the UK

 

[PhilipF]

Useful post.

A thread here about six months ago assured me this would work on a boat, but from my experience in setting up dishes, I need a heck of a lot of convincing before obtaining one! For a "normal" dish, alignment is utterly crucial, so it is obvious to me that any slight movement would lose signal. I can see that the design is different, but if it is so good, and less crucial in set up, why is it not more widely available?

Who is it made by and where? Why is it not on general sale? Most if not all of our well known chandlers don't seem to stock it - why I wonder? On-line satellite dealers I've dealt will not handle this product either.

Due to the enormous choice of channels available, I would always choose 'Freesat' over 'Freeview', as would many others I'm sure. But in spite of the improved transmissions by satellite as compared with terrestrial, I've yet to spot a Multimo dish on a boat.

Anyone know of one in the Poole area?javascript:void(0)

 

[pheran]

[ QUOTE ]
For a "normal" dish, alignment is utterly crucial, so it is obvious to me that any slight movement would lose signal...............

[/ QUOTE ] The smaller the dish, the greater degree of movement 'off-line' it can take. The downside of course, is the smaller the dish, the the greater the signal strength required.

 

[Hurricane]

Multimo is on this page
http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page17.htm

Also have a read of this page - should answer all your questions.
http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/

 

[pheran]

Makro are currently doing the 'everything in a box' solution for very much less than these people. Well, for the next 10 days at least.

 

[Nickcf]

[ QUOTE ]
Useful post.

A thread here about six months ago assured me this would work on a boat, but from my experience in setting up dishes, I need a heck of a lot of convincing before obtaining one! For a "normal" dish, alignment is utterly crucial, so it is obvious to me that any slight movement would lose signal. I can see that the design is different, but if it is so good, and less crucial in set up, why is it not more widely available?

Who is it made by and where? Why is it not on general sale? Most if not all of our well known chandlers don't seem to stock it - why I wonder? On-line satellite dealers I've dealt will not handle this product either.

Due to the enormous choice of channels available, I would always choose 'Freesat' over 'Freeview', as would many others I'm sure. But in spite of the improved transmissions by satellite as compared with terrestrial, I've yet to spot a Multimo dish on a boat.

Anyone know of one in the Poole area?javascript:void(0)

[/ QUOTE ]

All I can report is my experience- despite the boat movement the reception was excellent (with one or two exceptions which only lasted a few seconds). If you are abroad there is no alternative if you want UK TV/radio than satellite.

If you are moored on a pontoon you could always sit the dish on the pontoon itself which obviously should move less than the boat. nb I think sailing boats tend to rock more than power boats when moored so may not be as good?

I got my dish mail order from a caravaning site. Chandlers don't stock them in my experience.

nick