Caravan Satellite Systems » caravan http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog A caravan related blog page Mon, 10 May 2010 15:41:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Its All In The Wrist – Setting Up A Satellite Dish http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/308/its-all-in-the-wrist-action/ http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/308/its-all-in-the-wrist-action/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:35:40 +0000 admin http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/?p=308 Well we have reached 2010 without to much hassle, despite the white stuff.

This is not all good news though as it brings us a little closer to the digital switch-over. I know this is one f my favourite subjects but I bet you a hundred pounds that some people will be sitting in the van thinking, “I wish I had listened to the digital adverts on the TV”.

This brings me to the subject of what to do next.

The choice is easy to be honest and wont even break the bank.

You have to decide if you intent to go to digital via antenna or by satellite.

Digital By Antenna

Digital Television AntennaThis is the easy option but may not be the best way to go forward at the moment due to the lack of service in some areas. That said you can still go on with this option as long as you have your backup standard TV with you.

The main problem is that most of the digital antennas on the market are retro fit antennas and need to be mounted externally to your vehicle.

You are going to need a suitable antenna mount such as a telescopic pole or clamp. You will also need a digital signal finder to locate the strongest signal.

If you wish to make a decent job of your installation I would also recommend a cable entry cover to keep thing neat.

The plus side to this is that the complete setup should not set you back more than £60.00.

Digital Satellite Dish

Portable Satellite Dish KitThe second option would be to purchase a little satellite dish that can be taken with you on site.

This option does give you the advantage of being able to take your SKY box with you and lets you watch all your non subscription channels in the caravan, motorhome or in the narrowboat.

If I have to choose and option, this would be the one for me.

To receive television via satellite is as easy as the antenna option and its ready now.

The equipment is similar to the antenna option but uses a dish to receive the signal instead of the antenna. This dish option has no need for the telescopic mounting pole as the dish can be mounted on a flat surface like a roof or table.

The setup is quite easy once you get the hang of it and takes no more time to setup either.

The Multimo satellite dish is available in kit form with everything you need but the antenna system needs to be purchased separately.

If you need a system then please visit TSW Comsat for the MULTIMO SATELLITE DISH KIT and DIGITAL ANTENNA EQUIPMENT.

]]> http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/308/its-all-in-the-wrist-action/feed/ 0 Handy Hints and Tips for Caravans http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/305/handy-hints-and-tips-for-caravans/ http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/305/handy-hints-and-tips-for-caravans/#comments Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:49:39 +0000 admin http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/?p=305 Do you struggle to line up your ball and hitch?


Well we have a simple solution to your problem!

Get in the car and put a small mark or piece of tape on the lower rear window to show the position of your hitch.
Now hitch your caravan to your vehicle and make two small marks on the window of your caravan so that they line up.
Now all you have to do is to line up the marks when reversing and you should be able to line up the caravan with ease.

Line up your vehicle every time

]]> http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/305/handy-hints-and-tips-for-caravans/feed/ 2 Power Inverters Under Review http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/99/power-inverters-under-review/ http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/99/power-inverters-under-review/#comments Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:11:24 +0000 admin http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/?p=99

The whole purpose of the Power inverter is to convert DC power stored in a battery into a usable 230 V electric to power standard household appliances. However is very hard to evaluate the quality of the inverter from the description given in many magazines, papers and on many websites.

Cheap inverters can be good value for money but tend to have a short life expectancy, so be prepared to purchase another one soon after the original.  The only other major drawback with the cheap power inverters is the quality of electric been produced. Whilst this may be okay to power a light you would be extremely ill-advised to use the inverter to power any sensitive equipment. Cheap inverters tend to use the square wave signal which can be unreliable.

It is always advisable, when purchasing an inverter to look for a true or pure sine wave inverter as these provide the same quality of electric as you would expect to receive from the National Grid, in some cases even better quality electric. The main drawback to the true sine wave or pure sine wave inverter is the cost.

Most modern inverters generally provide protection against over-voltage and under voltage, this is designed to protect sensitive equipment from power surges. Inverters are available for use with 12 V or 24 V batteries and range in size from very small 80 W systems to systems that exceed 3000 W of power. Most lower wattage inverters may be connected directly to a cigarette lighter output, however the larger inverters will require a direct connection to the battery using a substantial cable.

As a general rule of thumb the cost of the inverter depends upon the wattage required and the type of inverter chosen. Inverters are produced three types, square sine wave, quasi-sine wave and true sine wave sometimes referred to as pure sine wave.

It is highly recommended that you have at least two 110 amp batteries installed into your vehicle if you intend to use a Power inverter. A Power inverter will reduce the operational life of your battery quite substantially. If you intend to install one of the larger inverters it is recommended a minimum of three 110 amp hour arteries are used.

To conclude.

Whilst power inverters are extremely useful for powering equipment that you would not normally find in a motor home caravan boat etc, you must expect a very large drain on your batteries.  It is also advisable to purchase a Power inverter of the pure sine wave type if you intend to run any sensitive equipment such as laptops, televisions, microwaves or gaming equipment.

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]]> http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/99/power-inverters-under-review/feed/ 0 New Caravans; The Key Considerations http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/55/new-caravans-the-key-considerations/ http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/55/new-caravans-the-key-considerations/#comments Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:57:41 +0000 admin http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/?p=55 By: Thomas Pretty
Caravans appeal to many people, those who want the simplistic pleasures of the open road and those who want to have more affordable holidays for themselves and their families. However the new caravans market is packed with different models touting features and services that to the newcomer can be confusing and befuddling. Fundamentally you need to understand your own needs before purchasing; it can be expensive so ensuring the right decision is made is essential. Hopefully the following article will give the reader information on exactly what kind of considerations need to be made before buying new caravans.

The first and major consideration that must be made is the weight of the caravan. This is down to the fact that your towing vehicle will have a limit to the weight it can tow. For those new to the world of caravanning the importance of this can be underestimated; this however is a major mistake, your vehicle will have a maximum, towing weight for a reason, towing anything heavier could be seriously dangerous. Normally this information can be found in the car’s handbook although there are a number of internet websites that will allow buyers to enter their vehicle details into a system that will produce a list of suitable caravans.

The overall shape of any caravans being viewed should also be a concern. The older variety of caravans are likely to squarer in form and will increase the drag on your outfit subsequently increasing costs in the long run in terms of fuel efficiency. As fuel prices today are extremely high it is an understandable concern that fuel should be used efficiently, this is why new caravans utilise more streamlined design as this will decrease the drag and increase the fuel efficiency. For those who are especially concerned with fuel prices it is possible to buy Caravans that are collapsible, these flat pack outfits do reduce drag but are in no way as comfortable as rigid variants however.

Caravans vary in length and size immensely. While the showier caravan owners may be inclined to buy the largest most opulent outfit this is not always advisable for newcomers. The longer the outfit the harder it is to park and control, hence first timers should consider a smaller caravan, at least for an introductory period. If space is a major consideration there is always the option to pack an awning, this will be not only cheaper but also will make the outfit easier to park, with no sacrifice being made on space. In addition longer caravans are often susceptible to higher fees on toll roads and ferries, especially on the continent.

In the majority of cases new caravans come in two axle varieties, single and double. Normally it is the largest outfits that require two axles and smaller varieties only one. Even so, single axle variants are easier to park and while in the past they may have been less stable, today they are just as stable as double axle varieties.

It is hoped that this article has given new caravanners the vital information they need to purchase an outfit. If these considerations are made it should be possible to find the perfect outfit. With a logical and conscientious approach years of caravanning pleasure should be a very real and attainable possibility.

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]]> http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/55/new-caravans-the-key-considerations/feed/ 0 Caravan Madness! http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/46/46/ http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/46/46/#comments Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:49:42 +0000 admin http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/index.php/archives/46 They have to be mad!!

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]]> http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/46/46/feed/ 0 40 years with the same company http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/17/40-years-with-the-same-company/ http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/17/40-years-with-the-same-company/#comments Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:33:33 +0000 admin http://www.caravan-satellite-system.co.uk/blog/?p=17 40 Years with same company

40 Years with same company

A MAN who started his career building special showman’s caravans for circus performers is celebrating 40 years with motorhome and caravan sales company Salop Leisure.

Service engineer Evan Capes started working at M. R. Pascalls Ltd at Oakengates before moving to Salop Leisure when workmate Geoffrey Betts and his wife Marjorie bought Salop Leisure at Meole Brace, Shrewsbury.

Forty years on and Mr Capes now travels in excess of 30,000 miles a year servicing and repairing caravan holiday homes across Mid Wales and the Heart of England.

Reflecting on his career, he said: “During my first five or six years building showman’s caravans we often had circus people and animals around. If there were repairs to be done to a showman’s caravan the circus people would live in another of their caravans while we were doing the work in the workshop.

“They would be practising their acts, like walking the tightrope and feeding the lions in the rear yard while we worked.

“I also made special exhibition units for banks and building societies and mobile incident rooms for the police. When I joined Salop Leisure, I worked mostly on repairs and I am still repairing caravans 40 year later.

“Modern caravans with their central heating, double glazing and all mod cons are phenomenal, totally unrecognisable from the early models that I worked on.”

Salop Leisure Chairman Tony Bywater commented: “Forty years’ service to the same company is a remarkable achievement It has been a pleasure and privilege to work alongside him for most of those 40 years.”

Mr Capes (seated in the picture) celebrated his 40 years’ service with a special anniversary cake presented to him by Salop Leisure directors Dylan Roberts, Tony Bywater and Mark Bebb.

Thanks to Out & About Live for this news item.

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