Which motorhome satellite dish?

Satellite TV transmissions began as early as the 80s in the UK. It made holidays abroad all the more enjoyable for touring Brits, who could pick up most radio stations and even BBC TV with a small motorhome satellite dish.

But in 2014, broadcast areas changed for satellites that transmitted English channels. As most UK stations switched to the Astra 2 satellite, there was a new broadcast region. So, a larger motorhome satellite dish was needed to pick up the signal from Europe.

Which UK TV Channels Can I Pick Up in Europe?
The short answer is: it depends on the location of the satellite and the beam.

Satellites and Their Footprints
There are three Astra 2 satellites at present. Satellite reception from Astra 2F, one of the satellites that transmit British programming, is deliberately restricted. This is due to the BBC's licensing issues in Europe, as well as jurisdiction issues for SKY programming. The result is a loss of broadcast signal from this satellite south of Bordeaux. In fact, Barcelona is the end of the line, even if you're carrying the largest mobile dish available - just under 1m in diameter.

Other satellites that transmit English speaking news channels, such as SKY news, CNN or BBC World, are available through the Free To Air (FTA) Satellite Receiver, Hotbird and Astra 1. Their footprints in Europe are much larger than Astra 2's.

The Beams and Their Channels
Astra 2 satellites provide coverage for different areas on the continent, depending on the beam.

As the name suggests, the UK Spot Beam covers the UK and the whole of Ireland, but extends all the way down to Western Europe. BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Channel 5 are some of the channels available on this beam, as well as the roughly 170 freesat channels currently available.

The Pan European Beam, on the other hand, covers the whole of Europe, but needs far larger dishes than a motorhome can carry. Sky channels are usually on this beam, and they will work even in the South of France with dishes 80cm in size or more.

What Motorhome Satellite Dish Should I Buy?
To access the hundreds of UK TV channels available from Europe, you need the right equipment. Motorhome satellite systems for Europe come in all shapes and sizes. So, finding the right one is a matter of assessing each one of its features and determining if they are suitable for your touring needs.

Setup and Functionality
Motorhome satellite systems are not created equal. They way they're set up and their built-n devices and features are very important. In a nutshell, motorhome satellite systems for Europe and the rest of the world can be classified as: manual, fitted manual and fully automatic.

Manual motorhome systems need to be aligned with the satellite manually. Many of them come with a built-in satellite finder and a compass. One such example is the MAXVIEW Precision 65 system. Setting it up involves placing it outside the caravan, adjusting the elevation and the azimuth by hand, and setting the location of the satellite so that the finder homes in on it.

Fitted Manual systems have a manual handle that you can operate from within the motorhome to set the elevation of the dish. It features a pole with a built-in compass that helps correct the azimuth, but you still need a satellite finder to pin-point the satellite. The 85cm MAXVIEW crank up systems are a good example.

Fully Automatic systems are self-seeking. They automatically locate the satellite at the press of a button. When you set up a MAXVIEW SEEKER 85, for instance, all you need to do is enter the satellite's coordinates.

To maximize the coverage of your motorhome satellite systems for Europe, we recommend using a MAXVIEW HD receiver. Alternatively, an AVTEX TV with integrated DVB-S will also give you access to the three major European satellites. Both are ideal for HD programming with little power consumption.

Size and Location
You should choose your motorhome satellite system based on the channels you want to view, your location, and ultimately the type of motorhome you have. Portable dishes will only get you so far. Roof mount dishes are more convenient, while large dishes are impractical for motorhome users, in general.

As British programming is increasingly harder to view across Europe because of various satellite reception restrictions, there aren't that many alternatives. As mentioned previously, Barcelona is the southerly limit of the footprint for Astra 2F broadcasts. So, travelling further down the continent means you need a land-based dish with a diameter of up to 2 metres.

If you'd like to limit your viewing to the UK only, you can use smaller dishes. The MAXVIEW Precision 55 manual system would suffice. If you prefer a fitted system, then the 65cm MAXVIEW Crank Up would be ideal. Likewise, the MAXVIEW SEEKER 65 with or without a DOME is the optimum solution for those interested in automatic systems. A range of TVs with built-in receivers, such as the AVTEX DRS and the MAXVIEW MXL020 HD/SD are also very convenient for motorhome users.