Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Not sure what categorie this belongs in . Going around australia this year through the gulf and central australia . We are taking a laptop with an inbuilt tv tuner and am unsure what to do to get reception for television when we're away and if it possible,big aerial ,amplifieror what?? Just want to be able to get reception in as many places as possible and wondering what other people are doing to combat this issue ?? any help would be greatly appreciated ..

First the attempts to provide some helpful comments:
Having seen many a grey nomad's vehicle with a tv aerial stuck out the window, I'd assume something like a normal tv antennae for a house, but set up with a quick release system that you could mount to a roofrack or the like would probably suffice. Maybe a section of pole to get it a bit higher when you need to. But then the TV's these people use are normal 240v versions, so have the power for an aerial like that.
I have no idea if a laptop could pull a signal in from such an aerial. Maybe test it at home with your own tv aerial and see if it works.

Now for the comment I'd prefer to have made but hate it when people don't supply any useful help but just criticise the poster.

You're touring Australia and want to watch TV ? ? ?
If you want to watch a tv screen than save yourself some money and buy a scenery DVD and see Australia from home.
Why would you want to watch tv while touring? The everchanging colours in the campfire make far better viewing while travelling, let alone the actual scenery around you while you're AT that campfire.

But to each their own. I know to keep peace with my wife, I'd probably need someone taping and emailling me each episode of some of her favourite shows.
Of course I could just leave her behind and find a likeminded travelling companion instead.

thanks i'll have to look into this .

we're going to be travelling around for 1 year + , and will be working along the way also i am taking my missus so it may help to keep her off my back for a little while , so i am trying to keep peace .

Damn, I so envy you.
With kids in high school, this would not be a good time to try a trip like that. But I'd soooo love to eventually.
If our kids ever finish school and leave home, we'll probably deck out a Troopy for two, and do the same thing.

It would be good to get some feedback from anyone who has travelled with a TV...I am particularly interested in the reception comparision between digital and analogue signals.

I have a digital USB tuner for my laptop which I was going to lend to my folks who are going around Australia later in the year. They want to keep up with footy/cricket/news.

This website shows a lot of cities with reception:
http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=22

I wander if digital or analogue is any use in the fringe areas.

Well from what I've heard digital gives you a much better signal, like whereas you'd normally have a bit of snow or lines or something, digitial clear that up. But if you don't get a clean digital signal you get nothing. So digital is all or nothing. Whereas with analogue you'd get a shite snowed in picture but you have something, analogue has those grey spots in between where you get a dodgy picture.

Digital though is much more fussy with wiring though, good wiring is just as beneficial with analogue though.L like granny was hassling me to set up her tv and there was a cheap female-female joiner I removed that removed some really annoying lines in the picture. However if you look at old analogue cables they have almost non existant shielding and have done so for a few decades, whereas digital is recommended to be tri or quad shielded.

A tv tuner card should work with an antenna as the ones I'v looked at atleast have antenna inputs and AFAIK nothing other than an antenna is strictly needed.

I brought a USB tv tuner off ebay. It came with its own little magnet base stick aerial. Supposedly they aint much good though. But they also come with an short lead that has a small plug for the USB thing and a normal ant lead on the other end.
Oh I brought it off ebay ($78) for my laptop. Problem is I haven't brought the laptop yet so not tested.

you could try one of the small round arials that caravans have put it on a pole at the back of you car when you want to watch tv

my 2c

If you bend over and blow gas out your ass that might make it work

Guys, I am a tech support/engineer for a television antenna importer/wholesaler...

There is too much information above that is just purely not true..

I however dont have the time to explain it all...

If you are genuinely interested PM me and I will clear things up... In my own time

suits you sir

I travelled Oz with a little analogue tv(dick Smith-$125),used a
Fold-Away aerial-'bout $120.
Mounted onto clips on the side of the van, only took a minute or two
to hook up. Got as good reception as most other set-ups costing
heaps - saw all sorts from sat dishes to full on house jobbies 20' high.
It's meant to work on digital as well but dunno, didn't try.
Hope this helps,
Jok

landy_man wrote:Guys, I am a tech support/engineer for a television antenna importer/wholesaler...

There is too much information above that is just purely not true..

I however dont have the time to explain it all...

If you are genuinely interested PM me and I will clear things up... In my own time

How about a summary for everyone? You know, as much as you would commit to a PM....

OK... I hope I didnt come across as rude.... but I do this all day long.. and didnt feel like it right then..

Your best bet for perfect tele around Australia is the Aurora Satellite System.. which entails setting a dish up everytime you stop and a set top to view pics.. this will get you ABC, SBS, Central 7, Imparja and possibly GWN (in W.A).. it is PITA lugging a dish around.. and a little $$ but u get perfect pics..

Next best is to take a digital set top - NOT DIG TUNER CARD - with you, as well as a good portable, caravan style antenna.. TV signals are broadcast on different frequencies all round Oz, and a Dick Smith Special will get you okay pics.. but not great.. I can supply excellent antenna for this.. at around $80.. anyway.. with a dig set top.. you will have access to perfect pictures PROVIDING YOU CAN RECEIVE A GOOD QUALITY SIGNAL and it is bing transmitted in that area.. (see the dba.. or acma websites)...

Last is good old analogue.. This is broadcast everywhere and picture quality will range from very good to snowy, piss poor with even the best antenna... the terrain just does not allow for perfect analogue pics around Oz.. hence the new Digital services that are being setup..

And for digital - No.. you dont need tri or quad shield cable.. no.. not everything needs F connectors.. all you need is a good quality (not high signal strength) signal.. and a set top with a sensitive tuner.. they are not all created equal.. We employ someone full time to engineer tuners and software for dig boxes as the boxes get better and better with each new chipset that gets released....


ppphhwww... right that is all for now..
As I mentioned.. if anyone wants specific help.. I am more than happy to have a chat.. during business hours.. PM for details...

michael a wrote:If you bend over and blow gas out your ass that might make it work

Nothing better than helpful info, especially when spoken from experience

My in laws used the Aurora Satellite System on a recent trip to QLD. They used it more so because they had to pick the bits and pieces for the system up on the way through on their trip but it did give great results in outback NSW. The results in QLD along the coast were great too but probably more to do with the proximity to civilisation.

They said it wasn't too much of a hassle to set up but as said the dish is really awkward to travel with

grimbo wrote:

michael a wrote:If you bend over and blow gas out your ass that might make it work

Nothing better than helpful info, especially when spoken from experience

My in laws used the Aurora Satellite System on a recent trip to QLD. They used it more so because they had to pick the bits and pieces for the system up on the way through on their trip but it did give great results in outback NSW. The results in QLD along the coast were great too but probably more to do with the proximity to civilisation.

They said it wasn't too much of a hassle to set up but as said the dish is really awkward to travel with

If you can use a protractor and compass you should be able to align the dish.. the signal comes off the same satellite as Foxtel/Austar so it is a strong signal with 100% coverage across Aus.. and because it is digital gives perfect pictures.

But a pita to haul around if you are moving around every few days.. If on the other hand you plan on staying put for more than a couple of days, it is worth it.. and the cost of equipment these days is coming down..Plus, after your big trip, you could mount the dish at home and use it for any other satellite services.. except Foxtel/Austar of course..

Hi all. Just going to throw in my 2c worth, as i've done quite a bit of antenna work over the last 6-7 years. Athough i'm no "technician".

Keeping in mind that (as said above), as much as they advertise it on TV, not EVERYONE has dtv. We are yet to get it in my town, population 7000 (+4000 for pucka),we're not exactly a "small" town, nor are we light-years from melbourne, but every supermarket and chain store here sells STB's. Go figure. Anyway......

From my own (and a few mates i've supplied equipment to), I would go with a wideband UHF antenna like this:

http://www.radioparts.com.au/ProdView.a ... t=00727155

This one actually comes with 240/12 volt power supplies for the amplifier. This one states to be UHF/VHF, but i think it would most likely pick up UHF better, as it has the same base as the trusty old PL10 UHF antenna.

Even better, the Digimatch (MatchMaster) DE27 / 01MM-DE27 is my personal choice. It has great UHF AND VHF coverage, horizontal or vertical mounting of either antenna, and also has a pretty good gain level.
Basically its very versatile, covers basically EVERY braodcasting range in Australia, digital or analogue, and is easy as pie to use!! Retails for $139, or there's the cheaper DE16, which sells for $99.

Hope i've helped,

Coxy

I reckon you need to buy a unimog and get one stat....lol

You could also pull a caravan..... lol