Even on vacation, in Italy and abroad, we can continue to watch terrestrial and satellite channels on board campers, caravans and boats, on a campsite or in a rented house.In this article we explain which are the most interesting solutions, what they allow you to do and how much they cost.We will start from kits for less than 100 euros to get to the most sophisticated automated systems for thousands of euros.Spring has now arrived and the desire for holidays and trips outside the city is growing more and more.If you own a camper or a caravan, love camping life and don't want to give up watching satellite TV channels even on vacation, you should know that there are various solutions for terrestrial and satellite television reception.Some solutions use the same components of a "domestic" system, that is the UHF antenna and the dish connected to TV and decoder, but installed differently (suction cup, tripod, telescopic pole, etc.), others are expressly dedicated for outdoor living (kit in all-inclusive case), others are fully automated for fixed installation on campers, caravans and boats.These satellite systems are compatible with any decoder, including that of tivùsat and Sky, and allow you to watch Italian channels even when you are abroad as long as you remain in the coverage area of the Eutelsat Hotbird 13 ° East satellite, i.e. from which Sky, tivùsat and other Italian broadcasters broadcast.In this article we will analyze the best solutions offered on the market (all-inclusive kits, separate component systems and automated systems), we will explain what they allow you to do, how they are installed and we will show you which are the most interesting products for campers and caravans, from use in camping or rental holiday home.Case with camping satellite reception kit (Credit: Telestar)The all-inclusive kits are the simplest and cheapest solution to watch satellite channels on mobile vehicles, on a campsite or in a holiday home.They are generally composed of a steel parabolic antenna, a universal LNB, a suction cup base and a clamp for fixing the dish, a few meters of pre-connected coaxial cable with F connectors, various accessories (such as the compass) and the necessary hardware. assembly and installation.Components of a camping satellite reception kit (Credit: Megasat)Everything is enclosed in a light and compact case to be stored in the hold of the camper and caravan or in the trunk of the car.Normally the parabolic antenna included in the kit has a diameter of only 35-45 cm which allows you to receive only the strongest satellites and in optimal weather and installation conditions (perfectly visible and cloudless sky, short wiring, perfect pointing, etc. .).Trees, walls, or thick clouds can attenuate the signal until even the most powerful satellites can be received.In this case it is necessary to change the position of the dish and wait for the clouds to thin out.Trees are often an obstacle to satellite reception outdoorsThe fixing of the dish is almost always done through a suction cup base to be placed on the roof or on the walls of the mobile vehicle, on the car body or on glass or plexiglass surfaces.Metronic camping dish fixed on the car roofThe suction cup is usually equipped with a lever that creates the vacuum between the bell and the support surface ensuring a stable fixing.Other solutions instead use a support arm, a plate or a collar for fixing to the wall, pole, tree or table.Alternative systems for fixing camping dishes (Credit: Megasat)Some kits also include the HD zapper decoder, others do not have one to keep costs down and leave the user free to choose between zapper, CAS Box, tivùsat or Sky decoder.If you already have a TV with DVB-S2 satellite tuner on your camper or caravan, you can connect the dish directly to the TV without the need to use any external decoder.If you don't have it and you are interested in buying it, you can take a look at our buying guide dedicated to models from 19 to 24 inches.Components of a home and camping satellite reception kit (Credit: HB Digital)A satellite or terrestrial reception system for holidays, permanent or on-the-road, can be made with the same components as the traditional home one.This solution offers full freedom of customization, has low costs and is easily expandable and modifiable at any time.For reasons of space and transport, we recommend evaluating a dish with a diameter between 60 and 85 cm, possibly in aluminum because it is lighter than steel.If you want to make a Dual Feed system, the optimal diameter is 80-85 cm.Parable Emme Esse 60 cm (mod. 8060)As for the LNB converter, we suggest a traditional universal single output model, easy to find and very economical, unless there are special requirements imposed by the type of decoder used (e.g. LNB SCR or dCSS for Skybox HD / Sky Q decoders and Multi-tuner PVR).Single output universal Fuba LNBIf you prefer a more compact and discreet solution, you can choose a flat dish with integrated LNB instead of the bulky support arm of traditional dishes and performance similar to that of a 50-60 cm oval antenna.Selfsat H21D-dCSS flat antennaBoth the traditional and the flat dish can be installed in various ways depending on the vehicle and the options available (camper, caravan, boat, camping bungalow, balcony of apartment for rent, etc.).If the antenna is too heavy to be fixed to the walls or windows of the vehicle, you can use the existing telescopic pole or buy a tripod to temporarily place it on the camping ground or on the balcony floor.Tripod for satellite dish (Credit: Maxview)The tripods are made of steel or aluminum for sporadic (low-cost) or intensive (professional) uses, they can be easily assembled and disassembled (some are also foldable) and can be purchased online or from retailers of camping materials and solutions.Alternatively or in addition to satellite reception, campers and caravans can evaluate terrestrial reception using the DVB-T / T2 TV tuner or that of an external decoder, a disc antenna designed specifically for campers and caravans (omnidirectional), directive or Yagi type like those for the roof, preferably active (already amplified) and compact to reduce the overall dimensions.Fracarro Elika Combo 700 VHF-UHF antennaAnother interesting, economical and elegant solution are the flat antennas for outdoor and indoor, already amplified, to be connected to the TV or decoder.Mecatronic automatic dish (Credit: Camper Van Garage)The motorized satellite dishes for campers, caravans and boats are available in various sizes (from 60 to 85 cm approximately) and represent the most comfortable, reliable and performing solution for receiving satellite channels, even on the move.They guarantee the same performance as the home parabolic antenna with the same disc size and have limited dimensions (usually less than 20-25 cm) thanks to the mechanism that folds them automatically when the decoder is turned off or the vehicle engine started.Foldable automatic dish (Credit: QuickSAT)The other peculiarity is that of being able to "track" the satellites by automatically adjusting the azimuth (360 ° horizontal rotation) and elevation thanks to the integrated GPS receiver and the level of the signal received.Depending on the model, the management of the antenna can be carried out by means of a wired controller which activates the motors manually or automatically based on the stored satellite (eg: Hotbird, Astra, etc.) or directly from the DiSEqC 1.2 compatible decoder and / or USALS.Teleco control panels for automated Sat systemsOur advice is to especially evaluate the models with fully automated pointing that use the NIT table (Network Identification Table) of the satellite channels and the GPS receiver to detect the tuned channel and satellite, preparing all the appropriate corrections (elevation, skew) to optimize reception and make the scanning of the entire Clarke Band, i.e. the arc on which the geostationary satellites are positioned, faster and more precise.Some companies offer more spartan but equally effective solutions such as rotatable dishes, with manual or semi-automatic control, which are always installed on the roof of the vehicle using the existing pole or supplied together with the antenna.Teleco Voyager G3 manual dishLike the motorized ones, they can be closed again, in this case with a manual mechanism, so as to limit their height and wind resistance during the journey.The azimuth and inclination can be adjusted by rotating the pole from inside the vehicle and acting on a knob at the base of the pole itself.The semi-automatic dishes are instead equipped with a motor that controls the elevation through two buttons positioned at the base of the pole and / or with a controller that communicates with the sensor of the dish showing on a display the real absolute value of the inclination of the dish, even with the vehicle not level.The parables for campers with manual, semi-automatic, automatic and robotic control are available in various models and versions, with prices starting from 400-500 euros up to over 3000 euros.They are designed and built by specialized companies such as Teleco, Glomex, SR Mecatronic, Giocamper, Mobiltech, Ma-ve and Selfsat.Price: starting from 100.00 euro (indicative)The Megasat Traveler Kit contains in a small case a 41 × 38 cm dish, a single universal LNB and a support base with triple suction cup with a traction capacity of 120 kg.It is the cheapest solution to receive satellite channels on vacation, permanently on campers and caravans but also in second homes without a Sat system.The kit also includes a 10 meter coil of pre-installed coaxial cable with F connectors and a bracket for fixing the dish to walls, poles and trees.Price: starting from € 1,000.00ActiveSat Smart is a portable auto-pointing antenna to be positioned outside the vehicle on the special tripod.It is an intermediate solution between fixed manual and automated roof parables.It is available in the versions with 65 and 85 cm transparent acrylic disc or 53 × 53 cm flat, LNB with single or double output (Twin).Management and pointing are carried out via the internal unit (16 memory satellites and anti-theft system with optional siren) or with the app via Bluetooth.The app also acts as a compass, provides information on the orientation of the skew, allows you to choose the satellite and manage the search mode.The Flatsat Skew Elegance 2 system is among the most complete, performing and expensive solutions for automated satellite reception.It is suitable for the most luxurious campers and caravans, for long journeys throughout Europe and for those who demand maximum comfort and safety.In addition to the motorized dish (65 or 85 cm) and the control unit, it includes a Smart TV with integrated control panel for managing all functions including skew adjustment.The system is compatible with any satellite decoder that supports DiSEqC commands.The M7 T-SAT automatic antenna with aluminum chassis and bronze moving parts ensures maximum stability and reliability over time.Available in 60, 70 and 80 cm sizes with universal LNB, it allows direct satellite pointing (azimuth and elevation with self-centering via GPS) from the decoder or from the built-in control unit with LCD display and pre-programmed satellite database.In rest position (antenna folded back on itself) it is only 17 cm thick so as not to compromise the aerodynamics (and road safety) of campers and caravans.Price: starting from € 1,099.00The Snipe Drive is among the most advanced and performing automated antennas currently available on the market.It is officially distributed in Italy by Auriga.The GPS pointing system with tracking algorithm is able to compensate the vehicle movements very quickly and allow satellite reception even while on the move.The aerodynamic dome reduces friction and uses components that resist vibrations and atmospheric agents.Save my name, email and website in this browser for my next comment.If you liked this article and want to stay informed about technological news