Someone else who needs to be able to get on-line everywhere he goes is Les Oliver. Les has one of our Crystop 85cm Internet systems fitted to his Hymer and relies on it to run his business, no matter where he is in Europe. “I live in the motorhome and can run the business just as easily as if I was in an office” he says. “It’s a fantastic piece of kit”.

Mr & Mrs Roads brought their brand-new Burstner Argos 747 to us to have a Crystop Internet / TV system installed along with one of our new InovTech 18.5” TVs. Unlike Les Oliver (see separate story) they are not using it to run a business but the Crystop dish combined with an IPcopter service package will allow the Roads’ to watch TV and access the Internet (including VOIP services such as Skype) just about anywhere in Europe.

A Cheyenne in Morocco needs a Kathrein

Julian and Valerie are planning to travel as far afield as Morocco and chose to have a Kathrein CAP 910 fitted to their Autotrail Cheyenne 840SE.

Although the choice is limited that far south, other CAP 910 owners have reported back to us that they could still pick up some British TV and radio channels.

We're on the Gadget Show!

One of our best-selling 12V plug-in products is our toasted sandwich maker. But we've been a bit surprised at just how many were being ordered during the past few days.

It turns out that, not only had our fantastic product been featured in the Daily Mail but it was also shown on Channel 5's Gadget Show where the presenter demonstrated a disturbing lack of ability to even butter a slice of bread.

Unfortunately, in both cases the toaster was just one product in a list of five being described as "the silliest gifts of the year". But we've got thick skins at RoadPro. We've sold thousands of 12V toasted sandwich makers and haven't received a single complaint. Anyway, since the publicity, sales have soared proving the truth of the old adage: there's no such thing as bad publicity.

RoadPro Goes Rallying - again.

The RAC Rally was held on the 14th - 17th November. Recreating the RAC rallies of the 60's, 70's & 80's, the event saw 55 vehicles of the period covering 946 miles - 204 of them on special stages which took in forests and the Oliver's Mount racetrack in Scarborough.

Seeing and hearing Ford Escorts and Cortinas, Porsches and Lancias racing flat-out was an exhilarating spectacle and taking part in a 40 year old Saab 96 with a 3 cylinder, 2-stroke engine was even better! Driven by Jim Valentine with Andy Harris as navigator, our classic piece of fine Swedish engineering (the car used by Erik Carlsson to win the RAC Rally in 1962 & '63) came 1st in class, 2nd in the historics and 20th overall, beating a Porsche 911 into 21st place!!

Click here to see the cars in action. We're in the second car up.

Channel 5 News.

Channel 5 has gone "free to air" at last.

This means that you will be able to watch all the wonderful programmes available on this channel without having to use a SKY receiver.

You will have to perform a satellite scan in order to enter it into the free to air receiver's channel list. After you've done that, at the moment, look for Channel 6335 in the channel list.

Channel 5's sister programmes, Five US and Fiver are still encrypted.

At the Show

With just a week to go until the International Caravan & Motorhome show at the NEC, the tension is mounting! Who will be there? Who won't be there?

RoadPro will definitely be there - Stand 1171. Making special guest appearances will be "Diamond" Dave Newell of Practical Motorhome fame and Brian from Car-Fi. Both Brian and Dave will be happy to answer questions on installing things in your caravan or motorhome.

We will have plenty of show offers on satellite equipent, TVs, etc and along with Blaupunkt - who are on the next-door stand - we'll be demonstrating their fantastic new range of GPS systems, with prices starting at under £100.00 (just).

We also hope to be showing the new Pocketsurfer. This got a tremendous response when we introduced it at last year's show and the new model is even better with a new pricing structure which includes Euopean roaming rates at £0.05 per minute.

We hope to see you there.

Now that's a motorhome.

At RoadPro we send goods all over the world and some of our customers are very interesting indeed. This week we're sending a consignment of Procar DIN sockets to an American company which makes some of the most spectacular motorhomes I've ever seen. How about this monster based on a long-nosed Kenworth truck?



You can see more by visiting Kibbi's website: http://www.kibbi.com.

CHARGE !!

When caravans, motorhomes and boats are parked up for the winter, it's a really good idea to take some simple steps so that, when the sun comes out next year, your 12V electrical system is in good condition and ready to go. Here are some good tips from CTEK, manufacturers of "the most intelligent battery chargers"

When preparing your vehicle or boat for Winter storage:

• Ideally the battery should be removed from the vehicle but whether removed or not the following should be undertaken:
• The battery should be checked for any cracks and disposed of or repaired professionally if needed.
• The top of the battery, the terminal posts and connections should be carefully cleaned with water and baking soda to remove any dirt or moisture. Dirty or moist surfaces increase the level of self discharge.
• Contact terminals should be clean, dry and lightly greased to protect against corrosion.
• If the battery has been removed, the compartment it sits in should be cleaned and dried to remove any electrolyte that may be present that will cause corrosion.
• Traditional wet / flooded batteries (not maintenance free types) should have electrolyte levels checked and topped up between min /max levels with distilled water.
• To avoid a flat battery maintain constant regular charge. If you have electricity in your garage or storage area you can use a smart battery charger that will maintain charge levels, keep the battery in good condition and ensure that your vehicle or boat is ready to drive when spring arrives.

Before re-starting your vehicle or boat in the Spring

• Ensure that the battery terminals are clean and secure.
• Check battery charge levels and recharge the battery if required.
• It is a common misconception that a jump start, followed by a long drive fully recharges the battery from the alternator. This is not the case, as an alternator will only partly charge the battery. After this first drive, the battery will need to be charged or it will quickly be drained once again.
• If you are unsure about any area of battery maintenance ask a qualified technician.

Reporting from Dusseldorf

The Dusseldorf Caravan Show is the largest of its kind in Europe. It's always worth a visit if you're interested in keeping up with the latest thinking in caravans and motorhomes but the primary reason for visiting as far as we were concerned, was to look at the new products and accessories from manufacturers such as Camos, Procar, Kerstan and Alden, all of whom RoadPro distributes for in the U.K.

We weren't disappointed; all of these companies had interesting new products such as:

• Motorised rear-view cameras from Camos which look down when reverse gear is selected and give a rear-view mirror image in forward gears.
• Dome systems from Kerstan which enable Internet access all over Europe. They're designed for boats and, if you have to ask the price, you can't afford one!
• New satellite TV systems from Alden who now offer most of them with an Internet option which can be added at a later date if required.
• Useful new 12V & 24V connectors from Procar as well as a simple and practical way of converting 12V halogen lights to LED, giving the same light output but using 90% less power.

We also got a chance to try a new 'phone system which can be used with Alden's or Kerstan's Internet systems and, at a cost of around £0.20 per minute from anywhere in Europe gives land-line quality calls.

High-definition TV was on view at the Alden stand via the new DQT TVs - distributed in the U.K. by RoadPro. Even on a 17" screen, the clarity of the image was incredible and we'll be able to offer these TVs as well as H.D. satellite receivers during September. Keep an eye on our website for more information.

More Channels on Freesat

More channels have been added to the Freesat channel list. Here they are:

Russia Today

Shop on TV

Gala TV

Zone Horror

Pitchworld

Fight Network

Net Play

Inspiration

Gems TV

Zone Reality

You've probably never heard of any of them and, to be honest, you probably won't want to watch them either. But that's the wonderful thing about digital TV; it makes you realise just how lucky we are to have BBC, ITV and Channel 4 - even Channel 5!

Back from a break

Apologies for the lack of activity on the RoadPro blog.

There was lots of excitement as RoadPro Towers when the TV programme "Pulling Power" got in touch and wanted to do a piece on watching satellite TV on the move. They came over to Daventry and spent most of the day filming, starting off with the presenter demostrating and explaining how easy it was to line up a Multimo dish even when it's perched on the bonnet of a car.

They were even more impressed by the prospect of watching satellite TV while driving, so off we went in the trusty Laika with the film crew in the back and the Camos in-motion system working perfectly as usual.

The day's work boiled down to an actual 4 or 5 minutes of screen time when the show went out in mid July and, although the worldwide fame and glory that I was hoping for don't seem to be happening, several people did see the show (even if they thought it was the Gadget Show).

Domes for Digit Al

Digital UK - the organisation leading the U.K's digital switchover - are arranging roadshows around the country to explain to people exactly what switching to digital TV involves and the various ways in which it can be accessed. To see a schedule, click here.

You can't miss their vehicles; look out for bright pink vans with 40cm multi-LNB Camos sat-domes on the roofs.

RoadPro Goes Rallying

I've always wanted to go rallying and now, at last, I have. We were in the Historic Rally Challenge - part of the Severn Valley National Rally and driver Jim Valentine (a RoadPro customer who runs a transport business) had only just completed work on his 1972 Saab 99. This was the first time out for the Saab and Jim was keen just to finish rather than to go flat out for a fast time. This didn't stop him hitting over 70 m.p.h. on the narrow, winding, gravel roads in the forests around Builth Wells. The car - being a Saab - survived its first outing without any serious trouble and I managed to avoid any major errors such as telling Jim to go right when I should have said go left. For a navigator, that's a bad mistake to make.

Here's a picture of the car and, even more interestingly, a Camos sat-dome on the motorhome in the background. And very smart it looked too.

Satellite Dishes Are Us

The RoadPro Laika now has 4 satellite systems on board. Dave Newell, proprietor of Leisure Vehicle Services in Telford (and also a regular contributor to motorhome magazines) installed one of the new Camos crank-up systems having already put one on his own motorhome.
Unfortunately, we had to remove two terrestrial TV aerials to make space but these things have to be done. We still have the facility to attach a telescopic pole to the side of the 'van and get a log-periodic aerial way up high.


So that makes a Kathrein CAP 900, a Camos crank-up, a Camos 40cm in-motion sat-dome and an Alden Netmaster. And I hardly ever watch TV!

One of the good things about the Camos crank-up is that it's so inconspicuous. In the picture, you can just see it behind the LNB of the Kathrein. Despite its size, it will pick up BBC & ITV channels all over the U.K. and 99% of France. In southern Spain and Portugal, it will pick up all the usual channels including SKY News & BBC News as well as all BBC radio stations.

The Show Must Go On - not!

The Crick Boat Show is traditionally a disaster. Usually it's flooded to the point where it's difficult to tell where the marina stops and the exhibition area starts. A couple of years ago, a nearby abbatoir caught fire and the roads to the show were blocked off for hours as the heady aroma of burning flesh drifted over the showground.

This year, on the Monday, the show was cancelled amidst flying gazebos and visitors fleeing the site - before the locusts show up or the canal fills with blood.

It has to be better next year. But then, I remember saying exactly the same thing last year.

So Much Going On

A lot has happened in the past few weeks; too much to allow time for blogging. The Peterborough & Newbury motorhome shows have been and gone and now the Crick boat show is under way.
The new RoadPro show set-up is proving successful. It's easier to put up and both looks better and seems to be more customer friendly than the old tent. If you haven't already, please pay us a visit and admire our helpful and handsome staff.


At last, I managed to get my hands on a Grundig freesat receiver. I went through it with Dave Newell from Leisure Vehicle Services. Dave is also a technical adviser on both MMM & Practical Motorhome magazines so and his verdict on the new satellite service was 2 /10. I think that was generous.

The receiver is 230V only so needs an inverter if it's being used in a vehicle. That's a bad start from my point of view and then it locked up twice and had to be re-started. We followed the set-up routine which was pretty straightforward but a lot more complicated than any free to air receiver such as our Zehnder DX65 model. We already knew that there wouldn't be any new channels coming through but what was surprising was just how few there were. BBC, ITV and Channel 4 were all there along with QVC and a few more but, SKY News and many other channels were conspicuous by their absence.

By controlling the design and distribution of the receivers, the freeview controllers can easily restrict the range of channels which are available via the service. You may not want to spend time watching "Essex Birds" or - at the other extreme - the "God Channel" but surely you should be able to if you do want to. Maybe these and dozens of other channels will be added later but, then again, maybe they won't.

Perhaps the only good thing about the freesat box was that it has a 7-day EPG. Whether that makes it worth forgoing all the other features that are available in other FTA boxes is questionable.

Freesat latest!

Rumour has it that Argos are sending out a promotional flyer for freesat within the next few days. And Comet are already advertising a Grundig freesat receiver; here it is:
At least, they were up until a day or two ago. Now there's nary a mention of them and John Lewis have removed all mention of freesat from their website too. What's occurring? Who knows?

I suppose we'll find out sooner or later but it does seem that all is not as it should be in the wonderful world of freesat.

What about the freesat transmission area?

Many people who watch British TV abroad are concerned that the new freesat service will only be transmitted on Astra 2D, making it very difficult to receive any channels once you get more than a few hundred miles away from the British Isles (depending on which direction you're going in).

There's nothing to worry about - for the moment at least. With the possible exception of Channel 4, all the channels will be staying where they are and you'll need the same dish size as at present.

Freesat is really only a new programme guide, not a new satellite or beam.

Channel 4 goes Free to Air!!

Channel 4 has gone free to air. This means that it is now available using any digital satellite receiver: you don't need a SKY digibox to watch it.

This ties in with the imminent launch of "freesat" - at the beginning of May.

Channel 5 will also become free to air within a matter of months.

Milage Milestone

The RoadPro Laika passed the 100,000 mile mark on Friday. Wherever it goes, we have to put up with the jokes, the jibes and the joshing. But the way we look at it, it's never had a factory recall, it's never failed the MOT, everything still works as it should and it still does everything that we ask it to do. And, it's paid for!


So it's still going strong and, unless anyone can come up with a convincing reason why we should change it, the RoadPro Laika might just make it to 200,000. If you pass us on the highway, please don't laugh: a cheery wave will do nicely.

RoadPro outing to Snowdon

Rising even earlier than they do on working days, three RoadPro stalwarts - Allen, Tom and Mark - set off before first light on Saturday in the general direction of west. Arriving at Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales, they cast off their cares, put on their best wet-weather gear and proceeded to make their way upwards.

Our crack team could possibly have chosen a worst day to attempt the peak but it's not easy to think of one. Lashed by blinding rain, surrounded by clouds and mist and blown off their feet by gale-force winds, the plucky lads reached an altitude of over 2,000 ft before deciding that discretion was the better part of valour.

They didn't make it this time but, like the Governor of California, they'll be back. Well done Chaps!!

At Last, It's Finished!

The 2008 RoadPro catalogue is finished and will be available from Tuesday, 19th February. Come along to the Boat, Caravan and Outdoor Leisure Show and pick up a copy. If you're not going to the show, phone, e-mail or click here and order on-line.

At the show we'll be showing many new products as well as some old favourites - all at special show prices. We look forward to seeing you there!

A Text Message From Morocco

Just received a text message from Thom States who's in Agadir, Morocco. His Kathrein CAP 900 is picking up programmes on the Astra 2 southern beam including BBC radio. He's going to let us know what other channels he can get.

He also has access to a 2M dish on which he can get BBC & ITV.