Digital TV's & Satellite

[TheScotts]

G'Day everyone

Gary and Sheree here from Australia - some technically minded people may know the answer to these questions for us:-)

We are importing a fifth wheeler to Australia shortly and want to know once the 110V - 240v is set up can we use the American TV's - as we remember when you have a new TV and you set the country up etc we should by rights be able to use them here in Australia??

We also want to get a satellite dish set up on top (We use a vast box here to hook into the satellites) and again we gather it should work here in Australia??

We may sound a little dumb but want to work out if this is correct or not - would save us a lot of money if we did not need to replace any of these things...

Gary & Sheree

[Rainer]

We use the NTSC system here in the U.S. for our TV's. So it should work in Australia as long as you don't use the PAL system used in Europe. The two systems are not compatible. I'm not positive, but I don't think the TV's that come with Montana's can be switched, plus playing DVD's might also be sticking because of the region protection system.

I wonder if your campgrounds have the same 50amp circuitry we have here in the U.S.?

I believe you're going to have your worked cut out for you adapting the Montana to Australia, it's electrical systems, TV's, and lastly it's left hand drive, which would make the entry doors open into traffic lanes rather than sidewalks.

[H. John Kohl]

Australia works on 50Hz cycle where we are 60Hz. That being said the old tub job TVs would not work. I left there in 06 before the digital came into effect. I am not sure about the new flat screen TVs.
Speaking of Hz. that does have an effect on the air conditioners motors. They will run slower and labor more.

Also when I as in NT I checked out a caravan and noticed the Australian caravan uses a different holding tank concept than we did. I am not sure if that is still the same.

Comment with your trailer people door on the passenger side of our US trucks, it will now be on the road side in Australian, so harder or less safe, to gain access when pulled to the shoulder.
Do not mess with the Road Trains. (edit - I just reread and see you are from New South Wales so you already know about Road Trains.

After installing the Mor/ryde Independent suspension on my Montana I would definitely look at putting it on your heavier Big Sky. Especially if you think you might travel in the bush off the asphalt roads.

Rereading I see Rainer had the same thoughts.

Good luck and let us know what you find and how things work.

[DQDick]

You might direct some of these questions to your satellite supplier. Dish network here in the US has a small team of RV experts. If your supplier has a similar group they should be able to answer many if not all your questions.

[TheScotts]

Wow, thanks everyone for all your comments, will go through and sort each ones information...thank you again...most appreciated...

[KathyandDave]

You might consider having the trailer shipped with no electronics and no power receptacles, then add them on arrival, so you'll use equipment that's locally compliant and can be serviced/replaced as necessary. However, if Australia has British-style wiring, then the voltage is higher and the American wiring might not satisfy local standards for insulation. You might have an insurance issue if there was an electrical fire, regardless if the cause was the wires themselves. Lots to think about!