Sat. TV recomendation

[garynrosvi]

I am breaking down and going to spend my allowance upgrading my old fashioned TV system. Yes, I still have a "Crank-up and turn" antenna on my motorhome. Now I have been spoiled with a nice HD DirectTV system at home, I miss it on the road.

I would appreciate some suggestions and recommendations for what system to buy and where to have it installed. I would like HD and on-the-road system if it won't break the bank. I keep looking at Camping Worlds systems and it seems they should know how after selling and installing them for years. Any one have CW put one in their rig?

Well, what do you recommend and what have I NOT considered? :confused:

Gary in OR

[darwin]

I had a King Dome Auto Stationary system installed at Camping World just over a year ago. I was displeased with the installation, My motorhome was prewired for a dome, they ran the wire across the top, drilled holes in the front cap when all they needed to do was drill one hole in the center. They insisted on installing a seperate power supply that would not work. After 4 trips to CW and my research they tied into the coach 12 volt supply. It has worked well until my last trip, it would not lock on the satellites.
When at a camp site you must have an open view of the southwest sky, if a tree is in the way it won't work. I carry a portable dish and a tripod.
It is great when you get it set up and worth the trouble.
If you get the in motion system, I have been told that you can back into a site with it working and find a location where it will work. You can move the RV a small amount and get reception.

[utmtman]

I have the moving view system also installed from cw. I did have to take it back cuz they only did the front tv and not the back. That is extra money and extra work which I think is a crock but paid for it anyway. They could have said something when I first had the dome put on.

[imnotlost2008]

I recently bought an '04 Holiday Rambler with a Motosat Dome. I know nothing about it and don't even know where to start as far as getting Sat service, does it need special accesories, etc.etc. ? I'm technically challenged anyway, so any help would be greatly appreciated.:eek:

[donnie]

When we bought our MH, we had a Winegard In Motion dish installed on ours.
We re very pleased with itIt worked great while on the last trip to Utah we made.
DW watch our local channels all the way from our home base.

[wagon217]

We have a wineguard in motion satellite system and Direct TV. When I was researching which satellite system to choose, I was informed that Direct TV was a bit more user friendly. Thus far is has been. One thing about Direct that a friend did was used his receivers from home on his motor home, in lieu of setting up a second account.

For HDTV with Direct TV you will need a satellite system that will receive the new HD signal, as they transmit that signal on a different bandwith.

As for me, I will stick to the standard satellite and still get digital signal from Direct. I did purchase a converter box for those times when I can't get a satellite signal and use the crank up antenna.

[cherrypop]

I set up a dish, connect to a box from home and pay the Dish network so much each month to get CBS, ABC, and NBC while I am in a campsite. Very enjoyable especially during the "monsoon season"! Cherrypop:)

[mo21012]

We had Camping World install a dome on our previous rig. The wiring for both front and back was already there, so we just needed the dome installed. Our 2007 came with dome installed.

While we have HD TV in the Fleetwood, we bring a box out of the house and use that so we don't have HD in the coach. Eventually, we will upgrade the equipment in the house and maybe add a box for the coach while we are at it.

Good luck!

[salit]

Before you make any changes check out your crank up bat wing on a digital TV, not a CRT. Many stations are already broadcasting in digital format and the pictures are great. By Feb 2009 all stations will be in digital. I wish I had waited for air digital before buying my expensive & troublesome Motosat HD 1000 model.
Yes, I do get many more channels on the dish but but how many do you need?
Harry

[kslb1]

Gary, I'm a little late in responding to you as I am a new forum member. One thing to consider that I have heard about sat systems and HD. Directv will have I believe 2 bands and I have been told the dome systems will not be able to pick up both of them at the same time. You may want to talk with a general sat dealer in your area. There is also something about it on the Winegard website. I have Dish and am not happy with them right now but am going to stay with them because from what I have read and heard all I need is a small converter box to pick up HD with my dome dish.

I have the Winegard in motion dish and am very happy with it. On my previous coach I had installed a KVH in motion dish that was a nightmare. Had to hook a pc to it periodically to update the software. I would not recommend them.

I would always be very leery of Camping World installation. I buy there at times but would not let them work on my coach unless it was an emergency.

[stagecoach]

Sorry for the late posting, however my information might help someone in this area. I have a King-Dome stationary system and use DirectTV. I was satisfied with DirecTV and the KingDome for two years until recently when I upgraded my DirectTV service with local channels. DirecTV advised my local channels are only broadcast in HD, therefore I would needed a new HD receiver and HD Dish. The person I talked with after checking my current account advised I was entitled to the new upgrade. Several weeks later when the DirecTV tech (subcontractor) installed the new HD receiver my King-Dome would not receive the HD signal. The tech said he didn't know anything about King-Domes or RVs therefore didn’t know what the problem was. He pointed out his only concern was the new HD dish he had mounted on the tripod. He spent about 10 mins changing the receivers and setting up the new HD dish on the tripod. The tech before leaving handed me a new contract to sign. When I questioned him about the contract he said he didn't know anything about the contract except that it was part of the paper work he had to give the customer. I refused to sign because it was my understanding this upgrade was under the original contract. I later learn, after the fact, that DirectTV HD is broadcast on KA band (Ch99) and my King-Dome operates on KU band. When I informed DirecTV that their system was not compatible with my King-Dome I was basely told that was my problem that I had committed myself to a new two-year contract by accepting the installation. As it stands now I can only receive SD with the new HD system and no local channels. DirecTV offered a move deal from my Motorhome to my residence with additional HD receivers at additional cost. Since I was in a new contract anyway I went ahead accepted their offer with an installation date of Oct 11th, this was in Late September. I later received a call from DirecTV and was told the installation date was moved back to November 14th because of hurricane Ike. I wonder what their reason was for the delay of the first installation? It is my opinion based on this upgrade that DirecTV does not care about customer’s satisfaction. For clarity I had called King-Dome before the upgrade and was told my unit was compatible with DirecTV and could receive channel 99 by using the multi-switch to find Ch 99. However, I was not aware of the KA-band for the HD local stations at the time I called King-Dome. I hope this helps someone from making the same mistake I made.

[kroving]

Hi Gary
I do not have HD "yet" but have been told that the winguard dish, that looks much like a crank up, is the only one that can get all of the DrecTV HD signals. It is not an in motion . The dome units have to move from sat. to sat to get all the available channels.
As to CW craftsmanship, it just depends on how knowledgeable and skilled the tec. is that you get. I have had some great work done there but hear about others that didn't.
Dave

[lindah]

I have been spoiled with a nice HD DirectTV system at home, I miss it on the road. ... I would like HD and on-the-road system if it won't break the bank.
If you want HD programming while on the road, you have only two choices: the automatic open-faced dish from either Winegard or Motosat which has the 5 LNBs (for DirecTV, the one with 3 LNBs for Dish Network)...or the portable equivalents.

A dome WILL NOT work for HD programming, particularly for DirecTV since, not only does DirecTV use 5 satellites, they also are currently broadcasting on both the Ka and Ku bands.

[whodo]

Directv as of 10/08 no longer requires a 5LNB dish for HD TV for non foreign stations. Now that they have all there satellites up and in orbit they only use a 3 LNB dish. If you have a 5 lnb dish it will still continue to function just fine, you can if want remove the 5 lnb head and replace it with the new 3 lnb head.

There are now different tripod mount dishes available for HD from Directv, the standard 5 element SWM 5 DIRECTV AU9 Slimline Ku/Ka Dish and the new SWM 3 DIRECTV AU9-SL3-SWM 3 LNBF Slimline Ku/Ka Dish. Also you can take DIRECTV PHASE III Tri-LNB 18 inch x 20 inch Dish and mount the SL3 3lnbf head on it.

Now before you run out and buy the new 3lnb head and mount it on a PHASE III Tri-LNB 18 inch x 20 inch Dish because it is so much smaller, lighter and easier to store/transport and doesn't require a heavy duty tripod like its big brothers, keep in mind that being it is a smaller dish that it will be much more limited on ability to receive HD in fringe coverage areas and more critical on aiming.

For those of you that prefer a roof mount crank up there are a couple of different models now available including the new TRAV'LER DIRECTV SLIMLINE SK-3005

All of these dishes are available from dealers at far better prices than the inflated price that Directv will sell it to you for.

[lindah]

Directv as of 10/08 no longer requires a 5LNB dish for HD TV. Now that they have all there satellites up and in orbit they only use a 3 LNB dish.
Thanks for the update, Whodo. That's information I hadn't heard about yet.

[samandmary]

How difficult is it to take our "home" DISH and receivers with us on the road? We purchased a tripod and some G6 cable....I have heard folks say all you do is call DISH and tell them the zip coded of your location and they will give you coordinates. We have a satellite signal finder. I guess my question concerns installation in the 5er...how hard is it? We have HD tv's in the 5er and are packing a converter box because...well...we don't know why..lol

[mo21012]

We have had a roof mounted dish on the last two RV's, but we still carry a 'spare' dish with us, just in case the signal is blocked and we need to get clear of trees. We just pull one of the boxes out of the house and use that in the RV when we are on the road.

If I read your post correctly, you are thinking of even taking the dish from home. You might want to re-consider and just get a 2nd dish to carry with you. It might be easier than disconnecting the home dish, depending on how it is installed.

We have Direct TV and no problem getting a signal or coordinates. We haven't needed to call DTV.

[lindah]

How difficult is it to take our "home" DISH and receivers with us on the road?
Isn't your "home" dish permanently installed on your roof or the side of your house? Get a second, portable, dish to take with you and then just take one of the receivers out of your house and put it in the RV.
I have heard folks say all you do is call DISH and tell them the zip coded of your location and they will give you coordinates.
Not only do you NOT want to call Dish Network, it's not even necessary...the coordinates for aiming your dish can be found in the Menu section on your receiver...just enter the Zip Code of your current location.
We have HD tv's in the 5er and are packing a converter box because...well...we don't know why..lol
You do not need the converter boxes for satellite TV (or for cable, for that matter). The ONLY reason to take the converter box(es) with you is if you're going to be watching over-the-air programming with your batwing antenna...HOWEVER, if the TVs in your RV are HD, then that means they're already digital capable and, thus, NO converter boxes are needed, so leave them at home.