Community Forums

bmaxey · 04-24-2011, 01:48 PM

I purchased the whole HDTV package from Newmar in 2007 with 2 receivers, one with a recorder, a R5 dish with one LNB with capabilities to switch from 110 to 119 and 110 satellites when selected. It is a HVA system with inside capabilities to switch any receiver to either TV. Worked wonderful until DirecTV put up new satellites 99 and 103. Bless their souls. Then they changed all HD programing to those satellites and left me watching standard TV on 101. Is there a modification available to allow this system to drop 199 and 110 and pick up the new satellites? I don't want the added expense of changing the dish if at all possible.

Route 66 · 04-24-2011, 03:09 PM

Unfortunately, there is no dome capable of receiving DirecTV HD.

RickO · 04-24-2011, 03:20 PM

Dirk's right. You might want to switch to Dish. It's a hassle but unless you want the chore of setting up a manual HD dish or paying >$1500 to have a new automatic one installed it might be your only option.

Good luck...

Rick

Iron Man · 04-24-2011, 07:04 PM

We have the R6 and have switched to Dish, supposed to have HD from the dish. I have to upgrade the software on the dish, I will do that tomorrow and will post the reults.

jdcollins · 07-29-2011, 08:05 AM

We have an R5 and use DISH Network. No problem receiveing HD channels stationary or in-motion as long as we have unubstructed line-of-sight to the satellites.

wa8yxm · 07-29-2011, 08:34 AM

I gather you are talking about a dome type antenna. NO dome can pick up DirecHDTV, DirecTV is what they work BEST with but DirecHDTV is a no-go.

Recommendation is as follows.

Near the receiver put a common A/B antenna switch like the RCH VH-71 (A buck on Google's store plus S&H) you need one switch for each receiver.

A gets the line from the ROOF top dome up A-bove
B gets a brand new RG-6 cable you install running to some place down B-elow, Suggested sites are

B-asement
B-ulkhead (Through wall connector)
And on my Gasser, the B-reak B-ell crank B-racket

In the 1st and 3rd cases bolt a Ground B-lock

(You may notice a plethora of b- in this post for the B- line)

Use a tripod mount dish (Slimline, I think it's 50 or 60 bucks tripod included from DirecTV called a "Disaster recovery kit)

and then you get HD when parked.. You may need to install more than one RG-6, Even if you don't. Do it, I mean if you ever NEED a 2nd cable.. why do all that work 2 or 3 times?

Lug_Nut · 07-29-2011, 07:22 PM

Direct Tv broadcasts their HD on KA band while Dish is on KU band. All mobile dish antennas are capable of receiving KU frequency, not KA. Therefore Dish is the only choice short of insalling a separate antenna as suggested. Is that You Bill from RB??

Max Hubrich · 07-30-2011, 04:37 PM

If you are DirecTv, take the dome off and sell it. I did. Someone with a travel trailer will buy it.

Then install the Winegard "Trave'ler" (5 LNB) antenna.

Then pay a bunch of money to DirecTv for their "Choice" and HD programming- You'll love it.

No more TV going down the highway, it's against the law up front anyway.

I've had this system now for over 3 years and not one problem. Just press one button when you get parked. I planned the satellite bill into my retirement plan a long time ago.

Good luck,

Bill Adams · 07-30-2011, 05:20 PM

The Trav'ler is great and you can still watch TV while in-motion if you choose. It's only illegal for the driver to watch TV.
If you use a DVR you can watch truly uninterrupted TV even while inside a tunnel. It's much better than in-motion. We just record a bunch of stuff and if we get bored I can listen while any and all other passengers can watch. Very cool!

Iron Man · 08-01-2011, 07:56 AM

Well we have had Dish TV for about 3 months and love it. We get HD channels in the Essex and all we had to do is upgrade some of the satellite dish software and plug in dish receiver. Also it is about $20 dollars a month cheaper and we get more channels compared to the same Direct TV package we had.

bigdog · 08-01-2011, 08:13 AM

We changed to a Traveler right after we got our unit as we couldn't get anything on it and would have had to pay a small fortune to upgrade it and so paid a large fortune to get the new equipment and installed. We have Dish HDTV on the Traveler 'cuz that's what we have at home and as we have the double box,we can watch two different shows on two different tvs even though they may be on different satelittes.We only get HD on the front set,but the quality of signal is great on the rear one also.The box is listed as being in the shed and we never have any problems getting a signal when we're on the road,once I figgered out how to do it right.
Thanks for the tip about watching the DVR while on the road,dummy here never thought about it....