Community Forums

62_inrightlane · 05-07-2011, 03:16 PM

I have a 2011 Coachman Mirada and am considering adding Satellite TV. I usually stay in RV parks with cable, however we ocassionally stay in parks without cable. Bottom line I'm not interested in spending $1,500 to get a system installed. I am willing to do the set up on a dish & tripod.

What I would like to do is buy a Directv Slimline dish and tripod to set up when I don't have access to cable. I'm told that my motorhome is pre wired for satellite. Does that mean that I can run the coax from the dish into my cable connection? Then on the TV I want to use the satellite signal would the process be: remove the coax from the TV, re-install it on the receiver input and then attach the signal out on the receiver to the TV?

Can it be that simple?

FC Ontario · 05-07-2011, 03:55 PM

Thats how I do it with my Dish and my MH.
Very easy to hook up.
JM2CW

Gary RVRoamer · 05-07-2011, 07:25 PM

"Pre-wired for satellite" usually means there is RG6 coax running from the tv cabinet to the roof where a dome or dish would mount.

The park cable inlet may or may not accept a satellite wire. Typically that coax connector runs to a video switch for the roof top antenna. It could, however, be re-routed to a satellite receiver, but then it would do cable. You could add an A-B switch to change were the coax goes to, though.

Cousin Ed · 05-08-2011, 06:44 AM

If you want HD, it is VERY DIFFICULT to aim a Direct dish. The regular TV is as easy as Dish TV but the Slimline 3 is a bear without the right meter ($$$$$$). I have to get Direct to set it up( $50); I just can't do it. We only carry the dish when we are going to FL for the winter.

Rick 2005 Dolphin 5376 · 05-08-2011, 08:15 AM

I use the cable intended for park cable for my dish, have for 5 years. Works perfect.

RVluvin · 05-08-2011, 08:32 AM

My 5er had 2 locations to connect cable, one was labeled DSS for satalite but only went to the TV in the living room. I had to run another RG6 line to the bed room. Keep in mind, you can't use a spliter on satalite like cable. I picked up a dish & tripod on craigs list $40, with the capability to connect to 2 TVs.

wa8yxm · 05-08-2011, 10:36 AM

There are a few different meanings to "pre-wired for satellite"

My coach it meant I have a box with many buttons, one of which says SAT and it used to select the RF-OUT from the sat receiver, it also sends A/V signals from it to the home theater audio system..

I also have wires in the roof for a roof mount sat dish.

I did not have a "Ground mount' input

On a trailer I was working on last week.. It means there is a input "Jack" on the outside wall labeled "SAT" that is connected to a dedicated connector in the main TV area.

What Winegard recommends: Re-tasking the park-cable line for Sat TV..

I do not recommend that

What I recommend is a dedicated line, like that trailer I was working on last week. Direct from a "Through wall" (Bulkhead) or basement connection to either the sat receiver itself, or a wall plate labeled SAT in the proper area.

As for labeling.. Brother, always at your side (P-Touch) makes great labels

So does Avery Label Wizard with a good printer and the proper peal & stick.

Sticks4748 · 05-11-2011, 08:06 AM

Just bought and using a new DISH RV package. Start and stop at anytime, no contract, HD and ez to set up. so now when I have Cable for any length of time I discontinue DISH..

wa8yxm · 05-11-2011, 09:20 AM

Good choce Sticks.. I'd like to do that myself. Though truth be told I get so much OTA that ... Well. I'm offering my Dome for sale used, but that's another post.

(I may replace it later when I again have need for it more than money)

I will say again (on topic) that the best way is to run RG-6 cable to either a bulkhead or basement connection (on my Intruder (A gasser) it's a ground block under the hood on the brake bracket) (I like B-words for the ground mount input cause I use an A/B switch to select between the dome up A- bove and the ground mount down B-elow)

I do not like re-taskign the park cable as Winegard recommends because o what you said bout "When I have cable' That's way too much trouble,, To switch from Sat to Cable.. I push one button, that's all.

cb5300 · 05-11-2011, 11:18 AM

I always find that I like my Sat TV better than the camp ground cable. I guess I'm use to the programing and I know where all my favorite programs are located...

wa8yxm · 05-11-2011, 02:15 PM

When it comes to park cable, or Over the air for that matter, I kind of cheat

Park cable.. I just make sure I have a good connection to the park WI-Fi and then I tell my Digital Video Recorders to downlaod the program guide.. Using their advanced search and destroy features I can quickly find the shows I want and set them to record.. Or I can tell the machine to "Record all shows with CSI in the title" if I wish.. Very powerful tool.

For Over the air TV Listings Guide, TV Ratings, TV News, TV Shows - Zap2it

They also let me search the local stations for all exmples of say Law & Order