Anyone familar with the Winegard Carryout Antenna

[Albert001]

How is the Winegard Carryout Antenna auto tracking, I have watched their video but would like responses with individuals that have used it. Do you hook up the Satellite box and your television and let the antenna do the work?Also when your traveling across the states do you have to change your network signal? Thanks Albert.

[RV Wizard]

Hi Albert. I only went to school on this antenna but it performed very well with a clear southern view. Local network station will only be spot beamed and if you subscribe for locals, leave the area (could extend 100 miles) you will not receive these network stations. You need to go through the process of acquiring what is call national network stations. For the eastern half of US stations are out of NY. For the western half they are out of Ca.
Hopefully you will be using Direct TV and not Dish Network as they do not cater well to RVers.

[Bill Adams]

Dish Network caters to RVer EXACTLY as well as DirecTV (actually maybe even slightly better for some users). With that said, NEITHER caters to RVers. They both may make accommodations for RVers but you have to remember that both of these services cater to the 30,000,000 home users and they make adjustments for the 1% (less?) of users who are mobile.
As to the Carryout, what RV Wizard is trying to refer to for Network TV programming is called Distant Network Services or DNS. Both DirecTV and Dish Network offer this service to anyone unserved household (those who cannot receive their local Networks) and RVers and truckers are included in that group. With Dish Network you sign up through a separate company but otherwise it's the same. You must fill out a waiver and send in a copy of the RV vehicle registration as proof and it takes a few hours to a week or so for the waiver to become effective.
As to the Carryout, it is a very good tracking unit and works very well. You run the 2 cables (comes with 50 feet) from the antenna into the coach. One is a 12V power source and the other is the coax cable. The coax is plugged into the receiver and the 12V into a cigarette lighter. Once this is done the antenna will automatically locate the DirecTV satellite at 101 (default setting) or it can be set to Dish Network where it will toggle between the necessary satellites but it can only point to one satellite at a time. It has the same draw backs that any dome unit would have. One satellite at a time, no HD for DirecTV and rain fade. One additional concern is that you would be leaving an $800 piece of equipment outside so you are going to need to secure the the dish to something to ensure that it does not grow legs.

[LindaH]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Wizard You need to go through the process of acquiring what is call national network stations. For the eastern half of US stations are out of NY. For the western half they are out of Ca.

If you sign up for DNS, you get both coasts, not just one.

[Wayne M]

I have one. All is as Bill stated. The auto tracking works very well. Just like any other satellite antenna, you need a clear view to the Southern sky. If your friend has one, sneak over and stand in front of it - he'll loose the signal until you move away. I accidentally did this to ours and I could hear it whirring away trying to locate a satellite. Of course, DW was inside trying to find a station to watch, but couldn't since I was standing in front of it. But it found the signal in seconds after I stepped away.

Presently there are 3 ways to mount it that are advertised. On the ground, by itself (I don't recommend that) On a tripod with a base especially for the Carry Out (that is what I presently use) and mounted to a ladder on the last upright where the dome is above the roof line. (Nice but pricey at $225)

The Carry Out comes with a 50 foot power cable (12vdc require) and a 50 foot RF cable. It has the outputs for two rf cables. I have only used one so far. My electrical compartment has a plug (110vac) for the "engine heater" that I do not use (warm climate) so I purchased a converter just for the power to the Carry Out. When plugged into this outlet I can control the power from the inside "engine heater" switch. Typically when I am set up it is turned on, stays on.

I also purchased a 40 foot chain (figured 40 would be enough) and hooked it up for security and attached it inside the electrical compartment. (Details if needed). I transport it in a storage compartment resting on two thick pieces of soft foam.

It is dip switch controllable for DirectTV (comes that way) Dish, or Bellvue. It also can be controlled through the dip switches for Dish's Eastern satellites. I'm happy with mine, especially since DW can get FOOD and HGTV. She's happy, I'm happy.

We get the Houston Local spotbeam, and recently (twice) in San Antonio, I was able to get the standard definition spot beam for Houston, but not the HD (Dish Network). That is about 240 miles or so. I even got the standard definition spotbeam for Houston when at Kerrville - a little further west. A good rule of thumb for SD is about 250 miles.

[TXiceman]

As for Dish and RVers, it all depends on who you talk to at the phone center. DO NOT take the word of the 1st phone support person you get. These folks are not paid a lot and have no real push to help you, just handle a lot of calls. So, it is really simple to ask to speak to their department manager. They are supposed to pass you up if you ask.

Ken

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman As for Dish and RVers, it all depends on who you talk to at the phone center. DO NOT take the word of the 1st phone support person you get. These folks are not paid a lot and have no real push to help you, just handle a lot of calls. So, it is really simple to ask to speak to their department manager. They are supposed to pass you up if you ask. Ken

This is just as true for DirecTV. If you don't like the answer and you know it is wrong, hang up and call again.