Auto satellite dish

hookman · 07-13-2010, 10:26 PM

I am getting Trav'ler auto satellite dish on my 5th wheel. How can I hook this dish into the existing cable wiring

**RV Wizard** · 07-14-2010, 02:56 AM

What year, make and model is your 5th wheel? Also are you refering to getting the signal down from the dish to the reciver or from the reciver to additional TV's ? The installer shoud run coax cables to where yoiu are going to install or even may install recievers.

hookman · 07-14-2010, 07:05 AM

It 2008 Montana I am currently using a portable dish

paz · 07-14-2010, 07:19 AM

Some RVs are pre-wired for rooftop dishes, and others are not. Regardless of whether or not you can use existing cables for the satellite signal, the Trav'ler is an automatic dish and will require a cable from the controller to provide electricity to the motors on the dish that control its movement. The installer may be able to run cables down the refrigerator vent, or he may have to drill a hole in the roof.

Donr827 · 07-17-2010, 10:08 AM

When we had ours installed they put a hole in the roof for the three cables that were needed. One goes to the bedroom and one goes to the living room tv. The third cable powers the dish.

wa8yxm · 07-17-2010, 07:47 PM

You do not hook sattelite dishes into cable wiring.

Now, RV's come in two types for this post and in most cases it don't matter

What you do is this: If your rig is "Satellite Ready" this means there is a cable running under the roof. Likely RG-59,, but if it's RG-6 there will be a cable, slightly larger, in the sat-receiver compartment that says "Satellite IN" or some such. Use it. Such a rig will have a multiple TV/Source selector and takes care of all the hookups for you.

If your rig is NOT satellite ready then.. You have a problem.

First: If the supplied cable on a "Ready" rig is RG-59, forget it.

If the rig is not Sat-Ready run brand new RG-6 from the roof to the receiver.. Actually run it to an A/B antenna switch (about 2 bucks at the Google Store) hook it to the "A" as in "A"bove. (B runs to either the Basement or Bulkhead down Below, More on that later)

The switch hooks to the LNB in on the receiver, YOu need one switch per LNB in.

If your rig has the wall plate with the switch, light, 12 volt and antenna outlets.. Then the 2nd cable on the back is where you hook OUT TO TV (Extend the cable hooked there now to "Over the air antenna" on the receiver

If, as I said before, you have the multi-switch.. Cables are provided.

Now, about that A/B switch

Parked in the clear, Switch to "A". if needed reset or run check switch (Depending on service) and you are good.

If parked under the evil signal eating tree, Switch to A, break out and connect your tripod mount.. Switch to B, Reset,, point and you are good (DirecTV) Point and Check Switch (Dish) Switch back to "A" before disconnecting.

**RickO** · 07-17-2010, 09:19 PM

Would they still be putting RG59 in the roof of a 2008 rig? I was bummed because I got non-digital TVs in my 2007 so I guess they may be...

Also, what model Travlr wasn't mentioned but if you plan on HD/DVR(s) it could effect the number of RG6 cable runs you want to make.

Bill Adams · 07-18-2010, 05:27 AM

I doubt many RV manufacturers are still using RG-59, but even if they did it's unlikely that it would cause any problems with satellite reception since it would be a pretty short run. I would not recommend anyone use RG-59 in a new installation but it could work well if it had to be used.