Bought used 5er with Auto Dish Antenna

[clifford j]

Hi, I thought I was one of the sharpest knives in the drawer,but, maybe not so.
I just purchased a 2007 Presidential Suite . The previous owner removed various electronic devices and now there is a jumble of cables in the overhead cabinet. On the roof there is a Weingard Trav'ler antenna with a decal that says D/P Plus. In the cabinet there is a Weingard "Sensar Pro ". Also on the roof is an manual crank up antenna some call a "bat wing". I know the functional difference between the antenna's.
Here's my questions, how the heck do you operate the automatic sat. ant. Is there a clicker the previous took with them. I have a suspicion that the D/P Plus is a DishNet antenna. I am a long time Direct TV customer in my house, are there parts available to convert the automatic antenna to Direct TV. There are 3 LNB's on the boom.
Sure hope someone can help

CLIFFORD J

[450Donn]

The PO might have removed the Winegard Travler control box. If so, you will either have to try and get it from them or contact Winegard and try to buy a new control box. They are service specific, so you will need to also know if your wanting Dish or Directv. Also which service the dish was designed for.

[clifford j]

Hi Don, I have to go back up lay down and look under the dish to see if it says Direct or Dish. It's collapsed right now. I venture to guess it's a 2007 vintage. If it is a Direct TV dish will my home box work with the roof unit?

Thanks

CLIFFORD J

[TurtleKent]

If you have a Trav'ler for DirecTV, then generally you can move your home box to the motorhome, or rent an additional box, provided the connections are the same(HDMI, etc). Early on Winegard made a non-HD model for DirecTV, along with the HD model. Any Trav'ler requires a control, or interface, box in order to operate. It's a black metal box about 2.5x6x6", usually found nearby your receiver. In addition some require a power inserter. If your Trav'ler is not HD, it may not be worth the expense of purchasing a control box vs. upgrading to a new HD system. Depends on your wants. We are part-timers, we just take one out of the house when we travel.

Width of reflector will tell you what service you have. Also on the back side of the LNB will also indicate Dish or DirecTV. See http://www.winegard.com/wp-content/u...s%20Module.pdf

Do NOT EVER tell DirecTV anything about service/equipment in an RV, or you will end up in DTV purgatory and wish you had never been born!!! Just move your box to the RV, or rent another box and call it 'bedroom' or something. DirecTV will not know or care where your box is located, as long as you pay the bill. DirecTV locals are spot-beamed to a relatively small geographic area, maybe 75-100 mile radius. Some RVers every time they relocate will call DirecTV and change their service address, so they can receive nearby locals. To me, that's a PITA, I would just use your batwing for locals.

To help you identify, here are two different Trav'lers I have owned.

The first pic is the older SK-3005 HD Trav'ler. Note the 4 coax cables, running turret to head, and 4 coax outputs in base along with control cable.

The second pic is the newest SWM-3 HD Trav'ler. Single coax running turret to head, and only 3 coax outputs in base along with one control cable(attached).

Sorry I have no info or pics of a Dish Trav'ler.

http://www.winegard.com/kbase/upload...avler_3005.pdf

http://www.winegard.com/kbase/uploads/2452237.pdf

http://www.winegard.com/wp-content/u...s%20Module.pdf

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by clifford j

On the roof there is a Weingard Trav'ler antenna with a decal that says D/P Plus.

You probably have the DISH SK-1000 Travler.

You can convert it to a DirecTV SK-3003 by purchasing the RP-SK63 and RP-SK33 kits (about $350) from Winegard.

Note that the SK-3003 is a SD (Standard Definition) dish, not HD.

[paz]

Originally Posted by clifford j

Hi Don, I have to go back up lay down and look under the dish to see if it says Direct or Dish. It's collapsed right now. I venture to guess it's a 2007 vintage. If it is a Direct TV dish will my home box work with the roof unit?

Thanks

CLIFFORD J

Don't bother lying on your back and writhing all over the place trying to see the lettering on your stowed dish. Take a small mirror with you. Of course, you'll have to be able to read backwards.

[clifford j]

Hi, my gosh this information is a fantastic help. I was from no where now I'm some where. :>) I have enough information to move forward in a positive direction. And learning a bunch at the same time. I'm amazed how friendly and helpful folks are in the RV community.

CLIFFORD J

[clifford j]

Well I thought I was home free trying to convert my SK1000 to a Direct TV system. The information you folks posted was encouraging, But it all ended when I contacted Winegard Tech support. I told the Tech lady I have a Dish Net SK 1000 and I needed the parts to convert it to Direct TV . Her response was "you can't do it, it won't work", after a verbal struggle I asked her if my alternative was to throw away my SK1000 and buy a new unit, she said I can't tell you to do that.
As I see it I need a DTV reflector, a boom ,lnb, a switch , power incerter box, an interface box, maybe some coax.
From looking at various sites that supply components I believe I can get what is needed. I 'm wondering if I'd have difficulty mounting the reflector and boom to my existing SK1000 base. I'm hoping this will work or am I going to shoot myself in the foot.

CLIFF

[JohnBoyToo]

I am in the camp that you will spend hours, days, weeks, months trying to "MAKE it work"
AND have less than a good system...

Buy a new system and either install it yourself, or have it installed... youtube has many videos...
and maybe you can find what I did when I returned my poj 5er.... I paid someone $250 to move my wineguard swm onto the motorhome!

then sold the old parts on craigslist

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by clifford j

I contacted Winegard Tech support. I told the Tech lady I have a Dish Net SK 1000 and I needed the parts to convert it to Direct TV . Her response was "you can't do it, it won't work"

Look at the 6th FAQ question in this Winegard Document -- it says you can convert a DISH SK-1000 to a DirecTV SK-3003.

Ask for another tech support person. On the other hand, they may no longer have the parts.