I had to do it - Winegard Carry Out

[Wayne M]

As the topic states.... but first.

I have a portable Dish 1000 antenna and I hook it up to the DVR 722 Dish Satellite receiver. Now that is about all I can do with it. As much as I twist, turn, jitter, jab, and just cuss - the best I can do is one satellite. I think once in the past year I have had success getting all there satellites, 110, 119, and 129, just once. That was in NY and a camper had a "Birdog" satellite finder. That sure was neat, but it runs about $800. He got a bargain on ebay for a used one at $500.

Well, after 3 hours of frustration, cussing, more frustrations, more cussing, I said the heck with it and went to Camping World and bought the Winegard Carry Out Automatic Switching Satellite Antenna. Hey! Included in the sale was a portable mount that lists for around $80. I'll let you look up the price of the Carry Out - Birdog would be equal to the output.

First thing I did was SWAG'ed it. (Scientific Wild Hrummmmf Guess) I read the manual. That may be a first. Normally I just WAG it (take out the "Scientific") I also purchased a 110 to 12V converter because I'm to lazy to run 12 volts to the area I want it in, but I did have 110v there. SWAG'ing it I removed the 8 screws to the cover and set the DIP switches for the DISH network. (It works on DISH, DirecTV, and BellVu by setting DIP switches) and added the handle.

Okay! Everything assembled and ready to go. I even have a bubble level that I used to adjust the portable tripod to as near level as level can be. SWAG'ed it again, turned the receiver on and tuned to the antenna pointing mode. Turned on the power to the 12V and waited for 119 to be stable for 30 seconds. Ran "Check-Switch," and low and behold, all three satellites.

Earlene is happy. I'm happy, no more fighting the portable gremlin.

I am concerned with security. One method would be the ladder mount with it's price tag of $225. Kind of pricey if you ask me. There is a lock bolt once the antenna is in the mount and I'm thinking of modifying it with an eye bolt with a nut on the inside to run a cable to the RV.

[jdo]

I too purchased a Winegard Carry Out Automatic Switching Satellite Antenna to keep my sanity. We subscribe to Dish and use the HD receiver. I got mine from Fourwinds RV in Maroa, Ill. They were very helpful telling me just to plug in and wait. I was surprised how easy it was, just plug in wait about 30 seconds and bingo, jsut like they said. I have not been on the road with it yet but security is on my mind. My reasoning is if I just put the unit on the top of our MH, secure the wires to the latter with tie tabs it should be fine. If someone had to climb up the latter we surely would feel them and with the wires tied they could not pull and snatch. With the latter mount I feel you cannot move the unit from any obstructions and it is very visible. I have the tripod and should the need arise I will use it but again what would keep someone from taking it.

Thanks

[JudyH]

We bought the new carryout with the automatic sat. finder. Then we bought the ladder mount for it. The instructions say to make sure your ladder can handle the 20 lbs weight of the carryout before driving down the road with it. Now we wonder has anyone ever left it up there during travel? Does it ride well? Is the wind resistance hard on the ladder? It seems like it would be more secure from theft up there. But putting it up each stop seems like a challenge, it would be nice to do leave it there and only take it off when there is an obstruction. I know you all have lots of experience and I hope you will share some of that with me on this. Thanks.

[Luvs2Camp]

After the same frustrations, I too purchased the Winegard Carryout. 30-45 seconds later you are watching satellite TV! Great for helping keep one's sanity.

When possible, I place mine on the slideout as it is level. I have a 6' cable with loops on each end. I bought a pair of matching key locks and secure the Carryout to my ladder with the locks and the cable. I have a 20' small link chain that I bought from Walmart to use when I have to move it from the slideout due to obstructions. A good thief can still get it, but it will take some effort.

As far as the ladder mount, I would not let it ride there if it is easy to remove. But that's just me.

[wa8yxm]

Would you like a very low cost Bird-Dog meter? I can set you up with a meter that is as good as the bird dog, provided you are a DISHNETWORK or BelVu Express customer for less than $100 bucks.

The software you find hiding at MENU 6-1-1 is every bit as good as the bird dog.. Take a portable battery operated color TV and a coil of coax, your choice of RG-6 or RG-59, and hook to your external TV jack.. Now watch the screen as you aim the dish.

Every bit as good as the professional meter..

The little in-line sat finders... Junk in my opinion.

NOTE: This only works on Echostar receivers, NOT on DirecTV Though the same method will work with direct, the softwre is not nearly as good there.

[Wayne M]

I had considered the ladder mount, but I was not certain that the continuous bouncing down the highway with a 20 pound brick protruding in an offset manner would be good for the ladder. Maybe someone that has mounted it there and traveled with it will pipe in.

I'm responding because as indicated in the original post I was concerned with security. First, let me say that nothing in any RV is secure. We can only protect it from honest people and real thieves will take what they want. It is just as easy for someone to climb up a ladder and take it as it is to take it from the ground, almost.

What I did. I use the little tripod. It comes with a base plate that the dome fits into, and there is a 1/4 x 20 hole to anchor the base plate to the antenna. This keeps it from swiveling and falling out of the base plate holes. It is the same base plate as the one for the ladder mount, from what I have observed. I went to a hardware store and purchased a 1/4x20 eye bolt. I threaded two 1/4x20 nuts onto the eye bolt threads and then threaded the eye bolt into the available locking hole. I took the dome of and placed two more 1/4x20 nuts on the inside threads and locked it down tight. I purchased 40 feet of chain link (thats all they had) that is of good quality but will not pull a TOAD and a couple padlocks. Every time I set up I pull the chain out and secure it to the inside of the electrical compartment. (Details not provided here, but I will answer a PM you if you need to know how.) The hardest part is getting the dome out of the bay. The base plate stays on and is supported in the bay by two pieces of foam opposite each other, and it just rests on the base plate. Putting it togeter, stringing the power cable, chain, and coax takes less than 10 minutes if you don't stop and talk to the passer-bys.

I would expect that you could leave the cables in place on the ladder model and just pull the dome down, but i would sure protect the connectors with plastic baggies or something to keep the grime and dirt out.

You really don't need any mount, just set it on the ground. I've done that also.

Good luck.

[TechWriter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm Would you like a very low cost Bird-Dog meter? I can set you up with a meter that is as good as the bird dog, provided you are a DISHNETWORK or BelVu Express customer for less than $100 bucks. The software you find hiding at MENU 6-1-1 is every bit as good as the bird dog.. Take a portable battery operated color TV and a coil of coax, your choice of RG-6 or RG-59, and hook to your external TV jack.. Now watch the screen as you aim the dish. Every bit as good as the professional meter..

Really? Your method works great for a clear sky install with the dish set up right outside the RV.

But what if your dish is set up in the woods 50 - 100 feet away from your RV? Run back and forth between the dish and the receiver? Use walkie talkies for you and the Mrs (been there, done that)?

And a sat receiver signal strength indicator is Every bit as good as the professional meter ? Get real.

For single or double LNB installs, watching the signal strength meter on the sat receiver (if you're close to it) or using the little in-line meters works fine because single and double LNB installs are easy.

However, multi-LNBs typically require skew adjustments which are tricky and a meter like the "professional" Accutrac III+ can display the signal strengths of all the LNBs (sats) simultaneously. This means you can see the effect on each sat's signal while you adjust the dish.

For DishTV users, before you buy a carryout, try a 1000.4 dish. It can be had with an Eastern Arc LNB (sats 61.5, 72, 77), Western Arc LNB (110, 119, 129), or buy both like me. The 1000.4 is bigger and has finer adjustments than either the 1000 or 1000.2 so acquiring sats is easier.

Here's a K4/K2 comparison:
MobileMe Gallery

So unless you're a Satellite Whisperer, get the right tools or buy a carryout.

[JudyH]

We used the dish 500 for years. We used the inline meter bought at CW, and it worked fine until this past spring. We got a couple inches of rain and wind where we were set up in Kansas. Then replacing this connector and that cable, just frustrated the heck out me. And when we bought the new Infinity, decided to upgrade the dish. Haven't used it yet, concerned about security when we do. It seems like it will be hard to carry the thing up the ladder, so was thinking it might ride up there? Thanks for input.

[flatpanel]

I thought the ladder mount would be a good thing as well. Bought it took it home and on the front of manal it said not for a ladder with a diameter of more than 1" to 1"1/8. My ladder has a diameter fo 3" so I took the mount back. Anyone have any other ideas

[Wayne M]

Tripod.

[sam-tip]

I have been wanting a carryout for years now. But the cost. Dish just came out with the Tailgater. Half the price. I got mine for $340 on line. "dishstore.net" There is no power wire. It takes power from the Coax from the reciever my vip211 receiver. I think the tailgater just came out mid August 2011. I saw it at our local state fair. Then ordered it the next day. Just tried it yesterday. It works! I had to move it once because a tree was in my way see 129 sat. It came up and said I was not getting all the satellites. Asked if I want to rescan or watch tv. Now I have four ways to get satellite. This is going to be much easier on the one night stops where I have tree trouble.

Doug

[JudyH]

Looks like quite a deal on that tailgater. As usual we just bought the carryout and paid twice what you did for the tg. I also always pick the line in supermarket for checkout which looks good but doesn't move. And if I buy anything at a drivethru window there is always something missing. Dunno how that happens all the time.

[Bill Adams]

The tailgater is not a Dish Network antenna but rather another version of the VuQube from King Dome. It will ONLY work with a VIP211K receiver and there are several other restrictions. If you don't fall into the exactly correct category the Tailgator will not work for you.