Installing Winegard stationary satellite antenna

Doggievet · 10-05-2006, 10:20 AM

Has anyone had experience installing a Winegard satellite antenna? Is it difficult to install? I have a manual satellite antenna but would like one of the automatic satellite antennas. Is it something that could be done relatively easily?
Annie K. and Sparky
03 Journey DL 3LD
04 Saturn L300
Brake Buddy and Blue Ox

Doggievet · 10-05-2006, 10:20 AM

Has anyone had experience installing a Winegard satellite antenna? Is it difficult to install? I have a manual satellite antenna but would like one of the automatic satellite antennas. Is it something that could be done relatively easily?
Annie K. and Sparky
03 Journey DL 3LD
04 Saturn L300
Brake Buddy and Blue Ox

Alan_Hepburn · 10-06-2006, 08:28 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Doggievet:
Has anyone had experience installing a Winegard satellite antenna? Is it difficult to install? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I recently installed a Winegard satellite dish on the roof of my fifth wheel - it's a manual dish with the digital readout for elevation. Rather than create another big hole in my roof I removed the existing batwing antenna and installed the dish in that hole. In the 4 years we've owned the trailer we have never used the batwing antenna so we won't miss it - it's now taking up space in my garage at home! The biggest job was routing the cables (signal cables to the dual LNB and a cable for the elevation sensor) from the antenna up in the bedroom back to the rear of the rig.

I ended up routing the cables from the dish, between the rafters to the front closet where they exit the attic and are routed to the curb side of the bedroom where the TV set is located. One LNB cable terminates there so I can connect a receiver when needed. I also installed an A/B switch there so we have the option of connecting that TV to it's own receiver or connecting it to the signal from the main entertainment center, with the second receiver, a DVD player, and a VCR. The digital elevation control box also mounts there. The other LNB cable then continues down the wall inside that closet to the floor where it goes through the wall to the area under and behind the storage drawers. While under there it goes through the floor into the basement area. In the basement it is routed toward the back, following the rest of the various wiring, eventually making it into the coach again to travel in the empty space under the refrigerator, the sink, and the oven, where it goes through another wall into the living room entertainment center. There it heads up to the top shelf, where we put the receiver.

Removing the batwing antenna and installing the dish took about 1/2 hour; routing the cables took about 3 hours because I wanted to make sure they were not visible, and not in danger of causing problems. Cmping World wanted about $230 to do the install, and I'm convinced they would not have done the routing to my satisfaction.

If you want to keep the batwing antenna you'll need to punch a hole in the roof for the dish.

Doggievet · 10-07-2006, 04:29 AM

Thanks for the info. I think we'll give it a try.
Annie K.

Ken Lenger · 10-08-2006, 04:18 AM

I installed the RM-DM46 Winegard Crank-Up RV Digital Satellite Dish with Digital Magic. It was about a 4 hour job, but I am really fussy about these kinds of mods and really take my time. The antenna works great and is easy to set-up. I think I can aim my antenna as fast or faster than the automatic ones. Usually takes less than 1 minute. See info on my installation at http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/stereo/index.html

Doggievet · 10-09-2006, 05:28 AM

What is digital magic. My coach already has an antenna such as the one you installed, but I have trouble aiming it.
Annie K.

Ken Lenger · 10-10-2006, 03:59 AM

Digital Magic is a digital elevation meter for the antenna. In my area, the antennna elevation is about 50 degrees. I point the antennna in the general direction of the satelite, adjust the elevation to 50 degrees, and then sweep the antenna direction till the signal comes in, and then fine tune both the elevation and direction. Whole process take about 1-2 minutes.

SargeW · 10-11-2006, 12:52 AM

Hey Ken,
I have the same dish as you. I have an unusual issue that just developed. When I adjust the elevation, then turn the dial to rotate the dish back and forth, the elevation dial kinda "drags" on the AZ dial causing it to turn as well. This just started happening. Have any ideas what would cause that to occur, or possibly a fix?

thanks, Marty

DonavonP · 10-11-2006, 09:14 AM

Annie K I think you have the Winegard RM DM46 hand crank, manual satellite dish. Is there a little plastic thing with a button next to your crank up mechanism inside the motorhome (that's the digital magic indicator box)?

You can download the manual at http://www.winegard.com/mobile/crank.htm I think yours has the
digital magic thing next to your crank up. I could be wrong but if you do and you can get it working, you'll have a much easier time finding the satellite. Otherwise, there is a product support phone number at www.winegard.com they should be able to tell you if you can pop off the crank up dish and install the automatic one with no additional wires ??

I noticed that Camping World has the automatic ones on sale and they'll install it.

As a side note, my dish was flopping loose and I thought it was shot but I read on another thread here on IRV2 how to tighten the dish. It was an easy job. Maybe your dish is loose and is flopping around, making it hard to find the satellite. If your's is loose, let me know, I'll search for that thread.

Doggievet · 10-11-2006, 09:05 PM

Thanks I appreciate the advice.
Annie K

DSouthw524 · 10-29-2006, 11:43 AM

We had the Winegard Stationary Movin View installed on our coach to replace the other satelitte antenna. They used the existing cable to act as a "fish tape" to pull the new cables down to the front cabinet. They had to lacate a 12 volt source. They mounted the new antenna over the existing roof hole and caulked the heck out of the area to assure water tightness. I much appreciate not having to go through the "fine tuning" with the manual antenna and the Movin Vue gets both of the Dish satellites so we can just switch from channel to channel.