Motosat Help - Where to start

[newrvfamily]

We recently purchased a 2001 National Sea Breeze. It has a Motosat dish on the roof, but no receiver. What would be my first step to make this thing work with my Dish Network.

Thank you!

[FlyingDiver]

Do you know exactly what dish you have up there? Maybe a picture of it? And is there a controller box in the coach? Probably says "Nomad" on it.

joe

[Bill Adams]

If you are not sure of the dish type, let us know if it is a dome or an open face antenna. If it is an open face antenna, how many LNB's are attached to the arm (under the dish when stowed)? There "should be" a Nomad controller inside but if it is an older antenna from the 2001 era there may be just a silver box about 6" X 12" with some wiring and coax connections.

[newrvfamily]

It's an open face antenna and there is only one LNB. If I go look at the Motosat website it looks just like the Executive. There is no box at all. I think I have found a connector that might have gone to it... looks like it might supply power or something.. has a green flat end. So if I get the Nomad controller will it automatically raise this antenna? There is no paperwork, instructions or otherwise. Of course we bought this unit off of a lot so no last owner to go to.

I sure appreciate the help! I love this FORUM!

[FlyingDiver]

How many wires on that connector? The ones that need a Nomad have 8 or 9, with a flat connector that goes into the controller. You would need a controller and a power supply. Is the coax from the antenna nearby?

joe

[Bill Adams]

You need several things.
1) The green longish plug with 8 individual wires connected (control wires).
2) The smaller green plug with 2 wires coming out (power plug).
3) A coax cable that run to the roof most likely along the same lines as the control wire cable does.
Once you have these items located you can buy a Nomad controller which will come with instructions on how to set it up. You will only be able to point to one satellite at a time but it should toggle between 110 and 119 but I have no had a lot of luck with this option.

[newrvfamily]

hmmm now I don't know what exactly is there..... Is it going to be better to just start over with something else? Can I change out the LNB? To see both satellites?

Sigh...... I just need to take it in and say... "fix it" ha ha I am in Fort Worth Tx.. does Camping World install Motosat? Do you know how much the Nomad will cost? I have two kids... I need cartoons... maybe I won't worry about cost! ha ha

Again, I want to thank yall for the help. Totally new to RVing and mobile satellites....

[Bill Adams]

Personally, I would not spend $500 to update that antenna and a replacement MotoSAT is going to cost around $2000. If I were you (and I am not!) I would replace your existing antenna with a Winegard Trav'ler SK-1000 which will allow you to receive both satellites as well as the 129 satellite should you update your hardware to HD. You should be able to have a Trav'ler installed for around $1500.

[newrvfamily]

Thank you so much Bill! My husband and I will surely talk this over. And he will probably say the same thing as you. Why spend that much to make something work today, when you can spend a little more and have it ready for the future!

we are taking a two week trip this summer and will WANT something that can get every channel possible! ha ha and possibly IN MOTION!

[Bill Adams]

If you go in-motion you are back to only being able to "see" one satellite at a time, but you will be able to get all 3 for HD with Dish Network (no HD from a dome with DirecTV). If you can live without in-motion then I think you will be happier with an updated open face antenna similar to what you have now.

[newrvfamily]

I think we can live without in motion.... You have helped me so much! It's hard to know exactly what we need.. since we have never done this before.