New Winegard Portable Satellite Antenna!

[Craig P.]

We frequently camp in wooded areas where trees block out roof mounted satellite dome. I have been considering purchasing a VuQube portable satellite antenna for such situations.

I just received my new CW catalog yesterday, and found that Winegard now also offers a portable antenna called the Carryout. They retail for $799 from CW. Not sure which one I will go with now...

Craig

[John Hilley]

I see one plus for the Carryout and one minus. On the plus side it supports two receivers. On the minus side it requires 12vdc which must be run out to the dish. The Vu-qube is powered by the receiver.

[YngRvrs]

I agree with john. We have a Vuecube 1000. It is powered by the reciever, but you have to set up the Vue cube 1000. Once you get the hang of it, set up usually takes 10 minutes. If you are looking for automatic check out King controls website with the Vue cube 2000. Being powered by the reciever allows flexibility on the vue cube location

[Craig P.]

I agree with you both, the addition of a 12V line (or 110V with a power inverter) is a pain. On the other hand, another plus for it is the ability to toggle between two birds, like my roof mounted dish antenna does.

I'm still a little hesitant due to the price though. A re-furb VuQube 1000 can be had for $500. As often as we will need one, it is kind of hard to justify the additional $300 just to view more than one bird at a time.

Craig

[Wayne M]

Wow! VuCube has come a long way. I just went to their web site and they have several models to choose from. The VuCube 3000 will let you received 3 satellites and get all of your programming, including HD. Interesting!

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M Wow! VuCube has come a long way. I just went to their web site and they have several models to choose from. The VuCube 3000 will let you received 3 satellites and get all of your programming, including HD. Interesting!

It will not get you the DirecTV HD programming. No dome/single LNB unit can. While the VuCube may be able to get all 3 Dish Net. satellites, it cannot do so all at the same time but can switch between them as necessary.

[John Hilley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig P. I agree with you both, the addition of a 12V line (or 110V with a power inverter) is a pain. On the other hand, another plus for it is the ability to toggle between two birds, like my roof mounted dish antenna does. I'm still a little hesitant due to the price though. A re-furb VuQube 1000 can be had for $500. As often as we will need one, it is kind of hard to justify the additional $300 just to view more than one bird at a time. Craig

The Vu-Qube allows you to toggle between satellites also.

[Sixpack98]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hilley I see one plus for the Carryout and one minus. On the plus side it supports two receivers. On the minus side it requires 12vdc which must be run out to the dish. The Vu-qube is powered by the receiver.

Would another plus for the Carryout be automatic searching and acquisition and sat switching for $300 less than the VuQube 2000? A possible workaround for the Carryout power issue (which is a biggie) would be to buy 50ft of RG6 with power. Belden makes a high performance thin RG6 with integrated power and ground wires. Would require a little soldering but would work. Don't know why Winegard did not provide a hybrid cable or integrate power over the RG6 coax. Kind of a pain managing 2 cables.

mark

[Craig P.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hilley The Vu-Qube allows you to toggle between satellites also.

Not the VuQube 1000, which is the model that I referred to.

[Wayne M]

The VuCube 2000 has a dual LNB, but a hefty price tag.

I'll stick to my PVC mounted, 2" from the ground, Dish 1000 portable antenna, pointing almost straight up into the sky for less than $100.

[John Hilley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig P. Not the VuQube 1000, which is the model that I referred to.

From the Vu-Qube 1000 Manual

"Satellite Position Memory
For use when programming is on multiple satellites.
TO STORE POSITION:
Hold down either the Satellite 1 or Satellite 2 button for at least 2.5 seconds.
The LCD will show “P1” or “P2” when button is released.
TO RECALL POSITION:
Momentarily press the desired satellite recall button (Satellite 1 or Satellite 2) for no more than
1 second. The LCD will show the recalled satellite location “r1” or “r2”.
TO CANCEL RECALL:
Press any arrow button to stop moving to a stored position."

[Craig P.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hilley From the Vu-Qube 1000 Manual...

Ahh, I stand corrected then. That's a feature that they don't advertise, my apologies. That makes my decision to purchase a refurb 1000 even stronger, thanks.

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig P. Ahh, I stand corrected then. That's a feature that they don't advertise, my apologies. That makes my decision to purchase a refurb 1000 even stronger, thanks.

The 1000 is a completely manual system. Don't confuse the antennas ability to switch between 2 satellites that you located earlier with any kind of auto-seeking system.

From their website:
Wireless remote - easily elevate and rotate dish to find signal

You use the remote to manually adjust the dish up/down/left/right until you find a satellite. You save this satellite location in memory and the go look for the other. Once you have saved the location of both satellites then you can use the push button to move between the 2 stored satellites.

[NYMoose "Lenny"]

I have used both to demo to customers. Both are quality units, but the new Winegard, within two minutes I had a signal. And all I did was plug it in. I do agree the 12v thing is a PIA, but this is the one I would buy!