Satellite dome vs dish on 5th wheel

[Stormseeker]

I am awaiting a new Carriage Cameo 5th wheel with the new Winegard minimax automatic stationary dome, which I have heard annecdotally is much better than the older, large domes. However, In research I have found a lot of old posts about rain fade on domes and how automatic dishes are much better due to the larger reflector area. All of these posts are several years old, which is an eternity in electronics so I wonder if that is still true. The Minimax is half the price of a winegard automatic dish, which is 2/3's of the price of a Motosat dish. Also, apparently the Winegard dish used to be wobbly and would lose signal in high winds but sounds like it has been reengineered. Everyone seems to like the Motosats but they are unbelievably expensive. I am not a TV fanatic or a sports watcher or a specific show follower but would just like to pull in at night, hit the button and more often than not, watch sat. TV. I am not currently concerned with HD but would consider the potential to upgrade a small additional plus to the dish. I have Directv.

I do have a portable dish that I have used up to now and will now keep in reserve for hopefully few times of trees to the south.

I am trying to decide whether to change to a dish rather than the dome I originally ordered. Here are my questions:

1. Does the new dome have significant rain fade? How big a problem is it. What scares me are comments about dew or fog affecting it. The Minimax has a different profile from the older domes and claims a slicker finish.

2. Is a dish that much better? Makes sense because of the larger reflector but is it that critical?

3. Has Winegard corrected the reported wobblyness reported several years ago? Is it useable in wind?

4. Does the dish cause a problem keeping the roof clean? I live in a temporate rain forest and spend a lot of time fighting algae and black streaks on my current unit.

5. Any other thoughts to help me decide.

Thanks for any assist you can give for my maiden voyage on your great forum.

[deaton]

I had a Motosat and a KVH dome on my last coach. The Motosat was good for receiving Internet just about anywhere, but, as you say, is was very expensive and I found it rather slow. When I traded that coach in, I opted to go with an air card and Cradlepoint router on my new coach and that's been fine for Internet.

I've decided for the new coach I'm getting a Vucube. It takes a little bit longer to set up than pushing the on button on the KVH, but it can be positioned anywhere to avoid the trees, and the only worry is that it might get legs. A friend that has one reports good reception over the past year and his hasn't grown legs yes.......so.....

I used the KVH mostly with Direct TV. It was ok, except when parked under a tree. It also did have problems with fade-out in the rain, but that's been my experience with all types of Satellite antennas. Here at the house, where we have cable, we even see that when a big storm comes through and washes out the dish receiption down at the local network affiliates.

[Stormseeker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by deaton I had a Motosat and a KVH dome on my last coach. The Motosat was good for receiving Internet just about anywhere, but, as you say, is was very expensive and I found it rather slow. When I traded that coach in, I opted to go with an air card and Cradlepoint router on my new coach and that's been fine for Internet. I've decided for the new coach I'm getting a Vucube. It takes a little bit longer to set up than pushing the on button on the KVH, but it can be positioned anywhere to avoid the trees, and the only worry is that it might get legs. A friend that has one reports good reception over the past year and his hasn't grown legs yes.......so..... I used the KVH mostly with Direct TV. It was ok, except when parked under a tree. It also did have problems with fade-out in the rain, but that's been my experience with all types of Satellite antennas. Here at the house, where we have cable, we even see that when a big storm comes through and washes out the dish receiption down at the local network affiliates.

I've never really had any trouble with rain fade on my Directv dish at home. I just got the impression from various several year old posts on various sites that domes had a lot more rain/dew/fog fade than a dish.

BTW, I read an amusing post on another sight about someone putting a doorknob alarm on their portable dome and catching someone with it in their hand when it went off.

Thanks,

[Bill Adams]

Dan and Linda have confused the MotoSAT internet antenna that they have with the MotoSAT TV antenna that you were inquiring about.
Let me start by just going down your list.

1. Does the new dome have significant rain fade? How big a problem is it. What scares me are comments about dew or fog affecting it. The Minimax has a different profile from the older domes and claims a slicker finish.

All domes will experience substantially more rain fade than any open face antenna. Microwave signals do not penetrate water well so if the signal cannot reach the LNB you are going to have a much weaker (and possibly unusable) signal.

2. Is a dish that much better? Makes sense because of the larger reflector but is it that critical?

YES! Not only the larger reflector, but since the LNB is not under a dome which can become obstructed by the water you will still have the best signal available based upon atmospheric conditions.

3. Has Winegard corrected the reported wobblyness reported several years ago? Is it useable in wind?

YES! The new Trav'ler is completely new and an amazing performer. We were in QZ, AZ this Jan. and we got hit with a huge storm. Winds were in the 40-60 MPH range and the dish did not move at all. We were watching TV during about 90"% of the storm and that signal loss was due to the severe cloud cover and not the antenna. We did finally stow for fear that the wind would rip the antenna from the roof, but the antenna itself stayed right on signal.

4. Does the dish cause a problem keeping the roof clean? I live in a temporate rain forest and spend a lot of time fighting algae and black streaks on my current unit.

I do not see how it would. If you left it stowed for months at a time you could see some growth under the dish but if you wash your roof from time to time, just raise the dish during a wash and you are good to go. I have not seen anything like this, I am just thinking out loud about a dish and a rain forest.

5. Any other thoughts to help me decide.

I would never recommend a dome antenna to anyone who spends the Winter in the NW or anywhere else where rain is expected on a regular basis. Temperate Rain Forest? No dome for me!

[wa8yxm]

I can see no reason at all for a "Stationary dome" at the very best, I mean the VERY BEST you get half the signal of a dish.. More likely closer to a quarter or less.

A dish will outperform a dome 9 times out of 5

[JimElliott]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm I can see no reason at all for a "Stationary dome" at the very best, I mean the VERY BEST you get half the signal of a dish.. More likely closer to a quarter or less. A dish will outperform a dome 9 times out of 5

I was 20 miles east of Quartzsite (Brenda) last January during the big blow and my king dome ran perfectly day & night.....

Jim

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm I can see no reason at all for a "Stationary dome" at the very best, I mean the VERY BEST you get half the signal of a dish.. More likely closer to a quarter or less. A dish will outperform a dome 9 times out of 5

A dome will generally perform just as well as an open antenna when it is dry out. Signal strength differences between a dome and an open face antenna is generally less than 10%. Domes are also not effected by wind no matter how hard it's blowing. The most common reason people buy a dome is convenience. If you forget to store the open face dish before you drive off you could damage the dish. A dome is always ready to go.
The disadvantages to the dome are moisture related, unable to see multiple satellites simultaneously and unable to receive the DirecTV HD programming.

[Stormseeker]

Sounds like the only real benefit for a stationary dome is compactness and foolproofness, although some apparently have no problems with them. I like the elegant simplicity of the dome but the dish does seem to offer more.

Are domes and automatic dishes both single button operation? Any maintenance or durability issues with either?

[av42]

I changed out my Tracvision dome(that only worked less than 50% of the time), to a MiniMax (stationary) in April. We have been traveling since then and have not found any place that it will not aquire a signal within 3-5 minutes. Always 80-94% on signal meter with Directv, even in some wooded areas. Been in several rain occurances and have not affected signal. Perfect picture on our 32" Visio all the time.

[wa8yxm]

Well, as to are domes and dishes both single button.. Depends on the make and model, but the controls are generally about the same,, Some are one button, mine is one toggle and one button, some are two or three but since the exact same "User input" is needed, the controls are generally identical.

In Quartsite, not much difference between a dish and a dome, STRONG satelilte signal

IN Michigan. Very often a dish outperforms.

NOTE: no matter what you put on the roof

Near the receiver put a simple A/B Antenna switch

A goes to the Antenna up A-bove on the roof

B goes to either a Basement connection or a Bulkhead connector down B-elow

That way if you park under the evil signal eating tree

You hook up your ground mount (Tripod) slap the switch over to "B", reset the receiver (DIRECTV) or run Check Switch after pointing (DISH) and all is good.

To switch back,, Slap the switch(es) back to "A", re-set/check switch, disconnect ground mount and stow it.

[Stormseeker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm Well, as to are domes and dishes both single button.. Depends on the make and model, but the controls are generally about the same,, Some are one button, mine is one toggle and one button, some are two or three but since the exact same "User input" is needed, the controls are generally identical. In Quartsite, not much difference between a dish and a dome, STRONG satelilte signal IN Michigan. Very often a dish outperforms. NOTE: no matter what you put on the roof Near the receiver put a simple A/B Antenna switch A goes to the Antenna up A-bove on the roof B goes to either a Basement connection or a Bulkhead connector down B-elow That way if you park under the evil signal eating tree You hook up your ground mount (Tripod) slap the switch over to "B", reset the receiver (DIRECTV) or run Check Switch after pointing (DISH) and all is good. To switch back,, Slap the switch(es) back to "A", re-set/check switch, disconnect ground mount and stow it.

Thanks for the good advice about the switch. I will do that.

It seems that some people have no problem with domes and others with dishes, and vice versa. Maybe it depends on the installation and where you park? If you are in the Southwest with no rain and a strong signal with a good install it probably doesn't matter which you have?

I'm getting a pretty good idea of the issues but still can't make a clear decision. Basically the only drawbacks I can see to the Winegard Trav'ler Dish is price, remembering to put it down to move, and (possibly) wind damage. The MiniMax dome seems elegent, pretty efficient, relatively cheap but with potential for reception issues and no possibility of upgrade to other satellites or HD.

Can anyone else weigh in???

[Bill Adams]

It actually sounds to me like you have a pretty good handle on it. Now you just have to determine what is right for you. No one here has the answer, only answers that work for them.

[Stormseeker]

Thanks for all the input, especially Bill Adams. I didn't find much info on this after 2008. However, I did find a current blog post last night opining that the currrent generation of domes will be obsolete due to providers changing satellites and HD becoming the standard. Probably not an immediate concern but that is tipping me towards a Winegard dish. The only down side of the dish that I can see is a little more cost and remembering to take it down. After wrestling a portable dish and wires, that is nothing.

Thanks again, and please feel free to wade in further if you think of something else.