Community Forums

dutchie01 · 07-27-2011, 07:06 PM

I'm new to this whole Rving thing and would like some input on the best sattelite dish and service.

Just got a 2001 dutch star and the dealer is installing a new dish.

Before they do does anyone have recommendations on what model is best and what network?

UFO Pilot · 07-27-2011, 07:14 PM

I have had crank ups, 2 different domes, and now have the Winegard Travler. The Travler in my opinion is the best choice if you don't have to have in motion. I have Dish (because we already had Dish at home) and am very happy, others have Direct and are probably just as happy.

Bill Adams · 07-27-2011, 07:27 PM

Absolutely, if you have the choice, the best antenna to have installed is the Winegard Trav'ler. The pricing is good and the performance is better than any other antenna on the market. It will work with whatever receiver you choose/have (you have to select either a Trav'ler for Dish or Direct) and with a DVR and/or multiple receivers.

dutchie01 · 07-28-2011, 05:13 AM

any one have experience with the winegard roadtrip low profile?

ejm4 · 07-28-2011, 05:20 AM

We have the winegard minimax and no complaints so far.

Bill Adams · 07-28-2011, 08:57 AM

As long as you understand the limitations of a dome compared to an open faced antenna the Winegard Mission (lower profile dome) works very well. It is similar in operation to their Mini-Max line but is a completely new design. It's rugged and locks on very fast. The unit is only 12.9" tall.

ejm4 · 07-29-2011, 04:31 AM

Do you plan to fulltime or just a weekend warrior? We looked at all the models and for the amount of time we use the coach, the minimax was the best bet. Most of the parks we visit have cable. The main purpose was for when we tailgate at Penn State this fall.

As for lock on times, I would estimate the minimax finds what it is looking for in a 2-4 minute time frame and the price can't be beat if you're looking for non-hd.

wa8yxm · 07-29-2011, 08:52 AM

Best dish: The one the provider provides mounted on a tripod (Ground mount)
The best service.. now that's a bit tougher.

First: The software on a DISH NETWORK receiver is #1 in my book, the antenna pointing tools are as good as professional meters with a comma in their price tag (MSRP) and the DVR is dual output, meaning I can watch one recorded show while spouse watches another, This simply can not be beat. DirecTV, has not yet mastered either of those features.

That said, Dish needs two satellites for SD and 3 for HD programming (Free HD for Life)

Direc needs one for DirecTV and 3 (Two bands) for DirecHDTV which costs more.

I already told you what antenna is best, Now let's look at roof mounts

A dome type can see one satellite at a time, Some can switch between 2 or 3 birds needed for DISHnetwork, NONE can do DirecHDTV since the HD is on a different frequeny band.

DISH type antennas, both automatic and manual, work with the service they are designed for.

ALL roof tops suffer from one aliment: The evil signal eating tree, if you are parked under the spreding chestnut, or whatever, you won't get a signal (or in the shadow of a buliding, that is the satellite shadow)

Moving the rig to a different site, or using a ground mount some distance from the rig, WILL usually get you back to Maverick or whtever you are watching.

Did I just give away my age?

Dmiles · 07-29-2011, 09:06 AM

I bought an old Winegard dome off Craigslist for $100, and installed it myself. Yes I know it does not get HD or my locals, but as has been stated before, if you are a weekend warrior like we are, it might be a little difficult to justify $1500 for a dish just to get HD and locals, when most campgrounds have cable anyway, and local stations can be had fro free in HD over the air.

We mainly got the $100 dome for one lake that we go to that is out in the boonies, and hardly anything is available except via the dish. I guess you could say that during those weekends we are really roughing it doing without HD, but it works for us.

chief02 · 07-29-2011, 09:10 AM

We are part-timers for a few more years, we go to state parks, nataional forrests and boondock soom so we choose the Winegard Carryout automatic. I can set it up 50 feet away if needed. It is light and compact works with Dish, Direct or Bell with the flip of a few dip switches. I locks on in 3-5 mins. It works back and forth between both Dish birds seemlessly

wa8yxm · 07-29-2011, 02:15 PM

One thing I forgot to mention, The dome type antennas, including the carryout, which have the ability to switch between birds, do work quite well with ONE dish receiver.

However if you have TWO receivers, even if the dome is a "dual" (means 2 outputs, not two lenses) both receivers need to look to the same satellite, else, one won't get a signal.

Of course if you are buying hundred dollar domes off E-bay.. Not a problem. .just get two

andy5010 · 08-17-2011, 11:38 AM

I have heard that the motostat for directv or dish is the best system on the market for HD? Has any one any comments or experiance with a motostat?

danes-on-tour · 08-17-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy5010

I have heard that the motostat for directv or dish is the best system on the market for HD? Has any one any comments or experiance with a motostat?

We have had the HD Motosat for a couple of years now. In general it has been Ok, however there seems to be one problem that keeps reappearing. Every time - no exceptions - we have gone into storage, when we come back, one of the sensors that tells the dish when and where to move has malfunctioned. If you know how and if you have been wise enough to order spare sensors, it's fairly simple to correct, but if not - there is no TV reception until spare parts reach you.

We are about to place and order for yet more sensors within the next week.

buck454 · 08-17-2011, 02:41 PM

I recently had the choice in my MH purchase, thru some much appreciated advice and recommendations here at iRV2 I chose the WineGard Trave'ler 1000 and so far I am very glad I did. It just stands to reason that the open face is going to be the best for reception and the 3 LNBs of couse give added features the carry-outs and/or domes can no way compete with (with exception of in-motion).