Satellite TV Receiver(s)- fixed & mobile

[Jack1234]

We currently have an HD Weingard Traveller satellite receiver/dish mounted on our roof & connected to two HD TVs on separate LNBs. When we are camped in wooded sites we are often unable to get a clear signal.

How difficult is it to set-up a second dish receiver on a tripod.... Easy enough but.... how do we switch the feed from the roof receiver to the tripod receiver? Do you or can you set-up some sort of transfer box? Anyway, we would appreciate any comments or recommendations from those who have set-up something.

Cheers

Jack

[Tallyrver]

My new Journey has a King Dome in motion dish ,that I still have not been able to get working. I have an A/B switch from Radio shack to go from a portable dish to the roof dish. I made the stand for the dish from 1 3/4 pipe . it takes about 10 min. to put it together and get a signal.

[RickO]

Jack, I assume you're using DirecTv? I don't think I've heard of anyone yet talking about having an HD dish on the roof and carrying a backup HD dish and the necessary hookup/switching it would require. Maybe someone will chime in and prove me wrong here but....

Rick

[TurtleKent]

Often when you can't receive a signal on a DirecTV HD channel, you CAN receive the same programming on the adjacent SD channel. SD programming is handled on a different satellite.

[pyroman175]

make sure your king dome is using RG6 cable and not the quick connects, notorious for not working. I just put my king dome on my new RV also and had to make sure the cables were RG6. the bedroom tv had quick connects going to the video switch box. The king dome is also SD not HD,

[Larry & Rita]

I have a 99' Pace Arrow, I have both a roof mount and a tripod with Direct TV. Some times I can't get a signal from my roof either so I resort to hauling out the tripod and using a satellite finder I can walk around until I find a hole in the trees.
I have a second connector in the service bay that will allow me to connect the cable from the tripod, I don't have an AB Box so sometimes I have to play-wire-wire-who's got the wire behind the rec. When I do get it right I'm so proud of me.

[brotenc]

Before I got my HD dish I used an antenna on a tripod and ran the wire in a window.

If I were to use my tripod antenna I would run one a length of RG6 to the coach. Two if my LNB supported two outputs for two receivers.

Then I would use two splitters in the coach designed for the satellite frequency bands with two inputs and one output each. One splitter would support LNB A from both antenna and the other would support LNB B from both antenna.


_____Antenna___________ Splitter 1___________________________
Roof Mount LNB A --------IN
Tripod Mount LNB A ------IN Out LNB A ------Receiver ----TV 1

_______________________ Splitter 2___________________________
Roof Mount LNB B -------IN
Tripod Mount LNB B ------IN Out LNB B ------Reveiver-----TV 2

You don't need an A/B switch since the signal will simply feed through the spltter from the live antenna. You could mount F connectors somewhere ao you could easily connect the mobile antenna tripod and leave everything as it is in the coach.

Make sure you use RG6 and the correct splitter type. One reason is that power is applied via the cable from the receiver to the LNB and you need the more robust copper in the RG6. It might work with RG59 but good quality RG6 doesn't cost that much more.

Hope this helped.

Chuck

[Jack1234]

Many thanks for everyone's comments.... Looks like we will need to investigate an A/B switch. ( perhaps we can use the existing switch box) Also looks like a pretty complicated set-up since we currently have signal inputs to both TV's as well as separate inputs for the TIVO machines ( including all the wiring to the existing switching box for antenna reception, DVD's & the home theatre system.

Probably worth a visit to a good Motorhome AV consultant.

Cheers / Jack

[CSB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallyrver My new Journey has a King Dome in motion dish ,that I still have not been able to get working. I have an A/B switch from Radio shack to go from a portable dish to the roof dish. I made the stand for the dish from 1 3/4 pipe . it takes about 10 min. to put it together and get a signal.

Have you contacted King Controls about this? What satellite service do you have?

[wa8yxm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack1234 We currently have an HD Weingard Traveller satellite receiver/dish mounted on our roof & connected to two HD TVs on separate LNBs. When we are camped in wooded sites we are often unable to get a clear signal.

Why would you want to set up a 2nd receiver on a tripod? Or did I misunderstand.

In any case I'm going to tell you how to accomplish what you want.

Google the following: ANTENNA SWITCH

You will find the RCA VH-71 listed for a dollar at the Google store if I'm not mistaken, (I paid way too much some years ago , 8.95 as I recall) Get two of them.. Or you can go to the local TV department and pick up a couple of switches like the RCA 71 there (What I did)

Unplug the receiver 1st.

On the back of each receiver is a connection marked LNB.. Disconnect this line and run it to the "A" jack on the switch.

Run a short RG-6 "Jumper" cable from the Common (Switched) terminal to the LNB jack on the receiver.. Now with the switch in the "A" position, you have exactly what you have now.. Leave it there.. You may now plug back in.

Run two brand new RG-6 lines from the "B" terminal on the switches to a convenient connection point.. I will suggest 3 points.

1: Bulkhead (Through wall) connectors.
2: Basement compartment
3: I drive a gasser, Mine is on the Brake Bracket under the hood.

Considerations: Out of the weather, easily attached to.

Also, i used a dual ground block so it grounds to the chassis.

Now: If you are in the clear, Leave the switch in "A" as in Above, and use the receivers as you do now.

If you are parked under the evil signal eating tree and thus your rooftop can not see the satellites (And you can not see TV) first hook up the tripod antenna, Since you have two receivers you will use Two coax cables (There is a more expensive but easier way, but use of twin-axial cable (Two coax cables that are joined together) is very easy, It matters not which receiver hooks to which connector on the Antenna by the way, you can flip them every time you hook up,, Dish hardware is absolutely the best.

Once you have it hooked up and set up slide the switches from "A" as in Above to "B" as in Below (You wondered perhaps why I said to hook the cables up the way I said to) and go MENU 6-1-1 on the receiver, Enter the park's ZIP CODE Take a portable TV to the antenna and view it,, Preset the Elevation as per the Receiver's suggestions, same for SKEW. Now swing the dish slowly through the azimuth (Direction) settings recommended while watching the signal bar.. WHen it peaks, wait for the sat to ID, if it's the right peak, touch up Elevation and re-do azimuth a couple itterations and lock it down.

Go back inside (Take portable with you) and do a CHECK SWITCH.. Job done.

To disconnect: First switch to "A", then dissasemble and stow ground mount, once in the clear do CHECK SWITCH.

No need for multiple receivers, Just multiple antennas and 2.00 worth of switches.

NOTE: Always hook up and unhook with switches in the "A" position, this protects the receiver from shorts.

[Jack1234]

Once again many thanks to everyone for there suggestions and solutions. For me, I think I may have over-thought this entire problem.....we really only encounter this situation every so often....in fact, we are currently parked in Banff/Canada, in the trees and our dish (Starchoice/Shaw) has locked the two satellites. I realize that the simple solution is probably best.....mount dish on portable tripod....run cable to coax and in through drivers window.... Unhooked cable(s) from the roof dish.... Hook-up cable from the tripod dish ..... Forget about second TV....and we're good to go!

[Tallyrver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSB Have you contacted King Controls about this? What satellite service do you have?

I have Directv ,and called King Controls about two weeks ago . a tech sent the reset guide . I was sitting in the wide open at a Wally world . still no go.

Temperature Calibration –
Put unit in Idle/Hold by pressing the ON Button.
Press Main until you get to the DEALER SETUP menu.
Press + (plus) Until you get to Code 13.
Press Enter. (will not change anything on the display)
Press --> (Right Arrow)(Next to Main ) Until you get to Set Test Menu.
Press – (minus) until you get to Temp Cal.
Press Enter to make a Cancel show up on the screen.
Press + to change that Cancel to Run Now.
Press Enter and the Temp Cal Will Begin.
It should say Temperature Cal STxxx
Wait until it displays operation is done. (Run for an hour then go to the next step. It will most likely not show an operation done.)
Press On once.
Press main until you get to dealer setup.
Display should already be on code 13 so just press enter.
Press the -à right arrow (next to main) until you get to set test.
Press - Minus until it displays eep save
Press enter.
Press Plus to change it from Cancel to Run Now.
Press Enter.
Wait until it displays operation done.

Press Enter and – (Minus) Simultaneously to shut the unit off.
Leave unit off for 10 seconds before turning it back on.
Temp Cal complete


Mechanical Calibration –
Press Main until you get to the DEALER SETUP menu.
Press + (plus) Until you get to Code 13.
Press Enter. (will not change anything on the display)
Press -> (Right Arrow) Until you get to Set Test Menu.
Press – (minus) until you get to Mech Cal .
Press Enter to make a Cancel show up on the screen.
Press + to change that Cancel to Run Now.
Press Enter and the Mech Cal Will Begin.
It should say Mech Cal Run STXX. (ST Cannot = 0 )
Wait until it says “Operation Done” (About 25 minutes)
Press On once.
Press main until you get to dealer setup.
Display should already be on code 13 so just press enter.
Press the right arrow until you get to set test.
Press Minus until it displays eep save
Press Enter.
Press Plus to change it from Cancel to Run Now.
Press Enter.
Wait until it displays operation done.
Press Enter and – (Minus) Simultaneously to shut the unit off.
Leave unit off for 10 seconds before turning it back on.
Mech Cal complete



-Yer Yang
Service Technician
Phone# 800-982-9920
Fax# 952-922-8424
www.kingcontrols.com

[wa8yxm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack1234 Once again many thanks to everyone for there suggestions and solutions. For me, I think I may have over-thought this entire problem.....we really only encounter this situation every so often....in fact, we are currently parked in Banff/Canada, in the trees and our dish (Starchoice/Shaw) has locked the two satellites. I realize that the simple solution is probably best.....mount dish on portable tripod....run cable to coax and in through drivers window.... Unhooked cable(s) from the roof dish.... Hook-up cable from the tripod dish ..... Forget about second TV....and we're good to go!

Ah, Starchoice, One service I know little about. I know about BelleVu Express and Dish and Direc but not Starchoice. (I do not know what hardware they use for the receiver)

However save for the Menu 6-1-1 part and check switch,

If you re-read my prior post (just above the one I quoted)

The A/B switch and run a 2nd cable down to the basement or some other connection point is the way to go, Low cost, easier than pulling the receiver out and running cable through the window every time..

It is the way I went. Works great.

[Clay L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickO Jack, I assume you're using DirecTv? I don't think I've heard of anyone yet talking about having an HD dish on the roof and carrying a backup HD dish and the necessary hookup/switching it would require. Maybe someone will chime in and prove me wrong here but.... Rick

I have seen a number of posts from guys using an external Slimline dish for Direct TV HD. They claim that if the pole the dish is mounted on is really plumb that the setup is easy.

I had a lesson in setup from a tech setting up a permanent installation and I believe I could do it without a problem.

I decided that for the once or twice a year I can't get a satellite fix with my roof mounted Traveler, it wasn't worth buying a new tripod that the Slimline needs (the pole has to a 2 inch diameter instead of about 1 1/5 inch). I still carry the old 18 inch dish for those rare occasions and do without HD for one night.

The hook up and switching is the same as for the old dish. Below is how I did it: