Upgrade dome to dish and HD questions

[Cdn-Tx]

Currently have KVH TracVision SF which I understand is no longer supported by KVH and won’t do HD. I’m thinking of upgrading it with Winegard Trav'ler Traveler Dish 1000 which is a non-dome system. Any advise on the Winegard? Good…bad…ugly? Can it mount where the dome is now? That’s center front ahead of the front AC unit.
Both TV’s will be upgraded to HD flat panels and I will run Dish Network.
Does anyone know if the dual TV VIP 622 with DVR will work with the Winegard Dish 1000? We have one in the house and it would work ideal in a motorhome because the second TV remote works off radio frequency so you don’t need a line of site to the receiver.

[kjburns]

It's an excellent system. We just upgraded a couple of months ago. The Trav'ler installed where our dome was. We use it with a Dish 722 dual tuner receiver and it does everything (HD, recording, two tuners, etc). You won't be disappointed.

Are you sure you're running a 622 receiver? I don't see it on the Dish site.

[Cdn-Tx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjburns It's an excellent system. We just upgraded a couple of months ago. The Trav'ler installed where our dome was. We use it with a Dish 722 dual tuner receiver and it does everything (HD, recording, two tuners, etc). You won't be disappointed. Are you sure you're running a 622 receiver? I don't see it on the Dish site.

Thanks....yes I have a 622 which is the original dual DVR HD receiver. I own it so would probably move it into the MH as I dont think you can shut down service on leased equipment.

[kjburns]

I bought the 722 specifically for the RV. It stays in the entertainment center. It's hooked up the primary TV with an HDMI cable, then the second output is connected to a HAVA wifi, so I can watch it on my laptop. The second output is also feeding the bedroom TV.

[wa8yxm]

Domes: NO dome will do DirecHDTV (Though DirecTV (non-hd) works best with domes)

DISH: there are many Domes that work with DISH both standard and HD.

If you have either multiple receivers or a Dual-input DVR domes will give you headaches with DISH (You can only record from one satellite (out of up to 3) at a time) With a single receiver no problem.

DISH type antennas: Match the dish to the service (There are 4 different dishes, one for each service) and you are good to go. No problems, multiple receivers, no problem, dual input DVR no problem.

Comment on DVR's

DISH: the best
Direct: The worst (Personal opinion)

Manual antenna pointing tools

30 dollar analog meeter: Junk
DirecTV antenna set up page plus portable Color TV, Much better

DishNetwork Menu 6-1-1 (Antenna pointing) plus portable color TV.. IS very very good, in fact this is as good as about a thousand dollar professional meter.

[RickO]

We have had the Winegard Slimline 3005 for over a year now and just love it. We use a dual tuner Directv DVR with the second remote on RF so it can operate from the bedroom as well.

I know you said you'll be running Dish Network and the Slimline 1000 should work well for that but be aware that this dish will not be able to get DirecTv HD if that were important to you.

Good Luck,

Rick

[Cdn-Tx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm Domes: NO dome will do DirecHDTV (Though DirecTV (non-hd) works best with domes) DISH: there are many Domes that work with DISH both standard and HD. If you have either multiple receivers or a Dual-input DVR domes will give you headaches with DISH (You can only record from one satellite (out of up to 3) at a time) With a single receiver no problem. DISH type antennas: Match the dish to the service (There are 4 different dishes, one for each service) and you are good to go. No problems, multiple receivers, no problem, dual input DVR no problem. Comment on DVR's DISH: the best Direct: The worst (Personal opinion) Manual antenna pointing tools 30 dollar analog meeter: Junk DirecTV antenna set up page plus portable Color TV, Much better DishNetwork Menu 6-1-1 (Antenna pointing) plus portable color TV.. IS very very good, in fact this is as good as about a thousand dollar professional meter.

Am I missing something because I thought I understood from snooping around the different satellite dish / dome sites there are a number of domes that do Dish Network HD and lock on 2 satellites at once. Also the open dish (non dome) also auto focuses so why do you need equipment to aim it?

[kjburns]

The domes that handle Dish HD move from satellite to satellite as needed for the channel. There are three satellites. The dome locks in on one satellite at a time.

An open face dish like the Winegard Trav'ler aims itself, so you don't need to do anything beyond pressing a button. An open face dish mounted on a tripod needs to be aimed manually. That's where the compass and meter come in.

[SCVJeff]

Side note: There is NO dome that will outperform an open face antenna: HD or SD, period.

[majfrizz]

we have the Slimline 3005 since they first came out. we had an issue late this summer where the gears locked up inside and would not open properly. it was 4 months out of warranty, even though i have an extended warranty that was going to replace the entire unit (it is completly sealed), Winegard worked out a very good cost for them (a little more than half of retail). system works great again. if i remember right you can have upto 3 receivers hooked up. we run one most of the time but i have used a 2nd receiver for longer trips. i know it was pricey compared to the dome, but well worth it.

[LindaH]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cdn-Tx Am I missing something because I thought I understood from snooping around the different satellite dish / dome sites there are a number of domes that do Dish Network HD and lock on 2 satellites at once. Also the open dish (non dome) also auto focuses so why do you need equipment to aim it?

There is no dome that has more than one LNB. That means that all domes, no matter the brand, can only "see" one satellite at a time. Most domes will toggle between satellites based on your selection of a channel, with the resultant delay.

If you have a multiple-LNB open-faced dish on a tripod, it doesn't auto focus; thus the need for equipment to aim it (unless you just want to wing it).

[wa8yxm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cdn-Tx Am I missing something because I thought I understood from snooping around the different satellite dish / dome sites there are a number of domes that do Dish Network HD and lock on 2 satellites at once. Also the open dish (non dome) also auto focuses so why do you need equipment to aim it?

Ther eis no dome that locks on 2 sats at one time.. They can lock on one and only one, SOME domes can switch fast enough to make it appear they are locked on 2, or 3, if you are using a SINGLE receiver, but only some.

Why do you need aiming hardware/software: Because if you use a dome or other roof mounted antenna you NEED two thigns
1: A/B (Above/below) switch in the LNB line(s) and 2
A ground mount (Tripod) dish for those times when you are parked under the evil signal eating tree.. And you gonna have to aim that ground mount.

[Spikester]

I switched from a Kingdome to MotoSat open HD dish antenna, installed perfectly in the area that the Kingdome was removed from, (between the air horns up front). Am 1000% satisfied with the MotoSat, at the time of my switch MotoSat was the only open, roof mounted RV HD dish that was available. Only slight draw-back is that occasionally satellite controller firmware must be up-dated, but a simple process of downloading update onto a memory card, plugging it into back of the controller turn it on and your done. We use a Dish VIP-222 receiver that permanently stays in the Motorhome. Also have Dish service to our stick house so it seemless when we use the Motorhome.

Spike