We want DirecTV in Coach inside pole barn

[Chadrock]

Hello:

We just moved our Coach inside our heated pole barn for the winter and will live in it off and on during the winter months. The pole barn has steel sides and there is no signal for TV nor internet. We think we've figured out our internet issue but need advice for using DirecTV. We have no account with them yet but I like their programming and have decided to go that route.


We have a Winegard RoadTrip T4 in motion model satellite dish system on the roof. Our receiver is in the bedroom but the remote can be used on any TV in any room (outside TV too) to run the receiver. The dish on the roof will not pick up any signal whatsoever when inside the pole barn. We need to put some sort of antenna on top of the pole barn and run wiring to Coach.


I'm hoping it is as simple as having the dish on the pole barn roof and running coaxial cable to one of our inputs that we connect to cable TV. I DO NOT want extra DirecTV boxes placed inside Coach. Does anyone know how that could work?

[Dennis4809]

You say you don’t have an account with Direct TV so who do you use for sat tv service? If you stick with the same service, just install a fixed outdoor dish and run a coax. IF you want to change to Direct, you’d need their receiver.

I have Dish and use a fixed dish at the S&B and the same receiver with a Trav’ler in the motorhome.

Good luck,

[chuckbear]

I assume you mean you have the equipment but nothing is activated. I believe your Winegard is only for standard definition signals. If incorrect that will change things. Move the RV out of the barn and have the account activated. Then install a compatible dish outside the barn and run coax to your sat connection. You can undo the roof coax, add a connector, and attach the coax there for simplicity. Just remember to disconnect it when you move the RV. Chuck

[Lt Dan]

Originally Posted by Chadrock

I'm hoping it is as simple as having the dish on the pole barn roof and running coaxial cable to one of our inputs that we connect to cable TV. I DO NOT want extra DirecTV boxes placed inside Coach. Does anyone know how that could work?

It is that simple, just connect the coax from the roof antenna to the "Tripod" connection in the bay. Do not connect to the Cable connection. You may have to install a coax A/B switch to change between your current dome and the external antenna. If you put a fixed open faced antenna on the barn, then you will be able to receive HD programming which you can not receive now with the dome antenna. You will have to run a check switch routine each time you change from one antenna type to the other.

[chuckbear]

Originally Posted by Lt Dan

It is that simple, just connect the coax from the roof antenna to the "Tripod" connection in the bay. Do not connect to the Cable connection. You may have to install a coax A/B switch to change between your current dome and the external antenna. If you put a fixed open faced antenna on the barn, then you will be able to receive HD programming which you can not receive now with the dome antenna. You will have to run a check switch routine each time you change from one antenna type to the other.

That will only work if your receiver is capable of both HD and Standard Definition. If it is SD only, you will need to be sure you are using an SD dish or get a new receiver when you activate with DirecTV. But you will need to be sure that receiver will do both SD and HD or it won't work with your roof dish. Chuck

[TexasTom]

Take a look at this. Real easy to set up, and then you can take it with you if needed.

DIRECTV SWiM HDTV Satellite Dish Tripod Kit for RV / Mobile / Portable - Satellite Oasis

[chuckbear]

Originally Posted by TexasTom

Take a look at this. Real easy to set up, and then you can take it with you if needed.

DIRECTV SWiM HDTV Satellite Dish Tripod Kit for RV / Mobile / Portable - Satellite Oasis

AGAIN, your receiver must be compatible with HD, SWM or whatever. Make sure first before spending any money. Chuck

[docj]

Originally Posted by chuckbear

AGAIN, your receiver must be compatible with HD, SWM or whatever. Make sure first before spending any money. Chuck

As was noted in the first post in this thread: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f53/offic...es-413736.html sometime in 2019 this is going to be a moot point since all DirecTV receivers will have to be HD-compatible in order to receive the MPEG4 signals that are going to be broadcast from the 101 satellite. At that time the dome on the roof of the OP's MH will be able to receive HD.

Therefore, IMHO the OP would be well advised to have an HD dish on his pole barn and to change his receiver, if necessary to one that is compatible with MPEG4 programming. It doesn't appear that you are going to be "forced" to pay for HD if you don't want it; your HD receiver can easily be set to only provide you SD signals if DirecTV wishes to do that.

[Chadrock]

It sounds like my best option is to get the HD satellite dish and install it and the coax myself, then get a newer HD receiver. Where do I get one from-- the local DirecTV installer or purchase one on my own? Are the newer ones as easy to connect as the one I currently have? Do they have only three connections (power, a coax, an HDMI). If there's more than that, I might be stumped.

[TXTiger]

When I sold my fifth wheel and purchased a used Class A if came with a DirecTv travler sat dish already on the roof. I had Dish but switched to DitecTv. DirecTv gave me two receivers for free with a 2year contract. The local independent DirecTv people came to my camp site and installed the receivers for free.

[chuckbear]

Originally Posted by Chadrock

It sounds like my best option is to get the HD satellite dish and install it and the coax myself, then get a newer HD receiver. Where do I get one from-- the local DirecTV installer or purchase one on my own? Are the newer ones as easy to connect as the one I currently have? Do they have only three connections (power, a coax, an HDMI). If there's more than that, I might be stumped.

DirecTV owns all the receivers. If you buy one it still belongs to Direct and you pay a monthly fee. You will have to sign a 2-year contract for service. So just have them send you a receiver and have them install it. That might take some doing in your case. They often won't install in an RV unless you have an RV account. It might take a couple of phone calls to get the right person to set this up. The problem is your roof dish. It is not SWM compatible with the new receivers. Why do it the hard way? For now, just have the RV service activated with the receiver you have. It will mean pulling the RV out in the open. Once set up, go online and buy a compatible Standard Def dish, very inexpensive, and mount it on the roof of your parking port. Run coax and you're in business and will have sat service while parked and if you travel. Otherwise, you are going to need a new roof dish. Big bucks. Then you will have another year or two to deal with moving to HD without a major upgrade now. Or you can make it difficult for yourself now. I got the sense that you are trying to avoid that. Chuck

[Johnsonk64]

Originally Posted by Chadrock

It sounds like my best option is to get the HD satellite dish and install it and the coax myself, then get a newer HD receiver. Where do I get one from-- the local DirecTV installer or purchase one on my own? Are the newer ones as easy to connect as the one I currently have? Do they have only three connections (power, a coax, an HDMI). If there's more than that, I might be stumped.

I mounted a dish on the outside of my pole barn and ran the cable to a box on the wall near where the wet bay is. When the coach is in the barn I just run a cable from the outlet to the tripod connection in the wet bay.
I see in your signature that you have a 2017 Tiffin. If the box you have came with your coach it should receive HD channels and you should not need to change it. You will have to change the configuration of the dish in the set up screen to match the new dish.
Also, you will need to find the cable in the AV compartment marked tripod and connect that to the box instead of the dome connection.

[Coachmen Joe]

I hope I don't get in trouble for asking this but my 2002 coachmen has a manual dish on the roof maybe winegard. Are they compatible with direct and dish?

[cavie]

If you go with Direct TV you will need their boxes. The master looks like a DVD player. The slaves are very small.