Winegard Carryout or Vuqube

[Wolfpack Fan]

Been looking at satellite antennas. Either the Winegard Carryout or the Vuqube. I have a manual dish on a tripod now and I hate it. Difficult and too time consuming to find satellite signal with a triple LNB. We use the satellite receive box from our guest room, which works out perfect so we don't incur charge for another box from DirectTV.

The Carryout is fully automatic, with motors than move the dish up down and all around to find the signal. Essentially plug and play.

Vuqube is semi automatic with electric motors that move the dish where you tell it to, by use of a remote. The remote displays heading and elevation information.

The carryout ranges from mid $600's to mid $700's. Depending on where you shop. The Vuqube runs $100 to $150 less.

Is there anyone here on the forum that has either that would care to share your opinion of either of the antenna's.

Thanks in advance.

[Ed ke6bnl]

my carryout has been great I did make a mount for the top of the ladder and is semi permanent but can come down in those rare occasions you need it. Sure beat trying to find the sat. by the time I have the trailer set up and level the tv is working. I did find a good deal on ebay for mine. I have a hard time spending $600

[Wizard]

If you was on this side of the country I would sell my Vucube really cheap. Seldom can I get it to work. When my finances get better, thats one of the first things I will replace, with a carryout automatic.

I hate mine but its all I've got for now. Was within a few minutes of tossing it in the lake a few days ago but the wife told me to wait a while, never did get it to work.

[jimbo16720]

I'd go with the vuQube for ease of finding the satelites. I just sent an email to a guy that has one for sale for $300. It can be mounted permanet to the roof where your tv antennae is and works with a remote from inside the motorhome.

[Logthumper]

Also have the vuQube. Works great.

[jim.smithjr]

I have two VuQubes. There are several models. They start with a VuQube 1000 which require you to enter the co-ordinates for your location. It accepts only one receiver, standard TV only.

The VuQube 2000 is automatic. It finds the dish and locks it in. Handles two receivers and HD.

The VuQube 3000 is automatic and in-motion. Two receivers and HD.

I have just bought a 2000 for our Monaco, and I've used a 3000 on our yacht for several years.

Never had a problem, and when I've needed a bit of help (once or twice) they were terrific. You get to talk to someone from Minnesota!

There is talk they don't make the 2000 or 3000 any more, but my new 2000 was manufactured in April this year? I bought it new in the box.

[Elf]

I haven't used the vuQube but I do have the Winegard Carryout and it has worked great. As long as there is a clear path to the south, just plug it in and it does it's thing.
I was reluctant to spend the $$, but each time I hook it up I feel a little less bad about it.

[Akibase]

I have a Carryout and it works fantastic. I just plug it in when we arrive at camp site and by the time we are set up it is working. No fuss. No hassle.
I mounted mine on top of ladder and have never had anything but great service. It is worth the little extra for the ease of use. I would highly recommend it.

[johnevans3]

I would love to get a vuqube 2000 or the winegard carryout but the new prices are too much for me. Any one know someone who wants to unload either at a reasonable price? Thanks

[chief02]

Google for factory refurbished Carryout. I gor my refurbished Winegaurd automatic Carryout for $450 works great

[LindaH]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim.smithjr The VuQube 2000 is automatic. It finds the dish and locks it in. Handles two receivers and HD. The VuQube 3000 is automatic and in-motion. Two receivers and HD.

A dome...any dome...cannot receive DirecTV HD programming, which is the service the OP said he was using. Dish Network HD, yes; DirecTV HD, no.

As long as you don't care about HD programming, either the Carryout or the VuQube will work with DirecTV SD programming.

[TXiceman]

Sometimes the VueQube is a pain to work with on some Dish receivers. Several times we will wind up a check switch after doing a receiver reset and then bingo, it will work. In talking to King Controls, they admit, that Dish receivers seem to be the most problematic.

Other times, not a problem finding the bird. One thing is the dish is smaller than a regular dish and you will get a weaker signal....50 to 60% of a standard dish.


Ken

[Wayne M]

We have the carryout and the short tripod they sell with it. It is about a 5-10 minute physical set up, then a few minutes sitting in front of the TV waiting for it to search for the satellite.

I also was frustrated with setting up the 3 lnb portable. One thing to remember that there is no dome on the market that will receive two satellites at one time. So, if your provider uses more than one satellite than two televisions will be watching the same channel, or channels on the same satellite. This is more evident with DISH network and their 3 satellite use. As previously stated, DirectTV will not receive HD.

The carry out comes set up for DirecTV. For DISH the top needs to be taken off and DIP switches set for Eastern or Western ARC. This is a one time setup. I'm set for the Western ARC, have traveled to New England, WA State, and other points in the US and I have never had to reset those DIP switches.

I'm not sure of the VuCube, but the carryout requires a separate power supply of 12 volts. The power cable that comes with it has a cigarette lighter plug and is 50 ft long. The current is over 2 amp, I believe. I purchased a separate converter that plugs into my 110v in my electrical/antenna connector compartment and works fine for me. I was just not ambitious enough to tap into the 12v system.

Good luck.

[Barbara S.]

I love my VuQube! I bought mine on eBay for $400.00. It took several months for me to get one at that price, but I finally got one. It is so much easier to set up than the dish I got with the DirecTV service.