Community Forums

hardy1000 · 10-11-2011, 06:03 AM

I am getting ready to replace my Dome with the Wineguard SK005 Slimline. How is it in rain or wind? My dome looses reception when it rains.

MickBrennan · 10-11-2011, 06:32 AM

Relax, everybody looses reception during heavy precipitation. You're fine.

stik · 10-11-2011, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardy1000

I am getting ready to replace my Dome with the Wineguard SK005 Slimline. How is it in rain or wind? My dome looses reception when it rains.

I have had a Wineguard Travl'r SK3005 for over 17 months. I had two other motorhomes since 2005, both with domes. The SK3005 does better in rain. Extremely heavy rainfall will affect it, it is, however, in my experience, much, much better than the domes. My domes would sometimes be affected by very heavy dew.

Gotta remember the SK3005 is a relatively big dish, compared to the smaller ones in domes that also must fight the attenuation of the dome itself. That, in itself, helps during moderate to heavy rain,

As for wind, I called Wineguard, and though not in my manual, the Tech Support person recommended I stow the dish if winds are predicted to be in the 38 to 40 mph range. Mine has been caught in some storms with gusts reported as high as 50 mph and is still doing fine.

I am very happy with it and would do it again. To me, it was well worth the expense.

Just DON'T FORGET TO STOW IT BEFORE TRAVELING!

Bill Adams · 10-11-2011, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardy1000

I am getting ready to replace my Dome with the Wineguard SK005 Slimline. How is it in rain or wind? My dome looses reception when it rains.

The Trav'ler will dramatically outperform any dome on the market. Since the Trav'ler will have higher starting signal strengths than a dome you can have more clouds/rain before the signal drops to a point that would cause a loss or distortion.
Also, since microwave signals do not penetrate water well the water sitting on top of a dome will reduce the signal available to the LNB while when you have an open face antenna the water just bounces off and still reaches the LNB. Obviously, when the clouds are so heavily loaded with water that they block the signal too much, all antennas would lose reception. This is just less frequent with an open face antenna than a dome. Ever see a dome on a house??

hardy1000 · 10-11-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Adams

The Trav'ler will dramatically outperform any dome on the market. Since the Trav'ler will have higher starting signal strengths than a dome you can have more clouds/rain before the signal drops to a point that would cause a loss or distortion.
Also, since microwave signals do not penetrate water well the water sitting on top of a dome will reduce the signal available to the LNB while when you have an open face antenna the water just bounces off and still reaches the LNB. Obviously, when the clouds are so heavily loaded with water that they block the signal too much, all antennas would lose reception. This is just less frequent with an open face antenna than a dome. Ever see a dome on a house??

Thanks Bill,

Bill Adams · 10-11-2011, 05:51 PM

You are welcome, even if you did call the really, really nice Winegard SK-3005 Slimline a Wineguard SLIMELINE SK005. That just sounds nasty!

Wayne M · 10-12-2011, 01:47 PM

Put an umbrella over it. (Tongue in cheek - remark)

RickO · 10-12-2011, 02:49 PM

It's a remarkable dish. I've had mine for about 2 years. Really bad weather will give you trouble for a few minutes but I haven't heard of anything that will beat it yet... for the money.

Rick

golden · 10-12-2011, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardy1000

I am getting ready to replace my Dome with the Wineguard SK005 Slimline. How is it in rain or wind? My dome looses reception when it rains.

In four months on the Oregon coasts with winds up to 50 and rain, I never lost reception. Not once, zip, nada.

hardy1000 · 10-13-2011, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M

Put an umbrella over it. (Tongue in cheek - remark)

Not a bad idea!

Wayne M · 10-13-2011, 02:57 PM

In all actuality I have seen dishes on houses that have a hood like visor sticking out from the top. I never stopped to see if it was beneficial or not.

Also, a dish antenna can be laid flat on it's back on a 2 inch PVC Pipe support and receive a signal.

Big Bear · 10-13-2011, 06:42 PM

I have seen several portable dishes in campgrounds. Owners said to keep the birds, from "decorating " the dish. And yes a.dish.can be.used near flat to the ground. I built the.PVC mount, works fine does not blow over and stops a lot of people looking.at it. Aa long as the angle between the sat/dish/& LNB is correct works great. You know the dish does not point square at the Sat. In a normal installation the sat is much higher, signal hits the dish and is reflected to the LMB. As long as.that.angle is.maintained you are good to.go. Somewhere to I have the instructions to.build & use this mount. I got it off one? ? Of the forms I belong to.
Did this on my phone a DroidX2 while reinstalling OP system on my laptop.
Vern