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DtBt · 11-30-2015, 11:03 AM

I recently lost the Sat signal and climbed up on the roof and checked to cable connectors and found the Port C to LNB cable at the port C connector had failed due to corrosion and water infiltration. The Trav'ler was installed mid 2013. I would suggest checking the connector and applying CorrosionX and adding a sealant to the back to prevent a failure. Winegard obviously wanted to save a dollar eliminating the rubber boot.

paz · 12-01-2015, 05:53 AM

Good suggestion. Thanks.

We had an internet satellite dish on the roof of the motorhome we used to have, and the installer used dielectric grease on all the connections. The dish was up there for 9 years. Although I checked the connectors a couple of times over the years when I was having other connection problems, the connectors were always nice and clean.

We bought our current 5th wheel with the Trav'ler as a factory option, and I doubt the factory used anything on the connections. Since the fiver is now almost a year old, I need to get up on the roof to check it out.

smlranger · 12-01-2015, 06:06 AM

Had identical problem with my Traveler SWM recently. Mine was also purchased (installed by me) in 2013. When I spoke to Winegard, I suggested that they needed to use some anti corrosive on that external connection since a connection designed to be exposed to weather should not corrode in 2 years. On mine, the center conductor had broken off and was stuck in the male C connector. My symptom was 'No LNB Voltage' on the display.

When I installed the unit, I used dielectric grease on the coax I attached to the turret going into the coach. That connection was pristine. Their factory installed connection was trashed.

At first, their customer support was dismal. After sending an email to their CEO, I did get a satisfactory response from a supervisor and got the parts I needed for repair.

DtBt · 12-02-2015, 09:43 AM

When I spoke to Winegard customer service the lady with whom I spoke was quite belligerent insisting no one had ever had this issue. Then I suggested they needed to provide a boot to protect the connector from moisture infiltration she said it was already watertight due to the crimp showing how uninformed she was. After 5 minutes trying to convince her that moisture did not get in there by itself I hung up since she obviously had a company line and was not being reasonable.

paz · 12-02-2015, 02:42 PM

Checked our rooftop connections today.

Good news: DRV, who built our 5th wheel, had put dielectric grease on the connection on the base of the Trav'ler where the cable that runs into the coach is attached.

Bad news: Winegard had not put anything on the connector higher up on the base where the the cable that runs from the LNB is attached. When I removed the upper cable connector to apply the grease, I could see the threads were starting to corrode. That is after 11 months. I caught it just in time. Thanks again to DtBt. Unfortunately, I ran out of dielectric grease so it's back up on the roof again tomorrow to check the connector on the LNB itself after I pick up some more grease.

smlranger · 12-02-2015, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DtBt

When I spoke to Winegard customer service the lady with whom I spoke was quite belligerent insisting no one had ever had this issue. Then I suggested they needed to provide a boot to protect the connector from moisture infiltration she said it was already watertight due to the crimp showing how uninformed she was. After 5 minutes trying to convince her that moisture did not get in there by itself I hung up since she obviously had a company line and was not being reasonable.

That was pretty much how I got treated when I first called. Just kept telling me my only option was to remove the turret and send it to them for repair. I was at an RV Park on the beginning of a much-needed vacation and finally got her to agree to send me a new mini coax. She got the zip code completely wrong and the mini coax got to me a week later. There were other missteps on their part. In my email to their CEO (who is an engineer) I suggested they needed to look at that connection and do some corrosion prevention at the factory. When I finally got a call from another one of their engineers, he was helpful and did ship the parts I needed overnight to the RV park. However, he would not acknowledge they had a problem with that connection. He did ask me to send a pic of the corrosion which I did.