Community Forums

vettehead · 02-27-2015, 09:13 AM

I need some information. Thinking about going with satellite TV. There is a Winegard Dish on top of our rig. Never been used since we have owned it. My question is " How does one raise and lower the unit on top'"? It is in a "stored" position now. Is it possible to use it with Direct or Dish?

H. Miller · 02-27-2015, 10:45 AM

Winegard makes (made) several antennas. A few (very few) were satellite crank ups which it sounds like what you have.
I would say you need to include a picture and/or make & model info.

vettehead · 02-27-2015, 11:06 AM

After a bit of investigating, I have "The Traveler". Also found a Winegard control box tucked away in a cabinet above the drivers seat that is wired to it.
Like I said, it hasn't been used, so I am at a disadvantage as to the operation.

johnboy2 · 02-27-2015, 11:11 AM

I would call Winnegard tech support, I had a problem a few years back and they were very helpful and knowledgeable about there products.
John

ShapeShifter · 02-27-2015, 03:08 PM

That is a very nice satellite dish setup: Winegard TRAV'LER RV Satellite Antennas - DIRECTV HD RV Antenna

VIDEO LINK

Manuals can be downloaded HERE but there are several models, you will need to know which one you have (Dish Network, Shaw Direct, or one of a couple DirecTV models.)

The control box is the key. It should have a power supply that's plugged into AC power, and a control cable plugged into the back of the control box that goes up to the dish. Plug in the power supply, then press and hold the "POWER" button for two seconds. When the display reads "POWER ON" you can let go of the button. It will display messages about connecting to the antenna, and then display the antenna type which will let you know what kind of dish you have. (For example, I have the Trav'ler SK-1000 for Dish Network, and it says "DISH 1000")

Once powered up, it should go through a search cycle that takes several minutes. It will move the antenna through the full range of motion, and then start scanning the sky for the satellites. There will be messages on the screen letting you know what it's doing. You do NOT need to have a satellite receiver connected to check it out this far. Then, to stow the antenna and get it to lay flat on the roof press the "POWER" button once.

mikelm48 · 02-27-2015, 03:20 PM

To deploy the antenna, if it is connected to the electric, push and hold the button on the left side of the control box. The screen should light up and tell you what it is doing. It takes a few minutes. There are two models of the Trav'ler, one for Dish and one for DirecTV. The DirecTV model can be converted to do Dish for a few hundred dollars, but the Dish cannot be converted to DirecTV.

nodine · 02-28-2015, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikelm48

To deploy the antenna, if it is connected to the electric, push and hold the button on the left side of the control box. The screen should light up and tell you what it is doing. It takes a few minutes. There are two models of the Trav'ler, one for Dish and one for DirecTV. The DirecTV model can be converted to do Dish for a few hundred dollars, but the Dish cannot be converted to DirecTV.

This is correct except you push the button for a few seconds and then release it. The display should say "Connecting to Antenna". I have found that you must release the button before the deployment starts.

Bob

ShapeShifter · 02-28-2015, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikelm48

The DirecTV model can be converted to do Dish for a few hundred dollars, but the Dish cannot be converted to DirecTV.

This is curious and doesn't make sense. The basic hardware for all of the models all use the same basic motorized mount and control box. The difference is the reflector and LNB, and how the control box is programmed. To switch to a different service, install the appropriate reflector dish and LNB arm, and change the programming mode of the controller so that it finds the appropriate satellites. It shouldn't matter which model you are starting with, and which one you want to end up with.

A list of replacement conversion parts is attached. The reprogramming instructions are at the end of the operations manual:

With the unit stowed, press and hold Power button for two seconds
While the display reads "Power On" press and hold Enter for two seconds
When asked to enter user menu, select Yes then press Enter
On the User Menu select Installation and press Enter
Select the antenna type and press Enter:
- Dish 1000
- DirecTV Triple
- DirecTV Slimline
- ExpressVU
Select Yes and press Enter to confirm

mikelm48 · 02-28-2015, 08:30 AM

Search iRV2, you will find discussions regarding the conversion.

ShapeShifter · 02-28-2015, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikelm48

Search iRV2, you will find discussions regarding the conversion.

I have searched, and found some interesting posts. This one is from a Winegard employee posting last month:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winegard1

The SK-1000 can be converted. It would be converted back to the SK-3003, and there would be no high definition if you did so. Parts needed are RP-SK63, and RP-SK33. Total for both is $324.99.

The comment about the lack of HD is curious.

Has anybody looked at the Winegard web site recently? They've redesigned it with lots of flashy pictures, but very little real information. What a disappointment. I used to be able to find all sorts of useful information and documents there, and now everything I can find is very superficial. They even used to have their own forum, but I can't find that now.