Community Forums

Spark1 · 05-20-2016, 07:26 AM

Hi Forum,

I have a 2008 Safari Simba which is pre-wired for a satellite system. I took my RV to a local dealership to inquire about installing a Winegard Pathway X1 system. They informed me that since my wiring was in 2008 it probably would not support the satellite system. They are recommending that I get the system along with new wiring to minimize any problems. I would like to know if this is true and why the 2008 wiring will not support the newer satellites. I live in the Tampa area and any recommendations of local installers would be great. My wife and I are not full timers. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

LJowdy · 05-20-2016, 07:48 AM

Your dealer doesn't know what they're talking about. The pathway takes only 1 coaxial wire and virtually all coaches as far back as 1990 were pre-wired with RG6 satellite coaxial wire.

JFXG · 05-20-2016, 08:22 AM

Spark1,.... LJowdy is right in that the coax installed in your coach will be perfectly adequate to carry the sat signal.
HOWEVER.... The way it's wired and the portable nature of the X1 system may be the problems. When these coaches are wired they are usually set up to handle multiple TVs, a CD or VHS player, a control box (BOMB), etc. Inevitably there are splitters in the lines at various places, and according to what I've read --and experienced-- the sat signal does not do well passing through splitters. If your dealer's tech planned with the assumption that you want to plug your X1 feed into the existing coax connection in your coach, he would (correctly) conclude that it wouldn't work.

Others no doubt have far more tech knowledge than I, but that was my experience with our Traveller. It worked perfectly when run directly to the receiver box.

John & Diane, fulltiming since '12
'02 DS, FL, Cat, '04 Element
NHSO RVM103

Gerryl · 05-20-2016, 09:53 AM

I just bought a Kingdome VQ4500 to replace the white portable tailgater we had. It was simple to install on the roof. I drilled a hole thru the front cap so it was a short distance down to the receiver. I think my cable length was only 9' from the dome to the receiver.

Simple install-- took only about half an hour. Used Dicor to seal the cable hole and under the feet where I put the stainless steel screws into the roof.

Works great.

lanerd · 05-20-2016, 10:43 AM

We had an 08 Simba 35 rear diesel. It came pre-wired for a sat antenna, plus it had the wineguard distribution unit that switched tv's from VCR, OTA antenna, and sat antenna.

We installed a Wineguard Trav'ler DISH antenna for our DISH 722 receiver. Worked great with all the existing wiring.

Fast forward to 2013 when we bought our new coach and I had the dealer remove the existing Dome antenna that came with the new coach with the Wineguard Trav'ler on our Simba.....again using existing wiring.

Everything worked just fine.

Hope this helps

Ron

Spark1 · 05-22-2016, 06:30 PM

Thanks for all the responses. This is something that I will look at installing myself. I plan to use my existing coax. I will not be able to install the satellite until after the Memorial Day Holiday.