Portable carry out satellite

[Mohoman]

Hi everyone!!

I have a 39' Fleetwood Excursion with in motion satellite for DirecTV. I have found that during the summer months we like to find a nice shaded spot,but then no satellite because of the trees.
I purchased a King Quest portable and I don't know how to connect it to my coach. Outside in the water hook up compartment bay there is a cable hook up along with a phone jack for park use. Can I use that coaxial connection to connect the portable satellite ?
I called the manufacture and spoke with a tech. His only response was run the coax through a door or window or drill a hole in the side. All 3 answers made no sense to me. Could someone please steer me in the right direction ?
As you can see I'm a nubie here so please be straight forward in your answers. Thank you in advance.

[epj]

I don't have one, but all the ones I see at the campground are hooked up this way.

[Dale & Mark Bruss]

Here is the deal, the coax input in the water bay is connected to either the batwing antenna wall plate or a box of buttons, which does the same thing as the antenna wall plate. Inside the wall plate/box is an electronic switch that transfers the input coax cable or the batwing antenna cable to the TV, either directly or through the box of buttons.

The satellite signal cannot travel through that switch. So you can use the coax input in the bay for satellite input if the other end is disconnected from the wall plate/box and connected to the satellite receiver.

The best solution, though harder, is to run an additional coax cable from the bay to where the satellite receiver will be.

[JFXG]

Hi, mohoman, and Welcome! You're in a very helpful place.

Although we are Dish subscribers, I have a similar circumstance-- Winegard dome on the roof and a King Tailgater as backup.
Try using the cable input that you referred to. It may or may not work for you. When coaches are wired for cable TV at the factory they often have one or more splitters in the line so all TVs can be reached in the most cost efficient way. Therein lies the problem! A CaTV signal will pass through a splitter unimpeded, but a SaTV signal will not. If you happen to have a direct run from the input to the TV in question, it should work. If not, you may have to modify things as required. Meanwhile, cable-through-the-window will work as a temporary measure.

[B52Guy]

IMHO, seems like the simplest and long term solution is to run a new coax (or two, depending on the mobile antenna requirements) from the coach to the mobile antenna.

The reason is the antenna and the satellite box have to talk to each other, and right now the box is only talking to your roof top unit. You need to run a new coax from the mobile antenna to the box, so they can talk to each other the the mobile antenna will then send the signal to your box. Only then will your box provide an output signal that is from the new antenna, through the box and go into the existing coach routing system and to all your tvs. If you do it this way, you only have to disconnect the signal from the roof to the box, and replace it with the coax from the outside mobile antenna...everything else remains the same. You could even put in a switch box so you don't have to hook and unhook.

[Lt Dan]

Our traveling buddies also have a Fleetwood Excursion and the cable input in the bay will not work as is with the satellite. The antenna amplifier blocks the two way signal between the receiver and the satellite antenna. After he and I worked on it for hours, our ultimate solution was to run a separate coax for the satellite.

[coyotesfan]

I had the same problem when I purchased my carry out. Though some research I found I could add a pair of diplexers to solve the problem.



Make sure to turn off the amplifier for the over the air antenna when in use.

[vsheetz]

Try the cable connection and see if it works. The one on our previous coach worked fine.

If it does not work, the problem is as folks have described and best then to run another cable. A new cable does not have to run from where the current cable connection is located, rather it can be anywhere convenient to rear the satellite receiver.

A simple A/B switch can be used at the receiver to select from the roof or portable antenna.

[vettenuts]

The cable for park connection can be used if you dedicate it for satellite, I.e., disconnect from the BOMB and connect to the satellite receiver.

I ran a new cable from the A/V cabinet over the driver seat to the engine compartment by following the factory cabling for the coach.

[tinstar 1114]

The cable input in my water bay on my old coach worked fine with my satellite. My "newer" coach has been modified with a new cable. The cable input is still in the water bay but the new cable was run into the electrical bay (under drivers seat). I had to trace a whole slew of cables to locate where each terminated/originated. The only thing the previous owner didn't do was drill a hole in the bottom of that bay to run the external satellite dish cable. I guess he just left the bay door open and ran it out there. I've got a Winegard Traveler on the roof and another portable as needed. I only use the portable when my signal is blocked and while parked at home under cover.

[Migkiller]

Just installed the King Tailgater this week. Just decided to go this route than to try and figure out what was put in 18 years ago !! The DISH tech delivered the new King VQ4500 and 2 receivers. We temporarily hooked up the front tv to make sure it would work. Now to find a way to route the new cable. I ended up running the cable for the front tv up across the ceiling air duct which runs from back to front...that was easy.. Then through a ceiling light, audio speaker and to the front overhead tv cabinet. The King was easy to setup and activate. The installer gave me ample amounts of dual coaxial cable and fittings. Each receiver has to have its own uninterrupted cable back to the Tailgater. I will just have a connection point in the main basement bay that connects the Tailgater cables to the in house cables. Good luck in your decision !

Thanks

Chuck

[jfran304]

I just run a cable from the portable dish to the receiver. I run the cable between the slide and seal so I don't have to have an open window.

Jon

[twinboat]

The King Quest uses a power injector that sends power to the dome, so it needs a direct connection from it.

I found the inside end of the park cable connector, pulled it off the batwing booster and ran it to the power injector. Then to the satellite reciever. I hook the dome to the outside connector.

I don't use the bat wing antenna or park cable, since I have DirecTV.

[epj]

If you try the cable connection be sure the router is set to cable.