Community Forums

Agility57 · 09-22-2023, 06:36 AM

Hello all,

It has been a while I posted a question but something came up recently and this is the place for me to go.

I have a 2004 Fleetwood with a Winegard satellite dish that looks to me to be in operating condition. What is involved in making this work with a satellite provider? Is it too old and outdated for anything? Right now when we travel we go to over the air TV, which is sometimes pretty limited in thick trees. Not sure if satellite would be any better, but just wondering since this vehicle has all the cables and the dish and controller already installed. what are my options to activate satellite TV?

Thanks.

**hamm2018** · 09-22-2023, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agility57

Hello all,

It has been a while I posted a question but something came up recently and this is the place for me to go.

I have a 2004 Fleetwood with a Winegard satellite dish that looks to me to be in operating condition. What is involved in making this work with a satellite provider? Is it too old and outdated for anything? Right now when we travel we go to over the air TV, which is sometimes pretty limited in thick trees. Not sure if satellite would be any better, but just wondering since this vehicle has all the cables and the dish and controller already installed. what are my options to activate satellite TV?

Thanks.

First you need to know which provider it is set-up to receive. Is it Direct tv or Dish? Then go from that point.

SeeTheUSA · 09-22-2023, 09:16 AM

Winegard is super good about helping … get the model number of the dish and give them a call.

Hope this helps.

bentjm · 09-22-2023, 10:52 AM

There is no dome type satellite system from 2004 that is going to work with current receivers from either Dish or Direct.

Agility57 · 09-22-2023, 12:18 PM

Dome type? My dish is the traditional dish bowl type. Is that what you are referring to? Sorry for the question I am just learning this stuff.

**Lt Dan** · 09-22-2023, 02:42 PM

Our 2006 Itasca had a Winegard "automatic" open faced antenna like you are referring to. It was outdated even in 2012-15 and would not automatically lock onto satellites. I could sometimes monitor the signal strength and shut it off when the signal peaked, but not always. I finally scrapped it and got a Winegard Carryout Dome antenna that worked automatically.

chuckbear · 09-22-2023, 02:49 PM

The providers have made some changes in the satellites, including their location and the sats that can be used to pick up certain channels. Dish just decommissioned one of their satellites and switched programming to the other two. You don't need to have service to test your dish. Just park in an open area and fire up the dish. Let it run until it locks on the satellites. If it won't find them, you're out of luck. If they lock on you have a good start. It will also tell you when it starts up which providers sats it's looking for. Once it has locked on it will give you the sat numbers with an asterisks after each. Right down the satellite numbers and you will be able to tell if the dish will work for you. The next step will be to sign up for service and get a receiver to hook up to the dish. Now, keep in mind the these sat dishes will not work in a heavy forested area. You need a clear view of the sky where the sats are located. Hope this helps. Chuck

Agility57 · 09-22-2023, 04:18 PM

I can say that there is absolutely nothing automatic about my set up. It cranks up just like my TV antenna does, I can rotate just like my TV antenna. It does have a digital display that will give me a number as I increase the angle. There is a rotating ring with numbers from 110 to 250 and an arrow that has “point north” on it on the inside with the crank.

Agility57 · 09-22-2023, 04:27 PM

RM-DM46 is the model number.

SeeTheUSA · 09-22-2023, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agility57

RM-DM46 is the model number.

Here’s the manual/instructions for that model:

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/69...d-Rm-Dm46.html

lllkrob · 09-22-2023, 07:32 PM

Do a Google search for Winegard RM-DM 46.

I think you will find this antenna is very out of date compared to newer units and more trouble than what it's worth to use.

chuckbear · 09-23-2023, 09:28 AM

I think you are also going to find that the LNB on that dish will no longer work for you. Time to consider alternatives. Chuck

92LandYacht · 09-23-2023, 11:22 AM

Personally I'd just scrap the old dish and look into something more automatic and up to date. Personally, I prefer the more portable dishes like the Pathway X2 if you don't need in motion usage. The ability to place the dish anywhere within 150' has saved me more times than I can remember. I like to park under trees if possible so nether a roof mounted dish or Starlink would work for me.

okc.papa · 09-23-2023, 12:15 PM

I concur with others. I had an old (2007 ish) Winegard dish that had dip switches to select dish or directv. It would not find the current satellites dish is on, so I went with a package wally and dish deal. I think it was at dishformyrv website. It works well, is a portable unit, (that I mounted on the roof) and it's all automatic. Ted