tailgater portable sat..

Based on when I had one, you need a totally clear sky to the southerly direction. No leaves, twigs or even the threat of rain. After 3 yrs of grief, finally threw my tailgate in a dumpster. What a glorious day that was!!

We've used a Tailgater for 2 years with great success.

I have an Android app to see where the satellites are. If the Tailgater can see them it can lock on.

I shoot through holes in trees on a regular basis.

My experience is nothing like randeez2001.

funny, both of u are from texas.... must be north and south or east and west texas... I figure when we are out in Arizona shouldn't have a tree problem....

Never had a problem finding a spot where it didn't work.

B.O.

It does not take a very large hole thru the trees. If the Tailgater can get a relatively clear view of the sats, then it will get the signals. I use the dishformyrv app on my phone to decide just where to sit the Tailgater to get an opening thru the trees. And usually get the signal first try.

I've not had any problems using mine (after I got some bugs worked out). Been able to get a signal at ever campsite I've been to since I got my Tailgater earlier this year.

Here's some things I've learned in the process.

1) It does not like the top of my camper. I think the shaking of the camper is even worse on the roof, and causes the tailgater to loose the signal. On the floor the movement might be a fraction, but 10 feet up, it's quite exaggerated. If the camper were motionless, it might work OK.

2) It does not like being placed under any of my slide-outs with a clear view to the sky. I think the metal in the frame affects it somehow.

3) It does not like being to close to my truck either, for the same reason.

4) It does not like cheaper coax cable. When I stuck with the coax cable that came with the Tailgater it worked fine. Also, my DISH technician made me a shorter coax cable to connect from the inside trailer jack to run to the receiver. When I switched them, I couldn't lock into a satallite at all, but with the Tailgater in the same spot, switching cables, it worked. (very important ... use good coax!)

5) It does not work at all if you connect it to your cable TV jack on the outside of your camper.

6) and it seems to work best when it's at least 10 feet away from the camper. Any closer, and it can't seem to find the satellite and lock in.

drfife wrote:
We've used a Tailgater for 2 years with great success.

I have an Android app to see where the satellites are. If the Tailgater can see them it can lock on.

I shoot through holes in trees on a regular basis.

My experience is nothing like randeez2001.

BB_TX wrote:
It does not take a very large hole thru the trees. If the Tailgater can get a relatively clear view of the sats, then it will get the signals. I use the dishformyrv app on my phone to decide just where to sit the Tailgater to get an opening thru the trees. And usually get the signal first try.

I agree with both of these posts and these are my experiences...exactly. As long as my dishformyRV app can see the sat's, so will the tailgater.

Dutchman,
what type of trailer do u have..i have a 35 ft 5th wheel, challenger, with a Sat. hook up on the outside.... how would I hook up the dish to two different receivers.. have to go thru the window n screens?

We are full time and have used the Tailgater every day from Florida to Oregon and everywhere in between with only problem being heavy rain clouds. Once we could not get a signal and plugged in our spare cable and solved the problem. I have had to add a second 50 ft. cable a couple times to get away from trees, but that would be the case with any dish.

JASPERJR wrote:

.... how would I hook up the dish to two different receivers..

You can not connect a Tailgater to two receivers.