Has anybody with DirecTV successfully converted their Winegard crank-up 18" round dish (e.g. RM-4600) to a 5LNB SWM oval HD dish? I do know that this would mean getting up on the roof to adjust the skew, but other than that it seems like it could be done fairly easily.Unfortunately I don't have room in my TC to transport a separate dish & tripod... and I'm probably not going to spend $2K on a Trav'ler. So if I can't figure out how to convert my existing dish then I'll just stick with standard def' DirecTV and, when available, I'l use the OTA antenna for HD.Thanks in advance!Cheers,-Mark

Set the skew once and forget it. Do you have room for the oval dish? Is the crank mechanism strong enough to move the extra weight of the oval dish? How are you going to accomplish the folding LNB arm?I think it could be done. Just whether you want to spend the time and money to do it, that is the question?

You can buy a folding LNB arm at www.tv4rv.com. Keep in mind that the Slimline dish uses a larger post than the round dish.Bruce

msiminoff wrote:Has anybody with DirecTV successfully converted their Winegard crank-up 18" round dish (e.g. RM-4600) to a 5LNB SWM oval HD dish? I do know that this would mean getting up on the roof to adjust the skew, but other than that it seems like it could be done fairly easily.Unfortunately I don't have room in my TC to transport a separate dish & tripod... and I'm probably not going to spend $2K on a Trav'ler. So if I can't figure out how to convert my existing dish then I'll just stick with standard def' DirecTV and, when available, I'l use the OTA antenna for HD.Thanks in advance!Cheers,-MarkAll apologies to previous posters, but what you are suggesting cannot be done. If your only option is to use the antenna you have then the only option is DirecTV SD programming.

Bill.Satellite wrote:All apologies to previous posters, but what you are suggesting cannot be done.Hi Bill. Can you please explain what the limitations are...What if a Slimline oval dish, its skewing mechanism, and appropriate LNB arm were attached to the existing crank-up mechanism (to take care of azimuth & elevation, as well as stowing for travel)... along with a SWM 5LNB, 21V power injector and a H25 receiver???I won't be heartbroken if I have to live with SD TV, but it seems to me that all of the components exist to make it work (except perhaps for a few sheet metal brackets). So humor me; What are the missing links in this chain?Thank you!-Mark

You absolutely, positively cannot skew your current antenna. The 18" antenna is also not capable of receiving the programming from 3 satellites spread 4 degrees across the sky (too small). It simply is what it is (and I mean no disrespect). You cannot go DirecTV HD with your current RM-4600. If you want even more details please feel free to ask away. I'll be along!

Convert Crank-Up Round Dish to HD? | Good Sam Community

az99
Explorer
Nov 26, 2014
To OP. With your skill set and tools it is surely possible and would be a challenging DIY project. I had one of those antennas and made it into a dual LNB unit when others said it can't work. That said it is an extremely light weight and flimsy mechanism with even the single 18" dish mounted to it. But I bet you will discover that before you get too far into the project. :)

Good Luck
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Nov 25, 2014
msiminoff wrote:
Bill.Satellite wrote:
The roof is too dangerous of a place to be on a regular basis.

So what you are now saying Bill is that this conversion "cannot be done" because the roof is a dangerous place?
-Mark

No, I am saying it's a conversion that "should not be done". YMMV!
You will also find that due to the huge amount of slop in the Winegard crank-up fixture even if you can fit a Slimline and create some kind of a manual skew option you won't get any TV when even a mild breeze is blowing. Sorry, I said I was out and I will stay that way. I do wish you the very best luck, however.
lynndiwagon
Explorer
Nov 25, 2014
I agree, It's way easier to get the TV4RV rig and use it. Plus you can move it around to avoid trees, and the dreaded ROOF.
rhingst
Explorer
Nov 25, 2014
Just get the Slimline dish and put it right inside the trailer door when you move and take it out first thing, no problem. It's worth it for HD. When we are traveling I set up our Slimline SL3 even if we are only staying for 1 night. It's our house so why not have all the convenient things you would have in a sticks and bricks. You will end up spending lots of hours engineering your solution and no telling how much money on parts, etc and still not have the real deal. You will have easy rain fade when it rains with that 18" dish. Good luck.
paulcardoza
Explorer
Nov 25, 2014
Or you could just switch over to DISH and use your current crank-up dish.........
msiminoff
Explorer II
Nov 25, 2014
Bill.Satellite wrote:
The roof is too dangerous of a place to be on a regular basis.

So what you are now saying Bill is that this conversion "cannot be done" because the roof is a dangerous place? Phew... I thought you meant there was some technical reason :R

Thanks for your feedback everybody... I'll post photos with step-by-step instructions when I get the project wrapped up.

-Mark
RJsfishin
Explorer
Nov 25, 2014
IMO, when the wind was blowing, that crankup dish mount wasn't fit for the little dish that was on it,..let alone any bigger and heavier. I'm a metal fab from way back, but I wouldn't waste my time on that project.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Nov 25, 2014
msiminoff wrote:
HI Bill,
What I am talking about is removing the 18" round non-skewable dish altogether... Then replacing it with a new Slimline HD oval dish plus appropriate SWM LNB's (with folding LNB arm)
I understand that I'll have to create a skewing mechanism, but that seems fairly straightforward (I'm a mechanical engineer and have a complete sheet-metal & machine shop at my disposal).
Ok, I'm all ears... what are the challenges?
:)
-Mark

The roof is too dangerous of a place to be on a regular basis. Good luck but I'm out!
don_lou
Explorer
Nov 25, 2014
sent u pm
Don
don_lou
Explorer
Nov 25, 2014
My 1000.2 dish also must be skewed also all the skew adj are still on the mount
Must go on roof to do it
i have both direct and dish HD so know what you want to do and it would be almost identical to what I did for Dish
reason for going the way I did was to use the lighter dish(DTV)
Don

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