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

msiminoff
Explorer II
Nov 25, 2014
don/lou wrote:
Take a look here its a dish conversion but VERY similar to what you want to do...

Yes, thanx Don & Louise! What they are showing in that EBAY ad is essentially what I want to do... except with a DirecTV dish which, of course, must be skewed.

The only YouTube video I was able to find is THIS ONE... at least it has some pretty good stills of the mods needed to get the oval dish mounted to the crank-up components.
don_lou
Explorer
Nov 25, 2014
Take a look here its a dish conversion but VERY similar to what you want to do
Sugest you use the SL 3 lnb its lighter

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RV-Satellite-Conversion-Assembly-Winegard-RM-4600-to-Dish-Network-HDTV-1000-2-/281109501707

I built and am using one of these
If Im remember there is a vidio on Utube showing everything to build it
msiminoff
Explorer II
Nov 24, 2014
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
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Nov 24, 2014
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!
msiminoff
Explorer II
Nov 24, 2014
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
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Nov 24, 2014
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,
-Mark

All 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.
nomad297
Explorer
Nov 24, 2014
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
donn0128
Explorer II
Nov 24, 2014
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?

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Convert Crank-Up Round Dish to HD?

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