So the wife and I decided that we would like to take Dish TV with us on our summer camping trips. I did the research which left a couple questions and trying to decide which antenna is a nightmare. I've read the reviews, they are either "everything is wonderful" or "sucks, don't buy, doesn't work".I want a plug-and-play setup so I've narrowed down the list of antennas to;King VQ4510 Tailgater Winegard PA-6002 Pathway X2The X2 boasts it can tune in both the east and west arc, so?I don't know what the advantages are. I understand Dish split the country and have east and west birds servicing the viewer’s needs. Does this mean if I'm camping west of the Mississippi the King Tailgater cannot tune the western arc?We just want to watch a movie in the evening or some other favorite show while we are camping wishing away a rainy night. I know both of these antennas are newer and many reviews talk about earlier versions of both. For those of you using these newer versions, what say you? Another suggestion? Thanks.

The eastern arc and western arc means that if it can't find one set of satellites it will go looking for the other. It will look for like satellites 110 and 119 and if it can't find them because of a tree or whatever it will look for the ones at I think 61 and 72.5

Having the Dish eastern and western arc sat sets both available gives your portable dish more aiming opportunities in parks with trees, etc. The "look" angle for the eastern arc is steeper than the western arc east of the Mississippi, also making aiming easier at times. That makes the X2 the better overall choice. Both satellite arcs carry essentially the same programming, except that some locals are only available on one arc, with others available in HD on one arc and SD on the other. Note that the X2 and the Tailgater only work with the VIP series, such as the 211K and 211Z receivers, not with the multiple tuner Hopper.

the advantages are that if one group of satellites is hiding behind trees, you have a second set for which to aim. I have traveled all over the country with a Pathway X2 and pick up either western or eastern as the site I am in warrants.We had a road trip mission and a pathway x2. The pathway x2 was more consistent in picking up a signal. While we could only watch one satellite at a time with the pathway x2, at least we were able to get reception most anywhere, unlike the road trip mission.

I have the pathway X-2. with two 211 receivers. works great. Beats taking the 322 receiver unit out of the house like I use too. Although you can get one sat at a time, you still can watch different programing on the other TV as long as its on the same satellite and most stations we watch are on 119 anyway.

We us the pathway and it works most everywhere. In the north east one sat is very low in the sky to the west so trees could be in the way. The eastern arc would be better. Every where else the western arc works for us. Having both east and west would make it easier to work around trees.You only set the dish where it can see the Sat and it does the rest. I didn't get the pathway X2 because it was too big for my storage bay.

Dish TV in the RV | Good Sam Community

37 Replies

azjeffh
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
lryrob9301 wrote:

.... OR you can go buy one and try it for yourself.

Well said.
lryrob9301
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
justme wrote:
lryrob9301 wrote:
justme wrote:
Let me restate my question. Can the X2 select 72, 110 and 129 if they are in view?

No, the Pathway X2 will acquire Eastern Arc sats 61.5-72.7-77 OR Western Arc sats 110-119-129. It will not acquire a combination of the two arcs.

Too bad-- it seems the programmers are getting lazier every day :-) That would be a great feature for those stuck under trees. BTY how can I verify your comment. As the saying goes trust but verify.

Since I have owned and used an x2 for over three years I believe I know it's capabilities, OR you can go buy one and try it for yourself.
lbrjet
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
The two sets of sats are way far apart. Use a little common sense. No way could a Dish pointing at one set pick up the others.
GoPackGo
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
How about if I verify it.

My X2 will acquire EITHER the eastern arc or western arc satellites SEPARATELY, based on me telling it which ones to look for. It will not pick and choose 3 sats from the 2 sets.
justme
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
lryrob9301 wrote:
justme wrote:
Let me restate my question. Can the X2 select 72, 110 and 129 if they are in view?

No, the Pathway X2 will acquire Eastern Arc sats 61.5-72.7-77 OR Western Arc sats 110-119-129. It will not acquire a combination of the two arcs.

Too bad-- it seems the programmers are getting lazier every day :-) That would be a great feature for those stuck under trees. BTY how can I verify your comment. As the saying goes trust but verify.
lryrob9301
Explorer
Jan 27, 2016
justme wrote:
Let me restate my question. Can the X2 select 72, 110 and 129 if they are in view?

No, the Pathway X2 will acquire Eastern Arc sats 61.5-72.7-77 OR Western Arc sats 110-119-129. It will not acquire a combination of the two arcs.
justme
Explorer
Jan 27, 2016
Let me restate my question. Can the X2 select 72, 110 and 129 if they are in view?
GoPackGo
Explorer
Jan 25, 2016
The eastern and western satellites are two separate sets of 3 each satellites. You only need to access one set to get all the Dish channels.

You choose either the eastern OR the western set and then the X2 chooses one of the three satellites within that group, based on the channel you select. It can only focus on one satellite at a time, but will automatically switch between the three as needed, again based on the channel you select.

One of the main benefits of the X2 is that you can access the eastern set of Dish Satellites if the western set is blocked.

Having said all that, there have been times when I could only access 2 satellites from one set. When that happens, you will not have access to all programming.
justme
Explorer
Jan 25, 2016
Will the X2 align with any of the three satellites in the eastern and western arc? There are situations where the trees are blocking one or two of the 6 satellites. And it 4 or 5 of the satellites are blocked will it align to what ever is available? Seems to me if I was to write the software I would provide that flexibility.
Valkyriebush
Explorer II
Jan 23, 2016
lryrob9301 wrote:
Valkyriebush wrote:

211K has Hard Drive installed. 211Z does not

NO, a 211K DOES NOT have a hard drive. The DISH 411K HD receiver has a hard drive.

Your right, my bad. It has a coax cable hook up also, verse HDMI, I knew it was something different.

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Dish TV in the RV

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