Winegard trav'ler question

Question

In 2009 I installed the Trav'ler on my 2010 Sabre.
There was an optional cable that could be purchased that would allow it to be setup to automatically stow itself, if you forgot to do it. The cable had 4 wires in it, and they were for different trigger types. One of them was for a 12 volt trigger, and I spliced it in to a brake light wire. When the brakes were applied, it would trigger an auto stow. it was a great setup
I recently sold that TT, and ordered a new Trav'ler for my new trailer. There was no mention of this option in the new instructions.
I called Winegard. and they said that they no longer offer that cable, as people were installing it wrong, and then blaming Winegard when their dish did not stow.

She did say that the software would still support this function if a cable could be obtained. But Winegard would not help me in any way with this project.
I am positive I can get the connector needed to attach to the control box and make a cable that will work. The missing info is just which wires do what. I will likely want to use a brake light wire again, but I need to know just what those 4 wires do.

So my question is: Does anyone out there have an older Trav'ler manual with this info?

TIA

wa8yxm · Answer

DO you have a photograph of the connector.  Odds are you can either 1: make a matching connector or 2: find one on the market. Then make up your own cable.

bill_satellite · Answer

I highly recommend you skip the cable and depend upon your own good sense to ensure you don't leave your site without visually checking the antenna. The antenna takes a little while to stow and driving off too soon could still have the antenna up while you begin driving. Also, its possible for the controller to shut down with a loss of 120V power so if you didn't check to see if the controller is powered up before driving off, no control signal from the cable will allow the antenna to stow as there is no power going to the antenna. Sorry to ramble on but I have discouraged the use of this cable for years and stand by that position today. There are simply too many things that could go wrong to make it a worthwhile option.
I apologize that I did not answer your question.

huntindog · Answer

Bill.Satellite wrote:I highly recommend you skip the cable and depend upon your own good sense to ensure you don't leave your site without visually checking the antenna.  The antenna takes a little while to stow and driving off too soon could still have the antenna up while you begin driving.  Also, its possible for the controller to shut down with a loss of 120V power so if you didn't check to see if the controller is powered up before driving off, no control signal from the cable will allow the antenna to stow as there is no power going to the antenna.  Sorry to ramble on but I have discouraged the use of this cable for years and stand by that position today.  There are simply too many things that could go wrong to make it a worthwhile option.I apologize that I did not answer your question.I had this option for 11 years, and yes it saved my bacon once. As those of us who are not perfect know, it only takes once to make an expensive mistake. And yes, the controller will shut down, as it needs 120.... That is what an inverter (whole house) is for.Yes I suppose, the inverter could die at the same time I had a brain fart and forgot to stow it..... The odds are against that though.

huntindog · Answer

wa8yxm wrote:DO you have a photograph of the connector.  Odds are you can either 1: make a matching connector or 2: find one on the market. Then make up your own cable.Did you read my entire post?Making the cable is not a problem.Knowing what the 4 wires in it do, and what position they have in the connector is the info I need.Each wire is for a different kind of trigger source. Guessing and putting 12V into a wire that is supposed to sense a ground, would probably be a bad thing.Trial and error won't work. I gotta know for sure.

k_charles · Answer

The book says "Red wire is connected to a source that has no VDC. When it gets 12 VDC it will stow the dish.Caution: While the 12 VDC remains, the dish will not deploy.The brown wire should have 12 VDC, when the voltage goes to 0 VDC the dish will stow. If the12 VDC does not return, the unit will not deploy again. Also, it is not required to use the brownwire, meaning if it has 0 VDC all the time, it is inactive.Orange wire is not used at this time; please do not connect the orange wire to any circuit"

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