6string wrote:
Thinking of getting one of these. Anyone have pros or cons concerning these two sat dishes?
6String ..... The Winegard Playmaker has only been out a few days, so it is unlikely anyone can do a direct comparison at the moment. Instead we can all do some speculating!
You asked about the Tailgater, but be aware there are two generations of the King Controls Tailgater antenna. The original is the white VueQue shaped model and the second generation replacement is the gray dome unit that came out in the spring of 2015. Which one are you asking about? I assume it is the new version. Hopefully when members post on their experiences with the Tailgater, they will be specific on which generation is being referenced.
The new Playmaker appears to be a replacement for the Winegard Pathway X1. (The X1 stands for one arc (DISH western arc) and X2 in the Pathway X2 stands for two arcs (DISH eastern and western)). The Pathway X1 was very similar to the King Trailgater line but more expensive. It had the advantage over the first gen Tailgater in that it could be more easily roof mounted and it had two coax outputs. Winegard also said it was the fastest out there. The first two advantages went away with the 2nd gen Tailgater which now has two coax connectors and has a roof mount option. The new Tailgater also sold for less money.
It looks like Winegard wants to compete with King on price. The street price of the new Playmaker appears to be $299 which is about $50 less than the newer Tailgater. However the Playmaker has only one coax output and a Winegard FAQ says no roof mount.
I personally have the VueQube Tailgater and a Pathway X2. Both are good and each has advantages. The advantage of the X2 is the bigger dish which holds a signal better in the rain and it can do the DISH eastern arc. That is handy even out west since it gives more options when trying to find openings through the trees for three satellites. The advantage of the Tailgater is the smaller overall size, the smaller footprint when placing it on the ground, and it finds the satellites quicker.
As far as operation, I find the Winegard X2 to be more touchy in initially locating the satellites. It is not unusual to have to attempt it multiple times. That is also true for the Tailgater at times, but not near as often. I suspect the Winegard is more sensitive to being level. I can only guess if these operating characteristics carry over to the newer generations.
As far as long term durability, my perception after reading various comment is the Winegard products may have a slight advantage. However, I have not had problems with either. Winegard has toll free phone support but King does not. That gives the impression that Winegard is a more consumer friendly company. Also, I have been more impressed with the Winegard folks at shows. Finally my brother had a power cord issue for a Carryout model and Winegard was good about getting a free replacement after the warranty was long gone.
If all I needed was the western arc and did not need two connections, I would go with the VueQue shaped Tailgater over all the choices. I like the small size and especially the small footprint when locating a level area on the ground. That makes things easier boondocking in an area with bunch grass. You can also get a refurb for about $250, the cheapest of the bunch.
As far as the new Playmaker vs the new gen Tailgater, I would most likely take the risk on what is at the moment an unknown product and go with the Playmaker. That is based on the fact that Winegard's previous products have been good, I do not need two receivers and it will not be roof mounted. The advantages of the Playmaker are:
- Winegard says it is the fasted out there.
- It is cheaper.
- My perception is that Winegard has better support.
- What looks to be the smaller shape and smaller footprint for ground mounting.
They are both very close and I doubt you can go wrong with either. I would suggest you read reviews on the Pathway X1 since it may give you an idea of what to expect with the new Playmaker.
As a side comment on dual receivers, the devil is in the detail. The X2 is promoted as a dual receiver dish but it is limited. I did some testing a year ago and so I just remember that it did not function as expected. As I recall selecting the dual receiver mode from the on screen menu options limited the antenna to just one satellite on the eastern arc. What a joke. If you need dual receiver functionally, make sure it will meet your needs. I suspect the new Tailgater functions better than the X2 in this regard since it only uses the western arc. Also remember these are single LNB antennas so both receivers must be accessing programming off the same satellite.
Please let us know what you decide and how it works out.
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