Dome or Dish Receiver

[RedRollingRoadb]

Just completing a purchase of a new unit and In negotiations I got a satellite tossed in.
The question came up if we wanted a dome or a crank up dish. Salesman said he didn't really know but would go with the crank up.

Since I never have had satellite can I still get OTA? I have no idea what kind of antenna is mounted, or if it is removed. I would assume that some where the satellite is joined to the coax that goes to the TV's.

I really don't have a clue on the service of Dish or DirectTV. Full timing is still a few years away, didn't there used to be a provider that offered some RV plan? We use OTA at home and a Roku.

FWIW the MH is a Bounder 34T Anniversary edition, had most of the bells and whistles, why it didn't have the satellite installed is beyond me.

Thanks. Opinions and advise welcomed. Off to the Internet to see if I can find some info.

[Bill_Satellite]

The crankup antenna is an open faced parabolic antenna, just one that is manually "cranked" up and down and manually moved side to side to search and find the satellite (one satellite at a time). You do not want one of these!

[RedRollingRoadb]

OK. Thanks to all. My research also pointed to the Winegard Trav'ler so I think that is what I will get.

Bill.Satelitte, no I wasn't talking about the crankup OTA. I knew my word choice wasn't good, guess I should have called it a parabolic antenna dish. lol

[Bill_Satellite]

RedRollingRoadblock wrote:
Just completing a purchase of a new unit and In negotiations I got a satellite tossed in.
The question came up if we wanted a dome or a crank up dish. Salesman said he didn't really know but would go with the crank up.

Since I never have had satellite can I still get OTA? I have no idea what kind of antenna is mounted, or if it is removed. I would assume that some where the satellite is joined to the coax that goes to the TV's.

I really don't have a clue on the service of Dish or DirectTV. Full timing is still a few years away, didn't there used to be a provider that offered some RV plan? We use OTA at home and a Roku.

FWIW the MH is a Bounder 34T Anniversary edition, had most of the bells and whistles, why it didn't have the satellite installed is beyond me.

Thanks. Opinions and advise welcomed. Off to the Internet to see if I can find some info.

If he is talking about an actual manual crank-up antenna then avoid this option at all costs! The antenna cost the dealer less than $100 plus the installation and is no more functional than a dome but much, much more work.
The dome has many restrictions. With DirecTV you CANNOT receive any of the HD programming so if you have HD TV's in the coach the picture will be low quality and fill only about 3/4 of the screen.
With Dish Network you DO get HD but works best if used with only 1 single tuner receiver like the 211 series. Using a DVR or 2 separate receivers will always cause issues.
If you want full use of either service you should try to get them to install the Winegard Trav'ler. This is a full size, home style, antenna designed specifically to work with the service of your choice. Even if you have to pay for the upgrade it would be well worth the extra money. Whether you are Dish or DirecTV you will be able to use the same equipment from your home or that a home user would use.

[Big_Katuna]

Neither. My dome is nearly worthless because I camp where there are trees.

Get a Winegard Pathway X2 carry out automatic. Set it where there is an opening and it finds the SATS. Does DISH HD.

[dons2346]

The Winegard dish is a great antenna, fully automatic. Push a button and you are watching TV. The only downsides are the weight(65 pounds) and the fact that if it breaks, you have to send in the complete unit for repair.

The RF Mogul is of the same construction except that it can be repaired on site and it only weighs 36 pounds.

The Mogul came out about 3 months after I installed the Winegard and if I had it to do over again, I'd install a Mogul.

No way would I install a dome and in no way would I install a crank up

[2chiefsRus]

I heard that Directv is going to be ending their SD (Standard Definition) service sometime in 2019. Keep that in mind when making your selection.

[lanerd]

Crank up dish? Boy...that's really old school.

Your best bet by far would be to install a Winegard Trav'ler automatic dish antenna. Domes are limited to SD if you have Direct but will get HD with DISH. Domes are also much more susceptible to moisture on the outside of the dome...rain/show will shut it down and I've even heard that heavy dew can also. Domes typically will only lock on to one satellite at a time and if you switch channels that is transmitted on another satellite, there will be a small hesitation in the signal.

With the Trav'ler, one push of a button and the dish will raise from it's stored position, find all and lock on to the required satellites and no hesitation between channels.

You should already have a crank up OTA batwing antenna and they work just fine once you get it pointed in the right direction and are not too far away from the transmitting tv station. You will also have connections outside for cable or external (portable) dish antenna.

We use DISH at home and just remove the receiver from there and install into the mh. If we travel outside of the "local" tv area, I contact DISH (via their website) and change my service address.

Hope this helps

Ron

[RedRollingRoadb]

Thanks so far. Been looking around.

Next question, Wineguard or KingDome? I lean toward the Wineguard since they have been around since dirt was created but like the lower profile of the King. And we tend to go where angels fear to tread.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Get the dome. You push a button and it locks on the satellite. You will need to park where the dome has a clear view of the southern sky to get satellite. You will still have an over air antenna for local channels. Make sure if you have a TV in the bedroom they wire the bedroom TV for satellite.

[the_bear_II]

There are two types of dome antennas In Motion and Stationary In Motion allows the receiver to be used while travelling down the road. Stationary is for when you are "stationary". Both of these will automatically find the satellite when you turn on the receiver.

The crank up will require you to manually find the satellite. Not difficult but not as easy as the dome.

OTA channels can be purchased when you order your Dish service package. You will receive the OTA channels from your receiver.

You will be able to switch your TV input to use either the Satellite service or the cable at the campground for service or if the Bounder is equipped the roof OTA antenna.

[dahkota]

On bounders, there is a separate ota antenna. I have no idea about the crank up dish, but the domes are easy and work okay. On ours, the OTA is coax and the satellite is HDMI (separate run of wires but probably pre-wired). Dish offers monthly service you can turn on and off (don't know about direct).