I regret purchasing a Winegard Trav'ler for Dish Network

[ljr]

I suspect most Dish subscribers considering something like a Winegard Trav’ler already know that Dish has two “arcs” of three orbital locations each. Local, broadcast network (ABC, NBC, CBS & Fox) channels in the eastern half of the US are gradually moving to the Eastern Arc. The Trav’ler can receive each of those three satellites but only one at a time. You need two to get all channels, SD and HD, and all of the features of the Hopper if you have one. I believe the third is for non-English programming.

/rant on

If you are a Dish subscriber traveling in the Eastern half of the US that cares about the broadcast networks in HD (in a few markets SD too), the Hopper Primetime and commercial skip features and/or local channels in HD (in a few markets SD too) via satellite; then you should think twice about a Trav'ler (SK-1000). If any of the above applies to you the hassle of a Dish 1000.2 or 1000.4 on a portable tripod may be worth it. You can get a good portable setup, plus a decent meter for aiming, at a fraction of the price.

I put off getting a Trav'ler for over a year hoping Winegard would announce some plan for future Eastern Arc support but finally got it anyway. I figured they would be forced to address the issue eventually. I’ve asked the question several times since but the responses don’t make it seem like they even realize the product is gradually becoming obsolete. I’m at the point where I think I regret my Trav’ler purchase. I spent a lot of $ just to find myself, over a year later, still hauling a portable setup around too.

rant off/

Have any other Dish Network Trav’ler owners asked them about the Eastern Arc? If enough did perhaps they’d start thinking about doing something.

[ljr]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
110, 119, 129 are 9 and 10 degrees separated (19 degrees total).
61.5, 72, 77 are 10.5 and 5 degrees apart (15.5 degrees total).
The skews required for each would be different as well as the separation.
Even if it were possible to get to of the LNB's to hit 2 of the satellites, there is no software available to locate the 3 EA satellites. You would have to manually point to one and somehow (without ruining the control wires and still providing the required 48VDC) manually move the antenna while watching the signal meter on your receiver in hopes of finding something.

I have the Trav'ler SWM setup for DirecTV and have been a DirecTV subscriber since 2000 but I used to work for Winegard so I am very familiar with both mounts.

Ok, I'm convinced. It's not practical to modify it myself.

I guess I'll just have to face that I made a very expensive mistake buying this thing and try to keep others from doing the same.

[Bill_Satellite]

110, 119, 129 are 9 and 10 degrees separated (19 degrees total).
61.5, 72, 77 are 10.5 and 5 degrees apart (15.5 degrees total).
The skews required for each would be different as well as the separation.
Even if it were possible to get to of the LNB's to hit 2 of the satellites, there is no software available to locate the 3 EA satellites. You would have to manually point to one and somehow (without ruining the control wires and still providing the required 48VDC) manually move the antenna while watching the signal meter on your receiver in hopes of finding something.

I have the Trav'ler SWM setup for DirecTV and have been a DirecTV subscriber since 2000 but I used to work for Winegard so I am very familiar with both mounts.

[ljr]

az99 wrote:
ljr- The problem is the skew. If you are on much of the east coast there is only a few degrees.
By using the previously mentioned method of turning off power during the 72 manual search, I am able to get 61 and 72 of the EA by loosening the LNB screws and twisting the left side of the LNB up a few degrees and nylon tieing it. Have someone watch the signal meter then run the switch test.The manual mode searches with the center LNB head.

It defeats the purpose of the intended 1 button setup but is a work around if you will be at a site for a while. There is nothing on 77 at this point that I understand.

We used to use this staggered LNB setup years ago for getting 101 and 91 on the same dish.:)

When I get time I am going to cut up an LNB head and put the proper spacing in it and some homemade skew. I think I can do it so it finds 61 and the offset LNB head will be on 72.

Probably just easier and quicker to setup a portable.

I am struck by the absurdity of playing such games after the $ we spent for "convenience".

The existing LNBs are close enough to EA spacing that I wonder if I could get power to the skew motor and set it manually? There must be two wires in the control box cable that control it.

[az99]

ljr- The problem is the skew. If you are on much of the east coast there is only a few degrees.
By using the previously mentioned method of turning off power during the 72 manual search, I am able to get 61 and 72 of the EA by loosening the LNB screws and twisting the left side of the LNB up a few degrees and nylon tieing it. Have someone watch the signal meter then run the switch test.The manual mode searches with the center LNB head.

It defeats the purpose of the intended 1 button setup but is a work around if you will be at a site for a while. There is nothing on 77 at this point that I understand.

We used to use this staggered LNB setup years ago for getting 101 and 91 on the same dish.:)

When I get time I am going to cut up an LNB head and put the proper spacing in it and some homemade skew. I think I can do it so it finds 61 and the offset LNB head will be on 72.

Probably just easier and quicker to setup a portable.

[ljr]

Bill.Satellite wrote:

dahkota wrote:
Since we are looking to purchase a trav'ler in the near future, I checked the website. Under FAQs:

"Q. Can I use the Eastern Arc with the DISH/Bell TV TRAV’LER antenna?
A. The DISH/Bell TV TRAV’LER antenna is not compatible for Eastern Arc in multi-satellite mode. It may be capable of reading satellites 61.5°, 72.7° and 77° in manual mode depending on the manufacture date of the antenna."

So it seems, the longer I wait, the more likely I will be able to get a trav'ler with the ability to get EA, at least in manual mode. If I wait long enough, they may add that capability for auto mode.

The LNB used with the Trav'ler for Dish (SK-1000) is not capable of working with the EA satellites so no matter how long you wait you will never be able to receive all of the EA satellites simultaneously. Winegard would need to produce a 2nd Dish antenna and software setup (highly unlikely due to limited demand) for that to work or provide a 2nd software setup with an LNB swap option.

That's about what I was hoping for unless they came up with a 4 LNB bar that could accommodate either arc.

If you are correct about demand then I wish I was a Direct subscriber but I'm not convinced you are.

On edit: I've been thinking about it some more. If I added an LNB 10.5 degrees off center to a 1000.2 WA LNB bar and replaced the DP33 with a DP44 would that work?

Does the control box run imbedded Linux?

[Bill_Satellite]

dahkota wrote:
Since we are looking to purchase a trav'ler in the near future, I checked the website. Under FAQs:

"Q. Can I use the Eastern Arc with the DISH/Bell TV TRAV’LER antenna?
A. The DISH/Bell TV TRAV’LER antenna is not compatible for Eastern Arc in multi-satellite mode. It may be capable of reading satellites 61.5°, 72.7° and 77° in manual mode depending on the manufacture date of the antenna."

So it seems, the longer I wait, the more likely I will be able to get a trav'ler with the ability to get EA, at least in manual mode. If I wait long enough, they may add that capability for auto mode.

The LNB used with the Trav'ler for Dish (SK-1000) is not capable of working with the EA satellites so no matter how long you wait you will never be able to receive all of the EA satellites simultaneously. Winegard would need to produce a 2nd Dish antenna and software setup (highly unlikely due to limited demand) for that to work or provide a 2nd software setup with an LNB swap option.

[ljr]

dahkota wrote:
Since we are looking to purchase a trav'ler in the near future, I checked the website. Under FAQs:

"Q. Can I use the Eastern Arc with the DISH/Bell TV TRAV’LER antenna?
A. The DISH/Bell TV TRAV’LER antenna is not compatible for Eastern Arc in multi-satellite mode. It may be capable of reading satellites 61.5°, 72.7° and 77° in manual mode depending on the manufacture date of the antenna."

So it seems, the longer I wait, the more likely I will be able to get a trav'ler with the ability to get EA, at least in manual mode. If I wait long enough, they may add that capability for auto mode.

That was my thinking as I delayed purchase for over a year. It's been over a year since I bought it anyway. I've exchanged email with Winegard many times through all that and never got the slightest indication that EA support was even being considered.

I'd say switch to Direct and get a Trav'ler.

[dahkota]

Since we are looking to purchase a trav'ler in the near future, I checked the website. Under FAQs:

"Q. Can I use the Eastern Arc with the DISH/Bell TV TRAV’LER antenna?
A. The DISH/Bell TV TRAV’LER antenna is not compatible for Eastern Arc in multi-satellite mode. It may be capable of reading satellites 61.5°, 72.7° and 77° in manual mode depending on the manufacture date of the antenna."

So it seems, the longer I wait, the more likely I will be able to get a trav'ler with the ability to get EA, at least in manual mode. If I wait long enough, they may add that capability for auto mode.

[az99]

ljr wrote:

az99 wrote:
I have contacted them repeatedly about the lack of EA on the Trav'ler. What makes it even worse is the manual use of the antenna does not work either. So the average person can't even get 72º sat manually.

I've had this discussion in other threads but for some strange reason, I can. That's another topic though.

You must have gotten a defective unit. 🙂

[TechWriter]

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

TechWriter wrote:

CA Traveler wrote:
15 minutes? My DTV SD setup was 2-4 minutes . . .

HD is of course different because of skew, but these days I just push a button.

And if you're parked under trees?

He pushes the button on the electric chain saw..:W

`

A kneeslapper.

[CA_Traveler]

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

TechWriter wrote:

CA Traveler wrote:
15 minutes? My DTV SD setup was 2-4 minutes . . .

HD is of course different because of skew, but these days I just push a button.

And if you're parked under trees?

He pushes the button on the electric chain saw..

`

I do carry a portable sazall just in case I come across some long logs in a area where we can actually have a fire...:W

[ol_Bombero-JC]

TechWriter wrote:

CA Traveler wrote:
15 minutes? My DTV SD setup was 2-4 minutes . . .

HD is of course different because of skew, but these days I just push a button.

And if you're parked under trees?

He pushes the button on the electric chain saw..:W

`

[Dutch_12078]

CA Traveler wrote:
15 minutes? My DTV SD setup was 2-4 minutes. But the difference might be the use of a tripod - I never used one. Just drop the PVC stand thingy, aim east, rotate right for a signal which sometimes was a dish bird, lock it in, done.

HD is of course different because of skew, but these days I just push a button.

On Dish or DTV, hitting all three satellites at once is quite different, starting with making sure whatever style portable mount you use for the dish is perfectly level and anchored against wind movement. Then the skew and elevation are set for our location. I have a single LNB manual crank up dish on the coach roof, and yes, when there's a clear view to one or the other arc I can raise and aim that one in a couple of minutes for a single satellite, but that one satellite won't carry all the channels I subscribe to. Sometimes it is adequate for a quick overnite stop though.

[ljr]

az99 wrote:
I have contacted them repeatedly about the lack of EA on the Trav'ler. What makes it even worse is the manual use of the antenna does not work either. So the average person can't even get 72º sat manually.

I've had this discussion in other threads but for some strange reason, I can. That's another topic though.

[az99]

I have contacted them repeatedly about the lack of EA on the Trav'ler. What makes it even worse is the manual use of the antenna does not work either. So the average person can't even get 72º sat manually.