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.

[TechWriter]

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?

[CA_Traveler]

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.

[Dutch_12078]

One advantage for RV'ers that Dish has over DTV by using the two 3 satellite arcs, is the increased aiming options when parked in areas with trees or tall structures. We use a portable Dish 1000.4 dish, and setting up the tripod and dialing it in usually takes no more than 15 minutes. Switching from the western arc LNBF set to the eastern arc LNBF set adds about two extra minutes.

[ljr]

CA Traveler wrote:
So you really have to change the Dish dish as you travel across the country for the E/W arcs? :h

I guess we should call DTV the ArcLess technology!

If any of the things mentioned in my original post matter to you, yes. For some they don't.

[CA_Traveler]

So you really have to change the Dish dish as you travel across the country for the E/W arcs? :h

I guess we should call DTV the ArcLess technology!

[CA_Traveler]

Over the years we progressed up the DTV chain from portable dishes to not so portable dishes. During all of these transitions we used the same receiver at home and in the rig.

We're quite satisfied with our current 5 channel HD receiver/recorder. We always have recorded shows to watch when we're in the trees. But more valuable is that we time shift watching and skip the commercials. And recorded shows move with the receiver between home and rig.

The technology is SWM which is a single coax from the dish to the receiver and on to any additional client receivers (we don't have any). DTV calls it the Gennie system and our receiver is the HR44.

I'm told that we can receive all of the channels from the 3 birds in any of the 48 states and it worked equally well in Alaska. I assume that Hawaii also has coverage. This doesn't help with the OPs Dish problem and is just food for thought.

[TechWriter]

ljr wrote:
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.

I don't see this happening anytime soon, and, yes, it's a PITA, but I'm sticking with DISH.

Anyway, that's why we carry a portable open-faced dish -- for those times we're parked under trees or when we need the Eastern Arc sats.

For those of you not familiar with DISH's "arcs" -- see DISH Western & Eastern Arcs.

[ljr]

bgum wrote:
Try Direct TV.

If I didn't already have so much $ tied up in Dish equipment I might do that but it would be much easier if Winegard got up to speed.

[bgum]

Try Direct TV.