Purchase and install Winegard SK SWM3

[mikestock]

I think I'm finally about to pull the trigger and order the Winegars Traveler SWM 3 to replace my, about to be defunct, Kingdome.

These questions ar for anyone who had done this job.

How good are the instructions that come with the dish?

Looking at these optional add on items I know I will need the support mounting plate but the question is, do I need the communication cable extension and/or the roller wear plate?

Also, where does the communication cable need to run to? Does it run to a receiver, the PI or somewhere else?

[Bill_Satellite]

Many of the RF Mogul dealers are mobile (some mobile only with no store front). You might give them a call and see if they will come to you.

[mikestock]

I looked at the same map. Found the one I was talking about above but I wanted to go see what the location is like before I decide. This is a place I've never heard of before.

[Bill_Satellite]

Here is a link to their dealer network.
https://rfmogul.com/dealers.html
They didn't make it easy to find out where the dealers are as you have to click on each State one at a time to see if there are any there.
PA, none
NY, none
OH, one
WV, none
VA, one
NC and SC, one, the same one.
GA, none

OK, I'm bored of clicking on the map........

[mikestock]

I did call Winegard to see where I could get warranty service in my area. He gave me 4 places within 40 miles of my home. Two of them within 20 miles.

EDIT: RF Mogul does show one location in my area but in an part of town where I wouldn't want to drive to or from or leave my RV overnight.

[fpresto]

lryrob9301 wrote:
Incorrect, check out RF Mogul Eagle. Same type of antenna, better engineered, easier to service with repair dealers all around the country if you should ever need any repairs

I see you live in the mid Atlantic area, as do I, exactly where are all of the dealers? And can they repair the units or just sell them? Giving a link to their web site is meaningless to me. Any manufacturer is always going to make their unit sound like the best thing since sliced bread.
I admit I am biased toward the Trav'ler as it is one of the first things I put on to each of my new RVs. I have had three so far without ever having a failure. I know that they fail like any other system but it has not been my experience.

[Bill_Satellite]

Dealers all around the Country......That's funny! If you want the RF Mogul dish repaired you need to be handy or you need to be in one of the "RVers" States. I think FL is one of the few States that has more than 2 dealers in the entire State.
Don't get me wrong, the RF Mogul is a good antenna as well but it's pretty silly to call the Winegard junk just because you did not have a good experience. There are likely 100 times as many Winegard's on RV as there are RF Moguls. That's why the poster above mistakenly believed Winegard was the only choice.

[lryrob9301]

mikestock wrote:
My understanding now is that the Winegard is the only choice now and that the newer production models are improved.

Incorrect, check out RF Mogul Eagle. Same type of antenna, better engineered, easier to service with repair dealers all around the country if you should ever need any repairs.

RF Mogul Eagle

[mikestock]

My understanding now is that the Winegard is the only choice now and that the newer production models are improved.

[big_whitey]

donn0128 wrote:
The comm cable is run between the dish base and where ever you put the control box. Which is usually placed near your main TV. Most installers will run it next to the coax cable from the dish to the power supply.
BTW, before you buy one ask how and where you will get service when they fail. I have been thru two of these things, and would spend 500 dollars more for the RFMogul if I was doing it again.

X2. Forget the trav’ler as it’s just a high priced piece of junk. They are also a total pita to get repaired .Feel free to pm me if you desire more info about the poor quality/service of this product.

[mikestock]

I never considered not using the oblong plate for mounting. The Kingdome, thus the Winegard will be very close to my audio/video distribution center. That part is easy, but space limitations may be a problem when I try to find placement for the dish controller, the PI and splitter. I need to find a way to locate the dish controller in a different location and move the power inserter and splitter into my very crowded audio/video distribution center.

I am hoping I can use existing Kingdome power and coax cables to pull the new controller and coax cables from the SWM3. I'm uncertain as to how the Kingdome control wires are now run. The control center for the Kingdome is separated from the A/V center.

My neighbor in the storage lot with has a Phaeton like mine had his installed in Quartzite. I need to see what he may know about how they pulled the controller wires. This could be a real sticky problem for a novice.

[Bill_Satellite]

It is highly unlikely that you need the Thin Roof Mounting Plate. The Trav'ler base has plenty of area to mount to your roof, assuming you can walk on your roof.
The instructions are very good.
The control cable from the Trav'ler is 30' long and can be placed ANYWHERE that 120V power is available. It does not need to be near anything satellite related. The coax cable will need to run from the antenna to the receiver location. If you only have 1 receiver then the logical location for the controller is nearby so you can drill just one hole for the coax and the control cable. You should not need the extension as most installations will be within the 30' range of the existing control cable.
I do recommend the roller plate but if you have any piece of thin aluminum sheet or anything of about 4" square you can caulk that in the same place instead.

[mikestock]

As it stands now, l will probably leave the power inserter where it is in my lower outside electercal cabinet and use existing coax to access this point from the dish. That is where my spliter is located.

The next question is: does the controller have to be near or attached to one of my receivers in order for the controller to send or receive feedback while the dish is searching?

[donn0128]

The comm cable is run between the dish base and where ever you put the control box. Which is usually placed near your main TV. Most installers will run it next to the coax cable from the dish to the power supply.
BTW, before you buy one ask how and where you will get service when they fail. I have been thru two of these things, and would spend 500 dollars more for the RFMogul if I was doing it again.