Satellite Shoping

[12th_Man_Fan]

I am in the process of purchasing a satellite dish and receivers to receive the dish programing.

I am trying to decide between a Wingard Playmaker Dual or a King Tailgater 3 and two Wally receivers or VIP211Z.

I would appreciate input from Someone with experience in this equipment.

Thanks
Doug

[Range_Maggot_Bo]

Big Katuna wrote:

12th Man Fan wrote:
The pathway X2 was my first choice but after reading some reviews on Amazon I was scared off.


Also several reviews said every time you shut the X2 off it had to reload everything when you turned it back on and this took quite a bit of time. Is this correct?

Thanks for the input.


Doug

Only if you power the box down. Unplug it.

Not so for us, but we have different equipment. I just bought the Wally receiver and the Playmaker dish finder. (I think that's what it's called.) We were camping down in a canyon this weekend, and I wasn't even going to try and get a signal. Trees all around our campsite. No southern sky. So my wife walks over and plunks the thing down under a tree, and all of a sudden I have an excellent signal. The best I've had since I bought it; better than at home where there are no obstructions. Sooooooooooo... I turned it off to go to bed. Turned it on in the morning, and it went through the whole setup routine, and I lost the signal completely. Worked on it every day we camped, and could never get it back. I would suggest getting the satellite finder with the biggest dish they make. I think it makes a difference. When I used to have DirecTV, I had a tripod/dish setup, and ALWAYS got a signal within 2-3 minutes. I think the bigger dish is the key. I'm seriously considering going back to the tripod/dish setup. Sorry for so long-winded.

It won’t reboot just turning it off.

Not mentioned is that it has a bigger dish than a Tailgater so works better in the rain.

Not so for us, but we have different equipment. I just bought the Wally receiver and the Playmaker dish finder. (I think that's what it's called.) We were camping down in a canyon this weekend, and I wasn't even going to try and get a signal. Trees all around our campsite. No southern sky at all. So my wife walks over and plunks the thing down under a tree, and all of a sudden I have an excellent signal. The best I've had since I bought it; better than at home where there are no obstructions. Sooooooooooo... I turned it off to go to bed. Turned it on in the morning, and it went through the whole setup routine, and I lost the signal completely. Worked on it every day we camped, and could never get it back. I would suggest getting the satellite finder with the biggest dish they make. I think it makes a difference. When I used to have DirecTV, I had a tripod/dish setup, and ALWAYS got a signal within 2-3 minutes. I think the bigger dish is the key. I'm seriously considering going back to the tripod/dish setup. Sorry for so long-winded.

EDIT- sorry- don't know how to delete a double post.

[12th_Man_Fan]

Thanks for everyone's input. I ordered the Pathway X2 and two Wally receivers this morning.

Thanks again
Doug

[Big_Katuna]

12th Man Fan wrote:
The pathway X2 was my first choice but after reading some reviews on Amazon I was scared off.


Also several reviews said every time you shut the X2 off it had to reload everything when you turned it back on and this took quite a bit of time. Is this correct?

Thanks for the input.


Doug

Only if you power the box down. Unplug it.

It won’t reboot just turning it off.

Not mentioned is that it has a bigger dish than a Tailgater so works better in the rain.

[Larry-D]

Winegard X2 will give you more options. I have both the 211Z and Wally receivers and I like the Wally much more. If you camp with a lot of trees invest in about 200' of good coax and a cheap electrical cord reel so you can get the dish out from under the trees.

[trb46]

I have a Tailgater 3 and 211Z receiver. Works fine as long as you have a clear shot to the southern sky. Easy to set up.

[Bill_Satellite]

Pathway X2! Sorry to just be adding on!

[12th_Man_Fan]

The pathway X2 was my first choice but after reading some reviews on Amazon I was scared off.


Also several reviews said every time you shut the X2 off it had to reload everything when you turned it back on and this took quite a bit of time. Is this correct?

Thanks for the input.


Doug

[jplante4]

Pathway X2 and DISH Wally here as well. Easy activation, easy setup. $35 a month for basic plus another $15 to get your local channels everywhere. We're planning a cross country trip in the fall so getting both arcs was the clincher.

[Big_Katuna]

Another recommendation for the Pathway X2.

It is the only carry out that lets you pick east or west feeds.

This is a big advantage as they are n differen parts of the sky so better options with trees.

Get the Wally 211s and add a USB hard drive for DVR function.

[ford_truck_guy]

I am primarily on the East Coast... I got the Pathway X2 with 2 of the Wally's last year... The Pathway X2 gets BOTH East and WEST satellites.

With the Dish for my RV account, i can activate the programming for 30 days at a time without a penalty.

[MarkTwain]

12th Man Fan wrote:
I am in the process of purchasing a satellite dish and receivers to receive the dish programing.

I am trying to decide between a Wingard Playmaker Dual or a King Tailgater 3 and two Wally receivers or VIP211Z.

I would appreciate input from Someone with experience in this equipment.

Thanks
Doug

X1, I am looking for the same information. Talked with Dish and got some conflicting information/recommendations about what receiver you need to have for using the Tailgater satellite
by Dish.