What is considered Satellite ready

[bowl2764]

A friend just purchased a Thor ACE 29ft Class A. All the brochures and website listed the unit as Cable/Sat ready. When we try to connect Dish network to the incoming terminal keep getting error message indicating a problem with the switch. Turning off booster has no effect. We can then connect directly to TV and signal is fine. The unit has 2 TV's and we can connect directly to either and get signal. Tried set up on my TT (Passport) which is not advertised as sat ready and we get same message. Emails from Thor have suggested he run a new cable, however they have not responded to the question that this unit is advertised as cable/sat ready or offered a better solution. Camping World has offered to fix it for $300.00. Currently using RG6 cable.
Anyone have any suggestions?

[GoPackGo]

Which satellite dish are you using ? One of the automatic portables like a Tailgater ?

If so, they need a direct connection to the cable box. Most of the time, the cable-in or sat-in connection has switches or splitters in the line which will cause problems for these types of sat dishes. Many times, the best solution is to run a new, direct line from the input connection to the cable box.

[Bobbo]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
"Sat ready" quite often just means the cabling is in place for a roof mounted dish. The outside cable connection can be used by disconnecting it from the antenna booster power supply switch panel and connecting it directly to the coax going to the sat receiver, but running a separate outside coax is a more convenient option once installed.

This is the answer I was going to give, almost word for word.

The difference, I would have said disconnect the incoming coax from the booster, and put a splitter on it. Run one side of the splitter back to the booster. Run the other side of the splitter to the satellite receiver, then to the distribution box or television set. That is what I did. Works fine.

I only have one coax connection outside. If I have camp cable, I hook it up and press "CABLE" on the distribution box. If I am using my satellite antenna, I hook it up and press "SATELLITE" on the distribution box.

Here is a schematic (PP means Power Pass):

[Sandia_Man]

If you have just a single exterior coax input more than likely it is connected to a splitter keeping sat signal from directly reaching sat receiver although cable tv provided by some RV parks will work fine.

Most often splitter is located behind/nearby antenna booster amp switch and with minor modification will allow sat signal to reach sat receiver using single exterior coax input.

My TT even had a sticker stating sat/cable ready just above single exterior coax input only to discover it would not work until I modified coax at splitter. I used this mod and we are good to go.

Cable tv provided by many RV parks is generic and often suffers from poor video quality, we always prefer viewing our sat dish programming. This quick mod still allows cable tv viewing if the need arises.

[wa8yxm]

There are 3 meanings

1: The radio (Either dash (most likly) or HOuse (If Separate)(least likely) is in fact a Sat Radio cabaple receiver with antenna and everything you need save for Dollars per month subscription, some come with that for a short time..

NOTE: this is rear

2: Dash (normally) radio has a special port usually on the rear where you can pulg in an expensive Sat Receiver which will use the Radio's front display and controls to display station, track playing, and tune and such. (most common meaning)

3: 2+they put in an antenna for you as well

For example. the Pioneer radio in my Dash can use a Pioneer Sat Receiver, a special multi-disc CD changer,, an AUX-IN adapter and a few other things.. I think Pioneer even made a mini-disc changer (Which I'd love to have) that plugged in. Thus, since there is a hole on the back of the radio it might well be advertised as "Sat Prepped" or "Sat Ready" (Ready for a Sat radio to be plugged in)

The term is thus basically meaningless in today's market as nearly all but the very lowest of the low dash radios have such a port.

[Dutch_12078]

"Sat ready" quite often just means the cabling is in place for a roof mounted dish. The outside cable connection can be used by disconnecting it from the antenna booster power supply switch panel and connecting it directly to the coax going to the sat receiver, but running a separate outside coax is a more convenient option once installed.

[rk911]

bowl2764 wrote:

rk911 wrote:
pardon what may sound like silly questions but....does your friend have a DISH network account? is there a DISH TV satellite dish connected to the sat receiver? have all of the various and assorted cables been installed???

rk911...

yes
yes
cables installed? We are going on info provided by Thor that the unit is ready.
However there is only one connection on the wall for incoming cable. Thinking maybe Thor had a unit slip thru that isn't sat ready as they advertise. Connecting directly to both TV's the satellite is going in about two minutes.

SAT ready may mean different things to different companies. ideally all your friend needed to do was add a sat dish. but if the 'cable in' port is not connected to the DISH TV receiver then you're going nowhere. and as far as I know you can't connect the dish directly to a TV...you need a receiver box between the TV and the coax cable. does your friend have a DISH receiver?

[BB_TX]

Do you have two separate incoming coax connections, one for sat and one for cable?

You say "directly to the TV and signal is fine". Do you mean direct to the sat box that connects to the TV?

The external sat connection should go direct to the internal sat receiver connection, not thru any switches or other intermediate devices. If it only has one external coax connection, then it may mean manipulating some internal connections to get the sat to work.

I had only one external coax connection and it is set up for cable. But is comes into a dual coax connector wall plate with a short coax jumper cable connecting the two together just below the living room TV. By removing the short jumper and connecting another slightly longer coax cable from that wall plate to the sat box, my sat works fine. Had to put the jumper back in place to use park cable. So I eventually added a new external coax connection specifically for the sat input to make me "satellite ready". Now I don't have to remove the jumper.

[SCVJeff]

There is no "Booster" in line with the satellite coax, that is strictly the off-air antenna. If you have a DVM you should check for continuity by shorting and opening the far end.

[bowl2764]

rk911 wrote:
pardon what may sound like silly questions but....does your friend have a DISH network account? is there a DISH TV satellite dish connected to the sat receiver? have all of the various and assorted cables been installed???

rk911...

yes
yes
cables installed? We are going on info provided by Thor that the unit is ready.
However there is only one connection on the wall for incoming cable. Thinking maybe Thor had a unit slip thru that isn't sat ready as they advertise. Connecting directly to both TV's the satellite is going in about two minutes.

[GaPete]

Satellite is not compatible with cable wiring. Do you have separate inputs for cable and satellite? If you are trying to connect to the amplifier it will not work IMHO. Ant/Cable uses splitters and sat does not use the same ones.
My understanding of sat ready means there is wiring under a cover plate on the roof and in my case it has separate inputs for cable and sat in my outdoor shower bay and separate outputs in LR and BR.

[rk911]

pardon what may sound like silly questions but....does your friend have a DISH network account? is there a DISH TV satellite dish connected to the sat receiver? have all of the various and assorted cables been installed???