Winegard Dome satelite or Winegard Travler Slimline ??

[timmac]

My new to me 08 Bounder motorhome Winegard Travler satellite is in need of repair, never got to use it because it came non working, must be sent back to Iowa for repairs, was wonder if anyone has had both and which is better, hate to spend money on repairs when I can buy a new one, should I keep the same type or get a dome..

I only need it for 2 TV's and not much into high tech for programs so would the dome be a cheaper alternative..

:C

[brobox]

timmac wrote:

kjburns wrote:
You don't mention which satellite service, but by the use of the term "Slimline" I assume you're talking DirecTV. If that's correct, a dome will only get SD with DirecTV. If you want HD, you'll need something like the Trav'ler.

Yes I have direct tv now, what I liked about the dome is you can change from direct tv to dish tv service without having to change satellite dish, not to say I would but that is nice option that the Travler Slimline does not offer.

Am waiting also on ExtraRide warranty to see if they will fix this but my deductible is $500 and the delivery cost of satellite dish to Iowa and back, that's about $700 for the repair, heck I am not that much into tv, hate to spend that on a dish, also don't want trapped with same company because of satellite.

If you don't care that much for TV, why not just go with Park cable or OTA antenna and save the money for Satellite repairs or replacement?

[timmac]

kjburns wrote:
You don't mention which satellite service, but by the use of the term "Slimline" I assume you're talking DirecTV. If that's correct, a dome will only get SD with DirecTV. If you want HD, you'll need something like the Trav'ler.

Yes I have direct tv now, what I liked about the dome is you can change from direct tv to dish tv service without having to change satellite dish, not to say I would but that is nice option that the Travler Slimline does not offer.

Am waiting also on ExtraRide warranty to see if they will fix this but my deductible is $500 and the delivery cost of satellite dish to Iowa and back, that's about $700 for the repair, heck I am not that much into tv, hate to spend that on a dish, also don't want trapped with same company because of satellite.

[kjburns]

You don't mention which satellite service, but by the use of the term "Slimline" I assume you're talking DirecTV. If that's correct, a dome will only get SD with DirecTV. If you want HD, you'll need something like the Trav'ler.

[hitchup]

In 2010, DH switched out an older Winegard dome (HD new in 2008) for a Trav'ler SK-3005. We both prefer the DirecTV HD DVR receivers as well.

Found it online for lowest price and DH installed it with the help of one of our sons while sitting in a campground. He couldn't use the same wires as the dome, but got help where to run the new wires over the phone from someone who had done work on our Suite a few months before.

[Bill_Satellite]

timmac wrote:
But is there much difference in the dome over the travler as to quality in viewing, I am not so much a tv buff that I care for HD and all that.

On a clear sunny day there is no difference between the picture you receive with a dome or a Trav'ler. The dome is an excellent low cost option for the reception of satellite TV. However, all domes come with limitations compared to a Trav'ler. If you are not much of a TV buff and you don't care about HD (although HD is available with a dome if you are a Dish subscriber) the dome could well work just fine for you. You may lose your signal more often with a dome than you do with the Trav'ler when rain or morning dew is present but otherwise the picture will be perfect.

[brobox]

Reading between the lines..."never got to use it" you bought it used, therefore the repair bill is on you.

I went from a dome to a Traveler and love it. However, if you are on Dish Network the new domes in the $699 range will get SD and HD, but the drawback is both TV's will have to watch the same channel. I found the Traveler to be much faster locking on to the Sats over my dome, but that may have changed with the new domes.

Also $2000. for a Travler is way to much, they come on sale all the time. I paid $1,100 for mine and less than $200 installation as I caught it on a 1/2 price installation sale. Also had a 10% off CW coupon that came in the mail. Took out the extended warranty with that making it "free".

Check the prices at Camping World and look at the Demo's and see which one would work best for your needs.

[timmac]

But is there much difference in the dome over the travler as to quality in viewing, I am not so much a tv buff that I care for HD and all that.

My repair guy says the travler I have now is burnt out, cost with shipping could run as high as $1000.00 but not sure till it gets to Iowa and on the bench, winegaurd wants $70 a hr plus parts.

Hate to spend a $1000 on a older system, he says the newer traveler's are better than the one I have now but at almost $2000, but the dome would cost about the same as the repair maybe.

[Bill_Satellite]

The Trav'ler is a far superior antenna to any dome system and any repair money would be well spent unless the previous owner totalled it somehow. You can remove the antenna from the base (don't break any seals to remove the entire base) and ship only the base to Winegard (remove the upper arms and dish/LNB). They will diagnose and repair and charge you only for the issues. This assumes that the Trav'ler on the roof is compatible with the satellite TV service that you use as there is one for DirecTV and one for Dish Network.

[wb2ivu]

we use a tailgater antenna and the vp211 receiver. Setup takes about 5 minuets.