Satellite question

[Rygar]

Here goes, please, don't flame me if you think I'm an idiot, but, I'm on my way to Florida for the winter. I had Shaw Direct install a satellite system in my fifth wheel. They talked me out of a roof mount with a remote finder. So, I now have a dish on a tripod and I'm having an awful time setting it up when I stop. It's hit and miss whether I can diddle it around enough to find a signal and frankly it's a pain in the backside. So, my question is, can I get a dish in the states installed that is compatible with shaw direct?

[Bill_Satellite]

Winegard DOES offer a Carryout style dome for Shaw but it only works in Canada and requires manual skew adjustments.
For Shaw in the US you need a Winegard Trav'ler or a tripod based Shaw antenna and LNB combo.

[joebedford]

Dream_Chaser! wrote:
The Winegard portable dish for Shaw WILL NOT WORK in southern USA. The signal is weaker in Florida than Canada and therefore you need a larger dish to get the signal.

The portable is no good for the high def channels even in Canada.

I don't think Winegard offers a portable dish for Shaw.

[joebedford]

wa8yxm wrote:
I am amazed you can get Shaw in Fl.. You are well out of the footprint for their satellites.

Uhhh, nope.

Only G1 has the small footprint.

[Lenny_K]

In Arizona there are a few places that will install Shaw on your roof. The last time I had checked it was about $1400.00. I'm sure if Shaw is receivable in Florida there will be dealers available also to support the snowbirds.

[Lenny_K]

As others have been saying you must have your tripod perfectly level to be able to find the satellites easily. I use the large Shaw dish and have no problems with receiving HD on the two older Shaw satellites that are available in the US.

[CA_Traveler]

RF Mogul is a full array dish and they indicate Shaw reception in most of the US. I have no personal experience with Shaw.

Due to the expense of automated dishes I'd want to understand the longer range plan for Shaw beam maps. DTV keeps the map as close to the borders as practical which I believe is a US requirement.


For DTV RF Mogul has 70 and 75 cm dishes.

[wa8yxm]

I am amazed you can get Shaw in Fl.. You are well out of the footprint for their satellites.

Google TV Satellite Footprints. Find the bird you use and you should see a map.. Not much south of the Mason-Dixon line is coverd by Shaw or Bell.

[Thunder_Mountai]

No, no, no to CW! No telling how long you would be without your rig. Not to mention questionable quality of work. When you get to FL ask around the campground. Most snowbird campground offices keep a list of preferred mobile techs. In most of the big snowbird campgrounds in AZ, you can just keep an eye out for sat installers working in the park and flag them down. If all else fail just use the net to find someone in the area.

[Dream_Chaser_]

The Winegard portable dish for Shaw WILL NOT WORK in southern USA. The signal is weaker in Florida than Canada and therefore you need a larger dish to get the signal.

The portable is no good for the high def channels even in Canada.

Use a tripod with an eliptical dish. Once set up you are good to go.

[Bill_Satellite]

Rygar wrote:
Here goes, please, don't flame me if you think I'm an idiot, but, I'm on my way to Florida for the winter. I had Shaw Direct install a satellite system in my fifth wheel. They talked me out of a roof mount with a remote finder. So, I now have a dish on a tripod and I'm having an awful time setting it up when I stop. It's hit and miss whether I can diddle it around enough to find a signal and frankly it's a pain in the backside. So, my question is, can I get a dish in the states installed that is compatible with shaw direct?

Yes, the Winegard Trav'ler for Shaw. It's usually a special order unit but it is available and it works great.
Check with your campground to see if they have a local satellite guy. If they do he will likely be a Winegard dealer and will be able to do the installation locally. It's not cheap but the installation should only cost about $300. He if wants too much more than you can find online, just ask what he would charge to install an antenna you supply. It should be 400-500 dollars.

[YC_1]

Yep, level, level, level. Then turn right and left.

Do use a dishfinder app that will let you see the birds and any thing that might be blockiing it.

[WyoTraveler]

The most difficult procedure of setting up a tripod is making sure the mast is plumb. Then using a meter to check signal strength. I have found a flat rectangular platform made it easier to level and have the mast plumb.

[Rygar]

I see that I can buy everything I need from Camping World. I wonder if I should get them to install or buy it and find an installer when I'm parked for a while?

[Rygar]

Thanks Joe, I appreciate the help.