Best TV Satellite set-up?

[Snowy_Bird]

Any suggestions on the best TV, Satellite set up on TC's.

We want to have everything attached to the camper (dish, antenna, etc.).
Is this possible?

Kinda ignorant of this stuff, but am ordering a new NL and wondering what is the best way to have this all set up or in place from the factory.
I don't want any junk stuff that we will have to replace later.

[dadwolf2]

Super_Dave wrote:
CA Traveller, if we don't know enough about satellite systems to require posting here, assume we have no idea what all those acronyms mean. 😉

I am so glad you asked because I thought I had to be in South Dakota for a dome to work! :S

[big_whitey]

I have had the Winegard Traveler for 3 years with no problems.....yet. Scared to brag and jinx it. We do like it and the performance is comparable to our dish at home. Also it is HD if that matters to you,it did to me.

[CA_Traveler]

Super_Dave wrote:
I just went back to Direct TV a couple of weeks ago after being gone for a while. The new dish on the house is a lot bigger than they used to be. I still have a small dish on a tripod in the attic for the TC. Does anyone know if my smaller, old dish will work with the current versions of service? Or, do I need to buy a new, mobile dish?

You won't get HD with the smaller dish if it works at all. The receiver would have to be compatible with both dishes. If the new dish is SWM and the receiver is SWM only then the old dish won't work. Do you have one coax connected to a SWM labeled jack on your receiver? What model receiver do you have?

My HR24 (2 channel recorder) worked fine with either a large 2 channel HD dish, SWM (HD) dish or 18" 2 channel SD dish only. There was a different setup for each dish. The HR44 requires a SWM dish.

Also check that cabling to each TV is compatible. Plus SD vs HD TVs may be a factor. Lots to consider.

[sky_free]

It really depends on your particular travel style and need for HD and/or locals in regards to what will work best for you. Do you already have satellite TV at home? Do you even have a home, or are you fulltiming?

A permanently mounted dish of any type on the roof will only work when you have a clear shot to the geostationary satellites, which are approximately on the ecliptic. That means you will be in the sun if you want satellite TV. This will work for some, but probably more than half the time we are in the trees so that won't work obviously.

A portable solution with a long cable gives you more options in the trees, but even then it's not always possible to get a signal. The portable solution also means you will be carrying around a dish which could be an issue for some. The HD dish is big for DirecTV.

I can't speak for Dish, but the cheapest (not best!) way to go with DirecTV is the 18" round dish on a tripod, and a very cheap SD receiver added to your home account. You cannot get locals that way unless you are in a market that carries them in SD on the 101W satellite (which we are), and you have to be within the footprint for your locals, which only extends for a few hundred miles. If you don't have satellite TV at home, this probably won't make much sense financially though. Dish has a month-to-month option for RV'rs, but I don't have experience with it.

You might also consider whether you will have Wi-fi or 4G Cell coverage where you are going. If so, you can just set up a Slingbox at home and watch anywhere in the world that you can get an internet connection of more than about 1MB/sec. I like that solution way better than satellite TV, but obviously internet access is spotty at best.

[Snowy_Bird]

DWeikert wrote:
I like my Dish Tailgater. This is a home made bracket. I can remove it from the bracket and set it somewhere else if needed for reception. Haven't needed to yet.


Not sure what NL will have for options. I got my Northstar with the Winegard crank up HDTV antenna, but wasn't very happy with that so I pulled it and replaced it with a cover plate with the F-connector mounted in the plate. At least that gave me coax access on the roof. Otherwise I'd have to route the cable down to the CATV connector on the side.

Edit: I see you're in Canada. That could eliminate the Tailgater as an option for you.

Great Idea!!!

[AnEv942]

Super_Dave wrote:
I just went back to Direct TV a couple of weeks ago after being gone for a while. The new dish on the house is a lot bigger than they used to be. I still have a small dish on a tripod in the attic for the TC. Does anyone know if my smaller, old dish will work with the current versions of service? Or, do I need to buy a new, mobile dish?

Not sure but i think it depends on the box your using-newer house service is likely SWM and HD. We have a small oval D-tv dish but its SD head & using an older SD box. The older box works on our home service, used in guest room (thats where its activated 6$ a month). I couldn't use any of the other boxes with our campers dish...well actually dont know that but they are SWM meaning I believe have to run a power supply-not.

[DWeikert]

I like my Dish Tailgater. This is a home made bracket. I can remove it from the bracket and set it somewhere else if needed for reception. Haven't needed to yet.


Not sure what NL will have for options. I got my Northstar with the Winegard crank up HDTV antenna, but wasn't very happy with that so I pulled it and replaced it with a cover plate with the F-connector mounted in the plate. At least that gave me coax access on the roof. Otherwise I'd have to route the cable down to the CATV connector on the side.

Edit: I see you're in Canada. That could eliminate the Tailgater as an option for you.

[Crazy_Ray]

Super Dave - I have HD(bigger dish) at home and use the smaller (dish) on the road.So I think your smaller dish will work on the road. JMO

[Super_Dave]

I just went back to Direct TV a couple of weeks ago after being gone for a while. The new dish on the house is a lot bigger than they used to be. I still have a small dish on a tripod in the attic for the TC. Does anyone know if my smaller, old dish will work with the current versions of service? Or, do I need to buy a new, mobile dish?

[CA_Traveler]

nomad297 wrote:

CA Traveler wrote:
Domes are limited to SD

This is not true. You cannot get DirecTv HD with a dome, but you can get Dish HD with a dome.

Good point. Wonder what his options are for Canadian satellite or if US satellite a option.

[Snowy_Bird]

Yes, I am Canadian and will be using the TV mostly for winter travel to the US.
First, I guess I am going to have to check out the service providers.

The dome type antennas seem to be what will be best for us. The dilemma will be whether to have
it on the roof (which is preferred), or have it portable?

Thanks for the replies and being that it's a TC, we don't have near the room on the roof that a MH or a 5 er has, hence my reason for posting in the TC forum. Also, not a lot of room in the TC for lugging the antenna around.

Looks like I need to do more researching before I can decide what is best for us and the TC.

[nomad297]

CA Traveler wrote:
Domes are limited to SD

This is not true. You cannot get DirecTv HD with a dome, but you can get Dish HD with a dome.

The absolute best quality setup you can get for your roof is the Winegard Trav'ler. With this dish you can get it setup for Dish or DirecTv with HD.

Although, I prefer the tripod and DirecTv Slimline dish so I can get signals through holes in trees much easier.

Bruce

[CA_Traveler]

OK, Standard Definition, High Definition, DirecTV, Single Wire Multiplex, Radio Frequency, Infra Red and for completeness Recreational Vehicle and United States :B

[Super_Dave]

CA Traveller, if we don't know enough about satellite systems to require posting here, assume we have no idea what all those acronyms mean. 😉