Tripod or other support for Dish

[beachlovingmom]

This will be our 1st summer with both of us retired, so expect to spend mucho time in the trailer. I have an extra Direct TV HD dish and can take our box from our bedroom. I am needing something to put the dish on. I have found satellite tripods on ebay for about $30-40. Are these sufficient or should I be looking at something else?

Any other hints for using the satellite? Using phone to find satellite?

thanks!

[Gonzo42]

You might take a look at how I set up my Dish tripod here:

Sat Antenna Tripod

[bobsbbq]

I had one of the cheaper heavy duty ones most satellite places sell. It was sturdy but hard to level. I ended up going with this one from Winegard. http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-TR-3535-Heavy-Tripod-Mount/dp/B0042OR9J0/ref=pd_cp_e_2 It is easy to level in unlevel spots. As anyone knows the tripod being level is crucial. Then I use a signal strength meter. The single most important tool for me is Sat Finder for Android and Dish for my RV iPhone. This enables me to look through the camera and visually see the satellites and if there are any trees in the way. I can't tell you how many people I have helped with this app, currently 2 on this trip alone. Sat-finder will work with Direct TV as well.

[Halmfamily]

I made one out of PVC pipes. The base is 24x36" and stands a total of 24" tall. Folds down flat and stores behind dinette. Mine son and I were in Lowes buying PVC to run sewer lines to RV and he came up with the idea, only 12 years old at the time. We can use it on the ground, picnic table or even on roof of fiver. Would post pictures but I can't figure out how to do so from my tablet.

[brirene]

I got my tripod from Radio shack, but got tired of trying to deal with it's weight and clumsiness (or maybe mine!). Before I ended up getting a Winegard Anser I strongly considered just getting an outdoor umbrella stand to set the pole in.

[nomad297]

2oldman wrote:
http://www.tv4rv.com/sunshop/

The best advice given yet. They sell exactly what you need to make pointing your dish as simple as can be. The owner will give you excellent one-on-one support whenever you need it. This is an excellent business.

Bruce

[grampachet]

I use the tailgator, i know it is totally different, but here s a possible solution if the dish needs to be raised up higher, i used a heavy duty toilet flang fastened to the bottom of the dish and bushed it to 1 1/2" and put a 12' piece of 1 1/2" abs pipe and clamp it to the edge of my slideout. works good for me.

[tvman44]

That is all you need. 🙂

[2oldman]

http://www.tv4rv.com/sunshop/

[beachlovingmom]

Thanks to both of you for your help. Roy Ken, does that contraption still need a tripod or does it replace the tripod? Also, our Direct TV Dish is the oval, HD version, if that matters.

I wondered if "walking away" was a problem. Thanks!

[RoyB]

I picked up a round base similar to this one from local RV dealer and mounted a spare DirecTv SAt Dish on it. This had the Elevation marks and compass on it... All of these mounts including the TRI-PODS are universal.


My portable dish has two RG Cable head ports on it and I would run two 100-foot RG cables from the two port head with one going to a SAt RCVR in the living room SAT RCVR and the other cable to the SAT RCVR in the bedroom. I connected the VIDEO OUTPUTs of the SAT RCVR to the VIDEO INPUT on the HDTV set. This allowed me to use both TV's in the trailer independent of each other.

I usually set mine up on the back of my truck bed cover. This way I would be reminded to stow the dish before leaving unattended. I was always worried the dish would grow legs and wander off...

We enjoyed the SAT DIRECTV for a few years until the NATL BROADCAST digital TV came out. Now we just use the OTA BATWING Antenna to pick up these local channels and get full wide screen high def HDTV signals which are much easier on the eyes than our standard mode SAt TV signals were. We always wanted to watch NCIS and CSI anyway.

Roy Ken

[sclark]

A tripod will work just fine. As for pointing, we use a satellite meter to help find the signal. It is a bit tough at first, but now I can find the signal in just a few minutes. I think we have the $11.95 version. Looks cheep but works fine. Good luck.