Has anyone installed the Dish Network Hopper and Joey in their coach using a Weingard Traveler dish? If so what modifications were required?
I installed one last summer and there was not much to modify. I had to enlarge the hole in the roof to accept, I think four cables, going to the control (off-on box) and to the DVR. Plug in the Joey in the cabinet behind the bedroom TV and enjoy. My wife really likes it as she watches a lot of TV.
One button operation, just turn it on and about five minutes later you have a picture providing you have a clear view of the Southern sky.
Ron, Dish is telling me that the Hopper uses different cables than the older DVR's and that it requires a different "Large" dish. From what I can glean from the Dish web site the only difference in the "Larger" dish is that it has more LNB's and uses three cables from the dish to the receiver rather than two. I think my Weingard Traveler will only accommodate two tuners which is fine with me so I think it should work with the Hopper.
What kind of outside dish do you have? Are there three cables coming into your coach?
Kent why are you going with the hopper? What's the advantage
Kent we are using it and are very satisfied. If you're in Oklahoma feel free to come over and check it out. 405-249-8157.
We... well, the DW, really... just switched to Dish and the Hopper (from DirecTV). Naturally the price was lower; but I expect that will increase slowly over time anyway. The big reason she wanted the change is so she could watch her recorded programs on another TV. That we can watch recorded programs on our Samsung Galaxy Tab II 7.0 when we are 70 miles away at the kids' house was an unexpected bonus.
We don't have any way to access the satellite on the RV (yet). Does anyone just move one receiver to the coach or do you buy a separate receiver/antenna system?
Craig
We have had Dish for over 15 years, and while there have been price increases, the DW has not complained one bit. I know people who have Direct and have always heard the complaints of "installation problem" like cutting down trees and moving the antenna numerous times to get a signal. We had no similar problems.
A very nice feature!!! And with our setup, she can record on two different channels, while I can watch something previously recorded at the same time.
The new systems with the Hopper and Joey are all g
Greek to me, and I know nothing about them. We still have a DVR hooked to two TVs at home. I brought a VIP211k receiver and tailgater for the FT. We call Dish and have the turn on the receiver when we go on a trip. Turn it off when we get back. Cost a extra $5 a month when it is turned on. That way DWs programs (and mine too) are still being recorded at home. So she will have them when she gets back. Unbelievable how many programs those little hard drives will record and store!!!
Craig
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This was my plan (the VIP211k and tailgater) but are now wondering if there is another way. I went along with the change to Dish because they have better HD reception on the VIP211k while DirecTV has no HD access (easily) in the RV. The $5 addition is a plus.
Right now that's where we are headed... unless there is a better plan. :D
Craig
the only down side to adding the mobile VIP211k on to your home billing is that you loose the local channels. And the only way to get the NBC, CBS, ABC etc east/west coast is change the account address and then you loose what ever the DW is recording at home! But we don't miss the locals that much anyway. Have almost everything we want without them. And what we want on the networks is being recorded at home anyway.
Edit: The tailgater antenna requires power thru the coax from the VIP211k. I have always ran the cable thru the window, but was think of using the coax connector in the utility bay,
BUT, not sure we can do that. It would require the coax power to go thru the switch box, and I do not think that is possible due to the power going thru the coax. Will have to check with others around here and find out the work around for how to get that power to the tailgater. I think it would require pulling running another coax down to one of the storage bays and running it to the receiver and run a a/b switch at the TV. Hopefully someone will know what we are trying to do and help us out!!!
@Kent I don't have a Traveler so not sure how much of this will apply to you.
I use a 1000.2 dish that I carry out and mount on a tripod. It is bigger than most dishes we see out there. It has 3 LNBs using satellites 110, 119 and 129. When I as using our VIP 211k it worked fine with one cable from the dish. When I installed the Hopper I had to run another cable from the dish and route thru a "single node" Dish Network Solo Node for Hopper and Joey | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/DISH-Network-Solo-Node-For-Hopper-and-Joey-/271306289935?pt=US_Satellite_Signal_Multiswitches&hash=item3f2b1d730f) which has just one cable that runs to the Hopper. The single node also has a port for the Joey. I originally installed it without the single node and could not get high-def. Called support and they had to send out a service tech to help. He saw I didn't have a single node and gave me one. He then made up 2 new 50ft RG6 cables and a 35ft cable to run to the bedroom for the Joey. He said RG6 cables where required. The service tech was awesome. He bent over backwards doing everything he could to get me in service. Before he left he even gave me a usb network adaptor ($20) and 2 flat wire coax adapters ($15 each) to run thru my window. IIRC the service call was about $90. It was worth it. :)
If your dish only has one lnb you may have to replace the whole thing. :( I don't think you can retrofit the old one. While your existing dish would probably work and find satellite 119 (the middle one) it would also need to adjust for skew (a CW/CCW rotation of the dish) which changes with latitude to pick up maximum signal on 110 & 129.
All that probably doesn't make much sense. It's taken me a couple of service tech visits and lot'o googling to figure it out. Call me if you want and I'll confuse you even more. :)
We do love the Hopper. It automagically records all primetime shows with automagic skip thru commercials. Who doesn't love that! It only uses one tuner to record the primetime shows so you can record one other program and watch another all at the same time. The Joey just acts as an extension for the Hopper so you can view any show recorded on the Hopper in the bedroom. You can even pause a program in the front go to bed and start the program where you left off. Awesome doesn't begin to describe it! :)
see ya
ken
Our Traveler is a 3 LNB dish although not oversized. Before I order a Hopper I am going to visit a local Dish installer but I can't see why it won't work.
The main advantaqe of the Hopper is that I can get HD on the front TV in the coach. Right now my 722 DVR is on the shelf in the closet so I have to run an SD picture to the front "Big" TV via coax cable. With the Hopper and Joey I will get HD on both TV's and I can take them in the House when we are home and use multiple tv's without extra cable runs.
"What kind of outside dish do you have? Are there three cables coming into your coach?"
Kent, I have the large HD dish with the three LNB'S and three cables running from it.
Ron, I currently have only two coax cables running into the coach but my Traveler has a third hookup that is currently capped and appears to be set up for three cables so I can have all three LNB's for the Hopper.
You might be far better checking at DBSTalk (http://www.dbstalk.com/index) . The folks who hang out on that forum seem far more informed that most installers I've met.
Only two cables come into the coach on ours It is the SK1000 I think.
@Kent Since you already have 3 LNBs I'm pretty sure you will be ok. I think you only need 2 cables running into the coach. The "Single Node" only requires 2 and they are pretty cheap on ebay. I bought my Hopper off ebay for $300. Holy crap! Just checked on ebay and they are $180 with shipping! Dish Network Hopper with Sling 2 TB DVR New in Box No Account Attached | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dish-Network-HOPPER-WITH-SLING-2-TB-DVR-NEW-IN-BOX-NO-ACCOUNT-ATTACHED-/291010775764?pt=US_Satellite_TV_Receivers&hash=item43c1980ad4) Joey's are going for $79 Dish Network Joey Receiver Brand New | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dish-Network-Joey-Receiver-Brand-New-/111206832798?pt=US_Satellite_TV_Receivers&hash=item19e4719a9e). All you would need to wire it up is the "Single Node".
I would talk to your local Dish installer to see if you really need the bigger dish but I bet it will work with your existing dish as long as you have a clear view to the satellites.
When you register the unit with Dish (if you buy from ebay) be sure to tell them you own the unit. After I registered mine I checked online and they had it listed as a leased unit. I had to provide proof of purchase before they would change it owner provided.
see ya
ken
The Satellite Guys Dish forum The DISH Forum (http://www.satelliteguys.us/forums/10-The-DISH-Forum) is an even better resource. They seem to have even better information on Dish issues than does DBS Talk. Registration is free, and it eliminated the annoying ads.