Hi Everyone,
On our coach that we purchased last year coming from Canada there is a dish Trav'ler that will not work in the US. I asked Dish TV if it could be converted and they said no. I do not see why not they are both made by Winegard. So my question is should I replace what is there with a new Dish Network Trav'ler or purchase one of the portable like Winegard Pathway X2 Automatic Portable Satellite, big difference in price. I have someone that will buy the one that is on the motor home now. We do have Dish Network at our home.
Thanks
Ask Winegard, not Dish.
I do know you can convert a DirecTV Trav'ler to a Dish one for about $400, but not the other way around. Not sure about a Shaw conversion to Dish (but I'm off to research).
And here ya go
http://www.winegard.com/wp-content/uploads/catalog-sheets/WC-1144.pdf
Also found via iRV2 that a Shaw Trav'ler cannot be converted to anything else Winegard Trav'ler Conversion Kits - iRV2 Forums (http://www.irv2.com/forums/f53/winegard-travler-conversion-kits-232040.html)
Thanks Michelle, I did check with Winegard last year and they said no. Maybe I should call back and confirm.
We got so sick and tired when we bought this coach, dinking around and getting mixed messages from REPs, that we bought the DISH Tailgater w/ fresh receiver, remote & tripod. We left the dome on top, it was well sealed. Works perfect! DISH allows us to cancel service when we don't need it. A simple phone call every time we change locations, gets us local coverage. We had been warned that the little Tailgater might not work as well as the big tripod in trees, etc., but have had no problems. ^.^d I have not tried it, but we have heard from people that the unit works in Canada & Mexico!
The Winegard Trav'ler for DirecTV works well for us. The only problem we ever have is too many trees and that is pretty rare. It gets three satellites at once so all of the channnels are available seamlessly. And all HD. We have a Genie thatbseems to be a great receiver and DVR. Some of the smaller portable ones that auto locate seem good. You can put it anywhere it works. Some use a long cable and lock to secure it. I am not sure about HD on these but if that is not an issue then they might be OK.
The dish part of it is a one time front end cost no matter what dish you use. We put the Trav'ler on ourselves, bought it from Amazon before they started charging sales tax and it was here in two days, no shipping cost. At the time you could not buy it cheaper anywhere. Install was not hard.
Got tired of this won't work with that or it will cost $$& to make it work, your system is obsolete, or being held hostage by a provider because of equipment. I use a manual dish and tripod once used to setting it up not too bad. If I Chang carriers I just need thier equipment.
We carry one of those with 300' of coax just in case of obstructions in our campsite. Not going to miss NASCAR
It will depend on the model. If it's a Bell reflector and LNB, it should be convertible (might even work as is, since they mention Dish/Bell as the same unit). If it's a Shaw, then no.
If yours can't be converted my perspective would be to sell that existing one and get the Pathway X2.
IMO the X2 offers much more flexibility if you don't regularly set up in open fields.
You can actually find some attractive deals right now for an X2 package -- antenna and receiver box for $450.
Only trouble is, once you get used to HD video, hard to watch SD again. Might be an age thing, my 70 year old eyes need hd to see sd. You can get Dish HD with a portable antenna, but if you want HD Directv, you need the traveller or set up a real portable dish, a real pain because you have to line up 3 sats. As Dave used to say: Do what makes you happy.
Jim
The problem is the lnb frequencys are different... Bell, Dish and direct are using the same lnb's ...,and yes your system works very well in Canada, US. And Mexico....
Dudley
Not sure this is correct - Bell and Dish, perhaps. Direct - take a look at the spacing, they are definitely different LNBs than are used for Dish.
The issue with changing the Trav'ler to a different provider is more complex than just the LNB. As I understand it, there's a difference in the turret as well and while you can go from Direct to Dish without replacing the turret, you can't go the other way.
DirecTV-to-DISH Travler Conversions | rvSeniorMoments (https://rvseniormoments.com/tech-docs/dish-tv-for-rvs/directv-to-dish-travler-conversions/)
Yeah, but the OP wants to go from Canadian to Dish.
If Canadian Bell - should not be an issue
If Canadian Shaw - requires a whole new unit.