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New Satellite Dish

I'm going to install a new satellite dish (cheapest possible HD) and I'm torn between two scenarios.  The first is removing the old (very old) manual crank up dish, sealing the holes or plating over them, mounting the new dish thereabouts and running the new coax to the switch box (not sure where it is) and new coax from there to up front.  I suspect the old switching mechanism may not be up to the standards of HD (which is why I'm replacing all the coax as I know it isn't up to snuff for HD).  This is a lot of work vs. scenario #2.  A few years ago a ran a conduit through my driver's side cabinets from above the microwave to up front for 110 to power a new flat panel.  If I put the satellite dish above that area I could easily run the wire into the refrigerator vent without even drilling a hole in the roof and running the coax in my conduit to the front.  This will bypass all the switching apparatus but I really don't think that's a big deal vs. all the work I'll save myself.  Does anyone see a fly in my ointment?  Do these new satellite dishes need 12V or do they get power via the coax from the receiver?  Anyone who has done this please tell me about it.
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #1
Been there, done that. Our coach came with a "Dome", and we thought that would work fine. WRONG! DISH said it was an old system and, even with a new modem, it might not work right. After much thought about $$$, we switched to a "Tailgator" exterior system (self-aligning) that has worked perfect!
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #2
Yeah...that's what I'm looking at only the tailgater has an optional mount for on the roof.  I just need to get the coax from it to the conduit I installed through the driver's side cabinets.  Are those dishes powered with 12V?
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #3
Yeah...that's what I'm looking at only the tailgater has an optional mount for on the roof.  I just need to get the coax from it to the conduit I installed through the driver's side cabinets.  Are those dishes powered with 12V?

Mounting the tailgater is great, but leaving it free standing is better.  Sometimes you get into areas where the tree block your signal.  By using it free standing on a optional stand and extra coax you can get it past the trees for a better signal.  You can also plug into the cable connection input in your bay.  Mounting on the roof limits your flexibility.

John M.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #4
Ours works fine. Here we have "line of sight", it just sits on the ground.  One project I have in mind, is to make an adapter to mount the "gator" to a camera tripod, so as to move it around the site. Another thing to consider, if you really like t.v., is those small units are no where close to the reception one gets from the "big dishes".
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #5
Yeah...that's what I'm looking at only the tailgater has an optional mount for on the roof.  I just need to get the coax from it to the conduit I installed through the driver's side cabinets.  Are those dishes powered with 12V?
They have a 120 vac. transformer to dc.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #6
Another G2 user here with the carryout mounted.  Few times we haven't had sat connection were a nice break.  But depending on what size screen you have, I don't think you will notice a difference between the small dome and the larger dishes.  We got ours on sale for under 400. 

I have started asking for satellite friendly sites and if they are available parks will put you in them.  12v and 110 are available in our edition in the top left forward overhead cabinet.
George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #7
Maybe our tastes have expanded. These days, we run two MacBooks .+ T.V. world-wide. A lot of the parks we've stayed at have had a "bait & switch" method where none of the above works worth a damn. In this park, we got turned onto a after market provider that provides wi-fi & t.v over the existing 1970 cable set-up. Works perfect, yes, $60.00 a month.  DISH has been fantastic when we hit the road and don't need the service.  b^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #8
Yup nothin like the bait of wifi designed for 1200 modems.
George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #9
Yeah...that's what I'm looking at only the tailgater has an optional mount for on the roof.  I just need to get the coax from it to the conduit I installed through the driver's side cabinets.  Are those dishes powered with 12V?

I may be wrong about this but for HD, I believe you may need HDMI cables....something to check before you run cables.
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #10
Should be cable to satellite box(dvr) and HDMI from box to TV.
John
John and Stacey Smith
Motorcade NO: 11973
1997 U295 CSGI 40'..Build No. 5036     
920 Watts on the roof..CAT Power w/fuel Inj. Programmer
2021 GMC Sierra AT4 1500
EX..2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
Ex 1990 U280 RSAI 36'..Build No. 3638

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #11
The portables come with 50ft of cable and 50 ft for 12v connection.  The HDMI will be he best run from box to set.
George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #12
Dwayne, If you are thinking DirecTV and want an automatic HD antenna, it will probably be a roof mounted Wineguard 3LNB SWM.  HD Dish satellites have several different options.  All HD cabling from receivers to TV will be HDMI and not use RV RF coax switch box.  All cabling from antenna is directly to receiver and cannot not use your RV switch box.  Quad-shield RG6 coax is preferred from antenna to receiver.  Coax cables should not have sharp bends and not use connectors to piece cables together.  Wineguard control box needs 120-volts and does not use 12-volts.  Some receivers use two coax cables from antenna, but most use a single coax cable.

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #13
Dish Tailgater needs only the coax, not a separate 12 volt line to the dish.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #14
I have a Dish account already and understand you can an an RV dish for $7 per month.  I think I'll forget about mounting it for the time being...just put it on the roof and run the one coax through the fridge vent opening as I have the conduit in place from above the microwave to the front of the coach.  If I don't need 12V or 110 for the Tailgater, should be a fairly easy instal.  Thanks
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #15
You need 110v for the modem, not to the dish tripod or tailgater. One thing, Dish is pretty strong on protection, as all of us should be concerned with:
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #16
Is the modem installed near the dish or near the receiver?
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #17
Is the modem installed near the dish or near the receiver?

Inside, just below the receiver, short cord from modem to receiver.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #18
Does it require a phone line?  I don't even have a phone line on my existing receiver.  Just can't buy pay per view.
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #19
Does it require a phone line?  I don't even have a phone line on my existing receiver.  Just can't buy pay per view.

No, it's all on air. DISH has many options you can choose from  $-$$$ a month. We have a cable inlet in the wet bay, or the cable can just be run through a window to the modem.  If you can keep the cable off the ground, so much the better, we had a "army" of ants hitch hike into the coach one time!
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

 

Re: New Satellite Dish

Reply #20
I have the Dish Tailgaiter, Dish VIP211K receiver, no modem, attached a old laptop hard drive to record shows.

No problems, just can't order pay for view on the fly.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide