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TV Upgrade

Going to begin the last project for Casper soon.  I have looked at what others have done.  My question is.  Where did you place the receiver?  Closet shelf perhaps?  How did you get a signal to the front TV?  Needs a HDMI cable if possible.

Thanks.

Re: TV Upgrade

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Jerry & Coleen –
Going to begin the last project for Casper soon.  I have looked at what others have done.  My question is.  Where did you place the receiver?  Closet shelf perhaps?  How did you get a signal to the front TV?  Needs a HDMI cable if possible.

Thanks.

Jerry -  My receiver is in the front upper cabinet to the side of the driver.  I purchased 6-8' HDMI cable to connect. 

I just recently upgraded to a DISH 1000.2 walk out dish antenna for HD reception. The big problem that I encountered was getting the IR remote controller to work from my bedroom TV.  I upgraded my bedroom TV to a 22" dual TV with DVD. 

DISH dual receivers (mine is a 722K) only use IR reception for the 1st remote.  The second remote MUST use UHF.  If your receiver is hidden in a cabinet at the front of the RV like mine, UHF reception is poor at best and spotty from the bedroom. 

I called DISH asking how to get the second remote to use IR (since the remote came equiped with an IR/UHF switch). I was told that the 2nd remote has to use UHF.  To solve the UHF reception problem I was instructed to remove the antenna from behind the Dish receiver and to purchase a plain old cable splitter and install it at the back of the bedroom TV.  Connect as indicated in the attached diagram. This works like a charm.

BTW... the reason for the IR/UHF switch on the second remote is to use it as a replacement for the 1st remote if it should go bad.  Apparently all replacement remotes have this UHF/IR switch.

Re: TV Upgrade

Reply #2 –
I've attached a picture of the antenna setup.  Not great quality but perhaps you can get the idea.

Re: TV Upgrade

Reply #3 –
We have our receivers (stereo and Direct TV) in the side cabinets above the driver.  The cabinets are only about 12" deep and it is a challenge to find hardware that will fit.  We are using the latest HD HDR Receiver from Direct TV and it is shallow enough.  As for the stereo receiver, we have one of the lower priced Yamaha receivers and it is just short enough to fit.  I posted more on our TV upgrade earlier this year.  Also replaced the Bose and posted on that too.  We have about 8 months on the system (full time) and no complaints thus far.  The TV hanger works like a charm as do the speakers. 

By the way, a great place to buy HDMI cables is from Monoprice.com.  I picked up on this source from C-Net that does a lot of computer and audio/video equipment reviews.  They only use cables from Monoprice and if it is good enough for them, I thought I would give them a try.  I recently bought a 40 foot HDMI cable for about $40.  The price locally was about $300.  They have lots of other stuff besides cables too.

Re: TV Upgrade

Reply #4 –
I came across DISH's technical response graphic.  The only difference on my installation is that I do not have the specific 15db attenuator at the remote TV location that is depicted in the graphic below. That being said... my installtion works just fine.

Re: TV Upgrade

Reply #5 –
Ron:  Are these antennas unique to Dish as I have Direct tv and use no antennas such as you have?  Are they for another purpose?  Tks DAN

Re: TV Upgrade

Reply #6 –
Dish remotes come in two flavors.  IR and RF.  Mine are combos.  IR and RF.  The little antennas extend the RF range of the remotes.

Neat thing about dish only one receiver is required to receive two channels.  Direct TV may have a similar receiver now.  I abandoned Direct TV three years ago when they refused to service my equipment because it was in an RV.  Even though I was paying them equipment insurance.  That could have changed as well.

Both companies have similar programing.  But I think Dish has the edge.  I know Dish is easier to deal with.  Especially when on the move.  Your experience may vary.

Re: TV Upgrade

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Jerry & Coleen –
I abandoned Direct TV three years ago when they refused to service my equipment because it was in an RV.  Even though I was paying them equipment insurance.  That could have changed as well. Both companies have similar programing.  But I think Dish has the edge.  I know Dish is easier to deal with.  Especially when on the move.  Your experience may vary.
Jerry, I agree that experience with both Dish and DirecTV varies.

We have been very pleased with DirecTV since we started with them back in 2005 (sticks-and-bricks) - they've been most helpful, and even more so since we use their direct contact number (800-769-4635) for RVers.

We also have the equipment protection - and they have come out to the coach to work on it (eg, when we installed a new receiver and transferred our house account over to the FT when we went full-time).

Our new Winegard Trav'ler SK-3005 is great for the HD DVR, but it is specific to DirecTV.... meaning that once you decide on which of the Winegard dishes (either DISH or DirecTV), there is no switching satellite services without purchasing a new dish antenna.  I say this for those who are contemplating new systems.  Be sure to look at the programming packages and decide which company meets your needs.  We don't subscribe to movie channels, and prefer only a few of the premium channels, so we subscribe to DirecTV's Choice Xtra package (one notch above the basic service, I believe).  I compared that to the DISH line-up, and could not find a comparable package - and in order to include those few channels that we really enjoy, we would have had to select a more expensive package with DISH.  All this to say... check the two companies' offerings carefully, and then purchase your antenna for your new system!

Re: TV Upgrade

Reply #8 –
Interesting.  I am glad Direct TV cleaned up their act.  They used to be horrible to RV folks.  I was a Direct TV customer for many years.  I don't use movie channels.  Do like sports.  And HD.  I have drooled over a Moto Sat, but they are out of business.  Wineguard Traveler is the best out there now I am told.  We will replace the Windguard manual we have now.  I don't even know if it works.  I have a dish on a tripod for now that sees all three Dish Network satellites at once.  The Wineguard roof unit will do the same and auto sync.

So I will stick with Dish as long as they continue to support RV types.  FWIW.  We have Cox Cable now at our house in Mesa.  When I got my portable antenna set up last week (it had been on Dish pause) for ten months.  I discovered the Dish picture was sharper on our 55 inch plasma than Cox.  Not much, but enough one could see the difference.  I will miss the 25,000 down cable internet speed.

Thanks for the info.

Re: TV Upgrade

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Dan J. Stansel –
Ron:  Are these antennas unique to Dish as I have Direct tv and use no antennas such as you have?  Are they for another purpose?  Tks DAN

Dan as been answered the antenna is used on Dish receivers to extend the reception range for the second remote.  My 722K receiver can support two channels (either two TVs or PIP with one TV).  I previously had DirecTV in my MH and Dish then ATT at home ($$$$!!!).  I gave each the opportunity to consolidate my service with one provider ATT only had a DirecTV solution for the MH.  DirecTV would not accommodate my need to have a single account ( I tried three separate attempts).  I could not see paying a complete separate account fee for my MH as I only use it 4-5 days a month.  DirecTV would not budge.  Dish accommodated my need and reduced my fees by $100/ month (five TVs w/DVR at home and one receiver, two TVs in the MH).

DirecTV provided me very good service when I had them for my MH.  They just would not budge on the single account need I required.

I use a walk out Dish antenna mostly since much of our camping is at campgrounds with a lot of trees on a lake. I have to say that the DirecTV single Sat (non-High Def) was a lot easier to point and tune than my current Dish multiple satellite  High Definition setup.  But I do like that High def!

Re: TV Upgrade

Reply #10 –
Ron:  I have Direct tv since 1995.  I have a unit just for the rv.  The only problem is I have to go on line or call when it has been in storage for a while as it goes off line because it is off and not getting updates.  It only takes couple minutes to get started.  Never had Dish so can't speak to that.  Finally figured out how to get the local channels if in the sat area which has the signal. Both have one thing in mine and that is how to get you to pay more money for their service.  New customers get a lot of extras to sign up// old customers
get nothing.  DAN

Re: TV Upgrade

Reply #11 –
I have Dish with wineguard traveler. One account for home and MH. I am amazed at the way the traveler locks onto all three birds and sees through dense trees. Haven't been blocked by trees since I got it. There, I have jinxed myself.
 

Re: TV Upgrade

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Tim Fiedler –
I have Dish with wineguard traveler. One account for home and MH. I am amazed at the way the traveler locks onto all three birds and sees through dense trees. Haven't been blocked by trees since I got it. There, I have jinxed myself.

That's good to know Tim....  Now when i get a spare couple extra grand ($$$) saved (Tires & Batteries 1st),  I'll feel comfortable upgrading my rooftop system.  my old Dome system required some type of communication between the receiver and the dome to locate sats.  The newer receivers do not provide that support (i'm told) and the newest rooftop dishes do not require that support.