Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question (Read 1081 times) previous topic - next topic

Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Thank you all in advance for your patience! My coach has the tracStar system installed. I found documentation for a Dish system with wiring but the receiver is not present.

I use Direct TV at home and prefer to stay with that. Should I be able to just buy a receiver and add activate the service by plugging it in where the Dish receiver was?

I assume I need a receiver for both TV's.

Thank you.

Jeff

1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #1 –
We have Directv at home & coach, 1 account. Have had Dish, no joy, the Directv works much better when moving due to their birds are higher allowing better reception above trees etc.
May be a Ford vs Chevy issue :dance:  we have better luck with Directv, its just expensive.
We use a single receiver in the coach with both TV's playing same tune.

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #2 –
I have direct TV and tractor too.  You have to go into setup and hit bird 101 for standard def TV.

It will work great.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #3 –
Hi Jeff,  we installed a Winegard Trav'ler dish antenna.  Not for use in motion but it finds three satellites all by itself.  We have a Genie receiver.  All of these work very well.  A second mini Genie can be used for a second tv.  I don't have one but I think they can be wireless.  It is a challenge to do all of this yourself.  You can get someone else to install it in your coach (not DirecTV though) as a mobile system.

We bring the rcvr into the house and use it inside while we are here. Works well here too. 

There are differences between an fixed account and a mobile account.  Barry and Cindy gave me a lot of help.  Let us know if we can help. 

Roger

 
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #4 –
We have DirecTV in the coach ... our original account that is a Traveler's account. We were full time for 4 years before getting another place. We replaced the old TracStar in motion dome that was on this coach with a Winegard Travler.  We did not care about in motion viewing and the old unit was not HD.  We have a separate account with DirecTV at our home in Tucson that I suspend when we are on the road, and vice versa.  Our DirecTV Traveler's account is old enough that I have both the East and West Coast news feeds ... not available any longer.  I have been told, however, that If I am in a location for a while, I can call tech support and give them an address to change my viewing for "local channels".  Formerly, only Dish offered that service and DirecTV said they could not make that kind of update.  I have not tried it, so it is just hearsay.  I am planning on updating my receiver to a newer Genie style and add one for the bedroom. 
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #5 –
Thanks everyone. I called Direct TV and we qualify for the Genie upgrade at home. They are charging $49.00 for installation. Once the Genie is good to go the tech will install the outgoing DVR's in the coach. The account is set up so I can suspend coach service when we aren't using it, and suspend the house service. when we are traveling. Everything stays on the same account. My monthly bill goes up $10.00 a month.

Hope it works! The TracStar dish has a 2005 date code. I have no idea how long they last but as long as it works with these receivers I'm good.  ;D
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #6 –
With DirecTV you can change your Service Address by calling them up and asking to speak to the mobile accounts group.  They will change your service address (you need a street address and the county) and then they will send something to the satellite that changes to the local channels in the local area.  Phoenix for example covers all of norther AZ from California to the Grand Canyon and over toward Colorado.  Sometimes we call every other day, sometimes once a month when we aren't moving much.  When the tech comes ask him to show you how to change your location on the Genie.  You still have to call DirecTV to get the satellite to change.

There has been some discussion about setting your service address in (or near) NYC or LA and then you are supposed to get either NYC ot LA major broadcast channels anywhere in the country.  I have not tried it.  I will at some point and report.

There is a way to get major broadcast channels everywhere (NYC or LA) if you get "permission" from the FCC and your home stations and pay more each month.  Not going to happen.

The new Genie is great.  Record 4 programs and watch one at the same time.  We record pretty much everything we want to watch and watch them when we want. Virtually all HD. 

Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Roger and Susan (aka Home2) –
With DirecTV you can change your Service Address by calling them up and asking to speak to the mobile accounts group.  They will change your service address (you need a street address and the county) and then they will send something to the satellite that changes to the local channels in the local area.
...snip...
There has been some discussion about setting your service address in (or near) NYC or LA and then you are supposed to get either NYC ot LA major broadcast channels anywhere in the country.  I have not tried it.  I will at some point and report.

[/i]Roger

I have done this for years. Have always used NYC. Havn't tried to get LA locals. Does put evening news a little early in the west.

hth
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #8 –
Elliot,  Thanks for reporting your experience. What address did you use  in NYC?  I was thinking about using the Liberty Harbor RV Park. I will try it.

The other official way to do it costs an extra $5 or $15/month.

Having things on earlier would be OK since we record most of it anyway to watch later.  The way we are doing it now is pretty simple.  The local spot beams are bigger than they want to to know.  We got Tuscon in Phoenix and since we got Phoenix in Parker, AZ a couple hundred miles away we probably could have gotten Phoenix in Tucson.

One advantage with getting local stations is local weather.  My DW likes to know what is heading our way even though we get weather on all of our mobile devices. 

Two winters ago we spent 3+ months in the SE USA.  We got local TV using the crank up antennae everywhere but Cherokee, NC.  Out west and up north not so lucky.  35 miles or so seems to be the limit for broadcast TV, a little further with good line of sight.

Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Roger and Susan (aka Home2) –
Elliot,  Thanks for reporting your experience. What address did you use  in NYC?  I was thinking about using the Liberty Harbor RV Park. I will try it.        Roger
I use my son's address in Long Island City now but used the 79th St Marina several summers.
I suspect Liberty Harbor would work fine.

Aside:
I would/will turn the set on and switch to the Guide before calling DirecTV to change the Service Address.
I could see the old locals go away and the new ones roll in.
Then one summer the new channels didn't show. I called and worked with DT several times and the answers were "Well, sometimes it takes a while ...".
Then I discovered the secret!!!
I had used the "Favorites" feature to display only the range of channels I could select from.
I had instructed the receiver to not tell me about the new channels!!!
When I changed "Favorites" to display ALL channels they reappeared.
Confession: :not:
I actually had this happen to me more than once. I had forgotten the secret over the winter :headwall:
hth
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #10 –
Tracstar and Direct TV.  Just take the receiver out of the kitchen and put in the coach and we are good to go.  Dan
Dan & Shirley Stansel
2002 U295 4020 AGDS Build#6054
Towing Buick Enclave & M &  G Braking
Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, Texas
MC# 16650

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #11 –
Thats what we are doing now too, Dan.  The challenging part was installing everything in the coach myself.  I wanted it to look just so.  Once installed and the Genie and the satellite dish configured in the coach it works fine.  Same in the house. Now we just move the Genie back and forth.

Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #12 –
I love easy solutions. After thinking about our planned DTV appointment next week to do our 'free' upgrade to Genie at home I realized that it would make more sense to keep what have at home in place, and have DTV install the Genie, Genie Mini and a Genie Wireless Bridge in the motorhome.

I called DTV and they agreed to meet me at the coach next Saturday. This is the first time that a 4 hour service call window doesn't bother me in the least.  :D
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #13 –
No joy. I knew it would not go as expected when the DTV tech took off his greasy tool belt and dropped in on the cream colored bedspread. I explained that this was not a good idea.

He asked me if I had a ladder. I told him I did and asked why. He said he had to get up on the roof to aim the dish. It went down hill from there, followed by a few calls to his 'trainer' since he had never done one of these before. After some coaching he got everything hooked up. He couldn't activate the receiver because he could't find the correct dish to select from the receiver's activation menu.

I asked him to just leave everything and I would figure it out. He refused, saying he couldn't leave it unless it was activated. I asked him to call his supervisor. The supervision said if he left it, I'd be locked in for two years even if I was unable to get it working.

This was the new Genie, wireless bridge and Genie Mini.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.  :D
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Trac Star in motion satellite system, Direct TV question

Reply #14 –
When I read your earlier post that you were having Direct TV -SEND A TECH- to install your receiver and activate your system my whole body began to shudder and pucker up!
But, I thought maybe Direct TV can handle this.
My coach came with the KVH sat. system. It was set up for Direct TV. I switched to Dish.
 When I first called Dish to get some help on the transfer I could tell they did not have a clue about any system other than the ones they install. They sounded on the phone like I was installing a home built set-up. When they offered to send a tech I could tell it would be a waste of time.
YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN when you are working with the older systems.
I did find some info on converting the system and upgrading the software via a laptop. I followed those directions. bought a Direct to dish jumper plug and did get the system to work.
If you want I could send you the info I gathered on the upgraded software.
Is your system made by KVH?
Mine is TracVision.
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.