Satellite solutions

[MonkeyClaw]

For those that have them, what satellite system do you use when you travel? I have DirecTV at home an could easily take my receiver or DVR with me when I travel. I am curious what people are using for their hybrid and if they have regrets, ideas, etc.

I've been thinking about a simple stand and DirecTV dish. They can be purchased cheaply on E-Bay. I also see the 'portable' systems by Wineguard and other makers that seem like they could be really useful. Mounted systems don't seem reasonable for a hybrid due to the weaker structure.

Any other ideas would be great.

[tnchuck100]

When I upgraded my home DirecTV to HD I took the old SD receiver and dish to my camper. After much aggravation with wind blowing the dish over and alignment problems I ended up with these devices:

http://www.winegard.com/mobile/tripod.php
Winegard TR-3535 Satellite Tripod Mount

This has a wide footprint and is much more wind tolerant.

http://www.alignasite.com/

This device lets you see the sky where the satellite is and makes it easy to avoid trees and other obstacles when aiming the dish.

One more thing. DO NOT let DirecTV know you are using this in an RV. They want a separate subscription for an RV. In my case as far as DirecTV knows it is just another bedroom TV in my home. That is only $6.00 a month. They only down side is you will lose your local channels if you get too far from home. But, hey, you have a crank-up antenna for locals when away from your home area.

[nylyon]

I had played with a manual dish for quite a while and it didn't work for me. Maybe I'm just impatient, but many of my trips are short (2-3 days) and fiddling with a dish just didn't seem like a reasonable amount of time.

Recently, I got a good deal on a Dish Tailgater, and while I haven't used it while camping, the driveway test is awesome! Just about anywhere I put it, it automatically finds the birds. I would definitely recommend an automatic solution

[Bassdogs]

I am a Dish user, but the solutions are the same. The auto tune products work great based on every review that I have read from current users. The tailgater is the cheapest and one of the best but only works with Dish.

Depending on how you use your RV, don't give up on the tripod / standard dish. I switched from SD to HD last fall and after upgrading the dish on my tripod, I have had no problem with tuning and reception in my TT. Am considering getting a tailgater that I would only use for short overnite stops or weekends when setting up the tripod might be a bit more work than I want to do.

Set up your tripod and practice tuning your sat signal AT HOME. Remember when you travel, you'll have to reset the dish for the location where you camp. The settings are easy to find by zip code and equally easy to adjust the dish. The key to using a tripod is to get it set up absolutely vertical and balanced on firm ground. Hanging a gallon milk jug or similar weight will keep wind from moving it once you have it set up. Another solution is to screw it into a picnic table after you level the table. A cheap signal meter is a critical device in tuning the signal. they can be had for less than $10 and are installed "in line" near the dish.

the auto tune units are great but can be pricey. Unless you are a gypsey and setting up in different places several times each season, they might be more than you want to invest and the cheaper tripod set up will work fine. It will take you 15 to 30 minutes compared to 5 or 10 with the auto tune, but its about how much you want to spend.

[namusmc65]

I also have had direct TV for years. With all the new HD TV's out there, I would not think of watching standard definition any more. Direct TV has never given me a problem about using a receiver on the road. In fact, I have called them several times from campsites needing help. Now I am an old hand. I just take a receiver from my back office and take it with us. In fact, leaving out this morning for Flint River RV park in Bainbridge, GA. Don't bother buying a dish. You can find plenty abandoned everywhere. Direct TV does not want them back. You can easily find an abandoned one somewhere or I just asked around. I have several spares out in my barn. I used the HD dish. As far as a tripod, I used the Heavy Duty surveyor tripod you can get from Home Depot for around $100. You can get the piece to mate the tripod to the dish online. You can also buy a tripod online ready to go for direct TV dish. Alignment can sometimes be a problem, especially when the trees are full of leaves. Just need to do a little planning ahead with the campground map so you are in a good location. The more practice you get, the quicker you will be with setup. I would not think of traveling without my satellite dish, especially during football season. Gotta watch the draft this week! Time to hit the road. Good luck.

[namusmc65]

Below is a link to a company who specializes in TV for RV. They have a complete tripod package (heavy duty) plus signal meter, etc. Check them out. This is the tripod I use.

http://tv4rv.com/sunshop/index.php?l...ct_detail&p=13

[MonkeyClaw]

Thanks for all of the suggestions! Maybe I'll go on CL or something and see if I can get a dish for free.

I usually travel for 1-3 weeks at a time throughout the summer and sometimes stay at various places for those weeks, so I would be setting up several times throughout the summer. The ease of the 'tailgater' models that auto-find the reception is tempting for this reason. From what I've seen, they are only available in standard definition though, correct?

[nylyon]

No Tailgater is HD, but only Dish Network. It is made by King Controls who makes models for Direct TV, just not as inexpensive.

[Bassdogs]

It was implied that the auto tuners could lock a signal in trees or whatever where you couldn't get a signal with a tripod. Simply not true. If the signal is blocked or to weak to lock in, the same would be true with either antanne system. If you are mechanically challenged and have trouble setting things up, then the auto tuners are the answer. Tripod mounted dishes are pretty simple to set up and with practice you can be watching tv in 30 minutes. Moving a lot and have stays of 2 or 3 days, you also may do better with the auto tune. They are just more expensive, not more effective.

[nylyon]

It will come down to time over cost. I've done both. Time to watch TV with an automatic dish is 10 minutes. Time with manual is 30 (my personal experience) BUT the biggest difference is with the automatic dish, time messing with the dish is 1 minute, with the manual dish is 15-20. If I stayed in a location for weeks at a time, I would not get an automatic dish, but can't beat it for weekend trips.

On the down side. As mentioned, you can likely get a traditional dish free, or close to it. Automatic dishes, mine was $350 and they go up from there. The surface area of the automatic dish is smaller than the traditional dish, so it will likely be more affected by obstacles than the manual dish BUT in my case, you have far more options on where to place the Tailgater (on the roof, slide out, truck bed, picnic table, probably even in a tree!).

[Seann45]

I have a full direct TV dish still in the box.. sat finder and all that you can have for the cost of shipping.. Direct and dish wont let me subscribe as I am a Canadian and it is just taking up space here..

[buckeyejim]

I got so tired of not getting the dish aligned with satalite. I purchased a Bird Dog meter on EBay for about $125.00, was the best purchase I have made. Set up your dish, attach the meter, turn the dish until it beeps on the meter, then connect the lead from the dish to the receiver. Can be set for Direct TV or Dish. A have a tri-pod I can use tent pegs to anchor, no problem in the wind, be sure your GROUND your dish & tripod & cable,

Buckeye Jim
Columbus Oh
2010 Eagle

[Jayco1101]

Set up is a breeze with Directv and a tripod with a SD dish and receiver....I simply setup the receiver by inputting the zipcode...this gives me the degrees the LNB needs to be pointed, I use the compass app(free) on my Iphone to adjust to the setting....I turn on the outside speakers when tuning and the chirping noise will become louder and quicker the better the signal...make sure the tripod is on flat/level ground...generally sets up in about 5 mins!!! Good Luck(make sure your antenna booster is turned off and the cable jumper is connected properly ( early day pifalls)

[Jayco1101]

BTW I have a x23B, not sure if that differs much from the x20!!!

[nylyon]

I finally got to test out the Tailgater this past weekend, and all I have to say is why didn't I do this sooner. Setup went like this... "Brittany (my 14 year old daughter), climb the ladder and place this satellite on the roof". I stood on the ground insuring that I still had a daughter after this (while mom stood watching me ). When she came down, I continued setting up the camper (sewer hose, water etc) and Brittany connected the coax, went inside and did a check switch.

By the time we were done setting up the camper, we went inside, washed up, grabbed a cream soda and watched a little TV! It was about as complex as hooking up to the Park Cable.

It got a little windy and when the neighbors awning took sail, we decided to take in the chairs, awning mat, and tailgater until it stopped. When things calmed down, we setup the satellite again, went to the store to get wood, and by the time we got back, it had locked on to all 3 satellites again.

[Jayco1101]

Does the tailgater provide SD and HD?

[nylyon]

Originally Posted by Jayco1101

Does the tailgater provide SD and HD?

Yes, BUT it receives Dish's Western Arc satellites. So for me, what that means is my local networks (NY City) are not in HD, but the rest is the same as home. The other disadvantage of the Western Arc is in the extreme northeast, the primary HD satellite might be difficult to get.

On my last trip, I had HD everything (except my locals).

[Jayco1101]

http://www.gonecamping.net/stories/satellitesys.html

This is a pretty good read....pretty much the system I use for Directv!!!