RE: Looking for the right antenna
It's tough it you tell anyone you want "mobile" service since there's no such thing as mobile service (or you want service in your RV).
You can call Winegard and get whatever service you need and the appropriate receiver. You can call Winegard at 866-609-9374 and they will assist you with your service setup no matter what antenna you choose to use with that service.
Well there you go, I'll just call them up and see what happens. It dosen't make any sense that those folks at Direct TV or perhaps Dish don't have a department that would just take care of RV'ers. The runaround I got today. Schessschhhhh!
RE: Looking for the right antenna
No, it's just plugging in assuming you get the right satellite antenna.
If you want HD go Dish. If you don't care about HD my personal preference is DirecTV.
That is what I wanted. I called Direct and they said I had to go through a local dealer. Ok, I called up Best Buy. They finally patched me through to "their" Direct TV agent and then I ended up with someone who just flubbed me off to a website that was bogus.
So I understand you have to get the mobile service through a dealer. Which dealer? Any tips on finding a dealer perhaps?
RE: Looking for the right antenna
He is asking about satellite TV and not OTA.
For portable dome style units you have the King Dome VuQube (manual, auto or the Tailgater) The Tailgater is restricted to Dish only, the 211K receiver you cannot connect more than one receiver or a DVR.
You also have the Winegard Carryout (automatic) or the Anser (semi-automatic).
All of these units work very well but since I work for Winegard I cannot make a recommendation. You will need to take a look at which service you prefer and whether HD is going to be a requirement. If it is, you must subscribe to Dish if you plan to use a dome type antenna since no dome can receive the DirecTV HDTV programming. DirecTV's satellites are centrally located over TX and service is available farther into Canada should those be your plans and all of the SDTV programming comes from only one satellite while Dish uses 3.
What it really comes down to with Dish or DirecTV is for what you will have to pay, what will you get so you should compare the programming packages.
Once you have the service determined it may help with your antenna selection. Just see which antenna makes the best sense for your budget, your travel plans and the amount of work you want to do when you setup.
Not really interested in the HD, but will want 2 receivers. Spent some time this afternoon with the Direct people trying to get RV Sat and just got the runaround and a bogus website. Been reading about these RV setups and antennas and it seems to be a bit more than just plugging it in. Well, maybe the Dish people will be more helpful tomorrow.
Looking for the right antenna
Just getting ready to go fulltime rv living and will need an antenna. Haven't decided on a provider yet, but what about the portable auto antennas that are available. We want portable?auto and I see the Winegard Anser Hybrid or the Tailgater/Vucube flex. Can anyone provide some feedback on either of them?
RE: anser won't lock on
Yes, each is in a different oribit and location.
But with each being in a different orbit, the full range of programming is available by just locking onto one satellite? (I appreciate your answers, we are newbies and will be setting up a sat network soon,)
RE: anser won't lock on
OK, let's stop and back up.
The Anser will pick up any of the 6 dish satellites as well as the DirecTV 101 and Bell Express Vu's 2 satellites. I suspect if you are a FTA it will pick up those that use the KU signal like Dish or DirecTV as well.
You can point the Anser to the 119 and pick up whatever programming is being broadcast there. You can do the same with 110 or 129. What the Anser can do that others cannot is lock onto the 72.2 satellite where all of the Dish programming is available from a single satellite. You will not get your local Network programming but all (or nearly all) the rest is coming from 72.7.
So, now we just need to find out what you are doing wrong to get your Answer to lock onto 119. If you have not done so already, I would recommend that you disconnect the receiver from any incoming coax cable and run a check switch. When done it will say that if found less satellites, do you want to save. Yes you do.
Now, with the Anser unplugged, connect the coax, go to Menu>6>1>1 and select satellite 119 and transponder 11. Keep this screen on your TV while you power on the Anser. In just a few minutes you should see a green bar on the signal meter and below that, locked 119. Once that happens and you have a good signal of 40+ unplug the Anser and watch TV.
You said a few things here, mentioning numbers 119, 110, and 129. What exactly do those numbers mean?
RE: Anyone own a Champion Generator?
Since this is an RV forum . I assume the buyer plans to use the genset for camping purposes. Power Outages are a entirely different scenario and are irrelevant to the discussion.
Stating that the genset is great in a power outage only brings confusion to the discussion.
Any genset you can get your hands on is great during a power outage:S
Agreed
To OP and fellow NJ RV'r
I have 3 different Champs and they are reliable.
As I stated, their customer support is great when I had some questions.
They answer the phone and talk too you.
I had one small problem that was simple over the phone resolved.
I have never been in situation where I was asked to turn off generator at RV events or parks that had no power and that would be when we needed the genny.
I don't see where purchasing a generator for power outage is "irrelevant"...Most rv'ers for years purchased generators for their rv's to have "IN CASE" they lost power to their camper. How do you figure a power outage is "irrelevant"
This is an rv forum and MOST people purchase generators in case they have a power outage and absolutely have to fire it up to supply power to their rv...WHEN did that change?
How in the world does bringing up that the Champion generator works great in a power outage situation causes confusion and is "irrelevant????
Sure ANY of them would be great to have in case of a power outage, but it's absurb to say that the Champion is as loud as a contractors gen set...ridiculous!!
For YEARS, ( for me, since 75)...campers purchased generators to supply power to anything they camped in in case they had no power...there were some boon docking which WOULD be an entirely different situation...but no where did OP say, "I'm going to be boon docking , what is the best generator, I will be using it a lot"...I would have NEVER posted that I would recommend a Champion for that, as I stated. BUT AGAIN, MOST campers, like myself, want BACK UP POWER, ie (in case of power outage), to provide AC/ lights, whatever to their rv if they lose electrical power...
So, WRONG that it isn't relevant...it was relevant when we lost power at Lake Keowee while camping for 2 day's in SC....needed a generator....It was relevant when we lost all power for a week while camping in WVA as a back up power supply...so how is it NOT relevant on an rv forum????? REally PLEASE explain that one to me because it would be a FIRST!!!
How could it cause confusion????? DId OP say they were going to be boon docking a lot? Did they say they would be running the generator more often than not? NO, they asked if anyone owned one.... So those of us who do, posted and I went as far to tell WHY...
Sorry to have gone on, but to say talking about a Champion gen, when that was the topic was either irrelevant or would cause confusion is nonsense.
We probably will be doing some boon docking from time to time, and for this and becuse they are so quiet (from what I've heard), I'm probably gonna buy the Honda's. But for my camp I think the Champion will do just fine as I wouldn't be running it much as I've got complete solar and wind generation at my camp. From the responses so far I believe the Champion would give me some good reliable service.
RE: Anyone own a Champion Generator?
I was just looking for one to put up at my camp and not spend a whole lot of cash. I will not be running it much, just when I need some electric for power tools, (skill saw and such) Would the 4000 watt model be suffucient for this application?
My 3500/4000 has run my table saw, skill saw, sawzall, and miter saw without effort. None of those pull the amps my 13.5 btu AC unit on the trailer does, especially at start up.
It looks like the 3500/4000 will fit the bill. I think I'll be getting it. In case I use it with the RV at some point, so it's fine on the a/c unit too? I've got two units, it'll probably only run one at a time, right?
RE: Anyone own a Champion Generator?
Anyone notice between the chest thumping and declarations of what is best - that the OP hasn't been back since asking the question?
Some are too lazy to use the search feature and then don't bother to even respond to those offering answers.
Hey, I appreciate the answers very much. There are 5 pages here and I have read every reply. After posting the op I was not able to get back online. As a long haul truck driver when I'm rollin there is no time for banging the keys. Now in 4 years when I'm sitting at Quartzsite in my RV I'll have more time. Thanks again to everyone for replying.
RE: Anyone own a Champion Generator?
I was just looking for one to put up at my camp and not spend a whole lot of cash. I will not be running it much, just when I need some electric for power tools, (skill saw and such) Would the 4000 watt model be suffucient for this application?
I figured this would become a Honda/Yamaha vs Champion thread. Sigh
Are the Champs perfect, no. Search the forum for problems with the big names and you will find they are not perfect either.
Still for the money saved, the vast majority of people that use the Champs are happy with them even if they are inferior to the big names. Mine may not be as good, but it fills my needs and that is good enough not to have to spend the big bucks on the big names.
BTW I am the third owner of my older 3500/4000. The original owner used it to run his trailer. He sold the both to the second owner that used it to run that and after he sold the trailer, he used it to run his cabin. By it's appearance and the oil that came out when I changed it, I can tell you it was not pampered. Still it starts with one or two pulls every time if it's below freezing or 100 outside. It'll run our AC at 5280 ft and even 9200 ft as long as the converter isn't pulling power to charge the battery. A good buy for $62 used. I'd buy another tomorrow if it died, that is unless the new Champion 3100 inverter model proves to be as dependable. Then I might spend the $899 for it.
Actually come to think of it, my solar will do the charging and any inverter model will have to ramp up to run the AC, especially up there, so I may not be gaining much for the money spent considering the need for AC at that altitude is rare.
Anyone own a Champion Generator?
For anyone who owns this brand how about a review? I know they are louder than the Honda's, but how about reliability? (That would be my main concern.)
RE: Went to Hershey RV show yesterday, and
I had my RV in for repair at Keystone RV and when I went to pick it up they had like 15 RV's they were prepping that they sold at the Hershey show. Would have liked to go but was busy.
Problem with water pump
Second time out with my used RV, a 2000 model Seabreeze, and have developed a problem with the water (pressure) pump. It seems to be on, making the same noise as before, but cannot get any pressure built up and consequently no water. The only thing we did upon storing it for the last 3 mths was drain all the tanks (except water heater). We did this by just opening our faucets.
Things worked just fine the first time out, but now a problem. Was it someting we did, or did the pump just go south because of age? Any ideas where this pump is located? I hear it, but can't find it. It sounds like it's comin from underneath as I have not seen it inside as of yet. Any one have any suggestions?
RE: Second A/C on Fiver!
We have two in ours, right from the get go. Stays nice and cool. The other advantage is if you are at a campgrounnd where it gets a bit noisy, just go turn it on close the door and you don't hear a thing.
RE: New fifth wheel too big....
TO WASH! :B
hubby is deadzo. he just washed the 5ver and truck. must be 100 deg. out there. he is whooped.
he said we made a mistake buying this big fifth, yea right. his arm is falling off he said :E
So I am laughing at him cause he is whooped. the fifth whooped him! :)
he sure takes good care of the truck and camper and I sure appreciate the hard work he puts into it!
I told him that. Made him smile!
Yeah, tell me about it. My back is killing me after all the work we just did on ours. This 55 yr old can't take it anymore. (I guess the tent we had before the 5er was easier to maintain)
RE: Cover for the 5th. wheel Hitch??
Do any of you use a cover for your 5th. wheel hitch?? Is it necessary? Does it really protect the hitch? What brand is the best?
thanks
I use a piece of soft top roofing from a Jeep. It's nice and sturdy, completely waterproof and was FREE from my brother-in-laws garage.
RE: Replacement battery suggestions?
I just replaced my Interstate 12v marine batteries today with Interstate 6v deep cycle (232a). They cost more but I'm hoping they'll do better. They're much larger. I have a habit of letting them run low before recharging. From what I read the deep cycle are a little more forgiving of that.
They are the way to go. Used them for many years while living in a shack in the woods with solar. They are what I have in my RV.
RE: Replacement battery suggestions?
89.99 golf cart batteries at costco
Too bad your not in So Cal. I just bought 6 @ $79.99. Each At Costco.
But we are closer to Mexico where they are all made now. :B
Assuming they are 6 volts, just how many amp hours are they?
RE: Our first 5th wheel!
Good for you! We just got into ours this year too. It's a 2000 Seabreeze model that we got for a great price and it just needed some TLC. We got her shaped up and spent a week in it so far. Since we just moved up from a tent, having all the living amenities was great. Good luck to you.
