jwkeys
Port Orange, FL
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Joined: 02/07/2006
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Am trying to sort thru the maze of selecting a satellite TV antenna (KVH, Winegard) and the provider (DirectTV, Dish). Seems the jury is out on whether to have a dome antenna or a dish, either of which should be able to handle standard digital TV or HD. I am leaning toward Direct TV for the selection and the Traveler Slimline by Winegard. Anyone out there who can give so thoughts on the best options. Am not hard over on getting an HD TV as yet. Thanks.
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B&TA
Scottsdale, AZ
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Joined: 07/09/2003
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I've been a Direct TV customer since '95 and am very happy with them. As far as dome vs dish..... if you're not going to watch TV while traveling get a self seeking pop-up dish. I had a MotoSat installed and it finds the satellites within a couple of minutes. No problems with "rain fade" like you'll get with domes.
Bill & Terry
Scooter, "The Guard Dog"
2007 Sea Breeze 1321 Ford F-53 (but we call her "LUCY")
2007 Ford Escape in tow
"No exercise is better for the human heart than bending down to lift up another person." Tim Russert - RIP
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tdelorme
Texas
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I've had Both Dish and Direct in motorhomes. Hands down, Direct TV works better for me.
I've had KVH, Winegard Moving View and TracStar in motion domes.
KVH was junk.
Winegard Moving View works fine but makes alot of noise.
TracStar is what I have now and is without question the finest unit available today. Pricey, but it is far superior to whatever is next in line.
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recurry
Pleasanton, CA
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Joined: 01/21/2008
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jwkeys wrote:Am trying to sort thru the maze of selecting a satellite TV antenna (KVH, Winegard) and the provider (DirectTV, Dish). Seems the jury is out on whether to have a dome antenna or a dish, either of which should be able to handle standard digital TV or HD. I am leaning toward Direct TV for the selection and the Traveler Slimline by Winegard. Anyone out there who can give so thoughts on the best options. Am not hard over on getting an HD TV as yet. Thanks.
Actually, jury is not out on dome or dish. The straight story is as follows:
- Domes will be able to do a minimal amount of HD until DirecTV moves all their HD over to the new KA birds around end of this year/early next. Then all you'll get is SD.
- All domes will become obsolete by 2010 when DirecTV moves all their programming off of the old birds to the new KA birds and stops duplicate transmissions of HD and SD in favor of HD.
In other words, those with domes will either have to get a new dish or switch to DISH network (if they have a DISH capable dish).
The only dishes that one can buy now that won't be obsolete by 2010 are the Winegard 5 LNB Slimline and the Motosat HD-SL5.
I was at a Holiday Rambler/Fleetwood dealer yesterday and he's scared to death about all the customer issues he's going to have over the next few months as DirecTV moves all the HD programming off the KU satellites to the KA. His customers have paid thousands for LCD TV's and HD capable dome dishes but will not be able to get HD very soon now. He suspects they'll be more than a bit upset...
It's kind of a mess and DirecTV isn't being very forthcoming about it for obvious reasons. DISH Network is only a short term solution since they will end up doing the same thing but on a later schedule. Word is they are only a year or two behind DirecTV.
Bottom line is if you have a dome type DirecTV satellite dish or you buy anything but a Weingard 5 LNB Slimline or Motosat HD-SL5 today you'll be locked out of HD by around end of the year and nearly all programming (including SD) by 2010.
Lots of discussion on this in the Technology section and on the satellite TV boards.
------------
Ron
N6QL
2002 36' Country Coach Allure 350HP Cummins
2001 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
1978 Cessna T210M
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jwmII
out west
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Joined: 05/12/2003
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I have Direct t.v. I use their most basic dish mounted on a steel stake driven into the groound, and I can adjust it as needed wherever I happen to be to get the satellite signal. Usually I can accomplish the sat. location in 2-3 minutes with this setup. I do use a satellite locator in this process. This for me is the best way to go right now until all the rest of these questions shake out. Then I will do something different and go with a better system. So much equipment out there right now will be obsolete in a year. Save your money and just do the basics for now.
jwmII
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rvten
Crossville,TN
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Joined: 11/30/2000
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And how do you know our Domes can not be upgraded? Everyone is an expert. Give me some actual facts.
As for haveing a Dome my MH came with it only reason I got it. Other wise I would have a reg roof dish.
Tom & Bonnie
Crossville, TN.
Aspect 29H 2008
Class C passed Class A owner
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JaBob
Roswell, Georgia
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We have Direct TV at home and on the RV and find it to be good. Our RV uses a Winegard Move and View. We've had the Winegard for a little over a year and have had some problems but now think the problem has been solved.
First the unit was replaced because it had problems. But we continued to loose the locate system but now that problems seems to be solved. The problem was variable voltage, a real critical item, and was solved by installing a transformer prior to the unit. You may already have one, if not put one in.
Would we do it all over, yes in a minutes.
Bob
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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Dome or roof mounted dish or tripod mounted dish
Dome: Can see one sat at a time, Good for DirecTV standard television, however if you have dish, or either service HDTV and more than one receiver, or a dual input DVR, then you may need to see more than one satellite at a time, NO dome can do that.
Also, today's domes do not work on the KA band birds which DirecTV is moving their HDTV service to
Rooftop dishes http://www.motosat.com has a full line of roof top dishes They have 1 LNB Like the dome) 2 (Dish 500 class) 3 (Dish 1000 class) and Five (Current Direc Dual band HDTV service. When Direc TV switches to it's forthcoming 3-head dual band HDTV antenna the 5-head antennas will still work Dish type antennas will work with multiple receivers and/or DVR's
Major disadvantages to dishes: They can not be deployed when moving
Major disadvantage of roof mounted antennas.. Signal eating trees
Easy work around on that one. I have described in other threads
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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2cyber71
Pennsylvania
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Joined: 11/21/2003
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Well I have a roof mount auto-dish by Winegard, works great with Direct TV....
I also have a portable Winegard.....because many, many times CGs have a tree just in the right place to block a signal
Here..is a nice video of my portable dish....Good reason to buy a portable dish
2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
Lucy 3 yr old Lakeland Terrier, in AKC Agility Training
Lucy gets an Agility Ribbon, 2nd place AKC Trial, Finger Lakes Kennel Club
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recurry
Pleasanton, CA
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Joined: 01/21/2008
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rvten wrote:And how do you know our Domes can not be upgraded? Everyone is an expert. Give me some actual facts.
As for haveing a Dome my MH came with it only reason I got it. Other wise I would have a reg roof dish.
If you don't like the data then ignore it. If you don't believe it then go read the 20 other articles on this topic on this forum and 10 others and call DirecTV yourself. If fact, why don't you call the manufacturer of your dish. I just talked to the KVH tech rep and you know his response? Switch to DISH. No need to be rude.
What a dolt...
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