Great feedback, thanks everyone. Does anyone have experience with the Roadtrip Minimax, either stationary or in motion? If I'm correct, they use a different type of technology for receiving the signal. Any advantages to this, and do they still need direct line of site to the sats? (I am assuming yes)
* This post was
edited 10/25/11 05:10pm by badgerbear *
I am absolutely amazed with the Tailgater. Will lock on to all three satellites in about 8 minutes. Single strength with transponder 21 is usually 50% for each of the three satellites. When changing stations that require a satellite change the wait is negligible.
I have a Vu Cube 2000 and Dish network. Set it down and push a button. If I were buying today I'd get a Tailgater. The 349.00 Tailgater price is hard to beat.
07'Duramax dually,12'Open Range 399BHS
Hawkshead TPMS,Hensley BD3,Killerbee exhaust brake
Blue Ox Bedsaver,air bags w/compressor
Arvika pin box bike rack,Bak Flip tonneau cover
5500 Onan LP,EMS-HW-50
14'Porta Bote w/8.0 Nissan
Vu Cube 2000,Splendide 2000S
Ditto on the Winegard Travler. Had a KVH dome. I swear that bird poop would block the signal. Heavy rain always killed the signal. Had a portable dish on previous fiver. What a total pain to set up.
Travler has 3 LNBs for HD. Use it with 311 receiver. Works perfect. Everybody is happy. Had instal done at CW in Colorado Springs.
Note that we exculsively camp in the Southwest where trees are not an issue. If you camp in forested areas I would suggest the Winegard portable version of the roof mounted Travler. Same one button operation.
2007 HR Endeavor 40'PDQ
2012 Rubicon
2012 Keystone Outback 210RS
2013 Ford F150 FX4 Ecoboost
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3 Dogs
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X2! IMO, there's no better option than a portable antenna. Fixed rooftop mounts may operate easier, but only if your campsite has a clear view to the sats. With a 50' cable and my VuCube, I have yet to find myself in a campsite where I can't find an opening to get a signal.
Lantley wrote: I have a Vu Cube 2000 and Dish network. Set it down and push a button. If I were buying today I'd get a Tailgater. The 349.00 Tailgater price is hard to beat.
Paul & Sandra
New Bedford, MA
2003 Monaco Executive M43 DS2
You have the following choices, which is best depends on you.
First: Dish type antennas get easier to set up as you gain experience.
But lowest cost: Standard tripod mount dish that you have now, This dish has many advantages in that it is low cost, and it can be set up at a distance from your RV enabling it to get out from under the evil signal eating tree, I highly recommend an antenna of this type at least as a back up.
"Cube" type antennas like the Vu-Cube.. These come in 2 flavors, Single and Dual, (Means one or two coax outs can run one or MORE receivers (single runs just one, dual can run many) These are great for DirecTV, not so good for DirecHDTV and how good they are with DISH depends on if you have one or more receivers... See DOMES below for more, these are DOME type.
Roof mounted automatic (or manual) Dish, for this I will consider only automatic. So long as you are NOT under the signal eating tree, these are fantastic, they point themselves, no problem and you get the dish that matches your receiver (There are currently 4 or 5 different dishes) But alas they suffer from the afore mentioned tree. They also only work when PARKED. (Stationary) as a 60mph breeze will take 'em off the roof.
Domes: Stationary or "in-motion" (The in-motion ones let you record as you drive for later viewing when using a DVR type receiver, Very nice)
Like the cubes they don't work so well dith DirecHDTV (In fact they do not do HD at all, just SD) ALl domes are of the family cyclops. They have "One eye" and thus can see only one satellite at a time, DirecTV (NON-HD) uses one KU band satellite, (DIrecHDTV used 3, the other two are KA band and domes can't get 'em) Dish uses 3 birds, all KU, SOME domes can switch between 110, 119 and the HD bird fast enough to keep a SINGLE Dish receiver happy. but if you are running multiple receivers (Most DVR's ahve at least 2 receivers) sooner or later you will want to record shows appearing on two different birds at once.
ONLY a Dish type can handle that kind of thign.
My recommendation.. Rooftop antenna, A/B switch and a ground mount tripod.
Hook the roof to "A" (A-bove) and the ground mount to "B" (B-elow) when needed.
To switch set to A, hook up ground mount, switch to "B", on a direcTV receiver RESET, then point, on a dish point then CHECK SWITCH.
To disconnect,, Switch back to A, then disconnect, when "in the clear" (Out from under the tree) Do the reset or check switch bit.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
I have the minimax and it seems to hunt and search for the satellite even when the tv is off. Does this sound ok?
Martin & Cheryl
40 Foot 2009 Damon Tuscany
Two kids left the nest and left the wiener dog.
Full timing since Sept. 2010 so we sold the house in Feb. 2011.
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