Another Satellite Dish QUestion

[JudyJB]

This is getting frustrating. I just found out that the portable satellite dishes are 15" tall, and my basement storage cabinets are 13" high. So that gives me two options:

1) Put the thing in the driver's seat or somewhere inside my motorhome as I am driving.
2) Get a roof-mounted dish

For those of you who have roof-mounted dishes, how often are you not able to use your dish because of trees? And do you have to have a completely clear view? What if you have short trees???

OK, I am getting giddy with all this technical stuff and am about to quit entirely.

[Gentleladybear]

Judy will you be at the gathering here in Florida? If so my cube will be with me and you can check it out, see where it will fit best, etc before you buy. You might also want to look at the winegard carryout that Camping World has. It may be a bit shorter. I will show you how I connect and set mine up, so you have a better idea of what you are working with.

[Acadianmom]

Judy, I feel your pain. I know a lot more about TV reception and satellites than I ever wanted to know and still don't know enough. I don't make that many trips a year so can't give you a good average about whether you can get a signal with a roof top dome. I think you will have more problems with the state parks than most of the private ones. I find that if you ask when you are making reservations more campgrounds have an idea which sites you might be able to get a signal in. At Potters Creek I was fine down by the lake but might have had a problem up on the hill with the trees. When I bring my cube I just set it in the floor until I get where I'm going. You have a lot more room than I do. I don't know how much it weights but it's not very heavy.

Martha

[Azusateach]

Judy, I'm trying to remember what kind of rig you have, and whether you have a cab-over bed. If you do, why not store it up there? If you've got a Class A, putting it on the co-pilot's sight might be a good spot.

It is frustrating. But hang in there. You'll figure out what's right for you and be glad that you've taken the time to get it. It really is nice when you've got long, cold nights with nothing else to do.

Laura

[JudyJB]

It's really hard figuring out the trade-offs. I have a 32 foot Class C, so I do have room on the floor or over the cab, but the problem with the floor is I know absolutely for sure, I will end up tripping over it and if it is in the cab, it will fall on my head as I drive!!! (I have had each of those things happen with various items in the past.)

I think what I have to do is convince myself that nothing ever works perfectly, and I just have to accept that I will only be able to get reception most of the time, but not all of the time. I went around this campsite today talking to people with dishes. Some got reception and some did not in this very treed place.

After doing all this pondering and almost making up my mind several times, I think that my best bet is the roof mount automatic disk. I will not have to worry about tripping on it or getting it set up each time. I will have to do more checking on campsites when I select them. Plus, I am planning on a lot of western U.S. travel this year, which generally means fewer trees than in the east.

SO I am going to call Camping World tomorrow and set up an appointment as soon as I can. I really thank all of you for putting up with me.

[Redwahine]

What Nan suggested is a really good idea. That is how we decided on what we have. Dawn has a roof mounted dish, but has the Carryout portable for a spare when there are trees, etc. We borrowed it and we like the way it works. It is belted into on of the easy chairs while we travel. during the summer it is nice to have the shade of the trees so your AC doesn't have to work so hard. and the portable allows you to have the shade and satellite as well. Just another opinion.

[Dawn309]

Red is right. I go for overkill! So far, I have not been anywhere that I could not use my roof mounted antenna/disk. When we were at Lake Benbrook, I did have to pull forward a little bit to be out from under the trees toward the front of my rig where the antenna is and it could get a clear view of the sky. I agree, Judy, that the roof mounted is the way to go most of the time.

[cnq50b]

Judy, I know this has probably been frustrating for you, but I have learned so much I just wanted to thank you & all the others who have participated in this conversation... I just have a small built-in antenna on my van but look longingly at those various satellite setups. Knowing this thread is here will help if/when I'm ready to consider one. So, thanks everyone for the Satellite 101 course!

[mitch5252]

So, has anyone used the Winegard Carryout Anser? (hope I didn't miss it in this thread...)
It's under $400 from Amazon.

http://www.winegard.com/anser/?gclid=COyA6-HO47QCFedxOgodjHUAJA

[Bethers]

I've seen that a couple times. Will past attention here and ask if I see anyone with one.

[mitch5252]

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I just found this review for the Winegard Anser on RV DOT NET:

Posted: 08/30/12 12:17pm Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator
OK, in 5 minutes of reading about this new Winegard Anser dish.........

1. It is slightly more expensive than the Tailgater.
2. It does NOT toggle between satelites (manual switching required).
3. You must set the angle on the dish manually, before it will even find the satellite.
4. It does work with either DISH or DirecTV.

Sounds like a decent option for DirecTV where HD is not desired. Does not sound like a good option for DISH unless all of your channels are on a single satellite. In my case, local channels in Providence RI are on the 61.5 sat and the general channels are on 72.7......

[JudyJB]

The Anser was highly recommended to me by Dish as a brand new top-of-the-line automatic option, however, there was a You-tube video on how to set it up.

It is supposed to be an automatic system, but you have to take it outside, hook it to 12 volt power, look up the correct setup, find the angle of the satellite using a chart that shows where you are in the U.S. and then tilt it to that angle. Finally, you have to start it programming to find the satellite, unhook the 12 volt, and go inside to check the TV to make sure you have a picture. Does not sound very automatic to me!!

After watching all this, I figure it would have been a 10-15 minute task, so I nixed it, especially as it was more than 15 inches high when folded don for storage--would not fit in my basement. I guess I would rather just push a button.

Here is the location of the setup video. Scroll down to view. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/it ... enna/67050

[Dawn309]

Judy, I like just having to push a button or in the case of the dome, hook it to satellite input, plug in 12v and let it do the work. I don't have the patience for the in and out trying to set a satellite disk right.

[mitch5252]

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Nan, how does your antenna get its power - from the receiver? Or do you have to hook up to power and then disconnect?

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