10 replies to this topic

[vh]

We are picking up a "new to us" 2008 Discovery tomorrow. It has a KVH in motion dome installed. It was previously set up for Direct TV, but we will be using Dish. I took a receiver to the dealer to have them set up the KVH for Dish............don't know if they were successful yet or not. In any case I'm not sure if the KVH picks up Dish HD. Probably, we would just use the satellite for stationary viewing, and in that case would change to the Winegard Traveler to pick up all three sats and HD at one time. However we do have grand kids that would like the in motion TV viewing offered by the KVH. If we wanted to please the occasional in motion viewers, how complex...........or stupid ........would it be to install the Winegard as a 2nd dish with an A/B switch to select which sat dish, (either the KVH or the Winegard) we wanted at the time? I am not real anxious to cut another hole in the roof and am not sure about running more cables. Has anyone done this? Does it work?

[Bill Adams]

As a personal recommendation, I would get rid of the dome and install the Trav'ler. You could then install a DVR, record a bunch of stuff the kids like and watch that when you are driving. This is also an excellent use of a VCR/DVD in your coach.
Now as a direct answer to your question, you certainly can do both and while switching between the 2 is a bit of a pain (new check switch routine required every time you his those A/B switches) it would allow you to use both setups. You would need to plan on trying to watch or record a second channel while on the KVH due to the multiple satellites but otherwise, as long as you are driving the open highways (out of the trees and out of the city) it should be successful.

[vh]

Thanks for the info. Didn't realize I would have to do a "check switch" each time I changed from the KVH to the Winegard. Just talked to the installer at the RV place today and he said the "footprint" of the two units ......KVH and Winegard........is different. They would have to fill holes if the KVH was removed and install the Winegard using the same coax, but different power wiring. It would cost about the same to either keep the old and add the Winegard, or replace the KVH with the Winegard. The check switch problem might be the difference maker.

[LindaH]

Just talked to the installer at the RV place today and he said the "footprint" of the two units ......KVH and Winegard........is different. They would have to fill holes if the KVH was removed and install the Winegard using the same coax, but different power wiring.

I'm sure Bill will speak to this...and maybe the KVH is different than the Winegard Movin'View dome we had on our fifth wheel...but when Bill and Janet came out last weekend to replace our dome with the Trav'ler 1000 (for Dish Network), the dome left NO hole when it was removed.

The three "feet" that the dome was secured to the roof with are still there, but the same wiring...which was already in place...was used for the Trav'ler. In other words, no holes had to be filled when the dome was removed.

I'm sure if any of this isn't the case, Bill will correct me!

Edited by LindaH, 27 January 2012 - 03:42 PM.

[Bill Adams]

Either situation could be true. Depending upon the location of the dome and where the new unit needs to be installed one or more of the feet from the dome may have to be removed. This is not a big deal and only a bit time consuming so should not add much labor to the install. If the feed need to be removed then remove them and they will seal if all up (assuming they know what they are doing) but if you are not going to be using the dome there is really no reason to leave it in place. I have left a dome in place as the owner wanted to leave the dome when they sold the coach and take the Trav'ler with them but I don't see this as much of an issue for most folks.
It's also quite possible that the Trav'ler will not fit in the exact location of the previous dome due to surrounding obstructions (be sure they ensure the antenna will not hit anything during the swing with the Batwing up or other roof protrusions).

[vh]

Either situation could be true. Depending upon the location of the dome and where the new unit needs to be installed one or more of the feet from the dome may have to be removed. This is not a big deal and only a bit time consuming so should not add much labor to the install. If the feed need to be removed then remove them and they will seal if all up (assuming they know what they are doing) but if you are not going to be using the dome there is really no reason to leave it in place. I have left a dome in place as the owner wanted to leave the dome when they sold the coach and take the Trav'ler with them but I don't see this as much of an issue for most folks.
It's also quite possible that the Trav'ler will not fit in the exact location of the previous dome due to surrounding obstructions (be sure they ensure the antenna will not hit anything during the swing with the Batwing up or other roof protrusions).

[vh]

Thanks to all for the replies. Think I will have it removed. Seems to be more trouble to keep and use it than its worth.

[Bill Adams]

Thanks to all for the replies. Think I will have it removed. Seems to be more trouble to keep and use it than its worth.

IMHO.....Good choice!

[Johnontheroad]

I agree with Bill. But everyone is different... I have a friend who LOVES watching those all day news channels and he had an in motion dome. He recently added the Trav'ler and kept both: used the dome when driving, the Trav'ler when parked.

Personally I'd like to find a way to block all news shows as I'm getting pretty fed up with all the going ons today

== John

[Bill Adams]

Using both is much easier if you are a DirecTV customer since you only have to track one satellite while moving and you might be able to get by without having to change the settings in the receiver but even if you do, the painful check switch routine is not required.

[vh]

Using both is much easier if you are a DirecTV customer since you only have to track one satellite while moving and you might be able to get by without having to change the settings in the receiver but even if you do, the painful check switch routine is not required.

Thanks. I decided to just replace the KVH.