Mark and Dale Bruss

If and when the DPH42 Hybrid Switch comes out from Dish, there will be a simplified way to use the Trav'ler. I have two Trav'lers, one on the trailer and one on the motorhome. The older firmware level Trav'ler on the Trailer worked better with a Hybrid DPH LNBF than the newer firmware on the motorhome Trav'ler. The Trav'ler doe find the satellites on the motorhome, eventually. I look forward to the firmware upgrade or the DPH42 release.

Don't know about RhinoFlex directly but I have SewerMaster hoses that are over 10 years old and in fine shape. The SewerMasters are just a few mm thicker that the RhinoFlex. I would expect a few more years than 3 with RhinoFlex.

I was having the problem of the fresh water tank filling while on City Water. Anderson sent me a replacement valve core because that is a common problem with new Anderson valves. I haven't installed it yet. I did install a check valve between the pump and the fresh water lines. Haven't had the fresh water tank overfill any more.

Correction $300 from eBay

I am not sure the new FS1 is certified for the DPH Hybrid LNBF. I paid $250 for a used Super Buddy which is certified for the DPH.

The problem is the cheapo meter relies on being connected to the Hopper 3 for power. With the receiver connected to the DPH Hybrid LNBF head, the head switches modes and the signal is not the same as what the cheapo meter expects. Even my First Strike FS1 meter did not respond well with the DPH. I did get my ground tripod dish in the ballpark with the FS-1 by rough meter readings but the FS-1 can power the dish on its own and I had the Hopper 3 disconnected. That is when I bit the bullet and got a Super Buddy, the only meter qualified for the DPH head. I got it but have not had the time to play with it. So far this summer I only had to use the tripod once. Park selection, site selection and the Trav'ler took care of the satellite setup.

The meter I know of for under a $100 is no longer available. I am into a used Super Buddy because I am planning for a lot more tripod setups in the East next year.

Cheapo meter, you would be better if the Hopper 3 is not attached. Then the DPH LNBF (dish head) unit drops back to regular more. But then you have no way to insure the 119 LNBF is selected for aiming. A good meter is really important. Sighting. The biggest thing is to understand that the arm does not point to the satellite. The signal path from the satellite bounces off the surface of the dish at a 30 degree angle to the LNBF receptor. That means the satellite is above the LNBF on the same axis. Now remember the dish is Skewed which means the satellite is to the right of the apparent direction of the arm. The problem with the satellite pointer apps is that they do not have the same viewpoint as the center of the dish. They are great for insuring trees are not in the way. The best reference point of the Azimuth is the vertical plates that support the back of the dish. The closer you are to the dish, the more the metal in the dish will affect the Magnetic Deviation on the compass. Depending if you are east or west of the Mississippi can add or subtract up to 10 degrees to the Magnetic reading. First rule, the tripod mast needs to be absolutely vertical. Not eyeball vertical, bubble level vertical. A round bubble level on the top of the mast is the best. Then preset the Elevation and the Skew on the dish and then mount the dish on the tripod. It helps if you align the tripod with the forward leg in the direction of the Azimuth before mounting the dish. It helps get you in the ballpark.

The best are poly grade plastic pads like OFL Jack Pads. We use ours under our Travel Supreme fifth-wheel under the big-foot pads on every surface. We have 16" square pads. The OFL pads will flex to fit the terrain and then return to their original shape. Our original yellow pads lasted only a couple of months. The OFL pads are 10 years old.

I finally received my DPH LNBF and converted my Trav'ler to work with my Hopper 3. I have more info on the conversion and I sent it to Zulu so he can expand his write-up.

Nope, just one. Each tuner can decode a video stream to play to a TV. Depending on the hardware, if you have more tuner than you need for your TVs, then the video stream can be recorded to a hard dish and played back at a later time. This is the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) feature. Under the older Dish Pro Plus (DPP) Dish could move two data streams down one coax cable. Dual tuners receivers, VIP222, VIP622, VIP 722 could get by with one coax cable The Hopper 1 with three tuners needed two coax cables. The new Dish Pro Hybrid (DPH) technology is moving (16) data streams down one wire. THe new Hopper 3 has (16) tuners so the Hopper 3 only needs one coax cable from the dish. If the dish has only one LNBF (white plastic button on the head) then you an only receive video streams from one sate llite. If you want to watch two different channels on separate TVs or for recording, a single LNBF can support two video streams. However, both channels must be on the same satellite. Dome dishes, ground or roof only have one LNBF. Open faced dishes like the DPP 1000.2 ground tripod or the Winegard Trav'ler SK-1000 have three LNBFs which lock only all three Dish satellite used for normal transmission. Therefore those two dishes can support as many channels on any satellite, depending on your receiver equipment.

Give the number of Hopper users in the Winegard Trav'ler market, to expect a re-engineering effort to be done already for the Hopper 3 is unrealistic. Part of being an RVer is being somewhat self-sufficient. With the Hopper 3 and a Winegard Trav'ler, you have to accept the test work done by Zulu that showed it works but not with a rather easy workaround. Thanks again to Zulu for spearheading the testing. Likewise, expecting Dish to be fully ready to accept the variances of RV equipment is unrealistic. Having a Hopper since it was released, I am having Dish handle the Hopper 3 upgrade the way Dish can handle it. I set up my tripod and have the trailer running off of it. Dish will come in and change the DPH LNBF head on the tripod dish and hook up the Hopper 3. Then after the Dish installer, leaves, the Winegard Trav'ler will be modified and my switches installed. And when I take possession of the new motorhome, I will have a standard Winegard Trav'ler SK-1000 installed. And then I will charge the new SK-1000's LNBF to the DPH LNBF. I try to have Dish involved with my equipment as little as possible.

Excellent report

Check the Resource Guide

Hi all from the HDT Rally. During the RDBE meeting yesterday, it was suggested that we establish a Closed Facebook group for RDBE. If you are a member of Facebook and would like to become a member of this group, log into Facebook and do a search on RDBE (all caps) and request to join. Davena and I are administrators for the group. We will see your request and one of us will approve. This group is not intended to take anything away from this forum. It will merely give us another path of communication and maybe we will reach more members. In addition, messages and threads can focus on individual topics. Members can reply to specific topics without scrolling through all the posts. I look forward to seeing you on FB. Dale Bruss

Added Volvo Air Assist Clutch page with the photos and writeup of Sibernuts adding an air assist to the clutch on his Volvo.

Davena, Hope you are having a terrific birthday. Make sure to eat cake and drink champagne....or lemoncello!! Hugs, Dale

Happy Birthday Pat McFall! It's the middle of the night, your birthday is about and hour and a half old, and I am awake!! Let me be the first to wish a great birthday! And , of course, many, many more. Luv ya'. Hugs, Dale

Thanks all! Davena...no limoncello but some wine for sure! Dale

Yay! We have made it to Retama Village. It's like coming home. Many of our wonderful friends welcomed us. Now we wait for Mike and Pat in a couple of weeks, Jack and Danielle in January and many new friends that we have not even met yet! Dale

Hey Pat, I add my birthday greetings and best wishes to this chorus of recognition!!! You are the best. I read Mike's blog about the big celebration feast today. Eat hearty! Friday is a long way off! Hugs, Dale & Mark, too!

We arrived at North Texas RV Repair just west of Denton, TX on Tuesday. We have no idea how long we will be here...could be weeks!! Since Travel Supreme is out of business, getting parts could be problematic. Sheet metal panel may have to be fabricated. UGH! We are jealous of those of you already at Retama. We will get there as soon as we can! Dale

We left Hutchinson yesterday morning with the Quinns and the Gurksnis' on our way south. Didn't know where we would stop. Even though the wind was blowing, we were ahead of the rain. So, we extended our normal travel day and went 300+ miles to Thackerville, OK right on the Texas border. When we got here to the Red River RV Resort who did we find but Doug and Jutta Franks. We have extended our fantastic rally good time two more days! It's a great life! Dale

HI All, We are in Dodge City, KS at the Gunsmoke RV Park (last night and tonight). Will be coming on in to Hutchinson tomorrow for the Rally. See you all there! Dale

We have settled for a month in Hayward, WI...beautiful northwoods and lake country. Mark's cousin and her husband live on the old family farm owned at one time by their grandfather. They raise Arabian horses, outstanding! We are conveniently parked right next to the horse barn. We will be here for three more weeks, then it is off to the Black Hills in South Dakota. Hope everyone had a terrific Independence Day! Dale