Type of Dish used on Winegard Travler SK1000

[Zulu]

Is a DISH 1000 or 1000.2 used?

[Bill & Janet Adams]

Western Arc only 1000.2. It cannot be reconfigured.

[Dale P]

Bill, another question. To verify operation of the SK-1000 antenna, can you do a power up, less the Dish receiver?

Will this verify that the system is working correctly?

 

I know, that the LNB must send a signal to the controller to be able to lock on "A" satellite. How is it program to know that it is on the correct satellite?

Is there an operation/technical manual which I can get my hands (PDF) on?

 

Thank you, Susan recently order one, however I will not be able to install until mid to end of Oct.

[Bill & Janet Adams]

The Trav'ler is fully functionally with or without a receiver connected. If it is operating properly the controller will show *119 *110 *129 indicating it is done searching an those 3 satellites were able to be located.

[Zulu]

Western Arc only 1000.2. It cannot be reconfigured.

 

When you enter Manual Mode, the SK1000 can pick up sat 61.5 if it's available, but can the SK1000 acquire 72.7 or 61.5 & 72.7 simultaneously?

[Bill & Janet Adams]

No. It cannot locate 72.7 even in manual mode.

[Al F]

The Trav'ler is fully functionally with or without a receiver connected. If it is operating properly the controller will show *119 *110 *129 indicating it is done searching an those 3 satellites were able to be located.

From personal experience I have had the trav'ler seek the satellites and show *119 *110 *129 but the DRV install screen (6-1-1) does not show enough signal strength to be useable. The DVR would show a signal loss screen for the channels on the missing satellite. Usually one or more of the satellites are useable, but not all. The reason for the lack of signal, has been, tree leaves blocking the signal. Sometimes I have been able to move the RV forward or back to clear the trees.

[Bill & Janet Adams]

So you have confirmed what I said which is you will know that the Trav'ler is "functional" if you see those numbers even with no receiver connected. Watching TV, that's a different matter. No trees allowed!

[Al F]

It leaves me wondering what it means about the Trav'ler being "functional", if the satellite receiver (Dish or Direct) sees little or no signal from some of LNB's.

 

I have been curious, for the 2 years or so I have had the Trav'ler, just what the Trav'ler's controller is "seeing" or detecting to go through the different steps we see on the controller display. It goes through displays showing satellite 110 then "peaking" for that satellite, then 119 and peaking again, followed by 129 and peaking. How does it do that if the DVR can't see the signal?

[Bill & Janet Adams]

The question was asked about verifying the operation of the Trav'ler without a receiver connected. That's all I was addressing.

The Trav'ler uses it's own "receiver" to look for satellites. That's why I said it will still find the satellites with no receiver connected. Despite the antenna not being able to find a signal strong enough to provide a usable signal, if the antenna can "see" a signal from the satellite it will show up as being able to "see" that satellite. It's up to you to move out from behind the tree!

[Dale P]

Thanks Bill, our Traveler should arrive this week.

Another question, since a tri-pod system aiming requires the Zip code table, which roughly sets Az, El and Sk, Is it require to input the Zip code of where you are to start the process? or Does it rotate first then add elevation in incremental steps?

 

I guess what I am asking is at what point will it set the skew?

 

Thanks for being so helpful on the subject

[Mark and Dale Bruss]

The Trav'ler spins all the way around first to check out its motion and no obstructions.

 

For Automatic mode, the Trav'ler swings to the Azimuth, then elevates to the Elevation. The searching for Satellite 119 starts by tweaks in the Azimuth and Elevation. When Satellite 119 if found, then the Skew is tweak for the best signal for Satellites 110 and 129.

 

The final step is the Winegard Control units identifies the three Satellites.

 

Why?

[Al F]

Thanks Bill, our Traveler should arrive this week.

Another question, since a tri-pod system aiming requires the Zip code table, which roughly sets Az, El and Sk, Is it require to input the Zip code of where you are to start the process? or Does it rotate first then add elevation in incremental steps?

 

I guess what I am asking is at what point will it set the skew?

 

Thanks for being so helpful on the subject

I believe the Traveler has a GPS receiver in the stuff mounted on the roof. So once it "knows" where it is located it swings to the correct azimuth & elevation and then fine tunes for the three satellites.

[Bill & Janet Adams]

Nope, no GPS in the Trav'ler. Doesn't use it and doesn't need it. Might have sped up the search time a bit by pre-setting the skew but 5 minutes or 10 minutes doesn't really make me want to pay the extra for a GPS module. It locates one satellite, locates another, calculates the difference and sets the skew. It then peaks on the satellite(s) and you are watching TV.

[Al F]

Nope, no GPS in the Trav'ler. Doesn't use it and doesn't need it. Might have sped up the search time a bit by pre-setting the skew but 5 minutes or 10 minutes doesn't really make me want to pay the extra for a GPS module. It locates one satellite, locates another, calculates the difference and sets the skew. It then peaks on the satellite(s) and you are watching TV.

What does it use, a compass? I guess that would work, since it doesn't seem to spend some number of minutes scanning 360 degrees, then changing elevation and scanning again. It sure seems like when I move 40 miles and point my rig in a different directions the dish rotates very quickly, stops at about the right azimuth and begins an elevation search going up and/or down by several degrees before going into its peaking operation.

[Bill & Janet Adams]

Nope, no compass either. It can "see" satellites as the antenna swings around. Once it finds one (they are at nearly every elevation in the Southern sky) it will determine what that is and then move the required number of degrees from that satellite to the primary satellite and look for something in that area. It's simple math (not to me!) when you think about it. If you find a satellite at 95 degrees, you just need to rotate the antenna 16 degrees to find 101. 101 is also known to be X degrees higher or lower than 95 so you use the basic math and let the antenna do the peaking.

[Mark and Dale Bruss]

I agree will Bill. Watch a Trav'ler and the first thing is does is a full swing around looking for what satellites are available.

 

A GPS unit not moving cannot determine direction.

[Al F]

Great info. Thanks for clearing this up for me.

[GTroyer]

for starters I don't know which end of a wire to stop the smoke from leaving it , with that stated we're just starting semi full time traveling and have no satellite system .. this will be for my large fifth wheel trailer

 

please 'splain to me in VERY SIMPLE terms what do you advise to set me up .. purchase or what ever I need to do to get a set up.

 

just for a note , I have a dish network receiver in my 5er as I used it for an apartment for a couple years , now it just sitting in the hole as I have not yet cancelled my service with them and don't know if I need it or not to set up my satellite service .. like I said I don't have a clue as to this stuff.

 

HELP

[Mark and Dale Bruss]

Depends on many factors. The service (Dish, DirecTV), the number of receivers, budget.

[GTroyer]

retired .. $ not replaceable .. don't care which service both have something to offer .. not much into movies so no HBO or the like .. but do realize I'll need to make some purchase just don't know what to do at this point

 

for 2 TV's, bedroom and salon room , don't do outside viewing or care to.

 

so what to do where to go Eh ???????

[Mark and Dale Bruss]

Would the two TVs be watching the same programming or different at times?

[Bill & Janet Adams]

How old is your current receiver? If more than a couple of years old you should plan on getting new equipment. If you sign a 2 year contract you can get free equipment from either provider but you will need to find an RV friendly installer to put the equipment in your coach.

Take a look at both services and the options they offer and make a decision based upon that. If you don't want the service for the entire year, only Dish has a pay-as-you-go plan. DirecTV requires a contract.

I would recommend that you buy a Winegard Trav'ler is you want a full automatic antenna. This is roof mounted so you need to stay out from underneath the trees. The Trav'ler is the only antenna type that will allow you to have the exact same kind of service and hardware you would have at home. There are also portable automatic antennas if you like trees that allow you to place the dome on the ground within 50 feet or so of you coach.

Equipment varies and costs vary so check them out. Dish was offering free HD and DirecTV charged $10/month. Both charge extra if you want more than one receiver but one receiver can be watched on both TV's if it's OK for both TV's to be watching the same channel.

Ask more and we will try to help.

[Fordiesel250]

Can someone give me an idea of what a traveler and receiver costs?

[Bill & Janet Adams]

The receiver(s) can be free if you sign a 2 year contract so that part is up to you and separate from the antenna.

The Trav'ler for Dish retails around $1400 and the Trav'ler for DirecTV retails around $1700. Actual street prices vary and installation is extra.