Newbie Wants Dish Satellite TV

[Retired Guy]

I just purchased a Tiffin Phaeton 40AH. There are 4 TVs but I I would be happy if I could get reception on 2 of them. There is wiring on the roof for a satellite antenna. I want to be able to get service from DISH. I want an antenna that automatically finds the satellites. There are times when I would like to be able to have different programs at the same time. There are times I would like to be able to record programs. I am currently in Yuma, Arizona. So here are my questions:

(1) How do I find out what equipment I need?

(2) Once I know what equipment I need, how do I get it installed?

(3) Can anyone suggest service providers whom they would either recommend or avoid?

 

Retired Guy

 

 

[Biker56]

First you will need a Trav'ler installed on the roof for a antenna.

Next call Dish or a local dish installer for a sign up and receiver installs.

[Retired Guy]

Before I posted I had already called Dish to learn my options. When I finally got to the department that handles satellite on RVs I was told that the ONLY options for an antenna were a Pathway X2, King Tailgater, or a Pathway X1. I was asked if I wanted service on the west coast or the east coast as the last two antennas were for the west coast only. When I asked about a Winegard Traveler I was told that none of the receivers from Dish were compatible with the Traveler. If I got an older model receiver from a third party and had a Traveler installed that the only way it would work was to park the coach pointing south. I was told the closest place I could get anything installed was Camping World which is over 150 miles away.

I know most if not all I was told from Dish was pure nonsense. What I would like to learn is what are my options. I do want to be able to watch HD TV. I spend most of the winter In Yuma and I could go to Camping World to get a Traveler installed. The potential problem is that if I go there, have the antenna installed, and return to Yuma to get the receiver installed. What do I do if the antenna doesn’t work? And I’m not too sure that Camping World is the right place to get the whole thing installed.

[LindaH]

 

When I asked about a Winegard Traveler I was told that none of the receivers from Dish were compatible with the Traveler. If I got an older model receiver from a third party and had a Traveler installed that the only way it would work was to park the coach pointing south. I was told the closest place I could get anything installed was Camping World which is over 150 miles away.

 

Well, that's a bunch of BS! We have two different Dish dish's, a ViP 211K and a ViP 222k and they both work with our Trav'ler. We don't have a Hopper, but there are lots of people here who do and I'm sure it works with the Trav'ler, too. Someone who owns a Trav'ler and a Hopper will be along soon to confirm.

 

You can point the RV any way you want...the Trav'ler automatically finds the three satellites, independent of how the RV is oriented.

 

Can't help you with an install in Yuma. If you were in Quartzsite, I'd recommend going to Satellite Advantage...they'd get you set up with everything you need, a Trav'ler, receivers, install, even setting up your Dish account.

 

We travel only in the West, so we've never had to worry about the EA satellites. I *think* the Trav'ler has an EA LNB you can switch to if you're traveling in the East, but someone more familiar with this will have to speak to it.

[Dennis M]

That's a big issue with Dish - and probably other providers as well - finding a rep who has even a small clue what they are doing. Usually anything that departs from their canned script turns on the BS machine as above.

 

We put a Wingard Trav'ler on the fiver, plugged in the Dish DVR from home, and it has worked fine for 8 plus years! Pretty much all over the country as well, from FL to far upstate NY, to Wyoming and AZ.

[Rover]

We have a Wineguard Traveler on the roof and carry a portable 1000.2 open face dish for when we are under trees. We only have 2 TV'S so just have a Hopper 3 (newest receiver) and a Joey 2.0 in the bedroom. The Hopper 3 has 16 tuners so we can record lots of programs.

 

When we were ready to move into our fifth wheel fulltime, we called Dish to upgrade our equipment from Hopper 2 to 3. They insisted it wouldn't work in an RV and refused the upgrade. We ended up buying our own equipment. To use the Hopper 3 with the Traveler requires switching the LNB with a different one - the DISHPRO HYBRID for 1000.2. There is a very good thread about installing the Hopper 3 here on the site. We had our Traveler installed at Camping World in Indiana.

 

Hope this helps, Vicki

[dizzyg44]

If interested and you plan to pass through Tucson anytime soon, I've got my Taligater and 211z for sale locally. Purchased new in July, just don't use it as much as we thought we would.

 

the tailgater can connect with 2 receivers and can be roof mounted if desired. the 211z can be used as a dvr by adding an external USB hard drive.

 

Garrett

[Zulu]

I just purchased a Tiffin Phaeton 40AH. There are 4 TVs but I I would be happy if I could get reception on 2 of them. There is wiring on the roof for a satellite antenna. I want to be able to get service from DISH. I want an antenna that automatically finds the satellites. There are times when I would like to be able to have different programs at the same time. There are times I would like to be able to record programs. I am currently in Yuma, Arizona. So here are my questions:

 

I bolded & colored your requirements. Knowing these really helps narrow down the choices.

 

 

(1) How do I find out what equipment I need?

 

Based on your requirements, here's what I recommend . . .

• Winegard Travler SK1000 rooftop dish -- it's automatic and allows you to hook up any DISH system that you could use in a regular house.
• Hopper/Joey receivers -- since you'll have a Travler, why not get a Whole House (or RV) DVR system? You can get by with a DISH's single-tuner (VIP211) or two-tuner (VIP722) receivers, but a Hopper/Joey system would be (and is) my choice. A Hopper (not the Hopper 3) has 3 tuners and one of them can be set to record ALL your local TV stations. Not bad.

(2) Once I know what equipment I need, how do I get it installed?

(3) Can anyone suggest service providers whom they would either recommend or avoid?

 

Contact a local sat installer, not DISH directly (as you've found out).

 

I believe American Satellites (928-345-1229) in Yuma does DISH RV installs.

 

Here are some install examples . . .

 

BTW, you have many possible options, but here are two of the most straightforward possibilities:

 

HOPPER + 3 JOEYS (4 TVS):

 

 

 

HOPPER & 1 JOEY (2 TVs):

 

[Retired Guy]

Wow! I want to thank everyone who responded. I think I have it figured out. One think is VERY clear. Never, ever try to learn anything by contacting Dish directly. I might be a newbie but I know more than anyone I talked to at Dish. The real lesson for me is to find a dealer who knows the hows and whats.

[coachmac9]

Great info Zulu and all the other posters as well!! We have a tripod set-up for now but also want to up-grade to one of the automatic sat finders as well. The pictures above really help me understand what I need to get Thanks again!

[ncrowley]

I have Dish and when my roof unit stopped working, I replaced it with an X2 and have been very happy with my choice. Many times I could not get a signal with the roof top unit because the signal is blocked by trees. With the portable unit, I can get up to 100 feet away from the coach. At one campground, I had to use all 100 feet to find a spot where the dish could see the satellites.

[LindaH]

I have Dish and when my roof unit stopped working, I replaced it with an X2 and have been very happy with my choice. Many times I could not get a signal with the roof top unit because the signal is blocked by trees. With the portable unit, I can get up to 100 feet away from the coach. At one campground, I had to use all 100 feet to find a spot where the dish could see the satellites.

 

Except the OP's said, "There are times when I would like to be able to have different programs at the same time. There are times I would like to be able to record programs."

 

Given his requirements, a dome isn't going to work since the only way he'd be able to watch different programs at the same time is if both of those programs were on the same satellite. Same with recording while watching another program.

[wannab.cmprmom]

I hope it's okay to join in this discussion. I too just bought a 1997 Georgie Boy Cruise Master. I have Dish satellite with the Hopper (not Hopper 3) and two Joey's for my home system. I don't have a clue what anyone on here is talking about but I would like to have satellite in the RV. Can anyone talk me through this in terms that I would understand? (Satellite for dummies,lol!) Can I take my Hopper and Joey's and use them? What other equipment do I need and where should I go to get help hooking it up and not get ripped off? I don't have a clue about any of this, but it seems like my Hopper and Joey's SHOULD work. I'm in North Georgia if that helps.

[Zulu]

I hope it's okay to join in this discussion. I too just bought a 1997 Georgie Boy Cruise Master. I have Dish satellite with the Hopper (not Hopper 3) and two Joey's for my home system. I don't have a clue what anyone on here is talking about but I would like to have satellite in the RV. Can anyone talk me through this in terms that I would understand? (Satellite for dummies,lol!) Can I take my Hopper and Joey's and use them? What other equipment do I need and where should I go to get help hooking it up and not get ripped off? I don't have a clue about any of this, but it seems like my Hopper and Joey's SHOULD work. I'm in North Georgia if that helps.

 

Yes, you can take your Hopper & Joeys with you in your RV. A lot of RVers do.

 

The most important piece of equipment you'll need is a satellite dish or dishes (some of us carry more than one).

 

For a Hopper & Joey system, you'll need the automatic, rooftop Winegard Travler SK-1000 and/or a portable open-face dish like the DISH 1000.2 or 1000.4. Some of us have both for those times when we're parked under trees and unable to use our Travler.

 

The Travler is expensive, and the 1000.2/1000.4 portable is cheap. However, to set up and aim a Travler all you do is press a button. On the other hand, a 1000.2 or 1000.4 dish must be aimed manually -- which can be difficult.

 

Besides the sat dish, you'll need some coax cable and DISH parts shown in this 2-television Hopper-Joey diagram: