Going from LNB to SWM

[John Laninga]

The time has come for me to update my old MotoSat HD dish on DirecTV to SWM, as the new receivers all require SWM and my HR23 is 8 years old. One note, my MotoSat SD2 control box has been replaced with an Eagle controller from FM Mogul.

 

So I will need the SWM dish unit itself, which I assume mounts the same as my old 5-LNB. I should be able to use one of the 2 coax cables to go from the SWM to inside the coach. Inside the coach I understand I need a power injector. What else do I need?

 

Importantly, does anyone know if the one cable SWM system will work with the Eagle dish controller from FM Mogul?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

John

[docj]

John:

 

This document provides detailed information about converting non-SWM equipment to SWM. Although it is directed at Winegard hardware, the concepts shown will work with any system. http://www.winegard.com/help/images/d/d1/2452242.pdf

 

There is no reason to change your LNB. I converted my Trav'ler SK-3005 to SWM and all I did was add a SWM8 switch and a power inserter. If your Motosat has two coax outputs all you have to do is connect them to the SWM8 with one coax going inside the MH. I don't know how the FM Mogul controller works; the Winegard controller doesn't interface with the signal-carrying coax coming from the LNB.

 

Joel

[Biker56]

All you will need to make the switch to SWM for $50. Except some short cables will be needed.

If your MotoSat has 4 outlets at the dish mount the SWM8 switch on the roof near it. Inserter inside close to a 120V plugin.

 

I converted a SK-3005 also to a SWM.

[John Laninga]

When Monaco built my coach, they used component cables (red, blue, green, yellow and white) from the cabinet above the windshield to the mid mounted TV. This is about 30 feet and is in the ceiling of the coach. The new Genie that I would like to use has only HDMI connections to the TV. I can't see any reasonable way to pull an HDMI cable all the way from the front cabinet to the TV, so I'm thinking of mounting the Genie above the TV.

 

As built, the coach has a dish coax going to the front cabinet, where it plugs into the current HD DVR. But there also is a coax cable from the front cabinet to the TV, currently used to bring OTA antenna to the TV. Can I connect the SWM cable to the OTA coax in the front to the coax that runs to the TV, and use that as my SWM input for the Genie? (I know I will lose my OTA connection this way).

 

A little difficult to describe, but if you have any questions just ask.....

 

== John

[docj]

Assuming there isn't a splitter in the wire somewhere along the way you ought to be able to do it. It's not recommended to have any connectors in the coax coming from the dish to the receiver, but you ought to be able to get away with this assuming that Monaco used RG6 coax. In 2009 when your MH was built, that was likely.

[Bill and Linda]

John:

 

This document provides detailed information about converting non-SWM equipment to SWM. Although it is directed at Winegard hardware, the concepts shown will work with any system. http://www.winegard.com/help/images/d/d1/2452242.pdf

 

There is no reason to change your LNB. I converted my Trav'ler SK-3005 to SWM and all I did was add a SWM8 switch and a power inserter. If your Motosat has two coax outputs all you have to do is connect them to the SWM8 with one coax going inside the MH. I don't know how the FM Mogul controller works; the Winegard controller doesn't interface with the signal-carrying coax coming from the LNB.

 

Joel

 

If I might tag onto Joel's bolded comment above - Actually the existing 5 LNB head can't be changed out without a more serious retrofit of the total antenna system including SWM electronics. The internal firmware in the SK-3005 assumes a 5 LNB head. A 3 LNB head won't work. So the external SWM8 "converter" is required. The only long term limitation - pretty far out there - of the 5LNB head on the SK-3005 will concern the retirement of the 119 satellite which the SK-3005 uses for peaking. The newer Winegard SWM-3 antenna does not use this satellite for peaking or the guide. Kind of down in the weeds but might be important in the future. I sort of expect / hope Winegard will offer a retrofit to address this issue so complete replacement is not required but I have not seen one offered yet. Love to know if anyone has.

[John Laninga]

Thanks for the feedback. But as stated, I have a MotoSat dish with an Eagle controller and already have in hand the firmware update to allows the Eagle controller to peak with a SWM hookup. All I have to do now is wait until I get back to home base in 2 weeks and I will actually perform the upgrade.

 

== John

[Bill and Linda]

Thanks for the feedback. But as stated, I have a MotoSat dish with an Eagle controller and already have in hand the firmware update to allows the Eagle controller to peak with a SWM hookup. All I have to do now is wait until I get back to home base in 2 weeks and I will actually perform the upgrade.

 

== John

 

John: Understand about the MotoSat dish. Very true. My comments were just a follow on, for those perhaps reading along based on the thread subject, about the Winegard product, the SK-3005, of which there are many out there. The SWM conversion / retrofit is going to be an issue for many as newer and replacement DirecTV equipment will require SWM as you noted.

 

Bill