Yahoo Message Number: 1425 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1425)
Any opinions out there on in-motion satellite systems. I've heard a few people say
they had problems with the new Datron low profile '5000' system.
I'm also interested in the Trac Vision because you can also use the same antenna
for satellite internet/data.
Also, Im interested in new GPS system. Any recommendations out there?
Yahoo Message Number: 1426 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1426)
My experience:
Sat system.... my thinking was that I travel 6 months out of the year with my wife. We don't/can't watch TV while driving.... and would rather watch the countryside.
GPS... I bought the CC option in my new coach. It's good but lacks the detail and flexibility of the two computer programs that I used for years..
Microsoft Streets and Trips and AAA Map-n-Go. I still use these Streets and Trips to plan our routes but rely on the VDODayton for driving directions modified by via points that we want to use. But I must add that I tend to be somewhat of a "geek" when it comes to technology.
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438
Member: CCI, FMCA
Yahoo Message Number: 1427 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1427)
Dick, I don't watch much TV, but I have the coach added as an extra receiver on my Direct TV, and for $5.00 month get the 30 or so music channels commercial free. That is what I use the satellite for most of the time.
Yahoo Message Number: 1430 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1430)
Jim, my thoughts:
We got the KVH In-Motion sat. system and after a year have found we have used the "in motion" feature twice: once when we wanted to avert a bad storm cell near New Orleans and used the weather channel, and the other was on 9/11. I wouldn't bother with the extra expense of the in-motion feature again. We are usually pulled over at a rest area, truck stop, or otherwise off the road if we want to check the weather, watch the news, etc.
Check out how well the unit you buy will work in rainy weather. We've found the KVH, while looking similar to others, is a weaker signal than other brands, so seems to be affected more by rain (we can hardly get a signal then...it freezes or becomes overly pixelated.)
Make sure you understand exactly how the unit will work with internet, etc...a lot of folks are getting misinformation about how well it will work, costs, etc. Nothing out there that I know of right now that is really cost-effective for true 'net service like we had with our cable at home that will work across the country.
Re: GPS. We're finding that we don't use the GPS as often as we thought, and when we do, you want it in the "toad" which you tend to use more for exploring. We tend to stay on main roads with the rig and don't really find it more than a gimicky thing for that. Now, in the toad it's useful...so make sure whatever you get is portable enough to use there..i.e. has its own screen, small, etc. You don't want to use a laptop in the toad!
Take care...Jan McNeill, currently in JC at CCC (Camp Country Coach) Intrigue 2001 11320
Yahoo Message Number: 1437 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1437)
I have a Magellan 330, I got it at Sam's club. It came with a holder that you can plug into the cigarette lighter and a serial cable for the computer. It works with Microsoft Streets and Trips, but like Joyce I use it in my toad a lot or just when I'm traveling by car. It is handheld and it very easy to use if you get lost.
At Sam's I think it was $230.
Linda
Intrigue 10678
Yahoo Message Number: 1444 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1444)
Jim,
We had the Tracstar system installed in January. We haven't been on any long trips with it but it seems to work real well. I enjoy the convenience of having the satelite already hooked up and being able to acquire the signal immediately for boon docking etc. With installation it was $3200. It works better if you have Directv as opposed to Dish since Dish has 2 satellites that you manually have to change. I believe I would still get it if I had to do it over again. I don't believe any of the in motion receivers for TV actually work with internet yet (requires a separate dish/LNB etc).
Bob 2001 Intrigue 11237
Yahoo Message Number: 1453 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1453)
WE have used the Trac Star for about 18 months. It has worked flawlessly during that time. It tracks very well and provides a strong signal to our coach TV. We especially enjoy the music channels while we are driving. Also, when things are exciting in the news, we turn in FOX or one of the other news stations and just listen as we roll down the road. While the Trac Star is a bit more pricey, it is an excellent unit and has sure "shortened" some of our long drives.
Regarding a GPS, we us our IBM ThinkPad and Delorme Map N' Go or Streets software with their GPS receiver. We keep the PC running all the time, It has helped us avoid long back ups due to a wreck on freeway. It was so easy to reroute ourselves around the mess and then back on to the expressway. Map N' Go contains all the AAA campgrounds, and major interchange services and all the minor streets for only large cities. Streets contains all the minor streets for cities of all sizes but it does not have the major interchange services, nor campground data bases. You can get the software and GPS receiver for about $150 or less.
Yahoo Message Number: 1445 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/1445)
We have had a Datron 4000 in-motion for 4 years. Never a problem with an open sky--no godd in tunnel or under heavy tree cover or at fuel stop metal canopy. We don't spend much time at any one place but while on the road travelling we use the tv in place of a radio.
Wife can listen to regular tv shows, sit back in coach and watch too. I can listen to stock channel, weather channel, etc. Can't remember last time a radio was played. Yes, we are watching the countryside also but with a 40' Prevost Country Coach bus we stick to the main roads and Interstates--same picture out the window all the time.
GPS--have a built in system that uses DeLorme mapping and I like it.
Wife navigates with maps and I usually see the turn before see tells me. I use a laptop with same program to plan route but never bother to load in the route. Too much bother and again we're usually on very main highways, although I did miss a turn the other week going to Perry FMCA and saved about 1/2 hour. The road I stayed on rather than turning was also a local 4 lane most of the way although maps and DeLorme program said it was a two lane it was mostly rebuilt recently to 4 lanes.
That's my 2 cents worth.