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Need Advice on BEST Satallite antenna

Reply #25 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64456
Here is the follow up details from Solidsignal.com.

1 Free DISH HD receiver requires activation through KVH
2 KVH TracVision systems support DIRECTV's Ku-band standard and high-definition broadcasts. However, DIRECTV is in the process of moving its HDTV programming to new Ka-band satellites. Reception of Ka-band broadcasts requires larger antennas and additional equipment. As a result, KVH TracVision systems and all other domed mobile satellite TV antennas cannot support reception of DIRECTV's new Ka-band HD broadcasts.
If you can not receive the Ka Band Satellites then you can not get HD Channels from Directv Period-End-Of-Story. What this does is requires a subscription to Directv for SD Channels in the Ku Band and a subscription to Dish for HD Channels and I do not want to pay for 2 subscriptions and have to toggle back and forth between the 2 and not be able to use my HR24-500 Directv DVR to Record HD Directv Programming.
You have to read the Fine Print to understand that the HD Channels will come from Dish and the SD Channels from Directv.
That is not suitable for me. I will just use either Winegard or Motosat when I am not in motion and be done with it.

Re: Need Advice on BEST Satallite antenna

Reply #26 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64458

Terry, how many cannels of HD do you get, and how new is your satellite? AS of a month ago, there was no dome that got direct TV, and if you are correct, I surely want to know? I am from Idaho, and would have to see to believe!! KA band, does not work with a small dish, unless someone in the past month came up with something.

Dale Morris 91 Savanna #4702

Re: Need Advice on BEST Satallite antenna

Reply #27 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64459

Leonard, you are refering to an Internet system by Motosat, not a satellite system for tv. Compare apples to apples. Like I said earlier, both are good, Motosat is repairable in the field should there be a problem, has a 3 year warranty, a better mounting system for less stress on your roof, is upgradeable thru an SD card so you can make changes should the happen 24/7, but it does take a computer to do this. Also, if you decide on another carrier, Dish Network, or Shaw Direct from Canada, for a small fee it is upgradeable. With the other one, you decide to switch, you need to remove everything, and start over. Motosat has lost some ground to Winegard with the new HD units, but still has advantages I believe. Motosat is usually a little more money to purchase, and with there TV product, if you ever want to throw one away, call me, I will take it in a heart beat. They don't wear out!

Dale Morris

Re: Calais Maine Border Crossing

Reply #28 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64460
Thanks for the info Jerry, we'll take a run at it later this morning.

Graeme Arnott

09 Allure CP 31690

Calais Maine Border Crossing

Reply #29 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64461
got into the wrong lane (customs officer's fault) previously at another crossing and couldn't make the turn in front of the booth. Had to disconnect the toad, backup and take another run at it in the next lane, only blocked traffic for 5 minutes.

Can't help you with the Maine crossing but wanted to tell you that I had a similar experience crossing from Canada to Washington just east of Vancouver. The road forked, and the sign said something like Cars left. Trucks right. Nothing about RV's and I could not see the booths from where I was. I took the truck side and it turns out it was for commercial vehicles only. They were very nasty about it and said something like you are a car. I bit my tongue until it bleed, smiled and they let me through.

John

Re: Need Advice on BEST Satallite antenna

Reply #30 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64469
Good morning group... Gordo here.

Let see, we are now deciding what satellite system is best. Okay I'm cool with that. I chose the Winegard Trav'ler slimline model SK-3005 because Winegard worked closely with Direct-TV and Dish-TV to design an RV style unit that actually worked as claimed! So far, I'm more then thrilled with this units performance no matter what Mother nature throws at it. It is true you MUST choose between Direct-TV or Dish network before buying the unit. No changing ones mind midstream or its back to the drawing board This could get pricey to prove a point to respective satellite companies why you feel their service sucks!
If you are savvy, one can be had with a 3 year extended warranty plus the 1 year from Winegard (full replacement and labor) from Camping world for less then other with only a 3 year warranty. It's all about watching Camping worlds mailers. Since I already subscribe to the deluxe burrito HD Direct-TV (10 years now) at home, it was a no brainer to add/include this HD service in da MoHo. An extra 10 dollars per month for permanently installed HD-DVR and standard HD receiver in bedroom. I used to spend that and more on bagged ice monthly, smarting up I bought a basement ice maker for da MoHo.
What I like best about this system? The fact, all I do is power it up, pop a beer and watch the game. Now, that's the good life.

Gordo

99 Allure 30344
Sacramento, Ca.

Re: Calais Maine Border Crossing

Reply #31 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64474
John,

I'm sure you're talking about Blaine Washington, the same place where we had our little encounter.

We're sitting in a RV park in St. Andrew's New Brunswick, had to delay our crossing because of gale force winds and driving rain and to make matters worse we now have a leak in our roof, likely from our satellite antenna. I'll be up on the roof once the wind and rain subsides a bit.

Graeme Arnott

09 Allure CP 31690

Motosat vs Winegard

Reply #32 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64475
Greetings!

When I bought my Inspire, I had the Motosat MHDTV installed to enable the HD package. It works fine but, a couple of years ago, Direct TV expanded to five satellites (from three) and I no longer receive the majority of my channels, and receive nothing in HD. I am in a cost/benefit quandary regarding upgrade.
I need to answer two questions before I pitch a perfectly good system in the river and drop many $$$: (1) How long will Direct TV stay with its current satellite array; (2) What is the relative financial stability between Motosat INC. and Winegard INC.?
I have a feeling Motosat is beginning to lose internet system sales to the improved performance of cellular internet connections (this is only a suspicion - - no evidence). The TV end of the sales is still apparently going strong. Can it carry the company in absence of the internet side?

How is Winegard doing in the downturn? Will they pull through?
We've seen a few vendors bite the dust, some unexpectedly. I'd rather not buy into an unsupportable system. (As well as my Motosat works, it requires periodic software updates. Without them, where are we?)
Anyone out there have any wisdom to pass my way regarding questions 1 and 2?

Have a good weekend!
Jay

05 Inspire 51457

Re: Motosat vs Winegard

Reply #33 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64476

Jay, right after Motosat built the MHDTV model, Direct changed over to the KA band format, requiring the Slim Line 5 dish, and lnb. You would have to change the mount only for the new HD-SL5, all the cables ect. will work fine, provided you have enough coax leads coming down. Love to get MHDTV mounts in trade, they have great value. Give me a call if you are interested. You would be best to change out to the new SD-2 controller also, but at least you could get a new system, with out paying for a complete new system. The old MHDTV system does work great for people who like their home town networks and they don't stray too far from home.
As you said, all HD programing dissapeared when direct tv made that change with the MHDTV unit. Many people lost their 7 channels, and with the new dish, you get well over 100.
Dale

702-604-6757

Re: Motosat vs Winegard

Reply #34 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64477
I heard from Dish that the parking spots available for sat's was filling up. Who knows what that really means. Think as the present sat's age they will be replaced with newer more capable units.

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> (2) What is the relative financial stability between Motosat INC. and Winegard INC.?
Who knows, look at Country Coach. grin

Quote
> I have a feeling Motosat is beginning to lose internet system sales to the improved performance of cellular internet  connections (this is only a suspicion - - no evidence).  The TV end of the sales is still apparently going strong.  Can it carry the company in absence of the internet side?

Consider this: Satellite = limited band width, limited speed with no plans to upgrade, if you use too much, they choke you down. Wireless is now going 4G, up from 3G. Increasing speed and area coverage. Satellite is good only were cell is not available. Cell is just to good and to fast and can be used other places other then in RV. Have two family members that had sat's, now both have Verzion wireless.

Quote
> How is Winegard doing in the downturn?  Will they pull through?

We’ve seen a few vendors bite the dust, some unexpectedly.  I’d rather not buy into an unsupportable system.  (As well as my Motosat works, it requires periodic software updates.  Without them, where are we?)

No updates needed on the Winegard system. It simple works out of the box. Although it does have the ability to be updated.

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Anyone out there have any wisdom to pass my way regarding questions 1 and 2?

Good questions. Isn't making these decisions fun?

Leonard Kerns
97' Magna 5418

Re: Need Advice on BEST Satellite antenna

Reply #35 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64478
Every bit as important, perhaps even more so, is to get the right INSTALLER! We got our satellite from a dealer at the FMCA rally in Indio in January of this year. We mistakenly assumed that FMCA would have checked out their vendors for honesty and reputability. We were very wrong and we were 'taken in' by a dealer who not only lied and misrepresented the products but who did an extremely poor installation as well. As a final blow, he also damaged our coach ...taking responsibility for none of the above. The point of all this is that you should first make sure that you find a good installer/vendor ... and that FMCA rallies aren't necessarily the place to find them.

Steve Dailey
'06 Allure 31299

Re: Need Advice on BEST Satellite antenna

Reply #36 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64481
A fine example of why I dropped FMCA several years ago.

Jim

Re: Need Advice on BEST Satallite antenna

Reply #37 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64483
Richard, As I understand things, this satellite move/dome HD issues only applies to DirectTV, not Dishnetwork. I spoke with Kingdome and they say that their domes work with Dish HD.

Rich 2002 Magna

Re: Motosat vs Winegard

Reply #38 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64535
Dale, I was led to believe (by Motosat and others) that the base plate stays. Unbolt the MHDTV and bolt on the SL5. Is that correct?

Thanks.
Jay

Re: Motosat vs Winegard

Reply #39 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64536
Directv will stay with the current array of satellites for quite some time because they had to convert to MPEG-4 Compression Scheme over the MPEG-2 Scheme as they could fit more channels onto a single transponder so they added two more satellites that were MPEG-4 and moved their MPEG-2 Channels over to those satellites so now you really only need an Slimline (SL3) Dish to provide you with over 150 Channels most of which are HD. You no longer need the SL5 unless you want Spanish Speaking Channels, etc.

Re: Motosat vs Winegard

Reply #40 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64546

The base plate is interchangeable, so best not to disturb the roof when doing an upgrade. It is best, however to buy a complete unit, use the new controller, and mount on your system, and trade in or sell the MHDTV as a good used unit. Have sold several of them, they don't really wear out.
I always say never disturb a roof mount, if you don't need too. It takes 8 screws to remove the motor mount, and then reattach the new mount, without taking a chance of causing any roof leaks.

Dale Morris
 

Re: Motosat vs Winegard

Reply #41 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64547

However, Rich, the SL-3 head will not work with the Motosat, and will creat it not to find a satellite at all. Seen guys try it, and it does not work. If you use a perminate mounted dish some where, and or a tripod SL-3, and learn how to point it, it works great. The SL-5 system for Motosat, uses the 110, and 119 lnbs only to help line up the satellites, not for any programing, unless maybe some home town programming from some cities.

Dale Morris