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Which satellite to buy?

Yahoo Message Number: 23798
We are in the process of purchasing an 05 Allure 470 and are trying to decide which satellite system to install. We've had friends tell us to choose the Motosat over the Kingdome because they've had better luck with it. We're not looking for an in-motion version, just the stationary one. Do any of you have any suggestion for us? We'll look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Pat

95 Intrigue 36' (10070)

Re: Which satellite to buy?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23800
I assume you know the King Dome and MotoSat are different satellite systems unless you add the TV capabilities to your Data Storm.
We have both and keep them separate because if the MotoSat goes down for storms we may be able to keep the TV reception. And vise versa. Of course sometimes they all quit at the same time. We have the continuous tracking King Dome since it was transferred from our previous RV and saved us buying another one.
Enjoy your '05 Allure. We sure like ours.

Sue

'05, 42' quad slide Allure 31254

Re: Which satellite to buy?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23808
Opps, I stand corrected and learned something too. Thanks for the info.

Sue

Re: Which satellite to buy?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23821
Hi:

I ordered a 2007 coach. I am not about to pay CC over $7,000.00 for a dish.
My understanding is the dish will not go down in bad weather if it is heated. Most or all of them now seek out the signal. I do not want the kind that retrieves while in motion (on the road).
What do you think about the above? I do not know much about this subject which is probably obvious.

Bob

2003 Intrigue, 1st Avenue.

Re: Which satellite to buy?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23822
I had a motosat sat tv antenna on my coach for almost 2 years. I had no problems of any kind with reception, deployment, retraction etc in any and all kinds of weather. My only complaint about the unit was that in a heavy crosswind, the dish would rattle on the roof.

During one year of that time I was playing with a tripod- mounted motosat-datastorm unit to see if I wanted to add internet capability to my coach. I decided that I did, and added the motosat-datastorm unit - and the same unit services my television as well. Now 15 mos later, I've used the unit in Mexico and Canada, as well as all over the western US. Unit cost including removal of old tv antenna, providing an alternate input for manual tv input(in case I was in too heavy shade for the roof mount) and full installation by factory certified technician was 5000.
By the way the new (and larger antenna) for the internet does not rattle on the roof even in 35-40 knot dead cross winds. My unit had a faulty compass, and factory support was excellent. Motosat immediately gave me a choice of having the local installation tech install the replacement or having the factory do so. Given that I was on short time and headed for SLC I elected to have the factory replace the faulty compass. The factory service was excellent they replaced the compass and thoroughly checked out the whole unit and the unit has now functioned flawlessly for both tv and internet for approximately 15 mos. If you want email/phone contact for factory, email me.

In times of such shoddy corporate irresponsibility and lousy quality control, it is a real pleasure to find both a quality product and a company that stands behind their product.

All best rog

Re: Which satellite to buy?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23826
Pat,

We are taking delivery of our new 2007 Allure 430 on Tuesday July 18th. I would like to share my experiences and plans, some of which may not be as applicable to you as the 2007's come standard with HD (high definition) TVs.

Our 2002 Allure has a KingDome which we liked. Yes, it may loose signal strength in dew or some rains. We like the dome because people cannot see that it is "deployed" and also when we are finished at a rest stop, we don't have to stow it.

We are DirecTV TiVo fans as we can record programs when we are not around, can record two programs at the same time, can skip commercials (watch a one hour show in 45 minutes), can pause a show, and solve "did you hear that" disputes by backing up (rewinding) a show!

DirecTV uses three different satellites for their HD programming.
The domes installed by Country Coach (and possibly all domes), are not configured to receive all three satellites at once -- two at most. This may be important with HD TV (and TiVo) if you plan to watch differ programs in the LR and Bedroom, or TiVo wants to record two programs at once. Conceivably the two satellite receivers may need to access all three satellites at once.

So, I have elected to have a MotoSat HD dish installed by Cal from Advanced Satellites at the factory a day before we take delivery.
It has three LMBs, and the dish can skew during automatic deployment to receive all three with maximum strength. He will also install a DirecTV HD TiVo unit in the Living Room and standard DirecTV receiver in the Bedroom.

Drop by and visit us if you are in the area.

Herb

Forum Moderator
2002 Allure #30690
2007 Allure #31466

Camp Country Coach space 20
6th & Elm

Quote from: pat98686
We are in the process of purchasing an 05 Allure 470 and are
trying to decide which satellite system to install.

Re: Which satellite to buy?

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23831
Herb,

What do you do about TiVo's requirement for a land line connection at all times? We were on the road for almost 3 months recently and they even cut off our service for a week or so to make their point.

Herb & Melitta Strandberg wrote:

Re: Which satellite to buy?

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23832
Bob, we've been fulltiming with DirecTV/Tivo for 26 months. When we stop at a park with instant on phone's we hook up the Tivo and make a call. After 30 days it starts to complain about not having made a phone call but it keeps working. Our record was 104 days without a call. It starts to complain twice a day at 90 days but still keeps working. When we were in Alaska for 3 months and the receiver didn't have a signal the service was interrupted but a quick call to DirecTV and it was back even without a phone call. I've asked DirecTV twice about why they don't allow the use of broadband internet to maintain this connection like a standard TIVO but even the Vice President who answered by last request didn't have a straight answer.

Bob

'05 Intrige 11872

Quote from: Robert Handren\[br\
] >

Herb,
> What do you do about TiVo's requirement for a land line connection
at all times? We were on the road for almost 3 months recently and they even cut off our service for a week or so to make their point.

Re: Which satellite to buy?

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23838
Bob,

If you have DirecTV you can purchase a DirecTV TIVO unit. It does not require a landline for dialing-in every day (although after about 90 days of not dialing in it will begin to pop up reminders that it hasn't completed a call... currently our unit hasn't connected in over 234 days). The DirecTV TIVO unit receives all of its program guide data over the satellite and does not need to dial-in to retrieve this information. The only other feature you lose is the ability to order pay-per-view movies using your remote control... but you can either call DirecTV or order on the web, so this isn't a huge loss.
If you buy an off-the-shelf TIVO-branded unit from the store, however, it WILL require a landline and will shut-down after a while of not dialing in. These units can only retrieve their program guide information by dialing directly into the TIVO servers to retrieve it.

Hope this helps.

- John

'05 Newmar Mountain Aire 4304
'03 Honda CR-V toad

Quote from: Robert Handren \[br\
] >

Herb,
> What do you do about TiVo's requirement for a land line connection at all times? We
were on the road for almost 3 months recently and they even cut off our service for a week or so to make their point.

Re: Which satellite to buy?

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23840
The unit that is made by Direct TV that has the tivo type recorder is called DIRECTV PLUS. They run $100 and do not have to be plugged in to a land line.
There is one more downside other than ordering pay per view. This PLUS box is not High Def. Thanks, Hollicks 05 Affinity 6370

Which satellite to buy.

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23812
Hi Pat,

There are advantages and disadvantages to each kind.I have owned both the Motosat Executive pop up type and a dome type.

Both work well in good conditions, the Motosat gets a better signal because of its shape and is not affected by rain and snow too much, but can lose signal in gusty winds. Domes because they are covered, are not bothered by wind and you do not have to remember to lay it flat before moving, but they do lose signal more easily in rain and snow or with leaves and dirt on the dome.

So, consider the areas you are most often in as regards to weather.
Also if you are able to get on the roof and clean the dome, no big deal.

Personally, I have liked the pop up Motosat better, but we do spend much of the year in Oregon.

Chris Bradley
Infinity 4952

.................

We are in the process of purchasing an 05 Allure 470 and are trying to decide which satellite

system to install. We've had friends tell us to choose the Motosat over the Kingdome because

they've had better luck with it. We're not looking for an in-motion version, just the

stationary one. Do any of you have any suggestion for us? We'll look forward to hearing
from you.

Thanks,
Pat

95 Intrigue 36' (10070)

Re: Which satellite to buy.

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23814
Thanks so much for everyone's reply. We live in southwest Washington with lots of rain, so it sounds like the Motosat may be the way to go.
We're heading to Junction City on Monday to look at the coach and as long as it's as advertised, we'll sign the papers and it'll be ours!