Satellite dome

[foggyb]

[?] Has anyone mounted a satellite dome on their Montana roof? If so, how did you get the cable routed to the satellite cable input to the trailer. The one I am looking at has auto lock on so it must need either 12v dc or 110v ac power. Have to assume ( hate to use that) the unit would be mounted on the front roof leaving a long haul to the back satellite input. Any input would be appreciated. Thanx Dan

[HamRad]

Hi Dan,
At the Shasta MOC Rally there was a fellow who had installed the huge DirecWay auto dish. He ran everything down into the bedroom behind the TV. Then used a wireless router to transmit the signal to the rear of the rig. He had a 3295RK. That does not answer your question. Sorry wish I'd paid closer attention to all he'd done. Good luck and let us know what you end up doing.

Dennis

[ols1932]

You should remember that if you have a roof mounted satellite dish it will be difficult for you to receive the satellite signal if you are parked amongst a lot of trees. I prefer my dish mounted on a piece of 2x6 where I can move it about into a place where I can get a clear shot at the satellite.

Orv

[gitrdun]

I have a Wineguard dome and have no problems with signal. Had it installed at CW they were offering free install with purchase. Sometimes have half off install.

[drhowell]

HamRad was talking about Dennis Engdahl of Mount Shasta. I am sure you can e-mail him and he will give you any information about his system. Very nice guy and has done some nice work on a power inverter installation along with the DirecWay dish. engdahl is his user name.

[Imp]

We have a Kingdome on our 3400 and it is mounted on the upper forward (King pin) end of our rig. We had it installed by the dealer who worked with the dish network technician. We have two receivers and it also has two hookups on the outside when we need to hook up to a dish (like under the metal roof of our garaport in Texas). It does make your rig taller. We measure in at 13' 6". They followed the wiring harness for our antennae. It is important whether you have one receiver or two that each line has no splitters or connections in order to get satisfactory reception (per Bob) Hope this makes sense...
Myrna

[dsprik]

quote:Originally posted by Imp

... It is important whether you have one receiver or two that each line has no splitters or connections in order to get satisfactory reception (per Bob) Hope this makes sense...
MyrnaReally??? Rich do you get that? May be the reason for the slight "fuzz" on one of your sets? Thanks, Myrna!

[yvonnenid]

We also just had a King Dome installed on our 06 3670. It has worked super on the two trips since the installation. We have direct tv. We opted for one receiver because your can use cable, dvd, or antenea on the other tv or watch the same satelite program as the main tv.

[richfaa]

Here is the secret, it is simple, dome, tripod, anything..." a clear and unobstructed view of the satellite.The clearer and more unobstruced it is the better signal you will get.We would really like to have a dome because I am the "push a button and it happens" kind of a guy..When we get on the road we will see if a dome makes sense..It has not thus far.

[Lije Baley]

I've parked in several places where only a tripod mounted dish could get a signal. At Lake Siskiyou I had to hunt forever to find that perfect gap in the trees. I suppose the esthetics of a dome mount are appealing, but I really prefer the flexibility of a tripod.

[ken]

Dan
We had Camping World install a dome satellite antenna on the roof of our 2005 3475 Montana. It is mounted on the flattest part of the trailer in the center. They routed the wires through the front cap and then through the roof spars to the kitchen area. From there, they lay on top of the cabinets to the slide where our tv is. I have a short pigtail that I connect when the slide is out to make the connection. It makes the height 13'2" of the coach now. There were no holes drilled in the roof except the mounting screws and they were sealed. Were well pleased with the installation. You can see where the dome was mounted on our signature picture.
Now I agree that some of the time you can't get satellite when a tree is in the way and a ground mounted antenna might take care of that problem. But having a satellite mounted on the roof on two Montana's now and carrying a second antenna around, I never used. We finally sold the ground mounted one one. I just watched where we parked leaving the southern sky visible for reception.[8D]

[dsprik]

This seems to me to be a wide split in opinions on this satellite dome vs portable dishes. Some, like Ken (and others) say they never have a problem with thier dome and they never need a ground mount. Others with ground mounts say that dome mounts are waste of money because there is no way that they can get a clear shot at the S. sky a lot of the time...

Doesn't seen to be any blending of these two opinions. I'm sure there are some, just not reading them, I guess.

I would love a dome if I could get a clear idea one way of the other of the "Yes, you'll be fine with a dome" and "It will be a lesson in frustration if you don't have the ground mount ability".

Best idea may be ground mount for the first year out, waiting to see how our CG habits would allow a possible dome mount.

[Wrenchtraveller]

Dave, that is what we are going to do as well. I tried to buy a dish on the road this year and found out I had to get this set up at my stick house first. We got our money back but it was very annoying as the store that sold us this Star Choice system said there was no problem setting it up at the campground we were at. When I phoned Star Choice it was a different story.

[Lije Baley]

Dave,

The success of dome dishes probably depends upon the forests in your region and whether your RV park/campground use puts you in the middle of any of them. If I were in Texas, New Mexico and many parts of Arizona, I'd first wish I were somewhere cooler, but probably have an open view of the southern sky in most places. In California, we go to too many places with heavy forestation to make the dome worthwhile.

[richfaa]

Folks who have never had a problem acquiring a signal with a dome have done so because they have had a CLEAR AND UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW OF THE SATELLITE.There is no simpler way to say it and there is no in between...either you do have a clear view or you don't....that's it. If your travel is such that you will always or most of the time or can choose were you park...the the dome is for you.I hope that one day we can say that and if so will have a dome. Those of us that do not have a dome it is because that the majority of our camping is in areas where we can not get a clear and unobstructed view of the satellite/////Period.

[HamRad]

It would be great if we could always get a good signal with a roof mounted dish but the way we camp that simply isn't going to happen. There is often an obstruction of some sort in our way. We've been fortunate on this trip. Even as far north as we are (which is not all that far) we have been able to get a signal. Even at Dick and Ton's place which is totally surrounded by trees we were able to get a good signal. There just happened to be an opening. If we had the roof mounted dish we may not have been able to get the signal. Here at Tunnel Mountain RV park in Banff, Canada we had to run our cable about 50 feet south of us to clear all the trees. If I ever get a few extra $$$ I'll try installing a dish on the roof but I'll always carry the tripod setup.

If you go from open campsite to open campsite then by all means a roof mounted dish should work just fine for you.

Good luck.

HamRad

[virgil47]

Hey Rich, I think we got the "clear and unobstructed view' message.

To Dave's point, is it possible to have two connections...one connected to a roof mounted dome and another that could connect to a tripod mounted dish? The tripod and dish are not very expensive. I have a tripod mount and it sure is a pain in the beehind to set up each time we move. I am (or at least would like to be) a button pusher.

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by virgil47

Hey Rich, I think we got the "clear and unobstructed view' message.

To Dave's point, is it possible to have two connections...one connected to a roof mounted dome and another that could connect to a tripod mounted dish? The tripod and dish are not very expensive. I have a tripod mount and it sure is a pain in the beehind to set up each time we move. I am (or at least would like to be) a button pusher.

I don't see any reason why you can't have two connections. You would only be using one at any time. I believe there are others who have done that. I don't have a dome so I can't speak from practical experience but my long ago electronic experience tells me that it can be done. I'm sure there will be someone who has done it who will come along and share how they did it.

Orv

[Countryfolks]

I don't have a dome but I would guess that it would have a cable directly to the sat receiver input. If that is the case you could connect the ground mount dish thru the cable/sat connector already in place. The only hassle would be disconnecting/connecting the sat receiver antenna input between the two antenna. The splitters commonly used for connecting multiple tvs will not work with sat because they do not pass power the antenna horn needs from the receiver. There may be an antenna switch for the appropriate frequencies that will work available in the amateur radio world.

Skip

[Parrothead]

Skip
We have our satellite reveivers set up with splitters here in the stick house and it works great. We put the splitter on the "out to TV" and then ran cable to two separate TV's. We have two receivers and did them both that way so we can have 4 TV's running. (For 2 people!)
Happy trails............................

[Countryfolks]

Parrothead, They work fine on the output side [ tv out ] of the sat receiver. The tv out doesn't have a dc voltage requirement for the antenna line. They don't work on the dish antenna input because of the dc voltage requirements of the dish antenna horn.

Skip

[Montana_1240]

Personally, because I wanted to be able to utilize local cable, (or the antenna w/amplifier if the site had no cable,) and still have the ability to plug both DirecTV dish cables into the TiVo, I had to install my own dual-input plate on the side of the entertainment center slide, and pass the dish outputs directly to the TiVo's inputs.

If I want to, I could use an A/B switch to feed the bedroom TV with the TiVo's output. But we just don't want to, so far.

As it is, I can use both TVs just as I could before ever buying satellite service. And if I want to sell this rig, the next purchaser won't have to use the separate satellite feeds if he doesn't wish to, or undo some wiring that makes them forever seem to be bound together.

I’d love to have a one-button dome on the roof for the times, (which have been the majority,) we’re camped with the Monty’s roof having a clean shot of the southern sky. But knowing that we’ve camped in many a spot that just didn’t have that clean shot, and where none were open, I’d have to carry the tripod around, anyway. That’d defeat the main reason I want the dome…Not having to set the tripod and dish on the bed as we travel. (I’m sure it’d get beaten up in the bed of the truck, strapped to the ladder, or in any other place that we happen to have open enough to carry it…Places we just don’t happen to have!) Plus, I don’t want a single piece of coax slung in the open, or requiring “Wiremold” to cover it up as it translates from one surface to another, in order to reach the entertainment center.

To each their own.

Steve

[Countryfolks]

This might work. There is a simplified schematic about halfway down the page. They are diplexers.

http://www.smarthome.com/7815.html

Skip

[Montana_1240]

Skip!

Wow! I've seen those diplexers on some dishes. Heard that there were such things. But had major problem trying to discuss them with the folks at the local Circuit City.

Those doo-dads on that site seem to be just what the house needs to be totally compliant with ALL inputs.

Thanks!
Steve

[Countryfolks]

Look around for them. I found some that are cheaper. It seems you need 2 of them, one to mix the signals and one for the input of each receiver to sort the signals. May also need a multiplexer. I'm still researching it, a lot to learn about them.

Skip

[jpf]

I'm with Richfaa, one touch Dome Sat TV convenience, and also, depends on your campsite style and locale. We had the movin view installed last august on our 3400 when we started out fulltime and carried a portable directv dish around in the tool box for 10 months. Have never used it or needed to set it up. Finally got rid of it a few weeks ago. Only had one occasion of trees blocking the signal in Arkansas a few days ago but was able to move to a site next door and connected right away. (We also look for WIFI campgrounds and have been lucky enough to be on-line most of the time, at least enough to take care of the necessary stuff and e-mail)
We always ask about a clear site when we call ahead for availability.

[virgil47]

jpf,
I also really like pushing a button as opposed to dinkin' with the tilt and direction of the receiver. I've pretty much made up my mind to get the roof mounted receiver when we upgrade and I was wondering if I needed to also carry the tripod mount as a backup. I think you have answered that, at least for the kind of camping that we do.

Gosh I appreciate real experience. Thanks for sharing yours.

[Ozz]

quote:Originally posted by foggyb

[?] Has anyone mounted a satellite dome on their Montana roof? If so, how did you get the cable routed to the satellite cable input to the trailer. The one I am looking at has auto lock on so it must need either 12v dc or 110v ac power. Have to assume ( hate to use that) the unit would be mounted on the front roof leaving a long haul to the back satellite input. Any input would be appreciated. Thanx Dan

Hi Dan,
I will answer a couple of your questions.
I mounted a Moving View in the middle of the roof, between the vent by the shower and the rear A/C unit. I routed the Two cables and the 12 volt power cable a short distance down through the roof using the Winegard Multi cable entry plate. A slick feed through system they provide. I have the cables snaked down the W/D wall, under the stairs, and down to the belly through the hole already there for the 12 volt Kill Switch in the convenience center, then back to the desk slide and up the back of the Fireplace area to the TV and stereo cables. (I haven't got the last Two Black bottom Pieces off yet, so I am mid-way in this process.)
The cables will be routed through the same harness that unfolds to accommodate the existing wiring for the desk slide.
I may have to add a short section on the supplied single cable.
The power and switch, I have in the electrical cabinet area, the switch is mounted to the right of the Breaker and fuse boxes.
Where I mounted the Dome, makes me a little taller.
Take care, Ozz
I'll post a picture link soon.
http://i1.tinypic.com/23t2zax.jpg
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n194/JimsSue13/9c001321.jpg


'07 3400RL 2nd RTU
2 Golf Cart batteries 1500 watt inverter
Honda 2000 Generator, 2nd one and twinning kit coming
Maytag's with 220 Dryer
Stationary domed Sat. dish
LCD 12 Volt Amp gauge
LCD Tank Monitor
3 added 120 volt outlets
On Board Air; 12 Volt Viair 450C compressor
2006 Ford PSD 4x4 Off Road Lariat
Hadley Air Horns
Truck inverter with 110 volts for laptop
Color Backup Camera
Awning lock
http://www.montanaowners.com/attachments/photobucket/img_142633_0_f8fa37b3206a59c0788d8f222e0de75b.jpgh ttp://www.montanaowners.com/attachments/photobucket/img_142633_1_cf019feddb54629db56ec7939a48665a.jpg