Satellite - Montana Owners Club

Billyj571 · 02-04-2021, 03:00 PM

Not sure which way to go wanted a roof mount but keystone said it could void warranty on the roof so do I go portable and mount to ladder or get a tripod unsure which way to go any suggestions or pics would be extremely appreciated also do’s and don’ts

twindman · 02-04-2021, 03:16 PM

Be aware that some dishes get power thru the coax and not a power cord. Those do not work thru the new gizmo (forget what it is called) that routes signal to TV's depending on something magical(LOL). Also, I sort of measured how long the coax is in the coach, and from the input in convenience center, up to the roof(I think), back the rear of my coach, down the side, forward again about 8 feet to the entertainment center. It was something like 35-40 feet. So if you add on a 25 foot coax to the dish, you are well over 50 feet which I think is the recommended distance. So I put an adapter in the wall by the TV and go straight about 6 ft to the TV.

**Carl n Susan** · 02-04-2021, 04:08 PM

A lot of the decision depends on what *YOU* plan to do.

What Satellite service do you have?
Are you willing to switch from your current provider?
Are you planning to use your home equipment (receiver) or acquire additional ones for the RV.
How many TVs will you be using at the same time off the satellite antenna?
Do you camp a lot under trees or are you usually in open area?
How much are you willing to pay for the service and equipmeent?

I prefer a rooftop antenna for easy of setup. But I also have a portable antenna for when the rooftop can't see the satellites.

Billyj571 · 02-04-2021, 04:16 PM

Don’t have any equipment looking towards dish pay as you go . two TVs .plan on doing a lot of Boondocking Keystone does not recommend putting a roof satellite on the Monty

**Carl n Susan** · 02-04-2021, 05:00 PM

With Dish, you have more options. There are automatic dome antennas, portable antennas, and roof mount automatic antennas. Keystone not approving of roof mounts is almost laughable. The standard amount of crap up there (ACs, vents, plumbing vents, etc) already are possible leak sources. Adding a solid roof mount antenna just adds a few more lag bolts. If you are going to do a lot of boondocking then I assume there is solar in your future. How would you attach it anywhere else?

Anyway the automatic domes for Dish have pluses and minuses. They are portable and can be used anywhere there is an open sky for the 3 satellites Dish uses. They do have cable length restrictions. Some use power from the receiver which is defeated by the multiplexers Keystone uses. Other require a 12V power cable. They all have smaller antennas which are susceptible to rain, dew, and snow fade.

Using more than one TV at a time is also a consideration Depending on what receiver you get, you may be able to only support 1 TV. Other domes can support 2 TVs but the 2nd has to watch a channel that comes off the same satellite as the first (primary) TV. Then there is the need to record (DVR) shows. Some receivers do, some some don't and some have the capability for you to add an external hard drive which can be used (with Dish's assist) as a DVR.

The default satellite cabling in recent Montanas leaves a lot to be desired. KeyTV adds more uncertainty. You will be better off running your own cable and nor depending the coach stuff.

Many RVers like Dish with an automatic dome antenna and the Pay-As_you-Go plan which is pretty reasonable. Not having a home installation to consider makes this best for you. Hopefully some of them will recommend an antenna and receiver for you (I am a DirecTV user and not up to date on the available Dish equipment).

Daryles · 02-04-2021, 05:37 PM

We have Dish at home so we went with their mobile package for$7/month more. We have the Dish tailgater Pro King and a wally receiver. I don't use the RV cable connections, I just run the cable through the window and put pipe insulation in the window edge to keep out drafts. We have been very happy with this. It gives you the freedom to move the dish where you can get a signal if you have trees versus a fixed mount on the roof. Although I usually put it on the roof next to the ladder.

BB_TX · 02-04-2021, 06:02 PM

If you routinely stay at parks with lots of trees then a portable antenna would be a good choice. I often have to use my satellite finder phone app to find a hole thru the trees for the antenna to see the satellite. A permanent mounted antenna would probably not do me much good.

**AZ Traveler** · 02-04-2021, 06:32 PM

Bill,

If you decide to go Dish portable, recommend the Winegard X2 antenna which is more capable than the Tailgater. You do want to run dedicated cable vice using the cable in the rig.

rohrmann · 02-04-2021, 07:10 PM

As long as the instructions are followed exactly when mounting a Winegard Trav'ler satellite dish on the roof, there will be no issues. We had ours installed by Camping World of Las Vegas early 2013, and there has never been any leaks or other issues with the install or the roof.

Montana Man · 02-05-2021, 07:59 AM

We have Dish with a Pathway X2 on their portable stand wired directly through the slide. It is a bit larger than the other antennas but with that comes better reception. A combination antenna system is a good idea. One on the roof for ease, one on the ground for trees.

**DQDick** · 02-05-2021, 10:06 AM

When we had the Winegard G2+ we had it installed on a ladder mount. Now both our rigs have Winegard Travelers and we've had no roof issues.

mlh · 02-05-2021, 04:09 PM

We have 2 Tailgaters, one mounted and one portable. If one doesn’t work because it doesn’t have a clear sky maybe the other will.
Lynwood

BiggarView · 02-05-2021, 04:20 PM

FWIW, an outside the box thought... ditch the dish, use the money to get a better data plan and stream whatever you want. Buy one of those OTA digital antennas for local if you absolutely have to have it. Firestick is only $45, you probably already have AMZN Prime and or NFLX.... so many apps usable on the Firestick.

Its what we did, sans the OTA antenna. More than meets out needs. Cost effective too. If we can't get internet, then we don't stream. There is always DVDs and massive portable hard drive with oodles of movies and TV series stored on it for those days if we absolutely must zone out. But that is rare.

**AZ Traveler** · 02-06-2021, 05:49 AM

Brian,

The west has a lot of forests, BLM and great open spaces without cell or WIFI. You run out of DVDs fairly quick.

CADman_KS · 02-06-2021, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BiggarView

FWIW, an outside the box thought... ditch the dish, use the money to get a better data plan and stream whatever you want. Buy one of those OTA digital antennas for local if you absolutely have to have it. Firestick is only $45, you probably already have AMZN Prime and or NFLX.... so many apps usable on the Firestick.

Its what we did, sans the OTA antenna. More than meets out needs. Cost effective too. If we can't get internet, then we don't stream. There is always DVDs and massive portable hard drive with oodles of movies and TV series stored on it for those days if we absolutely must zone out. But that is rare.

This is good advice, IF you can get cell service. In a lot of boondocking places, that would be slim / poor to absolutely none. We couldn't cell service in Branson, MO when we were there last year.

BUT, with the newer Monty's, you already have a digital OTA antenna. In fact, even on our older 1994 with the manual raise up antenna, we were able to get some of the digital channels, as long as they were "closer". At the end of the day, no extra equipment should be needed to get OTA...

mlh · 02-06-2021, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CADman_KS

This is good advice, IF you can get cell service. In a lot of boondocking places, that would be slim / poor to absolutely none. We couldn't cell service in Branson, MO when we were there last year.

BUT, with the newer Monty's, you already have a digital OTA antenna. In fact, even on our older 1994 with the manual raise up antenna, we were able to get some of the digital channels, as long as they were "closer". At the end of the day, no extra equipment should be needed to get OTA...

True. I boondock places where the radio wont work and you can forget about cellular service. My satellite TV will always work IF it can get a clear sky and that’s is why I have two tailgaters.
Lynwood

CADman_KS · 02-06-2021, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlh

True. I boondock places where the radio wont work and you can forget about cellular service. My satellite TV will always work IF it can get a clear sky and that’s is why I have two tailgaters.
Lynwood

True...

We don't have satellite TV anymore, but it is available anywhere you can see the sky. OTA is probably not available in some remote places...

BB_TX · 02-06-2021, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CADman_KS

This is good advice, IF you can get cell service. In a lot of boondocking places, that would be slim / poor to absolutely none. We couldn't cell service in Branson, MO when we were there last year.

BUT, with the newer Monty's, you already have a digital OTA antenna.........

Not just boondocking places. Although I don't take the Monte there, we have a hunting cabin a few miles south of Fredericksburg, TX. Cell service is weak to the point it is sometimes difficult to make a call. And because of the hills, OTA television cannot get major network stations from Austin and San Antonio, about 60 miles away. A few local market stations with 40-50 year old reruns, and Spanish only stations. But no news and weather.

And one of our favorite places is a large RV park few miles west of South Fork, CO. But again, weak cell service. And no OTA at all. That is typically a 2-3 week stay. And the DW is not going to be without her TV any where near that long.

Fish · 02-06-2021, 08:26 AM

I used the winegard pathwayx2 for a while, still have it. Problem with it was we run 3 tv's and I was having to undo the coax and reattach it every time I wanted to watch the outside tv.
Bought a dish 1000.2 and tripod and I have all 3 hooked up.

We don't travel a lot though, mainly stay in one place for a long time.

I'm sick of dish. I pay more money for dish and get less that any other bill I pay. Since we have wifi here at the resort in florida I'm starting to get into streaming.

CADman_KS · 02-06-2021, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish

...

I'm sick of dish. I pay more money for dish and get less that any other bill I pay. Since we have wifi here at the resort in florida I'm starting to get into streaming.

We made the switch at ho e a couple of years ago to streaming as well. Between internet and Dish, we saved about $100/month. At the time we even had a mobile data plan that we took with us. With all of the reseller faux pas out there, we now have fixed wireless. Still saving money too!!!

You may also like: