Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: Need Satellite Antenna & Receiver Recommendation (Read 347 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Need Satellite Antenna & Receiver Recommendation
I have a 2015 Mid-Bath with a Winegard RM-DM46 satellite antenna. Up to now using the old model DIRECTV box in the motorhome was okay. Standard defin was okay with me. Now, I have dumped DIRECTV due to being too expensive.

Checking with DISH, the Wally receiver is not compatible with my antenna, and their antenna/receiver package would cost $1700.

A lot of my camping is where no cell service is available, so any streaming is not the answer.

Are there any options other than the DISH Wally package?
2105 MB
Re: Need Satellite Antenna & Receiver Recommendation
Reply #1 –
I already have dish service at my home, so maybe there is some of the difference.  But I bought a satelite dish and wally from Dish TV for $300 and monthly service is $7.
Re: Need Satellite Antenna & Receiver Recommendation
Reply #2 –
Ed Liebgott and I co-authored an article about satellite TV in the RV, based on Dish Network equipment.  It is in the Companion under TV.

Ken F in NM
'08 MB
Re: Need Satellite Antenna & Receiver Recommendation
Reply #3 –
Quote from: tahoewyatt  - 
I have a 2015 Mid-Bath with a Winegard RM-DM46 satellite antenna. Up to now using the old model DIRECTV box in the motorhome was okay. Standard defin was okay with me. Now, I have dumped DIRECTV due to being too expensive.

Checking with DISH, the Wally receiver is not compatible with my antenna, and their antenna/receiver package would cost $1700.

A lot of my camping is where no cell service is available, so any streaming is not the answer.

Are there any options other than the DISH Wally package?

Hi Wyatt,

Welcome to the forum.  Here’s a link to some guy with a similar situation as yours.  He’s using a Hopper instead of a Wally but it’s really the same issue.  Anyway, his attempt was to modify the antenna by adding a single DP LNB.  Read the whole thread because he ended up getting only some of the channels on a particular satellite.  Probably having to do with every other channel changes polarity (horizontal vs vertical) and he was only picking up half of the channels.  It looked to me like a lot of work for minimal results.  He did say that he had used an old VIP211K receiver before doing the mod and it worked well for him.  I don’t know if the VIP211K is still available, but maybe you could pickup a used one.  Others may have a better solution for you.

- John
John & Cathy enjoying life with our 2021 Mid-Bath, 1996 Cherokee and “Bandit” the wonder dog 🐶
Re: Need Satellite Antenna & Receiver Recommendation
Reply #4 –
My wife and I watch a lot of television.  While our roof mounted TracVision works well with Dish sometimes we are under trees so we use a Dish Tailgater (approx. $300) and it also works well.
Ross Taylor
2017 MB
Re: Need Satellite Antenna & Receiver Recommendation
Reply #5 –
What kind of satellite antenna was included in the $1,700 figure?  For the price, it sounds like a Winegard Trav'ler which is mounted on the roof and is automatic -- push a button, the dish raises and finds all three satellites. 

There are less expensive ways to go, however.  You could get the Wally (which you should get for free from Dish) and then get a dome antenna that sits on the ground or on a tripod.  If it were *me,* I'd get the Winegard Pathway X2 which you can get for less than $500.  The Pathway X2 will handle two receivers and is capable of receiving both Western and Eastern Arcs.  Pathway X2 Portable Satellite TV Antenna | Winegard Company
Linda Hylton
Re: Need Satellite Antenna & Receiver Recommendation
Reply #6 –
Wow, I wonder if my rig's roof antenna still raises up...  ;)
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Need Satellite Antenna & Receiver Recommendation
Reply #7 –
Quote from: Joan  - 
Wow, I wonder if my rig's roof antenna still raises up...  ;)

We raise our TV antenna once year to make sure it still moves.
Remind me to lube your TV antenna's gears the next time we see each other.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Need Satellite Antenna & Receiver Recommendation
Reply #8 –
Quote from: Joan  - 
Wow, I wonder if my rig's roof antenna still raises up...  ;)
That is one thing I haven't checked yet. We don't watch much TV and there isn't a TV in our Lazy Daze.  Not sure what I am going to do with the space the TV is supposed to be in.
Steve and Jill, Steve posting
1999 26.5 Mid-Bath
Re: Need Satellite Antenna & Receiver Recommendation
Reply #9 –
Quote from: StevenJill  - 
That is one thing I haven't checked yet. We don't watch much TV and there isn't a RV in our Lazy Days.  Not sure what I am going to do with the space the TV is supposed to be in.

Reconfigure it for use for as storage or a bookshelf?

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Need Satellite Antenna & Receiver Recommendation
Reply #10 –
I raised ours once too often. Forgot to lower it. California Live Oak ate it. Now it’s just the mast and a torn cable. 🤕  And yes, for many years I used a bungee on the steering wheel to remind me. For some reason, I hadn’t this time. —Jon. 
(Former) ‘06 TK “Albatross.” And (former) Vespa 250.   Alas, no more; both are gone.😕 Great memories remain! 😄