We have been fulltiming for three years now. We have a non HD DirecTV satellite dish on a tripod. When it was installed, the DirecTV installer told us not to get an HD satellite because it was much harder to locate the satellites with an HD dish. Our DVR is starting to go bad, so we need to replace it. We've seen the DirecTV commercials for the DVR that is wireless and can be watched in multiple rooms. We'd like to get it so we can watch the DVRed shows in the bedroom without any extra cables. 

Does anyone have an HD dish on a tripod? How difficult is it to locate the satellites? We talked to someone last winter at an RV park that said something about covering two of the heads with foil. I can't remember exactly why he did that. We would appreciate any advice or experiences you can share.

Thanks!

We have a HD Dish on a Tripod and after a little practice my setup time is now about 5 minutes from getting the Tripod out, aiming and connecting to the 5er.

I use the Dishpointer App on my I Phone and a AcuTrac III Meter that gives me a strength bar reading for each of the three satellite's for HD.

I just setup the tripod, get it somewhat level, set the Dish on the tripod and connect it the Dish to the AcuTrack Meter, point dish in the direction the Dishpointer App shows the Satellites at, tweak the signal for max level, tightened Dish mounting, connect to 5er, turn on the Dish Receiver and TV.

Since we move every couple of weeks or so, I needed something easy and fast, our method works for us, able to move the tripod around with trees and such.

I have a roof mounted Winegard Travl'er but I have friends that use a tripod. They tell me the key to easy setup is the tripod. They use one from http://www.tv4rv.com/sunshop/. It makes it easy to get the dish plumb.

Edit by moderator: Activated link.  Terry

The “portable” HD dish can be set up with a bit of practice but you do need to make sure the tripod is absolutely level.  If it is level, then the “numbers” you get for tilt and skew from the setup page of the DVR will be VERY close and then, with a compass, you can point the dish and, with a meter, sniff the main 101 satellite.  After that it is a matter of peaking the antenna using the signal meters on the DVR.  There is a “technique” to this but it isn’t brain surgery.  It just takes a bit of experience and a meter.  (That’s the “Cliff’s Notes version and for some it can be frustrating.)

That said, if you can afford it, I HIGHLY recommend the Winegard SK3005 roof mount satellite antenna as motioned above.  It can feed two DVR’s with its 4 outputs and works excellently with the DirecTV receivers.  You will most likely need professional installation and I recommend it for various reasons.

Actually to view the DVR in another room it is true there is no “wireless system” for any DVR/Satellite receiver of any quality.  However, there is a trick available in some rigs already installed.  IF you have a TV in the bedroom and an RF switcher in the living area – one that has buttons like “Off-Air – DVD – Cable” - some of these allow for taking the video and audio output of a DVD type player, plugging the video and audio into the RF switcher which can then send the picture and sound on a TV channel to the bedroom TV.  You can feed the satellite DVR into this DVD input or similar and get it to the bedroom on at TV channel.  It won’t be HD in the bedroom, but you won’t have to run any additional wires to the bedroom TV.

If this is just gibberish to you, sorry.  But many rigs have this type of system specifically designed to do just what you are asking.  Knowing the type of rig won’t help.  It’s the type of RF switcher installed in the rig that matters.  One that does this job nicely is a Winegard Model VS-0604/VS-6412 or similar.

Here’s a link to one o EBay:

Winegard Model VS-0604/V-6412

This device linked will also power a Winegard off-air batwing type RV antenna.  I’ve used one of these for a long time and it does a nice job of routing all the RF around the coach in addition to solving your problem if you can’t swing the Winegard Satellite antenna mentioned.  But if you can, go that route, have it installed and I beleive you will be quite satisfied with the results.  We have for 5 years.

Bill

Edit by moderator: Re-linked the link to shorten the line.  Terry

Lucky Mike wrote:

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I have a Vu-Cube 1000.....(tailgator) carry out....put on ground....point north......done the rest is done remote inside!!!!!

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 I don't beleive that will get Direct TV HD though.

Hi K & E,

Directv does not have any receivers that are wireless.  If you are thinking of the new GENIE Whole Home DVR (HR34) it uses what are called clients (CL-31) for the additional tv's....but they must all be hard wired with coax cable and networked to the GENIE.  The GENIE can record on 5 tuners, but it is an HD system.  It requires what is called a KAKU Slimline dish (bigger oval size) with a SWM3 LNB that lines up to 3 satellites in the sky (sats. 99, 101, 103). 

The system you are using now is a standard system and aligns to 1 satellite (sat. 101) in the sky.  It's generally easy to align if you know where the S-West is.  With the KAKU dish you have to hit all 3 satellites to get the HD programming since most of the HD programs are on the 99 and 103 satellites.   It is possible for a customer to align this dish, but it's generally not easy.  It can be quite frustrating at times even for professional technicians with a $500 meter.  Campgrounds and state parks are typically not friendly places to get a good LOS (line of sight) to all 3 satellites.  Stay with the reliable standard system you have now.... but call DTV and get your receiver replaced with a working model.  They will swap it out for you.  1-800-DIRECTV.

There is only 1 self-aligning KAKU HD dish system for DTV that I know of.... it's a Winegard. ..... but even these have problems with LOS.

http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-SK-3005-TRAVLER-Slimline-Multi-Satellite/dp/B002N5JYDO

Good luck, PamINaJAM

Certified Senior Directv Service Technician, Certified SBCA.