Twilite Lady
SE Arizona Desert
Senior Member
Joined: 06/24/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
I've searched for this topic in the Class A Forum and haven't found anything. Is it possible to replace our crank up satellite dish with a dome? Would they use the same wiring? The crank up looks like it's in the same place a dome would go. We are considering doing this and would like to know if it's even possible. Thnx for the help.
DH - George USA Retired
DW - Twila
Sydney The Wonder Dog - Miniature Australian Shepherd
2009 Itasca Suncruiser 32H
2010 Ford Escape XLT
|
aslakson
Fulltiming in the Lower 48
Senior Member
Joined: 12/16/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
The dome will probably need some extra wiring for 12v power - it's gotta move the little dish inside the dome somehow. Also, the existing coax cable may be less than optimal. Some motor homes come with RG-59 cable, and the dome will work better with RG-6. The dome will also be somewhat less sensitive than the crank-up dish, because it is smaller. Generally that means it would be more likely to lose signal in the rain, for example.
That said, there are a lot of domes being used out there. Sometimes convenience trumps good signal.
Personally, I'd never move to a smaller antenna.
You can find the installation instructions for most domes on-line at the manufacturers' websites. Might be a good idea to check some of them out.
al
|
smlranger
Virginia
Senior Member
Joined: 06/23/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
The short answer is yes. As noted, you will likely need to pull another wire/s from inside the coach to the dome.
I had a Kingdome and replaced it with a Winegard Trav'ler SK-3005 dish. Generally, a dish will get a stronger signal and be a lot less sensitive to rain fade. Also, the Trav'ler can received HD signals and you can power multiple receivers.
If you aren't interested in HD signals and want a good, reliable dome, the Winegard Mini Max gets good reviews. I believe it can drive up to two satellite receivers.
Another tip...if your current dish is an older Winegard, Winegard may sell you a remanufactured Trav'ler dish at a great price to replace it. Certainly worth a call to Winegard to find out.
2002 Winnebago Journey DL,36GD, 2008 Explorer 4WD toad. SMI Air Force One braking system. Lucy the rescued lab/springer mix; Dixie rescued beagle mix. Smith Mountain Lake, VA
|
MeanderMan
Fulltiming Somewhere
Senior Member
Joined: 12/23/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
As a former dome user, I'd recommend staying with a dish, perhaps the automatic type. Domes are limited due to inherent construction; most can't receive full HDTV, can't adjust to satellite upgrade/realignment, are subject to rain fade, dew fade, and are more expensive to buy and repair. I bought the KVH TracVision R6ST, supposedly state-of-the-art; the only thing worse than the performance was customer service. I junked it and went back to an open dish.
Happily Fulltiming Somewhere
2006 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
2008 MX-5 Miata
Our RV Blog
|
Rich D.
New England
Senior Member
Joined: 03/10/2003
View Profile
|
Twilite Lady wrote:I've searched for this topic in the Class A Forum and haven't found anything. Is it possible to replace our crank up satellite dish with a dome? Would they use the same wiring? The crank up looks like it's in the same place a dome would go. We are considering doing this and would like to know if it's even possible. Thnx for the help.
If thinking of going with a dome that only works while stationary, I'd seriously consider an automatic dish. If you want an in motion system there is no other choice but a dome. I have had both and am perfectly happy with my KVH dome. It works well and does not fade with dew ect. The dome is painted with a non-metallic paint but as a test, I placed a metallic painted air conditioner cover over the existing dome and found only a 2% reduction in signal strength. When comparing the dome to a dish there was little signal strength difference but there was some. I have never been in a situation where the dome would not work out in the open but a dish would.
Rich D. Wanderlodge M450 LXi
|
|
|
rgatijnet1
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 06/22/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
I think it depends on the BRAND of dome that you chose. My Kingdome only requires one coax wire to allow the dish to function. Some other manufactured domes may require not only the coax but also another type of cable to supply power and to control the antenna.
|
Executive
California/Arizona/South Dakota
Senior Member
Joined: 02/07/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Nothing like pushing the button for three seconds and letting the dish find the satellite. I have the Kingdome and never had a problem finding the bird. I did run a second cable down so I could hook up the rear TV separate from the front....Dennis
Dennis and Debi
Monaco Executive M-45PBQ Quad Slide
525HP Cummins ISM 6 Spd Allison
Chevy HHR W/ ReadyBrute
Full Timing and Living the Dream 
|
The Dunks
Madera, Ca.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/06/2003
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
We replaced our Dome with the Winngard Dish and have been much happier. We just push a couple of buttons and it does all the work.
The Dunks - Terry and Steve
'05 Endeavor - The Oasis
'12 Ford Edge
In God We Trust
|
ticat900
canada
Senior Member
Joined: 09/16/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
The Dunks wrote:We replaced our Dome with the Winngard Dish and have been much happier. We just push a couple of buttons and it does all the work.
I have the Kindom in motion HDTV system and it has 4 coax coming out to feed up to 4 tv,s and it works just great.Push a button and it sets up automatically
|
haddy1
Chesterfield, MO
Senior Member
Joined: 11/19/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Ditto what others have said. Been there. Done that. Go with a new automatic dish. The Winegard sk3005 (Directv) or others in that series are GREAT products.
2003 Winnebago Journey DL
2007 Jeep Wrangler Toad
|
|
|
