Portable Sat w/ Roof Sat

[sprehoda]

I am researching getting a portable sat dish to use when the roof dish is blocked by trees.

There are two "Sat In" coax connections in the utilities compartment where I assume either could be used to connect the portable sat to the Direct TV receiver.

There is only one coax connection on the back of the receiver so I assume all coax cables are tied together and that any signal from either one sat dish will find its way to the receiver without a receiver signal source change.

[terry and jo]

I am certainly not an expert in these matters, which is sad because I was once a manager of a store for a major electronics retail store. However, there has been way too much water under the proverbial bridge.

Our 2010 also has two satellite inputs. We have a dish, although smaller than the normal stix and brix Direct TV dish. With the number of LNB's and other matters, we have a double coaxial cable running from the satellite dish to those two inputs. However it works, I get all I'm supposed to with just the Direct TV DVR/receiver doing the work.

I think each satellite input covers different channels in the receiver.

Terry

[golf_bears]

Not sure if you have Dish TV or Direct TV, or if makes any difference. We have Direct TV and use a portable dish on a tripod when we are on the road.

Also have two connections in the utility center. In our RV, one connection is used for the receiver in the living room and the other connection is used for the TV in the bedroom. We cannot split the signal from the dish to two receivers, must use two cables directly wired to the each receiver from the dish.

Your roof top dish will probably need to be disconnected from your receivers in order to use a different dish set up on a tripod.

[2 DA WDS]

I have been using this setup for years and would highly recommend it.http://tv4rv.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=35. I also bought this to make finding the sats very accurate. http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=satlooklite&d=solid-signal-satlook-lite-ka-hi/lo-ku-satellite-signal-tracking-meter-swm-meter-(satlooklite)

[porkchop]

I also am no expert on this so I will share MY experience relative to this subject. This is for a Dish system, however the factory wiring is the same in all units.
My unit has 2 coax cables from the roof to the main tv area, and 2 coax cables from the water compartment to the main tv area. 2 cables are required from each satellite connection IF you want HD. There are 2 cable connections on the back of my Dish receiver marked sat #1 and sat #2. Each of the cables (a total of 4) from the 2 different areas are also marked as #1 & #2. You have to decide which set to use depending on which type (roof or portable) of sat dish you have. These connect directly to the receiver and bypass the switching unit. Then a cable (again your choice, coax, HDMI or rca) goes to the tv set from the Dish unit. We do not have a tv in the bedroom (bedrooms are for sleeping) so I do not know how to get the signal to that set. YEMV

Bill

[Gemstone]

"so I do not know how to get the signal to that set"....
simple.... change to DirecTv and go with the Genie and the wireless mini Genie for the bedroom....no cables to run from the main receiver to the bedroom.

Regards
Gemstone

[wingnut60]

But can you get HD from Direct? Have heard you cannot, at least not thru the auto portable units?

Joe

[Gemstone]

DirecTv, and HD yes even wireless....via an auto antenna you are probably correct, but I have no experience with that.

Regards
Gemstone

[Motorcycle Jack]

HD TV requires another LNA signals that are different from the regular LNA so TWO cables must come into your switch system SO no a portable will not give you HD. The roof sat has two cables coming down to the receiver so you do get HD with the roof sat system.

[wingnut60]

My question actually was meant to ask about auto satellites that can be moved--my Carryout has the 2 cables but it can't get HD on the Direct side, only the Dish side.
Joe

[porkchop]

I am not familiar with Direct but I did get HD on Dish with my portable. It had 2 cable connections, same as my roof unit. I kept, and used, both for several years. Finally realized that it had been a long while since using the portable so I sold it.

Bill