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RonaldNC

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Posts posted by RonaldNC

  1. Posted · Report reply

    2 hours ago, brocki said:

    OK , thanks to all for the feedback.  Ron, you cleared up a couple of things but now another question.  In reading the specs on the X2, it says that it has 2 inputs for connecting 2 receivers for 2 TVs.  In my '07 Phaeton, I have ONE outside coax input marked "tripod" that I think is for a satellite antennae.  Somewhere inside my MH that cable splits as I currently have 2 TV's connected to 2 receivers on different channels and both operating off the same input.  Can I do the same thing with the Winegard X2?

    Oh, and Bill, good thinking.

    Hermann, I'd be interested in what is involved in installing one of those big Kahunnas.  Sounds like that is what you have and you did it once.

    I'm not an expert, but it's likely that your current roof mounted setup has two cables that come into the coach and make their separate way to your two receivers... at least, that's how mine works.  The X2 also has two outputs... but it sounds like your coach is wired like mine, as there is only one input for a "remote" dish.  If you want to use two receivers with your external dish, you'll need to wire an additional input for the second receiver.  I decided to only have one receiver in my coach and it drives both TVs.  So, we can watch the same thing on each TV using the satellite... or one can watch satellite and the other can watch OTA/cable channels.

    Just to be clear... there are two outputs on both the Tailgater and X2, but each receiver has to be watching channels on the same satellite.  This is where the Travel'r and manual 3-LNB antennas are superior, as they are aimed at all three satellites all the time.

    Again, hope this helps.

  2. Posted · Report reply

    56 minutes ago, brocki said:

    Sounds like a good percentage of you have the big automatic stand up and be counted dish on the roof.  I was thinking more of the less expensive portable versions.  It seems that I will be buying 2 receivers for our 2 TVs anyway.

    I am bit of a babe in the woods regarding this satellite  world.  When we had a house, all we used was over the air.  In the MH, we have had the original OEM dome SD antennae and have been hooked to direct TV which worked satisfactorily until just recently.

    So do I understand that Dish has 2 sets of satellites, one East and one West while Direct TV has one set for everywhere?  And if that is true, some or all of these portable antennas only work on the (Dish) western set?  As full timers we travel all over North America.  I don't want a system that limits me to one coast or the other.  RonaldNC, if I understand you right, the Winegard X2 will find both depending on where you are?

    Another question;  Whenever I would ask Direct TV to hook me up to local channels, they pitched a fit.  Is Dish much more accommodating regarding this issue?

    I'll quit for now.  Thanks for the feedback so far and please help me continue this thread to help me figure out what we want.

    I can't answer your questions about DirecTV, as I haven't used them in several years.

    About DISH... yes, they have two sets of satellites.  There is an east coast set and west coast set.  A few years ago, you could get HD service just about anywhere (except the extreme northeast) on the western arc satellites.  So, the King Tailgater worked very well for me... even though it was only good for the western arc.  However, things have been changing and DISH is switching more and more eastern U.S. cities HD service to the eastern arc.  Now, there are many places that I have had to settle for SD coverage... not the end of the world, but once you get used to HD, it's hard to go back to SD.

    The Winegard Pathway X2 looks like a fine product and gets good reviews.  It is software switchable (as part of the start-up routine) to either western or eastern arc... which is pretty awesome.  Also, the reflector dish is larger than the Tailgater so you don't have as much trouble with rain, etc.  I've ordered mine and hope to have it operational soon.

    There are mixed reviews on the difficulty of changing your service address with DISH when you move.  Personally, it never takes me more than a few minutes.  I call their customer service number, go through their prompts, and select "technical support".  I find that these folks almost always know what they are doing.  I tell them that I'm in an RV, have changed my location, and would like to change my service address to get the local channels.  They make the changes and I generally have the new local channels in about 10 minutes.

    I hope this helps... if you have more questions, please ask.

    Ron

  3. Posted · Report reply

    It's looks like you are considering portable satellite dishes.  If so, I would recommend the Winegard X2 Pathfinder.  The King Tailgater is also good (have one now), but it only uses the western arc... which is fine if you don't plan on traveling in the Northeast.  The X2 Pathfinder is switchable between the western and eastern arc.  It also has a larger dish, which doesn't suffer from as much when there's a storm in the area.  I'm migrating to the X2 right now.

    I'm a full-timer and have been using Dish for the past 4 years.  I think their customer service is very good.  When I change locations and need to change my local channels, I never wait on the phone for more than a minute or two.  Some have had good luck with their "chat" service, but I haven't tried it.  I had DirecTV before and didn't really have any issues.  I changed because I like getting the local major channels (through DISH)... not just choosing between east or west locals (NYC vs. LA with DirecTV).

     

  4. Posted · Report reply

    On June 15, 2016 at 11:53 AM, DJTNANG said:

    I am looking at buying a used KVH tracvisionSL4 system.  Does anybody have any experience with this system?  Good or bad?  Just curious what I may get into installing and using.

     

    Thanks

    DJ

    2004 Vectra

    I have the KVH R4SL, which I assume is what you're asking about.  They were a great dish a few years ago and still work (as far as I know) for DirecTV.  I used mine with DISH and it worked fine for getting HD from three of their satellites.  However, over the last couple of years, DISH changed their transmission protocol and the dish no longer works (well... except for the 119 degree orbital... very limited).

    I decided that I no longer wanted a roof mounted dish, as you often can't use it because of trees, etc.  I went with a portable King Tailgater, which I really like.  They're relatively cheap (~$349) and work pretty well.  If I was buying one today, I would go with the Winegard Pathfinder X2.  It's very similar to the Tailgater, but is switchable between the eastern and western orbital arcs... which is nice if you travel a lot.

    Hope this helps!

    Ron

  5. Posted · Report reply

    Ron, that's what I would do in this situation. I might consider calling them to see if they will send you a replacement fitting. When any of my hoses leak I get frustrated, I do not like spilling anything on to the ground, to me its just not good etiquette. I cant stand when I see fresh water spraying around a connection or a sewer hose leaking. I certainly wouldn't want to be the next guy to pull into a site where the previous persons hose leaked onto the ground. :o

    I saw a guy in a Newell with the entry level brown Camco hose with duct tape wrapped all over it leaking at a dump station one time. That memory still baffles me. :huh:

    Yep. I HATE any leakage! That's why I try to use the best system... which I thought this swivel connector represented. Not all that's new is good!

    Thanks,

    Ron

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Ron.

    It's whatever your used to! Hard to re-invent the mouse trap! My coach came with the built in macerator, pump and 1 1/2" hose, I used it once...it's slow and can't keep it clean! Great for "show" or if the park dump is 2' above the coach level, how often is that?

    Only one I know of is Crown Club at Lazydays in Tampa, FL.

    Rocket Science, this is NOT !

    Carl

    Yeah, I have a macerator too. In the beginning, I used it a lot... but then suffered from the "black cone of death" due to the slow evacuation of matter out of the black tank... plus the blades disintegrated and I had to rebuild the unit (yuck!). After the rebuild, I only use it when the dump is above the coach. I've never had any problems with the old fashion slinky hoses... until I bought this new swivel connector!

    I guess it's "back to basics" for me!

    Ron

  7. Posted · Report reply

    HA! Wrong, Joe just likes to watch the flow of brown! :P:lol:

    Why not carry the new interlock hoses? What your describing is the same that we had in the 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90'....we had to use worm gears....Arrrg! :angry::wacko:

    Carl

    I am using the new interlock hoses... they connect with the new Swivel Connector. I think I'm going back to the old school connectors.

    Ron

  8. Posted · Report reply

    Be sure to fully "extend" the hose, at the connector end.

    "Trim" back extra plastic hose material, to the spring steel support. At the "higbee" cut line. Then bend the spring steel in about 1/16"

    Screw the hose into the coupling till snug, take care to not over tighten, then tighten the lock collar in the coupling.

    I use Rhino hose, as well a few of my friends. The main reason for leaks appears to be when we don't fully extend the hose prior to "seating" the coupling and then locking the collar.

    Later today I will be working on a couple of Rhino hoses, check out my photo gallery for pictures that should show you better what I am attempting to explain.

    Thanks. I'll give it another try later today. It's "moving day", so I'll have an opportunity to reset everything.

    Ron

  9. Posted · Report reply

    Ron,

    Sorry if I misunderstood your post. I have Rhino hoses with two extensions. The first extension had the twist or screw on connecting sleeve that two ends screw together. The other has both male and female connectors which have "O"rings and just 1/4 turn to connect. That was what I thought you have.

    If what you have is the sleeve where each end screws in the sleeve then you may not be securing [screwing] them together enough.

    If the leaking continues might I suggest Depends. :P

    Herman

    LOL! Thanks Herman. Yeah, I don't have any problems with the quarter turn connections... they work well.

    Ron

  12. Posted · Report reply

    I've had some occasions where I needed a longer flex hose then the standard 15 foot on my Rhino Flex hose. I bought their swivel coupler and an additional 15 foot hose. It seemed to work the first couple of times, but now it leaks on both sides of the coupler. All of the connections seem tight and I'm using all Rhino components.

    Has anyone else experience this problem? Any suggestions?

    Thanks,

    Ron

  14. Posted · Report reply

    All of the sudden, we have a puddle of water under our Norcold 1200 LIM refrigerator! It's leaking directly underneath the refrigerator and coming through the wood that supports the unit. The refrigerator is still working normally and everything is still cold/frozen. I checked the rear access and there is no sign of water. Also, no sign of water in the interior of the unit. The flow seems to be slowing to a slow drip and may be stopping, but it's got me very nervous. This is the original unit, so about six years old... and never had any problems.

    I'm wondering if it had a defrost cycle, and somehow the water didn't go where it's supposed to?

    Any help would be appreciated!

  18. Posted · Report reply

    I have struggled with my Lippert system since I've owned my RV. I have replaced the slide rams twice due to leakage around the seals... totally unacceptable quality control.

    However, the last time I had problems with the slides and jacks not moving... I got really upset and had to call a mechanic to try and fix it... after three hours of waiting, the mechanic found the problem was low fluid in the reservoir. My lesson... make sure you check the simple stuff first!

    Ron

  20. Posted · Report reply

    I'm pretty happy with my 2009 Monaco Cayman 38PKQ. Other than the trailing arm situation (which can be solved for about $3k), I've only had trouble with the windshield and the Lippert hydraulic slide rams.

    The windshield is one piece and pretty sensitive to any kind of tweaking via the jacks... particularly when you let the coach down. Mine popped out when I raised the jacks once before filling the air bags... not good. I got the glass reseated and have been careful to fill the bags first, before raising the jacks... and no problems the last two years.

    The slide rams have been a major pain... had to replace the same rams twice due to leaking!!! The first time was covered under warranty... the second I had to pay and it was about $4k with labor!!! They have also been good for the last two years... hopefully that episode is over.

    The Cayman is Monaco's entry level Diesel Pusher. I found the ride/drive much better than my 32' gas motorhome that I owned previously. However, as many will remind you on the forum, the ride is nowhere near as nice as the 8 or 10 bag motorhomes. If I could spend an extra $50-100k for a coach, I would have one of them!

    I hope that helps... let me know if you any questions.

    Ron

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