Direct Tv SWM satellite antenna

[ATCguy]

Well, I've got the DirecTV tech here now setting up my service. He's setting up a non-permanent ground antenna (not a tri-pod, as he says those are unauthorized) now, and will be installing the receivers & genies shortly.

He says he will not install my Winegard SWM-3 on the roof, as DirectTV does not authorize him to do so... nor does he wanna be responsible for doing it on his own on the side. So I guess I'll figure that part out later.

He is shaking his head at the rats nest of piss-poor coax & splitters at the control panel and antenna amp. Took him at least 20 minutes to figure out what wire was what. He's out at his truck now gathering supplies for the completion.

More to follow...

[Soccerloco]

Look it's pretty darn easy to do. Leave existing wiring alone. Figure out where you receivers are going and how you will mount them. Installing antenna is easy providing you can get it in the roof. Make sure you have the large installation plate its mounts on the roof first. If you have questions I will give you my phone number. Don't freak out

[sundancer 87]

Originally Posted by ATCguy

Hey Sundancer...

I guess I'm just not used to the terms you're using here. What exactly is the "slide bulb seal", and what do you mean by "RV side"? Is that the driver's side, or the curb (passenger) side?

The reason I ask is that I bought a WiFi repeater/booster that I'm going to install on the wind-up antenna mast, and would like to have a place to run the cable w/o drilling into the roof. If there's a tube nearby where I could drop a cable thru, that would be nice.

Thanks...

I don't know how I missed your post Tom but I sure did. I didn't ignore you, must have been a senior moment.
I see you got my drift anyway.

[ATCguy]

Originally Posted by sundancer 87

I don't know how I missed your post Tom but I sure did. I didn't ignore you, must have been a senior moment...

LOL... no sweat. It happens.

Moving on... DirecTV now installed to all TV's, and working flawlessly. Here's a couple of photos on the antenna the tech set up:






As I mentioned above, I asked about a tripod setup... and he said that DirecTV policy is that their dishes should never be placed on a tripod. He continued... "if the dish is on a tripod, and you call us for service... you'd have to remove it and remount it on this"... which I thought was weird.

Anyway I'll keep this for awhile until I figure out what I'm going to do about installing the Trav'ler up top.

Bill, I hear ya in re doing it myself... I've got the antenna, and I've got the plate. They're both in boxes sitting here in the garage right behind me as I type this. But I'm not sure my fat ass should be up on the roof doing it. I've never been any good with a caulking gun. I don't know why, but nothing I ever drill ends up waterproof. If I drill it, it's gonna leak. Plus, I'm not a carpenter or an electrician. I'll rebuild your engine if it throws a rod or burns a valve... but that's about where my mechanical skill ends.

So I'll probably end up hiring someone to come do it.

[Soccerloco]

I'll be in bull head city in the end February. I would be happy to install it for you

[arlan in arizona]

Wow! That is really nice of you to make that offer. There are some great members on this forum.

If you want you can come remove my factory crank up antenna and install more solar for me.

I'm just kidding about that, but was not kidding about the offer to help Tom out with his dish installation.

[Soccerloco]

Arlan after having done the install the outside antenna can be done in a half an hour. Knowing where you want your receivers and mounting if necessary
Takes up most of the time. Running cable and punching holes in the roof is quick as well. For me it was easier leaving all the stock cable alone and depending on system you have dropping cable and satellite controller through ceiling. I had to drill two holes in the ceiling and with cable penetration plate no worry for leaks. Unit works great and my over the air tv still intact if I should want to use it. Actually it was a fun install. I would be happy to help out!!!!!https://vimeo.com/142575194

[eightydo]

Originally Posted by ATCguy

LOL... no sweat. It happens.

Moving on... DirecTV now installed to all TV's, and working flawlessly. Here's a couple of photos on the antenna the tech set up:






As I mentioned above, I asked about a tripod setup... and he said that DirecTV policy is that their dishes should never be placed on a tripod. He continued... "if the dish is on a tripod, and you call us for service... you'd have to remove it and remount it on this"... which I thought was weird.

Anyway I'll keep this for awhile until I figure out what I'm going to do about installing the Trav'ler up top.

Bill, I hear ya in re doing it myself... I've got the antenna, and I've got the plate. They're both in boxes sitting here in the garage right behind me as I type this. But I'm not sure my fat ass should be up on the roof doing it. I've never been any good with a caulking gun. I don't know why, but nothing I ever drill ends up waterproof. If I drill it, it's gonna leak. Plus, I'm not a carpenter or an electrician. I'll rebuild your engine if it throws a rod or burns a valve... but that's about where my mechanical skill ends.

So I'll probably end up hiring someone to come do it.

I have that same stand but it has a curved arm so the dish sits center of stand do not need bricks for weight. Also I put adjustable feet on the stand so it is easier to plum and level. Lets not forget phone apps that help direct dish
Satellite Director, SatFinder, and GPS Status

[ATCguy]

Thanks for the offer Bill... but chances are I'll have it installed way before February. Hopefully within a couple of weeks. That big box is taking up a whole lotta room here in the garage that I'm using as a home office.

[Soccerloco]

Funny my trash guys will not take my box away. My grandsons love it. I understand wanting to get it installed. I am sure you'll love it. Best of luck. Bill

[ATCguy]

Work day...

Awning replacement and Trav'ler antenna install. Updates later...

[Soccerloco]

Yipee. If you have any questions let me know. You should be supper happy with traveler. Bill

[ATCguy]

Well, got the new awning canopies, sat dish, and a WiFi repeater antenna installed... but now have a question in re input to the DirecTV receiver.

The installer did not use the cable input located in the wet bay (by the black & grey tank valves). Instead, he ran the wiring from the roof straight down directly behind the lighting control panel... and also installed the power supply & SWM-3 control box there.

When I asked if my outside cable input would still work for those times I might be in a wooded campsite making the roof-mount dish unusable, he said "not the way it is now". He showed me the coax lead behind the TV that I'd need for that... but told me I'd need to either unplug the current line-in and replace with that, or get a 2-input/1-output splitter.

Personally, I've never heard of such. Didn't know you could have 2 simultaneous inputs... thought it had the be an A-B type switch instead.

Plus... what if I wanna use the park cable instead of the dish setup one night?

So I think that between the DirecTV tech that did my initial install last week... and the mobile RV tech who installed my roof-top dish today... my coax inputs are now all screwed up. I see at least 3 coax end plugs that are left undone behind the panel..

Guess I'm gonna need another guy just to go thru that so that I know what's plugged into what (or not plugged).

Sheesh!

[eightydo]

You said your problem in this part of your post
DirecTV tech that did my initial install last week... and the mobile RV tech.
Now they left you with the problem solving.

[Soccerloco]

If I understand you correctly the park connection goes directly to tv to its coax connector. Also if you want to use air antenna this should be the same coax that connects to tv. If you use air antenna you need amplifier on and if you use cable amplifier must be turned off. Also you must select on your remote between cable or air. From what I understand to switch between dishes you will need to switch coax connectors easy in some ways or have as you mention a dual input splitter or switch. Wow!! Just had an experience in the mountains with tall pines that were in the view of the satellite. It took twice as long for traveler to locate satellites but it did. Never had a problem for 5 days. Having the full size dish is far superior in weather and in sketchy areas. I think in most cases the traveler will find the satellites. Maybe just having the traveler splitter In accessible area would for those rare times when the traveler can't connect you simply change antenna input cable. Yow!!

[ATCguy]

Originally Posted by eightydo

You said your problem in this part of your post
DirecTV tech that did my initial install last week... and the mobile RV tech.
Now they left you with the problem solving.

You know... I'm not so sure that's quite true.

Because, even before I had the roof-mount installed today... the DirecTV tech who left me with the ground antenna still wired it up so that the feed from the outside coax cable connector still fed directly into the DirecTV receiver. All the mobile guy did was remove that input, and replace it with the roof-mount input.

In a few days, I'll start trying to figure out what coax feed goes where... but what a PITA it's gonna be because of the rats nest of wiring already back there.

Oh well.. as my son often reminds me: "First World Problems... "

[Soccerloco]

How many receivers do you have. Are using Dutchman installed cabling for your satellite. Did installer run cable from traveler through the roof to your receiver. On mine the simplest install was to run coax and satellite controller to one room and another coax to second receiver. As a result i can still connect to cable through wet box and can still use my over the air antenna. And to use my traveler satellite antenna all I have to do is select hdmi 1 on the remote control. With your second I think it best to have satellite splitter located where you could just change input coax from traveler to portable dish...[emoji488]

[RVNevada]

Tom, Not knowing how my RV was wired I just added my own wiring for the Satellite, and left the rest alone, I added another plug just for the Satellite, then ran the wire to the switch and then to the TV, quick and easy

[Soccerloco]

That's what I did. Leave the stock alone so cable and over the air antenna still work. Satellite is separate. Just change input selection to choose what system you want to use[emoji298]️

[azdryheat]

Originally Posted by ATCguy

Work day...

Awning replacement and Trav'ler antenna install. Updates later...

Not to steal the thread but you're already replacing your awnings? Why?