Sat TV on the Cheap

D

Doc

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I want to mount one of the old 18" Direct TV antennas on a board to throw aboard the boat. I have a non HD old style Direct TV receiver (model D12-500)that I can use on the boat. I use it now for my home office TV.

I don't care about locals or the networks such as ABC, etc. I want the rest like CNN, History, Weather Channel, etc.

Are these channels on the 101 satellite? I have found a dish that says is it is dual LNB and is for 101 for a about $25.

Do I need any special switches or splitters to make this work or can I just attach a coax from the dish to the TV inlet plug on exterior of the boat to the cable coax outlet in the boat to the Direct TV receiver?
 
Yes, all the SD (standard def) programming is on 101. You can try using the cabling in the boat, but don't be surprised if it doesn't work for the satellite signal. They might have used the wrong cable or splitters for satellite. You might need to run a new cable to wherever you're going to put the receiver.
 
I have Direct TV and have a dish mounted on a piling behind my boat. I ran a cable from the LNB to the boat....... Works fine. I have direct tv at home and its HDTV. All is good. I costs me $5. to have TV on my boat.
 
Agreed the most likely problem would be a splitter in line. I have use RG59 without a problem as long as the run is short it should work on the other hand if running a new cable is not a big deal then you know it's a sure thing and may avoid troubleshooting time if your cable doesn't work.
 
I remember now that the splitters are different for cable and sat. Since this is not a permanent install...just something to use for occasional short trips...I may have to open a side window and run the coax from the dish to the receiver.

I have seen short pieces for flat coax made for using on a mostly closed window. I wonder if they are any good?

http://www.amazon.com/Cable-JUMPER-...1432902950&sr=8-1&keywords=flat+coaxial+cable

http://www.amazon.com/Flat-Coaxial-...1432902950&sr=8-2&keywords=flat+coaxial+cable
 
You will lose the signal every time your boat spins or rocks
 
Hogan,

As long as the dock doesn't move I'll be fine. This is for marinas and we don't anchor. I did this same thing back when sat tv was new and it even held the signal on floating docks. In Maine, for example, it worked with the very high tides. Where I travel now the tides are only a couple of feet.

My last two boats had KVH dishes but I am trying to sell this boat so it will have to live on the cheap. Next boat will probably be bigger and have a decent tracking dish.

I have not been able to come up with an old style dish that is cheap or free. Everyone has tossed theirs. So I will probably get this: http://www.winegard.com/mp1 About $160.00 and keep it for a back up when the rv is under a tree.
 
DOC,
You go from the dish, to the box, then the box to your boat wiring. RG59 will be fine because of the lengths of the runs. As far as the dish: Mount it on a spackle bucket and then put the bucket over the pole in your slip. That will solve the boat movement problem.
 
Over the Air (OTA) and cable system splitters do not pass the bias voltage (DC voltage) from the SAT receiver to the LNB. In fact most short any voltages or transients spikes to ground. In most cases the splitter's frequency responce has little to do with it. The LNB is basically a down converter (it lowers the frequency) and a Low Noise Amplifier. Both components of an LNB require a DC voltage to operate.
 
If you are at the dock, you can just get a regular dish. I have a portable one that I used to connect to when at a dock.
 
I had a portable that i used as well until i bought my dome. When i got my dome i offered my portable to anyone on ths site willing to come pick it up, it was gone a few days.
I was able to set the dish on my bow while docked and never had a problem if there was room on the dock i would place it there.
 
If anyone wants my old portable dish, they are welcome to come pick it up from me, no cost.
 
Hogan,

I wish that I was closer to you I would take it. I would like to experiment with this before I lay out the bucks for something fancy. I have been to Goodwill, Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity stores looking for one of the old round dishes and they all look at me like I am crazy for wanting one. eBay has new ones for almost the same price as the true portable ones. Craig's list is dry also.

Billylll,

If I run the wire from the dish directly to the Direct TV receiver do I need to change any of the settings on the receiver...like to round dish instead of oval? My current dish at the house is a large oval skewed triple LNB dish. The little SD receiver that I plan to use on the boat is on this same big oval dish along with my HD DVR receivers.
 
Doc, no changes should be needed using a different dish, be it round, oval or have a different gain as long as you have the correct LNB.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Doc
If I run the wire from the dish directly to the Direct TV receiver do I need to change any of the settings on the receiver...like to round dish instead of oval? My current dish at the house is a large oval skewed triple LNB dish. The little SD receiver that I plan to use on the boat is on this same big oval dish along with my HD DVR receivers.
Click to expand...


Yes, you need to go into the setup menus and tell it what dish you have. Otherwise it'll get confused trying to get a signal from the other satellites that the dish isn't receiving.
 
quote:
Originally posted by FlyingDiver

quote:
Originally posted by Doc
If I run the wire from the dish directly to the Direct TV receiver do I need to change any of the settings on the receiver...like to round dish instead of oval? My current dish at the house is a large oval skewed triple LNB dish. The little SD receiver that I plan to use on the boat is on this same big oval dish along with my HD DVR receivers.
Click to expand...


Yes, you need to go into the setup menus and tell it what dish you have. Otherwise it'll get confused trying to get a signal from the other satellites that the dish isn't receiving.

Click to expand...
If I read Doc's specifics in his 1st post the receiver is an older unit (Non HD) that is currently being used on a fixed dish with a skewed LNB on DIRECT's 61.5 satellite.
No changes should be needed since it's not looking for anything other than the non HD satellite located at 61.5.
 
I'm pretty sure that I used to take this same receiver to my last boat which had a KVH C3 and it worked with no adjustments. The reason that I am only pretty sure is that some time in the past few years this receiver replaced one that looked just like it but quit working.

If I could only find an old round DTV dish I could test everything before I buy the Wingard portable that comes in a case for $165.00.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

I had a portable that i used as well until i bought my dome. When i got my dome i offered my portable to anyone on ths site willing to come pick it up, it was gone a few days.
I was able to set the dish on my bow while docked and never had a problem if there was room on the dock i would place it there.

Click to expand...


Yep, I have it, thanks Dave, it worked well for years but I've moved on to the rogue (installing it tomorrow)

Like Dave and HOGAN, I am also willing to give it to anyone willing to pick it up.
 
This is one of the things I love about this site (pay it forward) let someone else benefit from what a generous person passed on to you!
Walshie nothing would make me happier then you passing on that dish to yet another member that has a need and may someday do the same!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Billylll
If I read Doc's specifics in his 1st post the receiver is an older unit (Non HD) that is currently being used on a fixed dish with a skewed LNB on DIRECT's 61.5 satellite.
No changes should be needed since it's not looking for anything other than the non HD satellite located at 61.5.

Click to expand...


Where are you getting 61.5 from? He only mentions 101 in his post, and that in passing. I don't see anything in that post that says what dish he's using at home.
 
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