What to do? Exotic setup for an RV.

[openminds]

Ok, what I have now is a "Tracking" dome covered dish with an older 211 receiver. Works fine, only issue is that I can only get one sat (110 or 119) at a time, by design, and literature says no HD, and my model is to old to "upgrade". I also have an unused, crank-up dish on the roof that is unused.

Here is what I want to do:
I want to retain the Tracking dish as this works while driving down the road. This is fine and the cost of upgrading to a dome that receives HD is cost prohibitive. But, I would like to retrofit my crank-up to a dish 1000. The Tracker is legacy. I want to retrofit so I can get HD channels, etc while parked. I checked the mounting brackets comparing to my home dish 1000 and the specs are either the same or so close the retrofit will be easy, as will the LNB.
So after I do this retrofit, I will end up with 2 cables coming down to go into my receiver, with one (The retrofit) needing to be split to use with the newer receivers. (Yes, I will be upgrading that as well).
So the question:
What can I do, short of unscrewing and reconnecting cables, to facilitate the changeover from one dish to another? Is a A/B style switch capable of doing this? My RV does have a high quality switch that is used to switch between inputs to the TV, which I could use to switch between dishes to the IRD. Any thoughts? Possible?

 

[boba]

Ok, what I have now is a "Tracking" dome covered dish with an older 211 receiver. Works fine, only issue is that I can only get one sat (110 or 119) at a time, by design, and literature says no HD, and my model is to old to "upgrade". I also have an unused, crank-up dish on the roof that is unused.

Here is what I want to do:
I want to retain the Tracking dish as this works while driving down the road. This is fine and the cost of upgrading to a dome that receives HD is cost prohibitive. But, I would like to retrofit my crank-up to a dish 1000. The Tracker is legacy. I want to retrofit so I can get HD channels, etc while parked. I checked the mounting brackets comparing to my home dish 1000 and the specs are either the same or so close the retrofit will be easy, as will the LNB.
So after I do this retrofit, I will end up with 2 cables coming down to go into my receiver, with one (The retrofit) needing to be split to use with the newer receivers. (Yes, I will be upgrading that as well).
So the question:
What can I do, short of unscrewing and reconnecting cables, to facilitate the changeover from one dish to another? Is a A/B style switch capable of doing this? My RV does have a high quality switch that is used to switch between inputs to the TV, which I could use to switch between dishes to the IRD. Any thoughts? Possible?

How will you adjust skew/elevation and azimuth with the crank up? A change of 50 miles needs a new setup.

 

[openminds]

How will you adjust skew/elevation and azimuth with the crank up? A change of 50 miles needs a new setup.

The pointing is not an issue. The crankup has a compass built in and a digital elevation indicator. Usually takes me less than 5 minutes to get dialed in to 110/119.
Me problem is a way to switch between that two dishes.

 

[rocket69]

do you have a model number of the tracking system?? did the manufacture tell you it will never get 129? or was it the guy at the rv joint trying to get $2500+ for new gear? If you only want to toy with your winguard . You could get a sw21 switch and a legacy 101 lnb dtv 18" dish type.

Hook up the main line to the bottem of the sw21 and port one to the lnb that is on your crank up dish. run a check switch then point it to 119 once you get higest signal then place the new legacy lnb on the left side flush with the original lnb when looking from the front and hook it up to port 2 on the 21 switch and run check switch. Now you should have 119 and a low signal on 110 move the 110 lnb with out moving the dish untill you get the best signal you can and glue it original with epoxie and use elactric tape to keep it in place untill the glue is cured 24hrs+ enjoy your new 119/110 crank up or your 129/119 dish.

 

[rocket69]

The A/b switch will work but its best to change when the box is unpluged (The switch will crap out at some point Or high posibility of killing the tuner on the box)

I havent done much legacy work in the last 4years other then the 21 trick posted above.

If you are willing to try something this should work if you are willing to crank up your dish to 129 (Untested but should work due to standard legacy installs)

Hook up crank up dish to 211 and peek in 129 get a sw21 and hook up port one to dome tracker and port 2 to the crank up and check switch. If you pull in all 3 you are good to go and will be without 129 when driving but can swtich to the sd version and crank back up when your parked .. a used sw21 should run you $free-10 at any sat shop that does installs or new from $10-25

Photo of standard legacy install 119/110 quad lnb is the tracking system 61.5 is the wing dish in our case the crank up

 

[openminds]

My dome has received 129 on occasion, but not reliably. I don't know the technical ins and outs of why.
I do have some sw21's laying around so may give this a shot. Will I be able to use legacy lnbs and such with a newer ird?

 

[TimberWolf]

The dome and the lnb itself shouldn't need to be upgraded. The control unit might be or even just the software in it. If you picked up 129 already, the control unit can identify it. You may have not had a good line of sight to it at the time. Most of the transponders on it seem to show lower signal strength than 119/110

 

[rocket69]

all new gear is compatible with legacy but most legacy recivers will not work with new dpp with out converter. Let us know if the sw21 works with port 1 dome port 2 crank up

Contact the maker of the tracking system as other has sead it might just need software update.

 

[openminds]

Dome maker confirmed that unit will not pick up 129 reliably as tracking system looks for a stronger signal to acquire. Mine is 1st Gen and not upgradeable. (Figures).
I would have it tested by now but can't locate the coax coming from the crankup. I see where it comes in the roof. My God there's a lot of wires up there. Going to pull my TV off in the next day or two to sort it all out...

 

[rocket69]

Good luck locating the crank up 70% of the time they mark the cables other times is a crap shot. Ive spent many hr figuring out wiring of many boats and rv's if you have a cable tracker it will help you and save you many hr's . unhook the lnb on the dish and put the red clip on the copper conductor and the black on the outer nutt and make sure they dont touch.

No need to spend $75+ on a tracker i buy crap tools now due to damage of my great gear

Cable Tracker