SWM location

[The Colonel]

Just got the Directv satellite antenna. Have to have the one with the SWM box. I can't seem to find a location inside to put it as my AS has the sat wiring preinstalled.. I don't see a place without removing panels and I'm on the road. Is it ok to put it outside with the antenna as long as I I put the cable connections down.


Southern Belle on the road

[Al and Missy]

There are two components to the SWM, the splitter and the power supply. The power supply must go inside as it is not waterproof and needs the AC shore power to operate. The splitter is not required unless you are driving multiple TVs, but it can be mounted outside.

If you are talking about the Winegard Trav'ler antenna with the SWM-8 box, I am not familiar with that. I think that was the older style. The current Trav'ler manual, available on Winegard's site shows how to hook the system up in two configurations, one with the splitter inside, one outside. But if you are only driving one DirecTV receiver, the splitter is not required.

Al

[Hiho Silver]

If you have a SWM LNB it probably won't work with the pre-wired satellite connection. SWN LNB's will not work with the splitters that are used in Airstreams. I use an SL3 LNB and it works great, and no power supply needed like the SWM. The satellite connection should be behind the blue ray player. On mine I removed the 3 screws holding the blue ray shelf and lifted it up to access the coax cable labeled satellite.

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by Hiho Silver

If you have a SWM LNB it probably won't work with the pre-wired satellite connection. SWN LNB's will not work with the splitters that are used in Airstreams. I use an SL3 LNB and it works great, and no power supply needed like the SWM. The satellite connection should be behind the blue ray player. On mine I removed the 3 screws holding the blue ray shelf and lifted it up to access the coax cable labeled satellite.

I was under the impression that the satellite pre-wire was a single coax cable from the outside satellite/cable connector panel to the electronics shelf with no splitters involved. There are splitters in the coax lines associated with the antenna and CATV signal routing but not in the satellite, at least as far as I know. I don't think you can use the coax cables to the area of the televisions to route satellite signals, but the intent is to mount the satellite receiver in the electronics shelf and use HDMI to route to the TV locations.

Al

[The Colonel]

I will investigate further when we have time at sites. I have this: DirecTV SWM SL3S Portable Satellite RV Dish Kit Camping Tailgating with Tripod SWiM and level https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U6BMQ8W..._Ao2.xbKDFTG1S

I see I'll have to lift DVDs frame to get to connections. I'm beginning to think I should have taken a pass on this as the dish is big and the tripod is also. I think the alignment is going to be quite a challenge since it deals with multiple sats, but I'll give it a shot when time allows

[Al and Missy]

How do you plan to use this? Is there any reason why you have to have a SWM, like you plan to use a Genie receiver? The inexpensive alignment meters will not work with a SWM. IF you have a non-Genie receiver, you can use the regular LNB, and then the inexpensive alignment tools will work.

I sepcifically bought an H-24 receiver and an LNB dish (which is cheaper than the SWM dish by the way) so I could align the dish with the inexpensive meter. I have done this for the past year. All you have to do is use your receiver to tell you where to set the elevation and tilt on the dish, get the tripod level, and swing the dish until you get a peak on the alignment meter. This process is much simpler than repeatedly moving the dish a degree or two and waiting for the signal strength indicators on the receiver to change.

A SWM alignment meter, the last time I checked, was over $300.

Edit: It looks like this one from Amazon will work with SWM. IT wasn't available when I bought mine.
AGPtek Good For Campers Digital Satellite Signal Meter Finder Meter For Dish Network Directv FTA LCD Graphic Display Backlight Compass Buzzer Control

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

How do you plan to use this? Is there any reason why you have to have a SWM, like you plan to use a Genie receiver? The inexpensive alignment meters will not work with a SWM. IF you have a non-Genie receiver, you can use the regular LNB, and then the inexpensive alignment tools will work.

I sepcifically bought an H-24 receiver and an LNB dish (which is cheaper than the SWM dish by the way) so I could align the dish with the inexpensive meter. I have done this for the past year. All you have to do is use your receiver to tell you where to set the elevation and tilt on the dish, get the tripod level, and swing the dish until you get a peak on the alignment meter. This process is much simpler than repeatedly moving the dish a degree or two and waiting for the signal strength indicators on the receiver to change.

A SWM alignment meter, the last time I checked, was over $300.

Edit: It looks like this one from Amazon will work with SWM. IT wasn't available when I bought mine.
AGPtek Good For Campers Digital Satellite Signal Meter Finder Meter For Dish Network Directv FTA LCD Graphic Display Backlight Compass Buzzer Control

Thought it was too good to be true. Reviews are not good. Too late to edit my message. Get a standard LNB unless you have to have the Genie.

Al

[dasams]

Originally Posted by dblee1950

I have this: DirecTV SWM SL3S Portable Satellite RV Dish Kit Camping Tailgating with Tripod SWiM and level

Wow that looks like a lot of work. Why not the DISH Tailgater?

Originally Posted by dblee1950

I see I'll have to lift DVDs frame to get to connections.

There's a real easy install if you are willing to swap the TV receiver for the Blue-Ray. Simply open up the BlueRay cabinet, remove BlueRay, find Sat cable and plug into TV receiver and plug in HDMI cable they was in the BlueRay. You'll see that the HDMI goes into the factory splitter and two HDMI's exit (one for each TV).

If you want to watch a DVD in the future, just set it up in your LR and plug into TV.

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by dasams

Wow that looks like a lot of work. Why not the DISH Tailgater?





There's a real easy install if you are willing to swap the TV receiver for the Blue-Ray. Simply open up the BlueRay cabinet, remove BlueRay, find Sat cable and plug into TV receiver and plug in HDMI cable they was in the BlueRay. You'll see that the HDMI goes into the factory splitter and two HDMI's exit (one for each TV).



If you want to watch a DVD in the future, just set it up in your LR and plug into TV.

Because I have Directv under contract for another year. After that I will look for a more compact and easy solution.


DBLee and Southern Belle on the road

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

How do you plan to use this? Is there any reason why you have to have a SWM, like you plan to use a Genie receiver? The inexpensive alignment meters will not work with a SWM. IF you have a non-Genie receiver, you can use the regular LNB, and then the inexpensive alignment tools will work.

I sepcifically bought an H-24 receiver and an LNB dish (which is cheaper than the SWM dish by the way) so I could align the dish with the inexpensive meter. I have done this for the past year. All you have to do is use your receiver to tell you where to set the elevation and tilt on the dish, get the tripod level, and swing the dish until you get a peak on the alignment meter. This process is much simpler than repeatedly moving the dish a degree or two and waiting for the signal strength indicators on the receiver to change.

A SWM alignment meter, the last time I checked, was over $300.

Edit: It looks like this one from Amazon will work with SWM. IT wasn't available when I bought mine.
AGPtek Good For Campers Digital Satellite Signal Meter Finder Meter For Dish Network Directv FTA LCD Graphic Display Backlight Compass Buzzer Control

I have a Genie setup at home and didn't want to get another non Genie receiver to complicate things and pay Directv more. BTW when I got home I set up the travel antenna with my Genie and picture came in without much effort. I use no meters, just sat app and settings from Genie. I'll try this on the road till my Directv contract is done.


DBLee and Southern Belle on the road

[stevenson748]

I have similar tripod swm Direct tv satellite antenna. I set mine with tv out side the camper to get antenna lined up properly so i could see tuner strength of meters. Once I had tuned in i hooked the coax to out side of Sat hook up on camper, put swm power box and direct tv tuner in over head bow and hooked swm power box to cable labeled sat. It all worked great. I used switch box for Hdmi cables so I can easily change from Blue ray to Direct tv. The most difficult part is getting Satellite aimed properly