General Boards > Redecorating and Updating your Motorhome
Satellite dish
Keith Oliver:
Re Sattelite dish:
My purchase was March 2011. The coach came with a KVH R5, in-motion dish. This can see only Dish, Direct and Bell. Neither of those are suitable for Canada and US. So if we can get rid of that bit of roof top ballast, we will.
Shaw, on the other hand, has just given us a dish for our summer home on Saltspring Island, and will provide a sattelite dish for our coach, or for our boat, or both, and even for our home in Coquitlam, when we get around to it. All on one monthly rate, cancellable for any period of two weeks or more, up to 6 months. For the MH or the boat, the $99 dish they will provide, on a $50 tripod, may not be pretty, and of course won't work "in motion", but since most of our TV watching is for the 11pm news, the fancier ones seem a bit extravagant. Both Wineguard and Motosat have "in motion" dishes that can see Shaw, but, as Jeff notes, at a high cost.
Shaw also claims their coverage is the broadest of all, stretching up the BC coast as far as Alaska (relevant to boating) and down to Mexico, should we ever stray that far south. The only downside I can see is giving up a little stowage space while on the road.
LarryNCarolynShirk:
It is my guess that Monaco had to add the Headlight on feature with the wipers to satisfy Canadian law, on the coaches sold through Canadian dealers.
Larry
Keith Oliver:
The Canadian requirement is for the headlights to be on All the time, (daytime running lights) not just when it is raining. I had to add a DRL module to th eelectrical bay when I brought mine across the border.
JimDyer:
--- Quote from: LarryNCarolynShirk ---It is my guess that Monaco had to add the Headlight on feature with the wipers to satisfy Canadian law, on the coaches sold through Canadian dealers.
Larry
--- End quote ---
Wrong! Headlights on with wipers is a US thing. Canada has a requirement for DRL (Daytime running Lights) which means headlights on at least 50% strength when the vehicle is in motion. I added that feature to mine by putting in a relay which energizes the lights when the ignition is on. Simple, cheap ($6), and effective.
Jeff Watt:
Keith and Jim are correct regarding DRL. Mine were working fine and that wasn't my problem. It was the unexplained turning on that makes me ponder the complexities of the system. At 3:00 AM with the lights on (but switch and ignition off) I could toggle between high and low beam, and use the interrupt switch on the wheel to momentarily turn them off. As I am decompressing after the trip and also it being Thanksgiving here, I haven't given the headlights much thought - will look tomorrow. Any other thoughts??
Regarding satellite dishes, I have been thinking of the basic dish/tripod setup and may go that route if for nothing else as a back-up when parked under trees. The new Shaw receivers are significantly smaller than previous and now will fit without much problem in the compartments; the older receivers (HD anyway) are huge - size of a thick dvd player.
There is another manufacturer based in Canada that designed their dish for SHAW - looks interesting and besides the local RV dealer/service is a reseller and installer. Still pricey at $2500 plus install. It does have a built in GPS and allows for automatic, semi-automatic and manual tracking.
http://www.explorersc2000.com/en_home.html
I contacted the company and they recommend the 75cm dish if planning on going deep south US or far North. Essentially the same price. The bigger dish is a bit heavier and obviously larger when up.
Jeff
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