Datron Satellite tv Dish on Roof

[Gary Wolfer]

I am getting ready to seal the roof on my coach with di-cor elastomeric Paint on sealer. My question is I do not care about Direct-tv or Dish Network. I had issues with both of them before now I have to decide whether to take the dish off the roof and fill the holes Or leave it there. It is a Datron 3000-300 and a DBS-30500 Mobile and a Soni Receiver. I have 3 boxes and a pile of spagetti of wires. I would never be able to figure out how to wire it anyway and do not wish to spend the money. Parts may not even work. My question is this something that came with the coach and way outdated? To me it is a potential leak but I do not want to throw it away If it is up to date or has any value.  I have a datron book a cruise tv book and a sony receiver book.( I have some extra equipment too I think a couple of sony receivers I haven't looked at them lately.

[Steve Huber]

Gary,
I had one on my Contessa that gave me nothing but trouble. Techs told me it was outdated and recommended upgrade. Removed it and replaced it with a dome unit.
Steve

[Larry Fritz]

Gary, I just removed my unit (like yours) last week but only after installing the new antenna and using it a year to be sure everything was what I wanted and needed.

In my case, I found a waterproof box with lid, and routed the RG-6 video cable and the 10 to 12 conductor control cable (that runs to your existing Datron controller) into that box mainly for future use. You have a bunch of wires that are usable for anything you might want to use them for in future years.

Again, in my case I added a RG-6 in-line coax connector and added another RG-6 cable in the new box on the roof and that routes to the rear bedroom via the roof.

This setup gives you many possibilities for functionality in the future for the audio/video system between the front and the back of the coach.  Of course, if you do everything wireless then this is academic.  

I would never just cut your old cables off and seal up that hole for these reasons.

Larry Fritz

[Edward Buker]

Gary,

The old Datron units are of little use and have no value. They use an outmoded and unsupported communication link between the receiver and the dish unit that new receivers do not support. Those old Sony receivers have the link and you might put them on Ebay to see if someone with an old Datron wants them. The old cabling would be questionable as the years go on. If you have no plan to use it for anything and because most installers would want to run new RG 6U anyway I would probably opt to fill the holes and seal it all up. If the cable is RG59 on the roof then it is a no brainer to get rid of the cables and holes. If it is RG6U then it could possibly be used for a future satellite install if you wanted the dish and the receivers in the current locations they are now.

Later Ed

[Gary Wolfer]

I was kinda thinking it was old technology I appreciate all your answers. My objective is to get rid of as many potential leaks as possible. Also here on the Oregon Coast I may eventually have to keep it covered with a tarp in the winter if I cannot stop the leaks and less obstructions the better.  We have an annual rainfall of 122" in the Drift Creek National wildlife area and I am right in the middle of it. ( I replaced the bottom slide seal last month and now I see the upper seals are in poor condition. I have not seen any leaking in the slide area except when I bring the slide in when raining. I ordered enough seal material to do the top and sides but am going to take Geralds advice if it ain't broke don't fix it. I am preparing for it.

[LarryNCarolynShirk]

Gary,

When I removed my Datron antenna, I discovered Beaver had run the coax cable through a 2 inch hole they cut in the roof.  They sealed it with some real sticky goop,  I patched and fiberglassed over the hole.  You never know what you will find.

Larry