Motor City Swagman
Detroit, Michigan/Florida
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Joined: 07/03/2001
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VuQube owners I am considering buying VuQube satellite tv antenna and from the input I read from a search on this subject it seems like a worthwhile investment. However I am a bit confused from the advertisement it states what satellite systems it is compatible with and listed is "free to air receivers" what does this mean? Does this mean it will also receive regular local television signals also?
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admiral0647
Illinois
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No, that is not what it means. Local channels are only available through paid subscription to receivers located in "fringe" broadcast areas. Those local channels, if subscribed to, are not available when you travel outside your home area of about 150 sq. miles.
I suspect "free to air" refers to receivers that get un-subscribed (free) transmissions.
If you buy it you will like it...
Jim
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alexs
Westminster, MD
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Joined: 04/21/2008
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FTA(free to Air) ususaly referes to the Free satellite programming you can see. There are a lot of unencrypted programming anyone with a FTA receiver can pickup.
take a look at http://www.lyngsat.com/freetv/United-States.html you will find all kinds of programming. for exmaple you can watch NASA and the space station 24/7.
I was also wondering how well the VuQube works.
Alex
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admiral0647
Illinois
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I have had my VuQube since March of this year, and use it every chance I get. It works well for my DISH brand 500 receiver, on SAT 119. It is lightweight and easy to pack and setup. The remote control makes it really easy. Because of its lightweight and portability, I try to position it on the roof of my motor home, where I tie it down to prevent a gust of wind from blowing it off, and I will use a cable and master lock so it does not grow legs.
I figure having it up on my roof is out of sight for most and harder to get to.
I would recommend it as a good solution for those that cannot or choose not to go with a standard dish for aiming. I put it on the roof, hook up the lead, and in a few minutes we are watching SAT.
Jim
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alexs
Westminster, MD
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Thanks for the info.
I have not haul my dish camping due to the aiming. I have done it at home a couple few times, and it takes atleast 15 min to peak the "quality" reading. I am sure if under pressure..... it would take longer. specially if there are spectators.
Alex
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ck1
Murrieta Ca.
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Joined: 11/07/2002
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i have one...it takes less then 5 minutes to set up...better picture then home sat. .I got it when they first came out so I paid a little more then they can be obtained for now but still worth the $$...I put a ubolt on the lower part of the handle and I have a long bike cable that I wrap around my campers legs and lock on the cube at the u bolt....always been able to get a signal.
cameron
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avan
Sioux Falls, SD & Livingston,TX
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Admiral - I don't think it was you but I saw my first VuCube 'at work' a couple of weeks ago in Elkhart. A MH pulled and after a bit, he pulled out the VuCube. Then he started climbing his ladder and midway up, his wife handed him the VuCube. A couple more steps and he was able to swing it up on the roof and then he followed it and started toting it to the mid section of his MH where it disappeared from line of vision. I didn't bother waiting to see if I could see how he hooked it up - whether he had a outlet of some sort on the roof or if he strung a cable down the side of his rig.
I gotta tell you that in the time it took he and his wife to just get the Cube up there, I'd have been set up with my dish and back inside watching whatever. That may not be a real fair comparison since, as FTers, I set up our dish probably 100 times per year for the past 10 yrs and most often can set it up by observing other setups as we drive in a park and mimic those - pretty easy really. I bungee mine down to a spiral type awning stake and in our years of FTing, my cheap dish has never gotten legs. We do, from time to time, camp in an area where I need to run the cable 50-100' from the rig to get a clear signal. Guess I'd be nervous if my Cube were out of sight, up a hill, even if it were secured with a cable/lock (to what?). I also wouldn't like climbing up on my roof in the rain to set it up. JMO
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admiral0647
Illinois
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Avan, That is good for you, and I'm glad you are pleased with your system. I tried different standard dish arangements, including a Winegard Signal finder, looking at other dish systems in the camp, etc, and I could never seem to get it to work. I was never convinced my angle of elevation was corect. I realize my system (VuQube) won't work in every situation (due mostly to trees, espically in State Parks and COE camps) but so far for us it has been great.
I envy your ability to "fulltime" and my DW and I are planning to be there in about 18 months.
Happy camping,
Jim
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avan
Sioux Falls, SD & Livingston,TX
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I surely wasn't wasn't trying to talk down the system. I only made my comments because your post reminded me of the guy a couple of weeks ago. I really felt sorry for him. He was older, like me, and it was a bit of a struggle for him to get up the ladder - especially when he was about halfway up and his wife handed him the Cube and he had to climb a couple of more rungs, with one hand on the ladder and the other holding the Cube, before he could swing the Cube onto the roof. The procedure looked like it could get old real fast and dangerous in bad weather.
Is there anyway you can accelerate the 18 mo? It's really too much fun out here to miss anymore than you have to.
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DAS26miles
San Fernando Valley, California
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Joined: 10/11/2003
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I have been vasilating for months now on getting the VuQube. We have a trip planned for the Grand Canyon and I think I may buy one today. I hope I don't have any problems with the initial setup, as I have Dish 500 at home with a 311 receiver.
Admiral0647 gave me instructions earlier in the year for the u-bolt to secure it and it should just fit in my Stowaway cargo bin on my rear hitch receiver for travel. I will be heading up to CW in a few hours. Big decision.
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