Most motorhomes do use a portable dish set up.  That may be due to aiming
issues.  Dish needs to be aligned not only in the proper direction but also
at the proper azimuth (angle to level).  A vehicle mounted system to get
these two different alignment settings in to the inside of the
vehicles would be difficult to achieve.  I do see them mounted on top of
the  rolling houses but I also see these being aimed by 'homedrivers' who've
laddered up and are actually on their roofs.  I've also seen totally powered
ones with servo motors to aim them like a TV Broadcast truck..Those systems
are probably as costly as your whole Westie..
  You may be able to step up on your front bumper and aim a dish mounted
over the driver. Or carry along a stepladder to access your roof.  Perhaps
you could access the dish from the popped-up top to aim it, also. You would
need first to level the Van and have an accurate reading for the direction
of the satellite.  I bet a look through Google at some RV suppliers would
give you some ideas.

  Don Hanson

On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 10:38 PM, Arkady Mirvis <arkmirvis@gmail.com> wrote:

> Fellow listees,
>
> I do see recenly many motorhomes, trailers equipped with satellite TV
> antennaes-dish. But some owners simply have tripods with dish on top. The
> tripod with a vertical pipe about 3 -4 feet just rests on the ground. The
> owners , I've seen, did use some kind of device to adjust the dish position
> exactly for perfect reception.
> I am more inclined to have the dish mounted on my Westy's roof  above the
> driver and folded down when not in use.
> Here are the questions:
> Did anyone attempt to install the dish antennae on Westy? What size of the
> dish is preferable ? What type, kind, model of a device-instrument is good
> for dish adjustment? Will the raised roof affect the reception if the dish
> is installed right above the driver?
> If somebody did the installation, can I get a description and installation
> pictures?
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Ark Mirvis (the heaterman)
>