Winegard Dish Playmaker PL-7000 / RK-4000 - Antenna Manual

www.winegard.com/playmaker

For receivers and programming, call 1-800-288-8094

For help, email help@winegard.com or call 1-800-788-4417

Parts

DISH_® Playmaker_® Antenna / DISH_® Playmaker_® Dual Antenna

25 ft Coaxial Cable

Hardware Bag: 1 Handle, 2 screws

Specifications

Compatible with DISH programming

Compatible with DISH Solo HD receivers

For stationary use only

Unit weight: 7.24 lbs

Unit height: 12.98 in

Diameter: 16.08 in

Elevation range: 18–70°

UV-protected plastic dome

Black plastic base

Made in USA

Do not place the unit in water, or areas where water may pool, as pooling water could damage the electronics. Do not install or operate the antenna in winds of 35 mph or greater. The antenna will roll in winds ≥35 mph. Care should be taken when transporting and setting up the antenna. Do not toss or drop the antenna. Do not paint the antenna. Painting the antenna may cause signal degradation and will void your warranty. Do not remove dome cover from base unless specifically instructed by Winegard Technical Service. Interaction with internal parts could make the system inoperable and/or cause injury.

Compatible Receivers

DISH Playmaker antennas must be used with DISH Solo HD receivers. Examples of DISH Solo HD receivers include DISH 211z, 211k, 211, 411 and Wally^® receivers. This version of Playmaker has pre-installed Playmaker OS 2.1 and is compatible with all receivers listed above, but some features are only available on the Wally receiver.

Compatible Satellites

DISH Playmaker antennas can receive programming from DISH western arc, which includes satellites 110, 119, and 129. OS 2.1 will allow an alternate selection of satellites 110, 119, and 61.5 exclusively with a Wally receiver.

WINEGARD'S SIGNAL FINDER APP

Finding your favorite TV programming has never been easier! Using your current location, the app can help determine the correct antenna positioning to avoid obstructions with the augmented reality (AR) view. Use the AR view to locate DISH satellites available for your mobile antenna.

Simply point your phone at the southern sky to locate your target satellites and stay clear of signal obstructions such as trees and buildings.

FREE AT

AR view (Augmented Reality) Point your phone at the southern sky. See signal obstructions such as trees and buildings.

Installing the Handle

NOTE
The two holes for the handle are located on the base under the DISH playmaker name on the front of the dome.

Locate the handle and the two screws in the hardware bag inside the box.

Slide the handle in place, aligning the two holes in the underneath side of the handle with the two holes in the base. Thread the screws through the aligned holes. Tighten the screws using a Phillips screwdriver. Do not overtighten.

Selecting a Location for the Antenna

TIP Use Winegard's signal finder app with augmented reality to determine optimal location.

Choose a location with a clear, unobstructed view of the southern sky. Avoid obstructions such as trees, hills, vehicles, or buildings—these can block the signal from the satellite.

Be sure to place the antenna on a stable surface to prevent wobbling or moving, which could cause loss of signal. Also, do not place the antenna in a path of people or vehicles, otherwise, the antenna may be knocked off of the signal if run into, or cables may be disconnected from the unit.

Select a location that will enable the DISH Playmaker or DISH Playmaker Dual antenna to sit within three degrees of level. The antenna may take longer to lock onto signal if the antenna is not level.

Connecting Antenna to the Receiver

NOTE A 25 foot coaxial cable is included and recommended for use with the antenna. If using an alternate cable, all cabling should be RG6 with a maximum length of 50 feet from Playmaker to receiver.

Connect the provided coax cable from the DISH Playmaker antenna coax port to the "Sat In" port on the side of the receiver. The DISH Playmaker Dual antenna has 2 ports with molded-in text indicating the primary (MAIN) and secondary (SEC) ports. The primary port should always be connected to the receiver when the antenna is in use, or there will be no power to the electronics.

Tighten coax connection until fingertight, and then tighten a quarter turn more with a wrench. Do not overtighten.

DISH® Receiver Setup

After connecting the antenna to the receiver, connect the receiver to a power source, and complete receiver setup.

Check out online receiver setup guides for your antenna at www.winegard.com/receivers/setupguide.php.

If using a brand new receiver, follow the steps under "Receiver Setup for new Wally^® receivers." If using a receiver that is currently active or has been previously used, follow the steps under "Receiver Setup for Currently Active or Previously Used Receivers."

Setup for a New Wally^® Receiver

The Wally receiver will go through an Installation Wizard to help with the setup process.

Follow the on-screen instructions to program the remote control.

Step 1 of the Installation Wizard will pair the remote to the receiver. During Step 2, the unit will need to acquire satellites and may update the receiver (figures 1-7).

This step will require a search initiated by the Mobile Setup screen. Fill in the required information, and then select "Scan" to begin the search routine (figures 1-4)

During the search routine, the antenna will scan for satellites. The antenna may make a slight grinding sound when searching for satellites; this is normal and does not harm the unit.

Once the search routine is complete, the receiver may update (figure 5).

To activate the receiver, call Winegard Company at 1-800-2888094 (Option 2).

The receiver may reboot automatically as part of the update process (figure 7). If so, select the state of your current location on the Mobile Antenna Setup screen as in figures 1 and 2. Press "Scan" to begin the search routine. The satellite will search for and acquire satellites.

Updating Receiver Software

For optimal performance, update receiver software occasionally. To allow the software to update, leave the satellite on signal, and press the power button on the remote or front panel of the receiver; this will put the receiver in Standby mode (figure 8). Do not unplug the receiver at this time.

After being in Standby mode for a few minutes, the software will automatically begin to update (figure 9). Upon completion of the update, the receiver will reboot. Return to the beginning of "Receiver Setup for Currently Active or Previously Used Receivers" to re-acquire satellites and complete setup.

TIP If the receiver is in Standby mode for more than five minutes, no software update is necessary. Turn the receiver back on to resume normal operation.

NOTE If the receiver reboots at this time, restart (see figures 1 & 2).

Receiver Setup for Currently Active or Previously Used Wally^® Receiver

If the receiver you will be using with the DISH_® Playmaker_® / DISH_® Playmaker_® Dual antenna is an older receiver that has not been used in several years, you may need to connect the receiver to a DISH home satellite to be updated before proceeding with the mobile setup.

After the receiver has been powered on, the receiver will enter the Mobile Setup menu.

NOTE If mobile setup menu does not appear, press and hold power button on the front panel of the receiver for 3 seconds to reset the receiver.

Select the satellite configuration WA 1 TV (110, 119, 129). OS 2.1 will allow an alternate selection of satelites from DISH western arc WA 1 TV (61.5,110,119) exclusively with a Wally receiver (figure 10).

The satellite will begin searching and will locate the desired satellites (figure 11).

TIP If prompted with a message stating fewer satellites than previously used were found, select SAVE or YES to continue.

After the satellites have been acquired, the Electronic Programming Guide will download (figure 12).

Receiver setup instructions are accurate at time of printing and may change without notice.

Operation of Secondary Receiver

When using a secondary receiver with the DISH_® Playmaker_® antenna, the secondary receiver does not have the full function of the primary receiver. The primary receiver will determine which satellite is viewed, and the secondary receiver will need to be set up for that satellite.

If the primary receiver changes to a channel on a different satellite, the secondary receiver will lose reception and need to complete setup again on the new satellite.

NOTE The secondary receiver's program guide will only download and display available channels from the installed satellite.

Using Outside Receptacle

If your outside TV receptacle is wired for satellite, you'll need to locate where that receptacle leads and connect that directly to your satellite receiver.

If the outside TV receptacle is wired for cable, the wiring will have to be modified for use with satellite. The coaxial cable cannot run through any other devices or switches before the satellite receiver.

Typically, if wired for cable, the wiring will either run through a Winegard power supply or video switch. The easiest way to fix this is to disconnect the cable from that device, use a barrel connector, and connect a new cable that runs directly to the receiver, bypassing the power supply or video switch.

Transporting

Before transporting the antenna, disconnect coax cable from the main port.

Maintenance

The DISH Playmaker and DISH Playmaker Dual antennas are designed to be maintenance free. However, it is a good idea to periodically clean the dome with a soft cloth, water, and dish soap.

Temporary and Permanent Mount Options

Winegard mount options for the DISH Playmaker and DISH Playmaker Dual automatic portable satellite TV antennas raise the antenna off of the ground for better reception and security. These mounts are built to withstand the harsh outdoor environment.

TR-1518 Tripod Mount
Antenna sold separately.
Aluminum tripod elevates the DISH Playmaker / DISH Playmaker Dual portable antenna off the ground for protection from mud and water.
Tripod mount has adjustable height and leveling settings of 14.5" – 22". Quickly disassembles for compact storage.

NOTE If using the optional TR-1518 Tripod Mount, it is necessary to install the tripod adapters included in the mount's hardware bag. Push the adapters into the four largest holes on the bottom of the antenna.

RK-4000 Roof Mount Kit
Antenna sold separately.
Permanently mount your DISH Playmaker / DISH Playmaker Dual portable antenna to your vehicle roof. No need to buy another antenna to replace your portable!

For more information or to purchase accessories contact your local RV dealer or winegard.com

It is NOT recommended to mount the antenna directly to a vehicle without using the roof kit accessory. Failure to follow proper installation instructions could cause damage and/or potential injury.

The DISH Playmaker / DISH Playmaker Dual are NOT intended to be mounted onto over-the-road trucks or for marine applications.

Troubleshooting

If the above steps do not resolve the error, re-boot the receiver and start the Mobile Antenna Setup again; often, this will resolve the problem. If the problem persists, contact Winegard Technical Services at help@winegard.com or 1-800-788-4417.

Winegard Company • 3000 Kirkwood Street • Burlington, IA 52601 • 1-800-288-8094 • Fax 319-754-0787 • www.winegard.com

Roof Mount Kit RK-4000

For a complete list of compatible antennas, visit www.winegard.com/mounts

Installing the Mounting Feet

1. If the handle has been installed on the antenna, remove the screws holding the handle to the antenna with a Phillips screwdriver, and remove the handle.
2. Pull off the rubber foot pads from the bottom of the four antenna feet.
   
3. Insert the threaded post up through the hole of each attached foot, and with a Phillips screwdriver, tighten a screw into each.
   

Installing the Antenna

1. Do not attempt to install the antenna in the rain or under any wet conditions. Install in dry conditions only.
2. For best performance and to reduce signal acquisition time, park the vehicle on a level surface that is free of obstructions such as trees or large buildings. Make sure you have a clear view of the southern sky.
3. Select a level spot on your roof for installation. Level the base front-to-back and side-to-side. If the base is not level, the antenna may require more time to locate the correct satellite or may not locate the correct satellite.
4. Ensure proper distance to other rooftop equipment is maintained. Be sure no roof-mounted equipment is blocking the satellite "line of sight"; see clearance requirements below.
5. After selecting a location for the antenna, make sure that the centerline of the antenna is on or parallel to the centerline of the vehicle; the centerline of the antenna runs through the point between the two feet where cable connections are located.
6. Position the antenna with cables exiting toward the rear of the vehicle.
   
7. To ensure proper installation, check that the distance from the edge of the roof to any foot is at least twelve inches.
8. Place the unit on the roof in its permanent location, and mark around each base foot.
9. Clean the roof area where the base feet will attach to the roof; do not erase your marks.
10. Check with your vehicle manufacturer for approved sealant, and put approved sealant in the areas marked for the base feet. Place the base feet on top of the sealant.

directly to a vehicle without using the roof kit It is not recommended to mount the antenna accessory. Failure to follow proper installation instructions could cause damage and/or potential injury.

The DISH Playmaker / DISH Playmaker Dual are NOT intended to be mounted onto over-the-road trucks or for marine applications.

11. Before using the supplied mounting screws, check with your vehicle manufacturer for any special screw requirements. Screw down with two screws for each foot. After all base feet are secured to the roof, put sealant around the edge of feet and over screws.
12. Decide the best location for coax cable(s) to enter the vehicle. Consider the location of the receiver(s).
13. Drill a hole in the roof for the coax cable(s), and push the cable(s) inside, making sure the coax cable(s) are accessible from the area where the receiver(s) will be located.
14. For the Playmaker, connect a coax cable from the "Satellite In" port of the receiver to the port on the antenna. For the Playmaker Dual, connect a coax cable from the "Satellite In" port of the primary receiver to the main port on the antenna. If connecting the antenna to two receivers, connect a second coax cable (not provided) to the secondary port on the antenna.
15. Place the provided cable entry plate over the hole and cables. Screw the plate in place with eight mounting screws. Seal the plate and screw holes with approved sealant (not included).
16. Secure excess cable with the provided cable ties. Securing every 12–16" should eliminate any unnecessary cable movement.

NOTE You will use 16 screws for installation. The kit includes 20.