Yahoo Message Number: 66077 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66077)
We are thinking of put a dish on the RV and into the house because we are tired the problems with Cable. So I am seeking onfo about Direck TV vs Dish so which is the best and why ? I plan to put it the motor home and house. Where is the best place to buy the dish and who will install it on the rv. Where are the best dealsfound. Any help along yhese lines is appreiated.
Thank You
Jack 2004 Allure 31006
Yahoo Message Number: 66078 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66078)
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/product/winegard-travler-automatic-multi-satellite-tv-antennas/6795 (http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/product/winegard-travler-automatic-multi-satellite-tv-antennas/6795)
The only way to go for the RV, unless you want view in motion. One button to setup and one button to stow. Not effected by weather. Note the sale. They install as well. Depends on your location, there maybe others. Some of the internet based RV supply also sell and install. Use Google to search your area.
We have Dish in the house and the RV. Really like it. You will get lots of opinions on Dish vs Direct. I like the Dish receivers and the DVR better then what I see with Direct.
Have installed the RV system twice. No biggie at all. I used the location of the old off-air antenna, which I removed, to run the cables inside the coach for the roof dish. Ran the cable on the roof with tie downs.
Both systems offer much the same thing, the only difference will be in equipment and viewing packages each offer. Just buy the house package and an extra receiver or DVR receiver for the coach. Both offer great first time pricing.
Leonard Kerns
97' Magna 5418
Yahoo Message Number: 66080 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66080)
Leonard,
How are they not effected by weather? To my knowledge all satellite TV dishes have to have a clear unobstructed view of the satellite unless something new has come along. Snow on the dish can be solved but there isn't much that can be done about heavy rain or snow in the atmosphere. Trees also are a problem with satellite dishes.
Am I missing something?
Don Seager
2004 Allure 31046
Yahoo Message Number: 66081 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66081)
Both Dish and Direct can be good, good install is very important. Most of the time, neither of them offer RV help, and that is where you need someone with experiance, or some do it yourself guys can do just fine. Depends on your location, there are serveral mobile dealers out there, with many years experiance. I prefer Direct myself, have had both, but find my favorite is Direc tv. Prices about the same.
Be aware the pros and cons of different type dishes. Domes, versus pop ups. Best warrantys, are they fixible in the field if there is a problem, and things like that.
Need more info, give me a call.
Dale Morris 91 savanna #4702
dmsrvsatellite.com
Yahoo Message Number: 66082 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66082)
Don, heavy snow or rain in the atmosphere will affect the smaller domes that are out there, but usually will not keep a full size dish (pop up) from working. There are beffifets to both, but for over all performance, a full size dish works best. They all need a clear line of site.
Dale Morris
Yahoo Message Number: 66083 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66083)
We had a dome first, it would stop working in the rain. Domes are know for that problem
Leonard
Yahoo Message Number: 66084 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66084)
Jack, where are you located?
I'd vote for DirecTV. They will install your house equipment at no cost, then you can take your home receiver into the coach. But you need the right company to do the coach install, thus the location question.
--
Lee Zaborowski
07 Intrigue 12153, Cat C-13
Yahoo Message Number: 66085 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66085)
?
Dale,
I lived in NH when satellite was the only answer. I had a full size dish and it was very definitely effected by weather. Snow was the worst as it interrupted the line of sight easier than rain but also collected on the LNB and dish surface. I mounted the dish low and off a porch stairway so I could sweep it off with a broom. In heavy snow I would eventually give up for the evening.
I had a very interesting experience one summer when I lost the link on a late summer sunny afternoon. Can't be weather so I called Dish Network. Turns out that there were very heavy thunderstorms in the vicinity of their uplink in VA that was blocking their transmissions to the satellite. So weather can have an effect on either end.
Don Seager
2004 Allure 31046
Yahoo Message Number: 66086 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66086)
We have DirectTV too that goes with us or back into our house. It works pretty good unless there's a bad rain storm, but those usually blow through.
Mike
06 Inspire 51784
Yahoo Message Number: 66087 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66087)
Mike I agree but the original reply stated that the dishes indicated in the link were not effected by weather. I do not believe that is a true statement and misleading to someone that is looking into installing satellite TV. Effected more or less depending on the style but not at all? Sorry but I disagree with that and that is all that I am trying to point out.
Don Seager
2004 Allure 31046
Yahoo Message Number: 66088 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66088)
Greetings,
We have Direct tv and their customer service for us has been great. We are from Calif and when we bought the Coach it had a dome already on the roof, so while on our first trip and in an RV park in Weatherford TX I called Direct tv and they came out to the coach and hooked me up with Sat tv, when we got back to Calif we completed a Distant network Mobil declaration form for RVers and sent it in, so now I get NY and LA channels anywhere I go,I have had no problems with them that they couldn't fix over the phone and they gave me a portable dish for when my roof dome is in the trees, I highly recommend Direct tv.been good to me for 4 years now JERRY
2004 Inspire 51012
Yahoo Message Number: 66091 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66091)
Wow, Don. Sorry to offend. I have had Dish for more years then can remember. Had to do the whole install myself, back then. The dome unit we had would loose signal with very small rain. In all the years of house use we have lost the signal due to weather a very few times. A couple of times with extremely heavy rain. Those do not last very long and it has been several years since the last weather drop. We have had snow several times with no signal lose. I think the newer systems are better with overcoming weather issues then the old systems were. Seems they changed to a different wave length band not to long back, o.k. it was years, just don't seem that long. Plus HD is a different animal as well. A lot has changed from the old analog signals days. The dome was a pain. The new Winegard Traveler is outstanding in ease of use and withstanding any weather it has come across yet in the RV. Do not camp in the snow so no experience on that but would expect the same as the home dish. As I try to state in the briefest of notes, the domes are very weather sensitive, the Winegard is almost weather proof, based on our years of using them.
Hope that straightens up any misunderstands.
Leonard Kerns
97' Magna 5418
Yahoo Message Number: 66094 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66094)
Leonard,
I was not offended. I just am one of those guys that pay special attention to absolutes. Maybe it is the engineering background. We could go on for hours on the plus and minus about domes vs the full dish as far as being affected by weather is concerned. But I don't believe that we would ever come to the conclusion that any particular one is not affected by weather at all. You also have to consider the obstruction of trees and buildings. None of these factors will ever go away within the current frequency spectrum of satellite TV.
Satellite TV as provided by either Dish Network or Direct TV has always been digital and little has changed technically. If you are in the desert country of the southwest vs the climate of the northeast, the experience will be quite different. I was only trying to point out to a new post that dishes are affected by weather to some degree as well as other obstructions regardless of the manufacturer.
Sorry if you felt that I was offended.
Don Seager
2004 Allure 31046
Yahoo Message Number: 66097 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66097)
Don,
I for one am glad it works so well. Just wish I could get the internet speeds of cable over the air so I could totally kick out Comcast. Anyway, seems I remember a Charlie Chat on Dish that they were saying something about new "birds" that operated on a new band, 'S' comes to mind but that could be so wrong. The new band was suppose to be better in harsh weather conditions.
We had the local Dish installers out to replace some wore out dish parts. Upgraded the DVR to the new model. It made a big difference in the color on the TV. We have one that has added yellow to RGB. Sure makes for very outstanding color. Sunrise earth is something else to see, well some of them.
On the subject of outside blockage. Sure wonder about in motion systems with all the overpasses, etc. In Oregon I have trouble getting GPS signal without interruptions on many mountain roads even with outside antenna. Pour dome receiver would wring it's own neck trying to keep up with all the curves, then through in close in trees on both sides, tall mountains. Thing would go suicidal.
It is real nice to be almost anywhere and be able to kick back, relax and vegetate with the TV.
Leonard
Yahoo Message Number: 66098 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66098)
You will probably get the best deal from an independent dealer rather than going to Direct TV directly. There are several dealers on line who advertise deals with discounts for your Direct TV service. These deals usually include free install and free equipment and discounted service for first couple of years. One I found while searching today is http://www.directsattv.com/directv/ (http://www.directsattv.com/directv/)
I have no connection with any of these dealers.
Ray
2000 Intrigue 11040
Yahoo Message Number: 66099 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66099)
Jack
A couple of years ago when made the jump to HD TV we got the receivers thru Direct TV because you are only renting them and if they go bad they will send you a new one where ever you are located at the time. They have sent us two so far and they came within 24-36 hours, very promptly. If you get the DVR Receiver, be sure you have a means to turn off the power to the unit so that they disc in the DVR shuts down into its resting position. They don't like to bounce.
Dan 2006 Allure 31348
Yahoo Message Number: 66101 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66101)
Jack
If you are a sports nut then Direct TV is the only choice. They have extra packages ($$$$$) for every sport out there pro or collage.
Be careful of the installer for your coach and be sure you do not leave the area until you know every thing works. Bedroom TV, surround sound system, outside cable hookup for when you are in the trees. MotoSat now has a GPS enabled antennae which makes it much faster to pick up the satellite signal.
Dan 2006 Allure 31348
Yahoo Message Number: 66102 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66102)
I can't speak for Dish but I have had Direct for a little over a year and I can tell you, if you have to call tech support, get very comfortable before you call. We had a problem last week and we were on the phone for 105 minutes most of that was waiting on hold for the "next available tech"
Yahoo Message Number: 66104 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66104)
A full size satellite dish is always better then any smaller domed unit. I've owned both. You never stated if HD was an issue for you. Winegard has a few different units, both in HD and standard. I have HD DirectTV service for both home and RV. I had Dish for 3 years but their service was rather poor, so I switched to DirectTV 7 years ago and have never looked back. Make sure you pick the satellite service carefully as these Winegard units are specific to each company. Winegard worked very closely with both DirectTV and Dish network when designing and manufacturing these units. BTW this co-venture shows how well playing together nice in the sandbox works for the end user.
I do NOT remove my HD DVR and HD receiver. I can't be bothered with removing and re-installing these units for lousy 100 bucks in rental fees per year, besides there is wear n tear on input and output outlets. Our bill runs 132 a month for both home and MoHo. We have the deluxe burrito as in, every premium station. I have yet to have any problems with line of sight or bad weather issues. But again I am mindful of what site I choose.
Camping World has the best price 1,589.49 for the HD unit I have (TRAV'LER® SK-3005 DIRECTV Slimline). You can add their no brainer extended warranty offered by CW for a few hundred more, I did. Right now Winegard has a 50 dollar rebate going on. I received a 100 rebate a year ago and it was sent within 2 weeks! Point your mouse to http://www.winegard.com/travler/index.php (http://www.winegard.com/travler/index.php) and join their club for rebate.
My unit was installed by a friend and as he put it... A piece of cake to install. The power plugs are controlled by an on/off switch so dry camping isn't an issue (stand-by draw) when not in use with inverter on. Yes, this set up will sometimes make the receivers reboot. 3 to 10 minute wait time.
Best of luck no matter what way you go.
Gordo
99 Allure 30344
Sacramento, Ca.
Yahoo Message Number: 66105 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66105)
Dish has really stepped up on customer service. They had growing pains but are A+ now. Fast, friendly and stay till you are happy. As for sports programs, both have the same thing. Also have local installers. Not much difference between the two, except equipment.
Leonard Kerns
97' Magna 5418
Yahoo Message Number: 66107 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66107)
Jack, questions to ask.
Do you need satellite while in motion? Do you live in high moisture area, or spend much time where the humidity is high? Do you need HD Tv?
Do you need a system, that can be repaired in the field, if you did have a problem? or does it need to be send into factory for any repairs? If You decide you don't like the one you start with, how difficult to switch to another? Dish or Direct? very important.
Who has the best warranty?
How long has manufacture been in business, and how long have they been making great products? Do you want to be up on the roof much, cleaning etc? Do you want to see where it is pointing if you happen to park in a marginal viewable area? Do you want the best?
How much do you want to pay?
Customer service after the sale availability?
Wait time to direct tv last week was long because of a change they made to local or long distant services. many people lost there distant net work services on the last night of the DWTS show. Call times after that were in the 2 hours time frame. Much better most of the time.
Find someone who knows what RV's are needing and has the experiance to do the proper job.
There are a few that are pretty good out there, and many that are not so good.
Find someone who can be trusted to do it all, and train you after the install.
Good Luck
Dale Morris
91savanna, #4702
Yahoo Message Number: 66108 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66108)
i would go to a FMCA rally you'll find Sat . dish sales & service + installers, Perry is a good place to start.last time there they put a replacemnt king dome on my coach for free. bob '02 Magna 6025
Yahoo Message Number: 66110 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66110)
Leonard,
I'm just at the other end of the opinion scale regarding Dish Network. I'm a long time customer, and without all the gritty details just know that after upgrading everything to HD/DVR both in the house and also the coach, I find out that AFTER signing a new 2 yr. commitment, many of the features of the package turned out to be different than was represented by their sales people, including the supervisors.
I went all the way into the office of the VP with my complaint, and even HE misrepresented (lied) to me about what I was getting. What they say you'll get is substantially different what you'll actually get.
Either a case of top-down corporate wide ignorance of their own product or an intent to decieve the customer. I've marked my calendar to make sure 'Dish Net' has a new customer 731 days from the date that I signed with 'Dish' for the last time.
Dave Trotter
01 Intrigue 11215
Yahoo Message Number: 66111 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66111)
Thank You for your comments
Jack
Yahoo Message Number: 66112 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66112)
Hello Lee, I live North of Charlotte NC and so far have only talked to Direct TV on the internet just looking for info. The biggest Rv dealer in my area is Tom Johnson over by the speedway and haven't talked to them yet. So thanks for your input.
Jack
Yahoo Message Number: 66117 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66117)
.......to make sure 'Dish Net' has a new customer 731 days from the date that I signed with 'Dish' for the last time.
Woops.........what I intended to say was that Direct TV would have a new customer.................
Yahoo Message Number: 66122 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66122)
Wow! Dave. Sorry you are having those issues. I have been confused, more then once, on the details on their website but calling has always made it clear to me. Just jumped in and got the HD for life thing, had to call and have it explained, then when I go back to the website it makes sense. They all have basically the same thing to offer and even with ALL those channels it is still hard to find anything worth watching at times. Sure like the features of the DVR. Record and watch what we want when we want.
Leonard
Yahoo Message Number: 66128 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66128)
We answered the Direct TV ad that runs every month in Motorhome Magazine about a year ago when we switched over to sat from cable. They sent us a DVR box that shows up as "portable" on our equipment list in the Direct TV web site. They came out and installed the home sat dish at no charge. And they sent us a free portable sat dish for the motorhome which is still in the box.
I would not say it is simple to move the DVR, but certainly not too big of a PIA. I like moving the DVR that way the shows we have recorded go with us and we can continue to record on the road, theoretically.
It has worked mostly fine. When hooked up to either the MotoSat HD motorhome sat dish or home sat the quality is great and the box works better than the cable one. There is a quirk though in that when I move the box to the motorhome or from motorhome back to house, our presets for recording get erased. So we have to set up the record setting again.
When you set up the Sat in the motorhome at a new location it takes a while for the system to learn where it is. Takes maybe 15-30 minutes for all the channels to show up.
So overall a good set up.
Yahoo Message Number: 66137 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66137)
Leonard
The two sport offerings are not the same. For example, Dish does not have the NFL or NBA sport packages.
Dan 2006 Allure 31348
Yahoo Message Number: 66138 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66138)
Hi Gordo,
Do you have distant network service? I thought about putting a separate receiver in the coach, but I have to call in change service location anyway, since I don't currently have DNS. If you have DNS, how do you get local news? do you have the OTA receiver. It is a pain in the neck also, since you have to re-program it when you change locations, and you have to be within range of the broadcast towers.
DVR is a pain when traveling also, since you have to re-program the network schedules as the channel numbers change with different locations.
Yahoo Message Number: 66144 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66144)
bb, if your system takes 15 to 30 minutes to get everything out on the road you may need softwre upgrade. It should lock onto the proper satellites inside 5 minutes. If you are talking about the guide etc, taking 15 to 30 min. you must have lots of recordings saved.
My opinion on Direct versus Dish, Direc tv is a way less pain for overal use in the rv world. Again having proper eqipment is so important.
Dale Morris 91savanna #4702
Yahoo Message Number: 66147 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/66147)
Hi Gordo,
Do you have distant network service? I thought about putting a separate receiver in the coach, but I have to call in change service location anyway, since I don't currently have DNS. If you have DNS, how do you get local news? do you have the OTA receiver. It is a pain in the neck also, since you have to re-program it when you change locations, and you have to be within range of the broadcast towers.
DVR is a pain when traveling also, since you have to re-program the network schedules as the channel numbers change with different locations.
Gordo replies:
No, I do not have distant network service (I'm guessing this is picking up local stations via my DirectTV when outside my local viewing area) . I saw no need spending an extra 14.95 a month to get local stations since I can grab them over the air via my Digital wingman winegard crank up antenna. I only use it for morning local news. Most times I'd rather not know what's going on while on the road. Real time traffic reports can be had via newer GPS units (which I have)
I've never had to call DirectTV for rebooting of any of my MoHo's receivers. I have not yet traveled west to east (Yellowstone is farthest east I've traveled). I have however traveled from Sacramento, Ca. to Vancouver Island Canada. I did lose my local stations after crossing into Canada. But had then till such time. My DirectTV worked even though they state you can NOT use it in Canada... LOL Whatever.
As far as stations changing on my DVR. I have never had this issue yet. I was told by DirectTV my stations will stay the same throughout the USA (west coast feed) as my service is west coast based. I have never lost my DVR's record list (Weeds-Dexter and so on). I love the DirectTV iPhone app that lets me record any upcoming program while away from my MoHo on a side trip in dee toad (dry camping excepted, as I do not keep units powered up unless being used).
I sent all of my analog TV's packing (front head banger isn't missed at all), in favor HD units. So I have no need for any converter box, when using my winegard wingman digital over the air unit. These units BTW are so amazing at grabbing far away local stations. As far, as finding these stations? A few quick presses of the TV remote finds new local stations (change from DirectTV input to over the air input on TV screen and hit find stations)
You need to keep in mind I have the latest winegard satellite HD system for DirectTV (TRAV'LER® SK-3005 DIRECTV Slimline). I'm not sure how older units work anymore. Will really I do (they can be a PITA), but cost factors may keep some from upgrading. However the newest system is so fast n easy. I've become rather spoiled. Of course these units are NOT for over the road use. Not a problem for me as I am driving. As for others in the MoHo? Tough luck... They can always slip in a blue ray DVD and miss all the wonderful scenery going by. Never have understood the need for over the road satellite viewing. Am, I missing something here? Gordo 99 Allure 30344 Sacramento, Ca.