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Satelite TV

Yahoo Message Number: 30165
Hi:

I am not a full timer. I am told that if you do not use satelite system regularly the compan shuts it off.
Is that true. I have dish at home. Should I use dish in the coach with a KVH 6 antenna? I know nothing about these systems.

Thanks for your help,
Bob

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30166
Bob, I can't help you with the antenna, but you will lose signal if the unit is stored for any length of time. All it takes to restore service is a call to Direct TV ( assuming this is your service ) and they will reconnect you. They will ask for your account no. and your access card no. I learned a long time ago to keep a copy of my invoice handy with the card no. written on it so I wouldn't have to pull the receiver out to get to the card. Good luck.
Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: Satellite TV

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30167
I am not a full timer either, but they take your money and shut you off if you are not using system. Has already happened to me. Why we pay is a mystery, but then again I am getting used to being screwed by both cable and sat.

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30178
But all you have to do is call directv and they'll check your account and if it is active they will ping your satelite reciever turning it back on. TaKes ten minutes. Do it every time the coach is stored more than 30 days...
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30181
Bob, as others have said it only takes a phone call to re-establish your service. However, you need not talk to anyone or stay on hold.
The greeting message will ask if you see a code number on the screen. Confirm that you see the number, follow the prompt for entering the number, and within minutes you will have a signal.

Jim
10613

Quote
I am not a full timer. I am told that if you do not use satelite

system

Quote
regularly the compan shuts it off.
Is that true. I have dish at home. Should I use dish in the coach

with a KVH

Quote
6 antenna? I know nothing about these systems.

Thanks for your help,

Bob

************************************** See what's free at
http://www.aol.com

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30182

I've done the phone call/extension number on the screen multiple times myself, particularly after the coach has been sitting shut down for several weeks and the programming info died in the receiver(s) - I thought the original question was how to avoid shutoff of service because of no phone connection. I explained how I have avoided that while in the coach for long periods.
You can also go online and edit your profile to change a number of things including where each receiver is located, which is connected to a phone, etc. I haven't had any changes in over a year and they've changed the DirecTV website so that might not be possible anymore.
I'm also not sure about the TiVo situation. A couple years ago they shut down the ability to program recordings for a few days because of no phone connection. About the time I was going to raise hell about paying for a service they were no longet providing me it went back to fully functional. Now that they and TiVo have parted ways we haven't been gone long enough to test the issue. With about 4 weeks out last month for Cat, CCI and FMCA rallies there were some messages about reconnecting the phone to the TiVo but we never lost any functionality.
I'll be very sad when this DVR dies and I am forced into a DirecTV only DVR - I hear the interface stinks compared to the TiVo.

Bob Handren

'05 Country Coach Inspire 51178
'00 JGCL

Re: Satellite TV

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30206
With regards to DirecTV shutting off service, it is important to note that DirecTV has no way of knowing if you are "using" the receiver or not, other than not receiving a regular phone call from the box.

However, I have used the system for continuous periods of over nine months with NO phone line without being "shut off".

But if I put the RV into storage for a couple months without using the DirecTV receiver, I will need to call DirecTV. As we know the receiver does not transmit back its use to DirecTV via the dish and satellite. The "disconnect" timer is built into the box -- possibly for theft protection.

My experience with reconnection has been that if you call from the phone number registered on the account, and follow the menu tree, they will automatically send a signal to all of your receivers on the account without the intervention of a person.

If the receiver is unable to complete phone calls at least once approximately every month or two, either DirecTV will send a signal to disallow ordering more PPV movies, or the box itself could decide that for them. They don't want your receiver accumulating dozens of unpaid movies - rightfully so. However, you can still order PPV movies via the internet, and DirecTV will send a signal to all the receivers on your account to turn that specific PPV movie on.

The question should be: Why do we own a receiver, not use it, and then complain that we are being charged, is the mystery!!! I am glad that the receiver has not been shut off for me (when continuously used for non-PPV), just because they have not received the phone calls from the receiver.

Sorry, I can't address your being screwed by the cable company. I can't drag a long enough cable down the road.

Herb

2007 Allure #31466 (full time)

Previously 2002 Allure (part time with receiver left in coach)

Quote from: James Spivey
>

I am not a full timer either, but they take your money > and shut you off if you are not using system. Has > already happened to me. Why we pay is a mystery, but > then again I am getting used to being screwed by both > cable and sat.

> From: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com > [mailto:Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of

smokey95@...

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30217
Hi Bob,

I have DISH Network as well and I am not a full timer. When a receiver is not powered and connected to a satellite for a period of time you will not be able to receive any subscription channels. You will however, be able to receive the typical channell 100 DISH Network info. The reason for this is DISH sends out a packet of data to all receivers on a periodic basis. It could be every few days to a few weeks. There is no set schedule. The data packet contains a new set of keys that allows your receiver to unscramble the signal being provided by them. This is an automatic process that is invisible to the user.

When this happens you have not had your service turned off intentionally. You have two choices at this point. One, you could have everything powered up and dish pointed to the satellite and wait until DISH Network sends another of data packet to reset the keys; or, yo could give DISH Network technical support a call and have them do a reset. I mostly do the latter. I have had the system come up on it own a few times after getting everything setup and powered.
But, I usually just end up calling.

I have been using DISH Network for several years now and have never had one connected to a telephone line. I have two receivers at home and one in the coach.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Satelite TV

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 40938
Hi:

Can anyone give me some advice. I would like a satalite tv set up on my coach. What company is the most user friendly to coaches and their owners?

I know that I can get Dish or Direct.

Bob

2007, Allure 470

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 40950
On 9/6/08, smokey95@...smokey95@...> wrote:

Quote
Hi:
> Can anyone give me some advice. I would like a satalite tv set up on my > coach. What company is the most user friendly to coaches and their > owners?

I know that I can get Dish or Direct.

Bob

2007, Allure 470

--

Lee Zaborowski

2007 Country Coach Intrigue #12153
Branson, Missouri

http://jeanneleez.blogspot.com

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 40951
Bob, I have heard mixed results on both companies. Since we have DirecTV at home it was just easier to have DirecTV on the coach. I have one account and call regularly to turn receivers off/on when we travel or return home.
Lee

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 40952
Bob,

I have had Direct TV for a year now and have had good service from them. They have had some issues with satellite placement and HD for motor homes.
I suggest you call an "expert" satellite guru and he can tell you the latest for motor homes.

Mr. Patrick Rodds

Desert Satellite Systems

www.desertsat.com Mobile: 520-839-9550
Tucson, AZ

Good luck,

Jay and Julia

2006 Inspire 51558
2004 Honda Pilot
Quote
To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com
From: smokey95@...

Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 22:55:44 -0400

Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Satelite TV

Hi:
> Can anyone give me some advice. I would like a satalite tv set up on my > coach. What company is the most user friendly to coaches and their > owners?

I know that I can get Dish or Direct.

Bob

2007, Allure 470

info/terms/

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 40954
Hi Lee,

From my short experience with owning a coach, I have learned a few things. To answer your question, first I would need to know what it is that you want or expect from a satellite system. If you want to receive HD quality picture, then your easiest bet is to go with Dish Network, only because they currently offer HD on their current satellites, and with the "In-Motion" Trac-Star antenna. No change is needed with this system. I currently have this system installed and it does work very well. My wife can even lie down in the bed while I drive and watch TV and the system seems to keep up very well. However, my issue is that I currently have Direct TV for my satellite service provider. With Direct TV, I am unable to receive HD on either of my TV's. The reason is that Direct TV has launched some new satellites and they orbit slightly differently in the sky. To receive all programming, to include international programming, and be able to display all of the HD channels, I will need to switch my antenna to a 5 LNB antenna. Motosat seems to be the one of choice. I would lose the ability to watch TV "In-Motion", but that isn't even an issue to me. To make this swap, I have been quoted $2500, of which I will only receive a $500 trade in for my Trac-Star antenna. The list price for In-Motion Trac Star is about $5000 from CC on a new coach. Not financially a good choice.
So, if receiving and displaying HD picture quality (which I find really worth it) isn't a big need to you, then you can go with either service provider with just about any satellite antenna. You can pick up a traded in Trac-Star antenna for about $700 (they make $200 profit) and have in installed for about another $500 and use Dish Network and get it all. Or go with a 5LNB antenna (your choice of companies) and have it installed for a total of about $2500 and use Direct TV, or Dish Network.
I hope this provides you with some explanation and an answer to your question.

Jim Hill

2008 Tribute 260
81138

In West Yellowstone, with fantastic weather, and getting ready to head south to Jackson Hole and Jackson.

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 40961
Jim, you are right on. I would only add that Direct TV personnel are a miserable group to work with. This is due largely to the lack of training for RV's. I have finally gotten it so my unit works. No HD means no anything, on that selected channel. I am not sure what to do. At the rally there where several informed individuals like you. We all agreed that Direct TV personnel are the real issue, as they really don't communicate the Sat. change.
One note the Trac-Star or Vision rep. said that they were coming out with a software program to allow us to see HD. I am not an expert by any means so i have no clue how this will work.

Sincerely,

Jim Spivey Allure 2006 31432

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 40982
Quote from: Jim Hill
Hi Lee,

From my short experience with owning a coach, I have
learned a few

Quote
things. To answer your question, first I would need to know what it

is that

Quote
you want or expect from a satellite system. If you want to receive HD > quality picture, then your easiest bet is to go with Dish Network, only > because they currently offer HD on their current satellites, and

with the

Quote
"In-Motion" Trac-Star antenna. No change is needed with this system. I > currently have this system installed and it does work very well. My

wife

Quote
can even lie down in the bed while I drive and watch TV and the

system seems

Quote
to keep up very well. However, my issue is that I currently have

Direct TV

Quote
for my satellite service provider. With Direct TV, I am unable to

receive

Quote
HD on either of my TV's. The reason is that Direct TV has launched

some new

Quote
satellites and they orbit slightly differently in the sky. To

receive all

Quote
programming, to include international programming, and be able to

display

Quote
all of the HD channels, I will need to switch my antenna to a 5 LNB

antenna.

Quote
Motosat seems to be the one of choice. I would lose the ability to

watch TV

Quote
"In-Motion", but that isn't even an issue to me. To make this swap,

I have

Quote
been quoted $2500, of which I will only receive a $500 trade in for my > Trac-Star antenna. The list price for In-Motion Trac Star is about

$5000

Quote
from CC on a new coach. Not financially a good choice.

> So, if receiving and displaying HD picture quality (which

I find

Quote
really worth it) isn't a big need to you, then you can go with either > service provider with just about any satellite antenna. You can

pick up a

Quote
traded in Trac-Star antenna for about $700 (they make $200 profit)

and have

Quote
in installed for about another $500 and use Dish Network and get it

all. Or

Quote
go with a 5LNB antenna (your choice of companies) and have it
installed for

Quote
a total of about $2500 and use Direct TV, or Dish Network.

I hope this provides you with some explanation and an

answer to

Quote
your question.

Jim Hill

2008 Tribute 260

81138
I copied the entire message above since there seem to be several different conversations going on in this thread.

A couple of notes on the above reply.....

- WRT to Dish being the best bet. Dish will be going down the same path as DirecTV soon. They are just a year or so behind. Their latest satellite was apparently DOA after launch so this put them behind.
What this means is that if you buy a Dish system now it will be obsolete in a year or so and you'll have to get a new dish with more LNB anyway.

- WRT to DirecTV and sticking with Std def TV. DirecTV (as does Dish) plans to move the majority (maybe all - I forget exactly what they told me) of their programming to the new satellites so eventially you'll need to upgrade your system to get all the programming anyway.

- They only solutions available right now with any amount of obsolescence insurance are the MotoSAT SL5 and the Weingard Trav'ler SK3005. I've seen the MotoSats for around $2200 and the Weingard for as low as $1550. There are big arguments from the MotoSat dealers about how their unit is better but having looked at both and tried both I don't see a significant difference. The Weingard unit acquires satellites a bit faster though.

- At the West Coast Homecoming I spoke with the TracVision rep and he indicated they would have a dome type unit that was capable of receiving all DirecTV programming now and for the foreseeable future around the end of the year. This would not be a multiple LNB unit but rather a single LNB unit that repositions itself as needed. This means you have restrictions on which channels can be watched (if you have two receivers) or recorded (if you have a DVR) simultaneously. He did not indicate if it would be in-motion or not.
In my opinion it's really a waste of money to buy anything but the SL5 or the SK3005 right now unless you just want to go inexpensive and don't mind haveing very limited programming in a year or two.
I personally was going to wait for more choices and lower prices but it's becoming clearer to me that the prices won't be coming down any time soon so I've decided to go for a Weingard unit (as of today).

Regards,

Ron Curry

'02 Allure 30803

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 40988
Lee,

I have DirecTV in the coach and cable at home. The last time I called DiercTV to suspend the coach sat I was told that DirecTV was changing their policy so that one could only do that twice a year - not very good for someone who does not full time. When we first bought the coach two years ago we could turn the sat on and unlimited times. Has DirecTV changed their policy again so that we can do that? Of course that problem and the fact that DirecTV has added two new satellites that my antenna cannot receive leave me not using their service at all now - though I was told by a sat person at the Reunion that KVH was working on a software solution for that problem (which doesn't sound right to me, but that's what he said).
Harry

06 Inspire 51933

-------------- Original message
From: "Lee Zaborowski" leezabo@...>

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 40990
Hi Harry. The limit on on/off switching of receivers is news to me. I just did that last week and wasn't informed of such a policy. I don't question what you say but have head many stories about fellow RVers being told different things by DirecTV related to the some action.
They sure keep you guessing!?
Lee
---

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 40997
Thanx, Lee. When I get back from France I will call DirecTV and see if I can start turning it off and on again, like for the week of the Balloon Fiesta in ABQ. Now if they could solve the new sat problem, I'd be reqdy to go again!

Harry

06 Inspire 51933

-------------- Original message
From: "Lee Zaborowski" leezabo@...>
 

Re: Satelite TV

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 41003
Lee and Harry,

I just returned from 4 months in Canada and Alaska where DirectTV is not available because of the curvature of the earth and the height of their satellites. Had my DirectTV turned off in May and turned it back on when I arrived in Washington last week. No problem.
Jay Vaughn

2006 Inspire 51558
2004 Honda Pilot