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Sat. dish on the RV

Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66078
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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66083
We had a dome first, it would stop working in the rain. Domes are know for that problem

Leonard

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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/
I have no connection with any of these dealers.

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 66102
Quote from: Don Seager"

> 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
> 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.
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"

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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 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.

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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

Re: Sat. dish on the RV

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 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