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Topic: Stupid Satellite Question (Read 816 times) previous topic - next topic

Stupid Satellite Question

I have always had cable and have no experience with satellite but I must be missing something: if you have a satellite system at home and a dish on your coach (or anywhere else), why couldn't you just carry your receiver with you and use it where ever you happen to be?  I've read through some of the discussions about this and read about suspending your home service and activating your coach service and I just don't understand why the receiver wouldn't work anywhere it is mated with a dish and a TV. 
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: Stupid Satellite Question

Reply #1 –
As long as the receiver and dish are a match(same provider) there is absolutely no reason why it would not work!!!!!!!!
The selected media item is not currently available.Bob & Faith Rozek
1997 U320 40'
Xtreme Remodel
2010 Scion XD

Re: Stupid Satellite Question

Reply #2 –
That is what I do. I have DISH at home and a satellite system on the coach that is set up for DISH. I take a receiver from the house and hook it up to the satellite system on the coach. The only thing I lose when I get more than about 100 mi from home, is the local channels because they are sent via a spot beam. Then we use the off air signals from nearby broadcast stations for the local channels.

Re: Stupid Satellite Question

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Bob McGee –
That is what I do. I have DISH at home and a satellite system on the coach that is set up for DISH. I take a receiver from the house and hook it up to the satellite system on the coach. The only thing I lose when I get more than about 100 mi from home, is the local channels because they are sent via a spot beam. Then we use the off air signals from nearby broadcast stations for the local channels.

Directv works the same way.

Re: Local Channels
Directv's spot beam radii vary somewhat by city as well as the antenna(s) required to see them.
Since you can certify to DT that you are in an RV, they will sell you something called Distant Local service for $15/month. This will give you the network channels from either New York or LA. These days you have to choose which city.

OR
You can call them up and tell them you want to change your SERVICE ADDRESS to an address in New York City.
Their channels are beamed from the same satellites that carry the Basic service. You'll get the New York 6 o'clock news but that will sound similar to the Austin one anyway. You will get these channels anywhere in the country (and a good part of Canada too.)

And save $15/month.

HTH
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: Stupid Satellite Question

Reply #4 –
We have used Direct T V for years, as we full time we have BOTH East and West (NY & LA) feeds. Makes it convenient when you miss a show on East coast time (we don't have a DVR).

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: Stupid Satellite Question

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Roland Begin –
We have used Direct T V for years, as we full time we have BOTH East and West (NY & LA) feeds. Makes it convenient when you miss a show on East coast time (we don't have a DVR).
Like Roland, we have BOTH east and west coast feeds because we are grandfathered.  New RV customers who want DNS (distant network services) programming may have either LA or NY, but not both, for $15/month, which also includes Fox, CW, and PBS.

Also, it's not a choice of NY or LA, but determined by zip code:  Central and Eastern time zone zip codes will receive NY feed, and all others receive LA.  As to whether the zip code is your billing, physical, or address listed on your coach registration (which you need to provide a copy of)... note that all three must be listed on the application form... you'd have to call the DirecTV number for RVs:  800-769-4635

See this for more information and the application form:

http://www.directv.com/learn/pdf/DNS_Vehicles_Aff.pdf
The selected media item is not currently available.Pat Hatfield
2000 U295 3600 #5666 WTFE (sold 1/7/20)
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
previously: 2003 U295 3610 #6228 (sold 5/29/14)
previously:  2009 Honda CRV (sold 6/9/14)

Re: Stupid Satellite Question

Reply #6 –
Patricia,

Nice post.  nothing like the facts to ruin a great discussion!  ;)

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: Stupid Satellite Question

Reply #7 –
Keith... yeah, I know.... I'm the type that reads manuals and directions... but, hey, they were written for somebody to read!

Actually, before we went full-time for a year, we used to keep a second receiver in the coach and - like posted earlier (and asked by Dwane) - got the network channels from the crank-up OTA antenna.  Just the $5/month charge for the second receiver each time we activated it for travel (it was too much trouble to take the main receiver out of the cabinet below the TV each time we wanted to use it in the coach... with all the "spaghetti" going everywhere!).  We did change the service address a few times while out on the road for several weeks at a time.  I do recall getting one DTV rep who said we couldn't do that, and another who noted that we had changed it before and wasn't sure about changing it so soon again.  So, we would play "customer service roulette" (hang up when you don't get the answer you want, and call back)....  but, that approach may or may no longer be a viable one.

Next, we got "hooked" on DVR... never having to watch commercials again... just couldn't live without it.  Then, as full-timers we had the one account and decided the $15/month would be nice to get both the East and West coast DNS feeds, and record/watch with more options as to time of day.

When the winter house came along, we did not want to disturb the RV account and the grandfathered dual NY/LA feeds... so we opened a new account for the house, and suspended the RV account while we winter in Tucson.  Come May, we'll suspend the house and re-activate the RV account and continue to enjoy the dual feeds.

Works for us, but your mileage may vary....  ;)
   
The selected media item is not currently available.Pat Hatfield
2000 U295 3600 #5666 WTFE (sold 1/7/20)
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
previously: 2003 U295 3610 #6228 (sold 5/29/14)
previously:  2009 Honda CRV (sold 6/9/14)

Re: Stupid Satellite Question

Reply #8 –
Pat, It is wonderful to read your posts!....so informative!

as you might have picked up...I'm new to this..... "Everything is available in a Class A" mindset.

I do not want to go into negatives of Dir.TV so far because I am ok with learning curves// however,

"IF" as a full time  rv'er and the  LA/NY feeds are no longer available for us 'travelers' as a combined package..., then can you speak to the question of ..can we drop one coast and pick up the other?

any advice?

thanks!!  ron
Coach Build # 5862/40'/2001/U320/Motorcader 17136

Re: Stupid Satellite Question

Reply #9 –
Quote from: MemoryRoads –
Pat, It is wonderful to read your posts!....so informative! as you might have picked up...I'm new to this..... "Everything is available in a Class A" mindset. I do not want to go into negatives of Dir.TV so far because I am ok with learning curves// however, "IF" as a full time  rv'er and the  LA/NY feeds are no longer available for us 'travelers' as a combined package..., then can you speak to the question of ..can we drop one coast and pick up the other?any advice? thanks!!  ron
Ron, thanks for the kind words.  Since I didn't know for certain whether one can drop LA or NY and pick up the other (as it is not a problem for us at this point), I simply called the DTV RV number (800-769-4635) and told the very nice customer service rep that I "have a full-time RV friend" with a question about DNS.

He first explained that the physical address you list on the application form (http://www.directv.com/learn/pdf/DNS_Vehicles_Aff.pdf) will determine which feed (NY or LA) you will get.  When I asked about full-time RVers, he indicated that the billing and physical addresses will likely be the same, and therefore that would establish the east or west coast (as I mentioned earlier).

I then asked about changing from NY to LA or vice versa.... he replied that it is no longer possible to call and change the service address (for those who receive DNS programming, that is).  You would need to reapply in order to have the physical address (and zip code) changed.

I know that's not what you wanted to hear... but the nice young man at DTV told me that he has to patiently tell folks that just because it was done in the past does not mean it can be done now.

Good luck with your learning curve!
The selected media item is not currently available.Pat Hatfield
2000 U295 3600 #5666 WTFE (sold 1/7/20)
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
previously: 2003 U295 3610 #6228 (sold 5/29/14)
previously:  2009 Honda CRV (sold 6/9/14)