Dish or DTV

One other question. Does dish offer the distant networks now?

We were satisfied with SD DTV until we discovered that we could not get the Olympics in central OR because DTV only broadcasts HD in that area. We had the 2 tuner HR24 DVR and had a RF Mogul SWM dish installed. Automatic dishes are pricey. The HR24 is great as it will accept SWM or our home Slimline and even our 18" SD only portable.

We have since upgraded to the 5 tuner HR44 SWM only. We rarely watch live shows instead skip over the commercials so 30-40 minutes for the typical hour show. Plus trees etc are not a issue and we just watch a recorded show. Sometimes we'll watch a OTA show but in more rural areas reception often doesn't work out.

The choice is relatively simple.

If you have a physical address and the ability to use a 3LNB antenna - go with Direct TV - the domes won't do HD on Direct.

If you don't have a physical address (S/B home or use a relative's address - i.e. you use a mailing service like Escapee's or South Dakota) go with Dish.

Direct offers distant network services

Dish does not - however without a S/B home/ address - you can change your 'service address' quickly and easily - allowing you to get the local channels anywhere. We've done that from New Mexico to Key West to Maine and back to Texas in the past year.

(Another note - when dealing with Dish - ALWAYS use the on-line chat - much faster, better and accurate than trying to make a phone call to a person. Did the service address change yesterday - took seven minutes from starting the on-line chat until the channels updated. Did have to reprogram the DVR for the new local channel for an ABC network program the wife loves.)

Cancel both and same your money. (I'm not kidding).

BTW There is a Solid Signal post where they believe DTV will drop SD in 2019. In those areas where SD is no longer available today the customers all have HD dish/receivers even though they may watch in SD.

For those wanting a second/third DTV TV they can add the Genie Client which is connected by a single coax or wireless.

X2 what Dutchman says... We stopped using our SAT TV in the RV Camper when the Natl Broadcast Network came out with HDTV stations a few years back... We get our high def TV fill just fine using our BATWING UHF antenna pointing at the local towns that transmit digital TV signals... this is all free to the public to use...

Roy Ken

Receiver upgrade probably free. About 150 dollars for the correct antenna and a decent tripod.

The media streaming technology is changing so fast that within a few years you'll be able to get whatever content you want via the internet. More and more cell services are offering unlimited data packages. Unless you need to make the change now, I would wait to see what is coming....

I use my Netflix, Amazon Prime, VUDU and HULU more now than I do the Dish service. I can watch what I want to watch when and where I want to watch it.

You haven't lived until you've watched the Godfather movie on your iPhone.

There are indications the media streaming is the next thing...recently I wanted to buy the new James Bond Movie. I discovered Sam's Club no longer sells DVDs. I found it at Best Buy but even the DVD offerings there have been reduced.

I just switched to DISH from DTV. DISH is doing $49/mo for two years, no DVR or HD fees, 190 channels, all premiums free for 3 mos. one year free Netflix and I got a $100 gift card for Camping World for signing up through Good Sams.

Hopper main unit DVR and a wireless Joey for the second carry anywhere tv. ($7/mo more).

The installer said it works with a tailgater but some people had problems.

I use a good tripod and dish and set it up in a few minutes.

the bear II wrote:
The media streaming technology is changing so fast that within a few years you'll be able to get whatever content you want via the internet.

Yes, both my daughter and my son's families have dropped cable service and do all their 'television' via internet streaming.

Unfortunately, the cost of media streaming while on the road in an RV is huge. Much, much higher than satellite TV.

Can't rely on free WiFi - most places actually prohibit streaming.

One of the things we miss the most with giving up the S/B home is the unlimited bandwidth on most internet plans.

Having to limit ourselves to 25GB per month - at a higher cost than Dish with everything - takes a lot of careful planning. Some months, 'essential' updates to the OS for two laptops and two smart phones can be 10-15 GB.

And some months - we can't get any internet service at all at campgrounds - and have to go to Starbucks or MacDonalds to do our banking/ bill paying.

In our 10 month long trip from Texas to Key West to Maine and back to Texas - less than 50% of the campgrounds we stayed at had cell service good enough to do simple internet tasks - maybe 15% of the campgrounds could stream anything.

(We have both ATT & Verizon available for internet - ATT is much better than Verizon in my experience on the east coast and New England if you don't camp in major cities or a within couple miles of the interstate.)