Best satellite option for full timing
Hi there everyone, DW and I live full time in our RV. We have a home base in Sacramento area, but we travel frequently, and sometimes we want to watch TV when we are staying at a camp ground. We'v...
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Yeah, my favorite is Dish Network. Now that Direct is owned by AT&T who is notorious for the death of their customer service across the board, you'll be pleasantly surprised to speak with someone you can understand when calling for help at Dish. I've been with Dish since I abandoned my 8 ft dish. I haven't been pleased with all the changes I've seen but for the last couple of years, I haven't had to deal with anyone with an oriental dialect that from the conversations I've had, never used the system they're trying to give advice about. Over the winter as we traveled, I'd call to "update" my local channels. The "spot" beams that carry the local channels cover a wide area. When I got into Arizona, I gave them an address in Phoenix even though I was in Tucson at the time and started watching Phoenix channels for weather, news and the major network programming. I was able to watch those channels till we moved to California later on. Then I gave them an RV park address in Los Angeles even though we never made it past Palm Springs. I did that because the Palm Springs area has few channels than Los Angeles. They gave me the impression that at some point, I'd be able to switch locals using an app on my phone. If I was a full timer, I could do that now but because I've got a permanent home address, that's not an option for me.
I'd also recommend an automatic dish. Because I live in the Midwest where many RV parks have nice shade trees that also block the fixed antenna on the roof, I have a second portable antenna that comes in handy when the rooftop one is blocked.
I use the Vip211z receiver with an external harddrive for DVR recording. The 211 also has a built-in OTA digital tuner to receive local channels and even record them. I found it on Ebay and Craig's list for $30. There's a one time charge of $40 to enable the DVR function which I was told is good for any receiver I buy in the future. The 211 has both an HDMI port and an analog (channel 3/4) port that allows us to connect it easily to the 2nd TV in the rear of our MH.
I bought a newer Wally receiver that has a RF remote (the 211's remote is IF) that allows controlling the receiver through walls. The Wally's only output is one HDMI port. That prevented my put my plan of replacing the my 211 with the Wally dead in its tracks. Another missing component of the Wally is the OTA tuner - it must be purchased separately if you want to view/record local channels. It costs about a 1/3 of the original cost of the Wally. I'm not sure the Wally is worth it and other than the RF remote, it isn't as nice a receiver as the Vip211z.
Our programming package (America's Top 200) cost is $82.99 and locals are $12. A second receiver is $7 bringing our bill just shy of $102 a month. I'm figuring on dropping the local channels and using an OTA antenna to receive then soon.
I'd also recommend an automatic dish. Because I live in the Midwest where many RV parks have nice shade trees that also block the fixed antenna on the roof, I have a second portable antenna that comes in handy when the rooftop one is blocked.
I use the Vip211z receiver with an external harddrive for DVR recording. The 211 also has a built-in OTA digital tuner to receive local channels and even record them. I found it on Ebay and Craig's list for $30. There's a one time charge of $40 to enable the DVR function which I was told is good for any receiver I buy in the future. The 211 has both an HDMI port and an analog (channel 3/4) port that allows us to connect it easily to the 2nd TV in the rear of our MH.
I bought a newer Wally receiver that has a RF remote (the 211's remote is IF) that allows controlling the receiver through walls. The Wally's only output is one HDMI port. That prevented my put my plan of replacing the my 211 with the Wally dead in its tracks. Another missing component of the Wally is the OTA tuner - it must be purchased separately if you want to view/record local channels. It costs about a 1/3 of the original cost of the Wally. I'm not sure the Wally is worth it and other than the RF remote, it isn't as nice a receiver as the Vip211z.
Our programming package (America's Top 200) cost is $82.99 and locals are $12. A second receiver is $7 bringing our bill just shy of $102 a month. I'm figuring on dropping the local channels and using an OTA antenna to receive then soon.
