Have read many controversial comments about Dish Network and them not honoring the requested local stations at where one is going. Would like some feedback on the quality of service provided by Dish and Direct. Am considering a portable on stand and not attached to our travel trailer. What Pros and Cons can you share with me?

I have had a Winegard SK-1000 TRAV'LER for two years now and use it at least twice a month while traveling. Dish is up and down a lot while I'm traveling. I have had no issues with Dish Network other than before i purchased it i ask if i would get my local channels everywhere i went. They said yes and this is true but i also ask if my local channels would stay at my home also they said yes and that is not true. Every time i go out of my local area (Washington DC area) i have to call them and they reset my dish for the local channels and then if the wife is at home she loosed the local channels because i have them where i am. Other than that I'm totally satisfied with my Winegard SK-1000 TRAV'LER and with Dish Network. It cost me an additional 7 dollars a month for the service

We have had Dish for many years both at home and in the RV. Originally had the RV on the home plan for an extra $7/mo. Never a problem getting Dish to change our locals to nearest city when traveling. That messed up the locals at home. But no one there so didn't matter. But DD moved back in with us. And that messed with her TV watching. So changed the RV to the monthly plan where I only pay for the months I actually use it. Now we can get locals when traveling in the RV and DD can still have her home locals while we are gone. Getting locals changed to nearest city while on the road has never been s problem with either plan.

We've had both services time and again over the years and they pretty much deliver the same channels, and as of late Dish has all the specialized sport packages that Directv at one time had more exclusivity to. As for customer service it can be poor and good from either service, just luck of the draw when calling in. Both services start with good pricing and over time go up to normal pricing but you can at times negotiate better pricing.Locals can be switched to the city you are in with Dish by calling in or through their online chat, locals at home change too. Directv prefers to give you East or West coast feeds so you can keep up with OTA network programming. We get our locals throughout NM and outskirts of CO, UT, and AZ. Outside our spotbeam we use rig's antenna should we desire OTA network programming, we just use our phones and local news apps for what's happening at home. For whatever service we have we purchase the very same dish that is mounted on our home along with a home-made stand or tripod from CW. Pointing is simple once you get the hang of it, practice at home first.We prefer dry-camping and boondocking in the four corner states which can make getting OTA signals challenging. Even set up dish at private RV parks where cable is available due to poor video quality and generic channel selection.Many fret the cost of satellite service and to be sure it can get pricey. We purchased our rig to explore our country with home-like amenities. We choose to have sat tv on the road and with little effort have all the same channels.

I have Dish Pay as you go (PAYG) with a Tailgater portable dome. It takes me four hours of freeway driving to get out of my locals coverage and I don't miss them enough to call and move the coverage. As said, Sat service is expensive but has a lot to offer. I tried a small terrestrial OTA antenna and was surprised how poorly it worked. So IMO sat is the way to go when camping.

I have changed my locals from one end of the country to the other with my Dish Tailgater. Maybe you got Dish and Direct mixed up on that point. I have used it in over 30 states.

Direct or Dish TV | Good Sam Community

28 Replies

Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Nov 24, 2016
There is not a chance in heck that DirecTV satellite service will be degraded any time in the foreseeable future. There are simply too many folks who cannot stream what is being offered via satellite.
This is not speculation. This is the reality of our National Internet connectivity. Until President Trump makes unlimited high speed Internet affordable to everyone everywhere most of the U.S. will have to find some other way to watch TV.
Dutch_12078
Explorer III
Nov 24, 2016
lynndiwagon wrote:
That's great Dutch. I guess the key to my statement was that you can stream directv without taking a data hit to your AT&T cellphone plan. I'm not sure Dish offers cellphone data service.

No, Dish does not offer cell Internet service. We have two unlimited hotspot plans though, so data usage is not an issue for us. As for AT&T, I expect to see their DTV sat service start to degrade as they move more into streaming video targeted at selling their Internet based services. That's unfortunate for RV users that prefer having more than one sat service to choose from with differing program packages and equipment features.
lynndiwagon
Explorer
Nov 24, 2016
That's great Dutch. I guess the key to my statement was that you can stream directv without taking a data hit to your AT&T cellphone plan. I'm not sure Dish offers cellphone data service.
Dutch_12078
Explorer III
Nov 24, 2016
usersmanual wrote:
lynndiwagon wrote:
Another thing to think about is the combination of AT&T cellphone service in conjunction with your Directv. Streaming Directv, data free, is a definite advantage and it works great. Setting up a tripod and slimline3 dish is relatively easy. Good luck with your decision.

so your saying you can simply get direct TV through a cell phone?
If its that simple why would anyone bother with the expense and hassle of a dish then

We get Dish programming on our smartphones, tablets, and laptops, using the "DISH Anywhere" app. But since it streams the live and recorded programming from our Hopper receivers, we still need the dish. With the app though, we can be sitting in a doctor's office or vehicle service shop waiting room for instance, and watching live or recorded programs while waiting. Recordings can even be transferred to the phone or tablet for viewing when data service is not available. My usual preference is reading a book with my e-reader app though. ;)
mchero
Explorer
Nov 24, 2016
Put 30K on the rig in the last two years.

Dish Smartpack 40/month
Pathway X2 gives me the option to select east or west coast satellites
Don't screw with streaming. Want a movie I use Redbox thanks.
Pathway lets me place it on the roof, like here in Q OR I can put it on a stand away from trees. Not tied to a frekin dome screwed to the rooftop!
lynndiwagon
Explorer
Nov 17, 2016
Directv is getting ready to come out with streaming only service, See this. They will offer data free streaming on their AT&T network, kind of like T-Mobile did with their "Binge on" deal. Things are moving fast. If you have a Directv account this is included. Right now I can stream my Directv channels data free. If you have a device that allows screen mirroring between your mobile device and your TV you can cast the picture to the TV. Works great. My Roku 3 will hookup with my Galaxy S5 for screen mirroring. Works great.
usersmanual
Explorer
Nov 15, 2016
lynndiwagon wrote:
Another thing to think about is the combination of AT&T cellphone service in conjunction with your Directv. Streaming Directv, data free, is a definite advantage and it works great. Setting up a tripod and slimline3 dish is relatively easy. Good luck with your decision.

so your saying you can simply get direct TV through a cell phone?
If its that simple why would anyone bother with the expense and hassle of a dish then
lynndiwagon
Explorer
Nov 12, 2016
Another thing to think about is the combination of AT&T cellphone service in conjunction with your Directv. Streaming Directv, data free, is a definite advantage and it works great. Setting up a tripod and slimline3 dish is relatively easy. Good luck with your decision.
usersmanual
Explorer
Nov 10, 2016
philnoah wrote:
Have read many controversial comments about Dish Network and them not honoring the requested local stations at where one is going. Would like some feedback on the quality of service provided by Dish and Direct. Am considering a portable on stand and not attached to our travel trailer. What Pros and Cons can you share with me?

my single experience was I bought a X2 6000 pathway series wineguard
and a 211K receiver.iam in southern ca and have no problem with getting locals. system was was fairly easy set up. DISH was a pleasure to work with. I get tons of HD and standard stations
over all very happy so far
mikestock
Explorer
Nov 07, 2016
livingthedream6117 wrote:
I am not sure if I want to spend $1200 for the roof mounted direct tv (it voids the warranty) or tripod version. Rumor has it that the tripod will give you headaches trying to get all 3 satellites. Any advice for a newbie? Thanks

If you get the Slimline 3, which I use, you will find that it is just about as easy as the 18', round is to set up. This was not true in the past, when the Phase III had to lock onto the widely separated 101/110/119 satellites.

Now you are looking for the 99/101/103 satellites, which are so close together that the tilt of the dish is not so critical. You just preset the tilt for your location, level up, and search for the 101, just like with the 18". You will, almost be guaranteed that a usable signal on the 99 and 103 will be there, also.

Forum Discussion

Direct or Dish TV

28 Replies

About RV Must Haves

Related Content

DIRECT TV or DISH?

Dish or Direct TV

Direct TV vs. Dish

Dish or Direct TV?

Dish vs. Direct ....