driving home today I noticed a neighbor who had just moved put his directv HD dish (including LMB) on the curb so I picked it up (too many hoarder instincts I think). For years, I have had SD in our MH. I made the basic stand out of PVP pipe (found on here a couple of years back) & ran my old SD receiver with it. It was small (doesn't take up much space), easy to set up, and easy to find the signal.So, has anyone made a similar transition from SD to HD? I know I will need to get a new & bigger stand to support the bigger dish. What about finding the signal. Since it has to find 3 satellites do I need a meter device to dial in the signal?I don't have a ton of extra space in our class C, and we don't use the TV very often- kind of a luxury item. I don't' want to spend a bunch of money on this- one of the benefits of a smaller dish & SD- doesn't take up much space & easy to tune. So, is it worth it?

The benefit is only a benefit if you have TV to take advantage of the HD signal. If your biggest TV is less then 32" I doubt you would tell any difference between SD satellite and HD satellite. If there was a "big" sporting event and you could receive OTA TV you would have a better picture than satellite anyway.What is it that you want, are you willing to pay the extra cost and do you really want to go through the effort of locating the 3 satellites every time you move?

If it pleases your eyes then it's worth it. Finding the bird is harder but you get better at it.

With a good surveyor style tripod, I don't think it is any harder to aim an HD dish than an SD. As far as three sats, you peak the 101 and the other two are there assuming a clear sky. The best helper is the Dishpointer app for smart phone. It's worth it to me. Homey don't watch SD no more. But Bill is correct. You need HD Tvs to enjoy it.

be careful,unless its a SWM3 dish, you may actually have a phase 3 dish, which is not hd. both only point to 3 satellites but, the phase 3 points to the wrong onesare you sure which dish you have?

directv SD to HD in MH worth it? | Good Sam Community

schneid
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
HD is no harder to setup than SD.

I pay for HD so I'm going to do HD.

If the set doesn't have HDMI it will not do HD. Yes, component is a OK option.

And +1 for the TV4RV.com HD Combo Kit to mount the Slimline.
LittleBill
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
google solid signal and the phrase what dish do i have. it will have a link for pictures of the different dishes
2oldman
Explorer II
Aug 27, 2013
zonacamper wrote:
does anybody have a recommendation for a tripod?
TV4RV tripod
zonacamper wrote:
is there a way to tell if it is a SWM3 dish easily?
It's not the dish that's SWM , it's the LNB. There should be a sticker on it.
FlatBroke
Explorer II
Aug 27, 2013
To me the new flat screens are worthless in SD. I have a couple of receivers that are SD and I use them only on 4:3 CRT TV's. They seem to give better screen coverage on 4:3's.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
I don't bother to watch HD at home. the daughter always fusses at me when I am at her house and watch SD. I put the SD on and the HD on and switched between them to see the big difference. the good news, Jerry Springer's wrinkles showed up better. the bad news, Jerry Springer's wrinkles showed up better.
bumpy
Popsie
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
The next time you are at a CG/RV Park, walk around and find someone with an HD setup and tell them your question and they will most likely tell you about their transition from SD to HD and invite you to see their TV picture.

Next, bring your DW to take a look. Then you can make an informed decision.

PS. Before I had my cataract surgeries, I couldn't tell the difference between SD and HD - now I wouldn't go back to SD for any reason.
ken_burke
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
Well, I can tell you of our situation. We have SD DirectTv. I have had the Direct TV for years, and can upgrade to HD whenever I want. They would give my all of the equipment I need for HD if I changed over. But I don't think I will do it. We watch a lot of TV, and the SD works just fine. I have made it a science of finding the SD signal through the trees using SD.

"not willing to change" . . . ken fulltimers (of course it took me a long time to switch to color).
zonacamper
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
is there a way to tell if it is a SWM3 dish easily?

Yes, we do have an HD tv in the MD- got a good black Friday deal on one. We use an antenna to catch the local HD over the air shows, and the dish to watch everything else, which usually is what we watch.

does anybody have a recommendation for a tripod?
LittleBill
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
be careful,unless its a SWM3 dish, you may actually have a phase 3 dish, which is not hd. both only point to 3 satellites but, the phase 3 points to the wrong ones

are you sure which dish you have?
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Aug 27, 2013
With a good surveyor style tripod, I don't think it is any harder to aim an HD dish than an SD. As far as three sats, you peak the 101 and the other two are there assuming a clear sky. The best helper is the Dishpointer app for smart phone. It's worth it to me. Homey don't watch SD no more. But Bill is correct. You need HD Tvs to enjoy it.