Dish Network - No Network feeds after 2/25/2014

Bill.Satellite wrote:
To make the change properly, you will first need to get to the new location, get the antenna locked on and ensure you can view the rest of the Dish programming. NOW, you can call Dish, provide them with the very specific info they need (add a site number if you use the campground address as if it were an apartment #) and then wait for the new local channels to arrive. Sometimes you will need to reset the receiver (push and hold the power button until you see it power off) to get the change to take effect and allow the new program guide to download.

How about this as an alternative to clear this 'home' issue. We are leaving for Corpus Christi Mar 22.

After we unplug the VIP211k receiver, pack the Tailgaiter and are travelling, we will call Dish and ask them to change our location to Corpus Christi. At this time we will NOT be locked on to any satellite. Dish will have no way to know from where we are calling and since the reciever is off, there can be no communication back to Dish from the receiver. Will this clear up the 'must be first locked on at the new location' requirement you claim is a prequisite?

When we set up at Padre Island National Seashore's Malaquite campground we will post the status.

Then we will know what you mean by 'properly' and whether Dish needs 'very specific' location data. Heck, I can give them GPS coordinates right now that will get within 100yds. Is that specific enough?

HTH;
John

I think the working answer for this OP is, enjoy your locals. When they stop working, call DISH, tell them you have moved your RV, and they will fix it.

Repeat.

To make the change properly, you will first need to get to the new location, get the antenna locked on and ensure you can view the rest of the Dish programming. NOW, you can call Dish, provide them with the very specific info they need (add a site number if you use the campground address as if it were an apartment #) and then wait for the new local channels to arrive. Sometimes you will need to reset the receiver (push and hold the power button until you see it power off) to get the change to take effect and allow the new program guide to download.

I thank everyone for the valuable info.

We do like the Dish service, support and equipment very much.

We don't view ourselves as having a Dish home since we already have cable TV there instead.

Perhaps we can get into a practice of calling Dish while travelling and have our location set to our destination.

I will go ahead and drive to Corpus Christi without calling Dish beforehand just to see what happens. I'll post the status around Mar 23rd.

HTH;
John

nazpaz wrote:


Thank you for that info. We haven't had this VIP211k/Tailgater combo long enough to understand what is happening as we move.

I do not understand all this 'package', 'locals', and spot beam lingo. Why should I?

All want to know is whether my VIP211k/Tailgaiter should already classify me as a traveller(RVer) and that whatever TV I have paid for is available wherever I am. Dish either does this or does not.

It is a simple yes or no question. I have a feeling that many posters here do not have the 211/Tailgater service and are talking about something else.

So what happens when my system/RV moves about the planet?

I understand that a phone call is easy, unless you are in Big Bend NP and there is no cell service. It that case why can't the system figure out where I am and give me the service I paid for?

Why do I need to concern myself with spot beams and such? Where on the Dish web sites do I even get that info if I am supposed to be responsible for managing that? Where does it say I am responsible?

Do I really have to wait until I arrive and then figure out my Dish system doesn't give what I paid for? With no phone service, how do I get my service? It is retarded that the receiver doesn't communicate back to Dish to give me what I paid for. Seriously, a receiver can point the dish, but has no idea where you are?

What if GPS worked like that? Oh gee, yes we can find the satellites, but we have no idea where you are!

In two weeks I will know for sure. I may not be happy.

HTH;
John

John,
You are asking for a simple Yes / No answer to something that does not have such a simple explanation. I believe the posters are trying to get you to understand what's involved but the most basic answer to your question is NO! your Dish receiver cannot tell where it is and therefore cannot automatically change the service location automatically. If it can't do that then the only way for this to happen is to call Dish. The reason you need to concern yourself with silly little things like Spot Beams is because that's where the TV is broadcast and if you drive about the Planet and leave your assigned Spot Beam you will lose ALL Network programming (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS and possibly CW) until you call Dish, give them you exact location with a physical address including the 9-digit zip code. This can also be easily accomplished by using the Dish Chat feature online. If you have no phone, no internet and no campground Wi-Fi, you can get your antenna setup and the receiver online and then drive to a location where this it would be available. Hopefully, by the time you get home the change will have occurred. Posters really are trying to help and what you know to be true about something like GPS has nothing what-so-ever to do with satellite TV. Is it all possible? Absolutely! Is it possible today? Not at all.

Let me explain spot beam technology:

You are seated in a theater, Painted on the floor of the stage is a giant map of the Contential USofA (48 states) .. Standing on the roof of your house is the star of the show singing his SOLO, he is "Spotlighted" (I used to operate one of those puppies on occasion)

Your house, your neighbor's house, likely half your state or more is "in the light" but 2 states over.. it's looking kind of dark.

A spot beam is not "like a spotlight" so much as a Spot Light beam IS a Spot beam, exactly the same thing, just a different wavelength.

So your favorite "local" news channel, in fact all licensed channels (W*** or K*** news) is going to be on a spot beam.

So long as you are in the spot, you can watch them

Move out of the spot and all is lost, You won't get any W*** or K*** stations.

YOU will get HMO, Halmark, NASA (on Dish) SiFi, and so on and so forth, but nothing with a callsign instead of a name unless.....

DISH can not, at this time, offer distant network service but they can move your SERVICE address.. now I've heard conflicting stories about how often or how many times or how easy it is.. But this means.

You will get the local W*** or K*** stations TO WHERE YOU ARE PARKED, if any such stations exist. you just won't get your home set.

No phone service as in cell, land line, Skype or whatever then you cannot change your locals. But you will get the nation wide non local channels.

"So what happens when my system/RV moves about the planet?" You bought equipment for the US and it won't work for most of the planet. It won't even work very far outside of the US borders.

BTW Dish doesn't care what equipment you have. It could be a portable dish, your dish or one of another brand. You tell them your location and they set your account to receive the locals.

GPS is an entirely different technology. It receives multiple timed satellite signals and can compute the location including altitude.

You bought some expensive equipment without understanding what you bought. If you remain unhappy with your purchase then sell it, otherwise enjoy!

full_mosey wrote:

Thank you for that info. We haven't had this VIP211k/Tailgater combo long enough to understand what is happening as we move.

I do not understand all this 'package', 'locals', and spot beam lingo. Why should I?

My friend, you don't need to understand any of it. When you move, at some point you will turn on your TV, try to go to a local channel, and get a message that it isn't available. When you get that message you can call Dish and tell them you have relocated and they will ask you for your current location and they will handle it from there.

You don't need to know anything about spot beams, etc. for that process to work.

Good luck and enjoy your travels (and your TV!) :)

Hi John,

Obviously, you've suggested that some "on-the-road" account option exists that none of the many seasoned Dish users in here have ever heard of. A Google search of "Dish Network on-the-road" yields no results either.

It would be a terrific option, but with the one way-only service that RV satellite setups offer, I cannot imagine how it would work. I'm thinking the only way to know for sure would be a call into Dish CS to inquire.

I have no reasonable explanation on how the locals you are receiving would have changed without a phone call. I would definitely be interested in hearing more about it as you get more info. It would be a terrific feature, that's for sure!!!!!!

nazpaz wrote:
The Valley and Corpus Locals are on the same spot beam. Your receiver is programmed by the satellite to let you receive the stations in your package. If Dish shows your last known locals to be Valley locals that's what you'll see when you move to Corpus and on up the coast almost to Houston.

At that time you'll move out of that spot beam and not have any locals until you call them and tell them you are an RVer and have moved and need your locals updated.

OR

When you get to Corpus you can call and tell them you've moved and they will send a signal from the satellite to your receiver telling it to no longer let you see the Valley locals and to now start seeing Corpus locals.

It's easy to do and it only takes a few minutes. I generally have to reboot my receiver (unplugged for a few seconds) before it will properly update the program guide to show the new programming.

By the way, the Houston spot beam reaches to the Corpus vicinity. We're in Rockport and we've been on Houston locals in three different locations - from north of Houston all the way down to Rockport. I haven't had to call and change. Probably won't until we move completely out of the area in a few weeks.

Thank you for that info. We haven't had this VIP211k/Tailgater combo long enough to understand what is happening as we move.

I do not understand all this 'package', 'locals', and spot beam lingo. Why should I?

All want to know is whether my VIP211k/Tailgaiter should already classify me as a traveller(RVer) and that whatever TV I have paid for is available wherever I am. Dish either does this or does not.

It is a simple yes or no question. I have a feeling that many posters here do not have the 211/Tailgater service and are talking about something else.

So what happens when my system/RV moves about the planet?

I understand that a phone call is easy, unless you are in Big Bend NP and there is no cell service. It that case why can't the system figure out where I am and give me the service I paid for?

Why do I need to concern myself with spot beams and such? Where on the Dish web sites do I even get that info if I am supposed to be responsible for managing that? Where does it say I am responsible?

Do I really have to wait until I arrive and then figure out my Dish system doesn't give what I paid for? With no phone service, how do I get my service? It is retarded that the receiver doesn't communicate back to Dish to give me what I paid for. Seriously, a receiver can point the dish, but has no idea where you are?

What if GPS worked like that? Oh gee, yes we can find the satellites, but we have no idea where you are!

In two weeks I will know for sure. I may not be happy.

HTH;
John