What are people's experience using a DVR hooked to a portable satellite dish while on a road trip? I've got both a simple receiver and a dvr I could use, however, DVR needs to be hooked up to the satellite signal while recording, and if you are moving around constantly, it's hard to be connected. however, it might be worth it just for the fast forward/rewind capabilities.

I use a SD (DirecTV) that I take from my home to the RV whenever. Boots up immediately) I would hesitate to take my other HD/DVR box in my RV simply because it takes EIGHT minits to boot itself up if/when power is lost.DirecTV tells me this is "normal" (lotta information gets checked out). I don't really buy that, but there it is.

jerseyjim wrote:I use a SD (DirecTV) that I take from my home to the RV whenever. Boots up immediately) I would hesitate to take my other HD/DVR box in my RV simply because it takes EIGHT minits to boot itself up if/when power is lost.DirecTV tells me this is "normal" (lotta information gets checked out). I don't really buy that, but there it is.With Dish, after you have had your RV in storage for a couple of months, you have to go through the rebooting process or just call them and they will reboot your receiver from their end. One solution is install a roof satellite which will then automatically connect your signal. I also have 2 SD receivers, one for home and one for the RV which eliminates having to remove and replace the receivers.

I love having my DVR and yes it takes forever to boot up after it loses power... One of the reasons why I power it from the inverter for the home refrigerator. Even at home it is on a SD dish letting it store a bunch of programs. Without a satellite signal you can watch these stored programs.

Ivylog wrote:I love having my DVR and yes it takes forever to boot up after it loses power... One of the reasons why I power it from the inverter for the home refrigerator. Even at home it is on a SD dish letting it store a bunch of programs. Without a satellite signal you can watch these stored programs.X1, Any time I am connected to satellite, I take every opportunity to record movies to store up to use when I am traveling and am not hooked to satellite.

We have a Dish Hopper w/Sling multi-tuner DVR receiver that resides in our motorhome full time. As we move around, I set up our tripod mounted dish at each new location, a fairly simple process that usually takes 15 minutes or less. I also have Dish change our local TV stations as needed using their online chat service. I have all of our big 4 network programming that we like to record set up using a "Search & Record" feature, so no DVR changes are needed at each location.

dvr or standard receiver? | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

filthy_beast
Explorer
Nov 29, 2016
I take my DVR as both receivers are DVRs. I can find stuff to do while the receiver boots up and we can watch our recorded stuff if there is nothing on.

At home all my equipment is powered through battery backups because we seem to have lots of power outages that last just long enough for the Directv equipment to reboot.
thestoloffs
Explorer
Nov 28, 2016
TechWriter wrote:
rk911 wrote:
Bill.Satellite wrote:
...If you are a Dish customer you CAN get HD but you will not be able to use many of the Dish compatible antennas and you will not be able to record programming on 2 different channels if they are being broadcast on 2 different satellites...

we're on DISH. DVR is a722k, ant is a rooftop mounted Winegard Trav'ler. we can record two different programs on different sats while watching a recording or record one pgm while watching a second live program. DVR is in dual mode.

Bill is right. Only an open-faced dish (1000.2 or 1000.4) or the Winegard Travler will allow you to use a fully-functioned DVR, like your 722 or a Hopper.

However, ALL the other dish options (Tailgater, Pathway, domes, etc) will NOT support a fully-functional DISH DVR.

As everyone has said before, multiple satellite tuners will work if you have an antenna that can receive multiple satellites (i.e., has multiple LNBs). That's either a Travler or a manually aligned dish on a tripod.

ALL the other options WILL support a 211K or Z with a hard disk operating as a DVR. It can provide any combination of a single satellite channel + single off-air channel for recording or live viewing, with a 3rd option of pre-recorded playback at the same time you're recording both channels.

IMNSHO, if you need more than that in your RV, you are spending too much time watching TV -- or you need a Sling/Roku type solution.
TechWriter
Explorer
Nov 27, 2016
rk911 wrote:
Bill.Satellite wrote:
...If you are a Dish customer you CAN get HD but you will not be able to use many of the Dish compatible antennas and you will not be able to record programming on 2 different channels if they are being broadcast on 2 different satellites...

we're on DISH. DVR is a722k, ant is a rooftop mounted Winegard Trav'ler. we can record two different programs on different sats while watching a recording or record one pgm while watching a second live program. DVR is in dual mode.

Bill is right. Only an open-faced dish (1000.2 or 1000.4) or the Winegard Travler will allow you to use a fully-functioned DVR, like your 722 or a Hopper.

However, ALL the other dish options (Tailgater, Pathway, domes, etc) will NOT support a fully-functional DISH DVR.
az99
Explorer
Nov 26, 2016
DVR or nothing. With all shows now up to near 50% commercials, I refuse to pay the high price of satellite TV to watch endless commercials.
usersmanual
Explorer
Nov 25, 2016
rk911 wrote:
Bill.Satellite wrote:
...If you are a Dish customer you CAN get HD but you will not be able to use many of the Dish compatible antennas and you will not be able to record programming on 2 different channels if they are being broadcast on 2 different satellites...

we're on DISH. DVR is a722k, ant is a rooftop mounted Winegard Trav'ler. we can record two different programs on different sats while watching a recording or record one pgm while watching a second live program. DVR is in dual mode.

correct as the wineguard traveller dish HD has the 3 lnb system
you can also watch tv on one receiver on one sat(eg 119) and another program on another tv and receiver on a different sat(eg 129)
rk911
Explorer
Nov 25, 2016
Bill.Satellite wrote:
...If you are a Dish customer you CAN get HD but you will not be able to use many of the Dish compatible antennas and you will not be able to record programming on 2 different channels if they are being broadcast on 2 different satellites...

we're on DISH. DVR is a722k, ant is a rooftop mounted Winegard Trav'ler. we can record two different programs on different sats while watching a recording or record one pgm while watching a second live program. DVR is in dual mode.
photobug
Explorer
Nov 24, 2016
it's just I don't have much experience using a dvr when the dish is only connected part of the time. Just picked up a g2+ and trying to decide which receiver to use. My old setup was an old first gen SD receiver, manual oval dish hooked to a 27" tube tv. Old receiver got replaced with a D12. HR24 is sitting in my office vastly under used. Since directv doesn't have a HD option when using a dome type antenna, and the tv I'm stealing out of my office isn't hd capable, the hr24 is a bit overkill. Assuming that it will play stored programing without the antenna turned on, I like the idea of fast forwarding through the dumb parts of shows. As soon as it stops raining, I'll try out a couple configurations. MH currently has no tv system installed.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Nov 24, 2016
Absolutely DVR! Or not.
If you are a DirecTV customer and you can live without HD then one of the portable automatic antennas and a DVR is a complete no-brainer. Watch and record whatever you want without restriction.
If you are a Dish customer you CAN get HD but you will not be able to use many of the Dish compatible antennas and you will not be able to record programming on 2 different channels if they are being broadcast on 2 different satellites.
DVR's are THE BOMB! If you think what you want to do will work with the service you have selected then you absolutely should get a DVR.
rk911
Explorer
Nov 24, 2016
photobug wrote:
What are people's experience using a DVR hooked to a portable satellite dish while on a road trip? I've got both a simple receiver and a dvr I could use, however, DVR needs to be hooked up to the satellite signal while recording, and if you are moving around constantly, it's hard to be connected. however, it might be worth it just for the fast forward/rewind capabilities.

we prefer a DVR both at home and on the road. we record almost everything we want to watch just so we can fast forward thru the commercials.
2oldman
Explorer II
Nov 24, 2016
photobug wrote:
.. DVR needs to be hooked up to the satellite signal while recording, and if you are moving around constantly, it's hard to be connected.
Not sure I understand this part. You mean it's hard to set up each time? A 'simple receiver' has to be hooked up too.