Today I took advantage of the CW weekend Internet pricing on the Winegard carryout pricing and ordered the dome and the tripod for what I consider to be a good price.When talking to Direct TV about programming and local channels they said I have to apply for some sort of waiver. The forms he emailed me were a bit over the top and seems to involved. We don't travel a great deal outside of Calif but when we do I'd like to have Network channels. Is there another way?As an aside, it is my intention to return to Dish Network at the end of my current Direct contract. My experience with Direct has been way less than satisfactory since the day they installed their system and I had a much less stressful experience in the previous years with Dish. This is why I chose the Winegard carryout.Steve

Well you can do it one of two ways. You can either call them and give them your service address where you are camping or you can just put up your antenna and just scan for local channels.

We just take a receiver from the house. When we are close to home we get our local channels. While on the road we do not get our home local channels.Whe my wife was into American Idol we signed up for FOX west coast. We still have it as our local FOX station sucks.We keep track of local news via the computer.We have had excellant service and support from Direct TV.

You only get local channels on DirecTV within about 125 miles of your home address per FCC rules. If you want affiliate channels (east coast or west coast feeds), you pay extra and have to sign an RV or trucker "waiver" to be able to get the affiliate channels. You won't ever get your local channels. You will get the ABC, CBS, NBC channels from NY or LA. This is not a DirecTV rule. I think this is an antiquated FCC rule.

PS... you can get over air channels local to the area you're in, if you have a digital TV or digital TV converter box. That's what we do.

I get my home locals at my permanent site 180 miles away. I bought a new DTV dish and took an extra box from home.

Help me understand DirectTV local programming

19 Replies

skipbee
Explorer
Jul 13, 2013
The waiver for the long distance channels has its origins in the NFL blackouts, when a local team fails to sell its stadium seats, local channels are blocked. With the East and West coast feeds the blacked out game might be viewed in the local area. The purpose is to primarily keep TV sets in Bars etc. from getting access.
57_Panhead
Explorer
Jul 13, 2013
Thank you all for the replies. Where I'm confused is that the waiver paperwork said that if I was using a receiver from my home I would need to setup a separate account. I certainly don't need a new account for an occasional week or 2 out camping. I understand that Dish Network has a pay-as-you-go service that allows you to buy only what you need a month at a time. Why can't Direct TV get with the program?

Thanks

Steve
past-MIdirector
Explorer
Jul 13, 2013
We just had our roof dish set up for DirecTV at Camping World. They go threw Winegard to get the DirecTV set up. DirecTV phone center only handles residential. They have an RV service that Winegard works with. You need to go threw Windgard for no hassle DirecTV service!
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2013
If you want to be able to receive Network programming anywhere you travel you can fill out a waiver to receive DNS (Distant Network Services) Network programming and you will receive the programming from LA no matter where you go. If you happen to live where the LA programming is "your" programming you don't need to do anything.
As mentioned above, you can always use your over the air antenna to receive the Networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX) and satellite for everything else IF, IF an OTA signal is available. Otherwise, if you remain within the local Network spotbeam you will receive it IF (sorry, another IF) those locals are broadcast from the 101 or 119 satellites. If your locals happen to come from 99 or 103 then no dome style antenna can receive this programming.
srt20
Explorer
Jul 12, 2013
I get my home locals at my permanent site 180 miles away. I bought a new DTV dish and took an extra box from home.
sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Jul 12, 2013
PS... you can get over air channels local to the area you're in, if you have a digital TV or digital TV converter box. That's what we do.
sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Jul 12, 2013
You only get local channels on DirecTV within about 125 miles of your home address per FCC rules. If you want affiliate channels (east coast or west coast feeds), you pay extra and have to sign an RV or trucker "waiver" to be able to get the affiliate channels. You won't ever get your local channels. You will get the ABC, CBS, NBC channels from NY or LA. This is not a DirecTV rule. I think this is an antiquated FCC rule.
enblethen
Nomad
Jul 12, 2013
We just take a receiver from the house. When we are close to home we get our local channels. While on the road we do not get our home local channels.
Whe my wife was into American Idol we signed up for FOX west coast. We still have it as our local FOX station sucks.
We keep track of local news via the computer.
We have had excellant service and support from Direct TV.
Ranger_Smith
Explorer
Jul 12, 2013
Well you can do it one of two ways. You can either call them and give them your service address where you are camping or you can just put up your antenna and just scan for local channels.

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Help me understand DirectTV local programming

19 Replies

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