Just read a post on another forum where the DirecTV RV customer tried to change his service address for local channels and was told by a C/S supervisor that DirecTV no longer allows it. They were told they would have to have a separate account for the RV with DNS locals.Since I have DISH I was not able to verify the information. Those with DirecTV have you tried to change your service address in the last couple of days and experienced this? Is DirecTV getting even more RV unfriendly?

What's the big deal with being able to receive "locals?" I haven't used broadcast or sat tv in almost a decade, so I'm a bit out of practice. Other than emergency alert, which will come over radio and cell phone regardless, what does local news offer that regional / national news does not?

GordonThree wrote:What's the big deal with being able to receive "locals?" I haven't used broadcast or sat tv in almost a decade, so I'm a bit out of practice. Other than emergency alert, which will come over radio and cell phone regardless, what does local news offer that regional / national news does not?Lots of folks watch “local” tv, that is, all the main networks. That means NBC, ABC, CBS, etc. So for many, that is a big deal.

Only see it as an issue if you are out in the middle of nowhere and OTA doesn't work.

Last time I did this was a few months ago.. and it was way more difficult than ever. I chose a Los Angeles address which I am able to receive anywhere, and as long as that works I see no reason to change.Thanks for the heads up.

pennysmom09 wrote:GordonThree wrote:What's the big deal with being able to receive "locals?" I haven't used broadcast or sat tv in almost a decade, so I'm a bit out of practice. Other than emergency alert, which will come over radio and cell phone regardless, what does local news offer that regional / national news does not?Lots of folks watch “local” tv, that is, all the main networks. That means NBC, ABC, CBS, etc. So for many, that is a big deal.Isn't most of that stuff available OTA, depending on your location? When we're out, we switch to antenna mode and pick up "local" CBS/ABC/NBC/PBS/TWN that way. Besides that, the mainstream networks broadcast the same stuff everywhere, don't they? Doesn't matter if I get the Seattle feed or the Detroit feed. Same shows, different times.

No Service Address Changes on DirecTV | Good Sam Community

2oldman
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2019
Tom N wrote:
An RV account was always required for moving a receiver from one location to another and receiving those local channels.
Perhaps, but I and a few thousand others have been doing this for 15 years.
camperguy99
Explorer
Mar 29, 2019
Wow, just did the very thing last week. Called and the first person that answered did the deed without question. Be careful to call Directv and not the general AT&T number I think. I have been doing the service change for many years now. Usually for a 3 month period when I go to AZ, yep in an RV.
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2019
GordonThree wrote:
Ok so why wouldn't I get those network channels without updating my address? If I'm receiving them now that is, wouldn't I keep receiving those same channels.

Something about a "spot beam?"

Yes, "spot beams"... The local TV stations in a given market are broadcast to a relatively small geographical area from the satellites using directional antennas. Once you move out of the area that spot beam covers, you will not receive those channels. Which spot beam your receiver is authorized to receive is determined by your registered service address, so just moving into range of a different beam does not mean you will see that programming. You must have your sat provider change your service address to that beam, and that's where the problem apparently starts with DTV now.
rk911
Explorer
Mar 29, 2019
GordonThree wrote:
What's the big deal with being able to receive "locals?" I haven't used broadcast or sat tv in almost a decade, so I'm a bit out of practice. Other than emergency alert, which will come over radio and cell phone regardless, what does local news offer that regional / national news does not?

good for you. that was your choice. sat tv was the OP's choice.
rk911
Explorer
Mar 29, 2019
2oldman wrote:
Patient: Doctor, it hurts when I do that.
Doctor: Don't do that.

but doc i've had this before.
well, you've got itc again.

take my wife, please.
rk911
Explorer
Mar 29, 2019
GordonThree wrote:
Ok so why wouldn't I get those network channels without updating my address? If I'm receiving them now that is, wouldn't I keep receiving those same channels.

Something about a "spot beam?"

yes. soneone without the DNS service wishing to reveive local channels for the area they are in must change their service address with DTV to receive locals on a spot beam. spot beams are usually 100-150 miles wide but sometimes are larger. we had a spot beam from DISH network a few years back that stretched from Rapid City SD all the way to Rochester MN.

BTW...DISH does not offer DNS but has made changing service address a breeze with their mobile app. :B
Acampingwewillg
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2019
I guess I don't really have a complete understanding of this issue? Is this just a concern for those that have a Direct TV RV contract? I've had Direct TV for 20+ years and use receivers connected to my home address in the RV....I've traveled every where (cross country included) without ever losing my local networks connected to my home address. Yes, this does limit me to watching Los Angeles local news in New York on Network channels but I'm fine with that. I generally look for OTA signals for actual local news/weather.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Mar 29, 2019
Sometimes it takes a while to find a DirecTV rep who knows the difference between his Rump Hole and a Post Hole.

That said. it's a way for them to further RIP YOU OFF and one of the reasons I go OTA exclusively
Shot-N-Az
Explorer
Mar 30, 2019
I”d really like to see the full text of the email. I’ve been a DTV customer for several years and have not received such an email. By the way, anyone looking to get into sat TV would be crazy to go with DTV right now.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Mar 30, 2019
Acampingwewillgo wrote:
I guess I don't really have a complete understanding of this issue? Is this just a concern for those that have a Direct TV RV contract? I've had Direct TV for 20+ years and use receivers connected to my home address in the RV....I've traveled every where (cross country included) without ever losing my local networks connected to my home address. Yes, this does limit me to watching Los Angeles local news in New York on Network channels but I'm fine with that. I generally look for OTA signals for actual local news/weather.
You have DNS which you pay extra for and not the local channels which are spot beamed.

DNS channels are not spot beamed and available everywhere in the 48 states.