joeburnes wrote:
WOW! I can't thank you enough. GREAT info. Couple of questions, though:
1. If you are ok with sharing, what does Dish charge for your specific setup. Right now, we have a hopper w/sling, 2 joeys, and 1 super joey. (Nothing in the RV yet). We pay about $90 for the tv plan, then $12 for the dvr ability, $7 per joey, and 10 for the super joey. We also pay a protection plan for $8 which I'm told basically covers any service calls that may be necessary. Total bill with tax ends up around $142.
2. Your setup is VERY similar to what I want to achieve with the exception of the fact that our "home" equipment all came from DISH and was not bought outright. I guess we're sort of paying for it because we are under a 2 year deal. I'm told that if we were to go the Wally route in the RV, that it would just add $7 or $10 to our plan (can't remember which). Do you know what it costs to "add" that second Hopper? I don't mind buying the equipment as long as I get what I want and everybody keeps telling me that we can't have a hopper in the RV.
3. Were you ever told that you can have a hopper in your RV? If so, how did you get around it?
Reason I ask is that dish referred me to Dish Outdoors to buy my necessary RV equipment and they told me flat out that DISH does not allow the Hopper in an RV and that it just wasn't possible. When I pressed him on it, basically saying that I could take it out of my living room, physically put it in my RV, and it would work, he then capitulated and said that it was because the Hopper can't stand the rigors of the road...but after what you just said, I'm betting that was BS. What is your take on this?
1. We pay a $12 DVR fee for each Hopper, but I understand the rate for new Hoppers has gone up to $15 now, and $7 for each Joey. So bottom line, our additional cost is just the receiver fees, the same as if you added them at home. Our program package costs are not affected by the receiver count. You could save that $8/mo for the protection plan. If something breaks and/or requires a service call, you can add it on again instantly and be covered. You do need to keep it for 6 months then, but that's cheaper than keeping it year round when it's not needed.
2. I don't think Dish will provide the second Hopper at no charge under your current contract, but it's probably worth asking. If they will, have it installed somewhere in the house, and then move it to the RV later on. Or perhaps get it through an independent Dish retailer that isn't as fussy. If you buy one outright from an independent dealer of course, then Dish doesn't know where it's installed. All of my Dish equipment was bought online from various sources, including Amazon.
3. You have to listen to the Dish official wording carefully. Dish says they "do not SUPPORT" installing a Hopper in an RV, not that you can't HAVE one in an RV. Basically, they won't do the installation, but I can assure you they will happily take your money for the extra equipment fees. Independent Dish installers sometimes will do an RV Hopper installation, particularly in heavy RV use areas like the popular snowbird states. Dish apparently feels that any DVR receiver with a built-in hard drive is not suited to mobile use, but the many RV'ers that successfully use them prove that wrong. I do have my Hopper installed with "vibration pads" (a couple of folded over foam mouse pads) under it and a couple of TV tie downs keeping it in place. My gasser is a bit rougher riding than most DP's though. I used the same setup back when we had a VIP211K as well, just as a precaution. The Hopper in the RV has been in use going on two years now, with zero problems.
Particularly as near full-timers, I can tell you that having the satellite TV service in our motorhome has been well worth the minor inconvenience of setting up the dish as we travel. My wife and I are both solid NHL fans for instance, and not having the "Center Ice" package available during the season would just not be acceptable to us! ;)
