I am looking at installing a roof dish. I understand that to get NBC, CBS, ABC, i need to get DNS services and sign an affidavit stating it is being used in a motorhome, etc. I called Dish networks and was told they do not offer DNS services. That leaves me DirectTV which does offer DNS services. But, I don't like there contract which states you can only suspend the service for a max of 6 months per year. Since we are not on the road 6 months a year, we will be paying for a service we don't use. QUESTONS: Are my statements above accurate? Is there a better alternative? Obviously I can use my regular antenna to pick up local channels, but often I am out of range and that is why I am considering an satellite.

Have you thought about simply getting Directv at home too?

derh20 wrote:I understand that to get NBC, CBS, ABC, i need to get DNS services and sign an affidavit stating it is being used in a motorhome, etc. I called Dish networks and was told they do not offer DNS services.DNS (Distant Network Services) just means you'll get NBC, etc from either the West or East Coast.With DISH you can get local stations (NBC, etc) via satellite by just calling DISH and changing your "Service Address" to your current campground.If you must have the East or West Coast network stations, then sign up for DirecTV.

I pay $5 a month extra for local channels where I'm parked. If I'm 300 miles from Denver, I'll still get Denver channels and if there are any closer channels.,...,you have a billing address and a service address...evry time you park for a period of time, you change the service address...you have to call DTV to have them turned on but I've been doing it for 10 years

As said above, dish has locals and there is almost always abc, nbc, cbs and Fox among others.

If you go with Dish you can call (on line chat even better) and give them your current location with a physical address and zip code. In no time you will have locals. If you move often this is a real pain. If not, it should work just fine. If you move "a lot" you might just stick with satellite TV for all the cable channels and your Batwing antenna for the locals. Once you are going to be in one place for a week or so you can call Dish.

Satellite with National Channels | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

derh20
Explorer
Jul 22, 2015
Thanks to all for your comments. I have a further question which i will explain in a new posting. thanks again
Dutch_12078
Explorer III
Jul 22, 2015
Bill.Satellite wrote:
I only dislike the thought of changing locals all the time due to my obsession with recording (nearly) everything I plan to watch. The would mean that every time I changed locations I would also have to reprogram my DVR with the new channels where the Networks are located. I understand the Hopper can follow a program but I believe that's the only DVR that has that capability. Additionally, I really time being able to pick the time I want to watch things if I do watch live (NY 4th of July Fireworks at 7PM) or record more channels when they all come on at the same time (record some from the E feed and some from the W). Even if everything else was equal, I would really miss the ability to time shift!

On our VIP211k, we have our "locals" recordings set up using the Dish "PASS" feature that records programs by name instead of time. Using the available parameters, we can select new, all, HD only, etc., to minimize duplicates. On our Hopper, the "Prime Time Any Time" feature will automatically record all prime time programming on the major networks we select for the nights we select regardless of what channel they're on. We haven't made any DVR changes based on location since starting our Dish service.
TechWriter
Explorer
Jul 22, 2015
Bill.Satellite wrote:
I only dislike the thought of changing locals all the time . . . I understand the Hopper can follow a program but I believe that's the only DVR that has that capability.

Bingo!

It's time to change & embrace the Dark Side, Bill:
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jul 22, 2015
I only dislike the thought of changing locals all the time due to my obsession with recording (nearly) everything I plan to watch. The would mean that every time I changed locations I would also have to reprogram my DVR with the new channels where the Networks are located. I understand the Hopper can follow a program but I believe that's the only DVR that has that capability. Additionally, I really time being able to pick the time I want to watch things if I do watch live (NY 4th of July Fireworks at 7PM) or record more channels when they all come on at the same time (record some from the E feed and some from the W). Even if everything else was equal, I would really miss the ability to time shift!
georgelesley
Explorer
Jul 22, 2015
Dutch_12078 wrote:
georgelesley wrote:
Bill.Satellite wrote:
Dish "could" still offer DNS if they chose to do so. They simply choose not to. Mobile waivers (truckers, boaters and RVers) are all eligible from both Dish and DirecTV. Dish discontinued DNS by choice.

From what I heard, dish lost a court case that forced them to stop offering DNS. They then contracted with a third party vendor which we used one year to provide the service. That vendor is no longer in business. I even wrote my congressman about dish not being able to offer it direct because at the time we had just stopped full timing and hated to see the service go and that is what I was told. What they do now is not as convenient, but works.

Dish "did their time", and could now offer DNS themselves if they chose to do so. Obviously they have not. I find changing locals to be a very minor inconvenience, and we do like having the local news available for the area we're in. Particularly in locations where OTA reception is poor.

Thx for the clarification. Still wish they would start offering it again.
Dutch_12078
Explorer III
Jul 22, 2015
georgelesley wrote:
Bill.Satellite wrote:
Dish "could" still offer DNS if they chose to do so. They simply choose not to. Mobile waivers (truckers, boaters and RVers) are all eligible from both Dish and DirecTV. Dish discontinued DNS by choice.

From what I heard, dish lost a court case that forced them to stop offering DNS. They then contracted with a third party vendor which we used one year to provide the service. That vendor is no longer in business. I even wrote my congressman about dish not being able to offer it direct because at the time we had just stopped full timing and hated to see the service go and that is what I was told. What they do now is not as convenient, but works.

Dish "did their time", and could now offer DNS themselves if they chose to do so. Obviously they have not. I find changing locals to be a very minor inconvenience, and we do like having the local news available for the area we're in. Particularly in locations where OTA reception is poor.
georgelesley
Explorer
Jul 22, 2015
Bill.Satellite wrote:
Dish "could" still offer DNS if they chose to do so. They simply choose not to. Mobile waivers (truckers, boaters and RVers) are all eligible from both Dish and DirecTV. Dish discontinued DNS by choice.

From what I heard, dish lost a court case that forced them to stop offering DNS. They then contracted with a third party vendor which we used one year to provide the service. That vendor is no longer in business. I even wrote my congressman about dish not being able to offer it direct because at the time we had just stopped full timing and hated to see the service go and that is what I was told. What they do now is not as convenient, but works.
Dutch_12078
Explorer III
Jul 21, 2015
georgelesley wrote:
We also use Dish and get the locals wherever we are with a call. Once I thought I would get ahead of the game and called with the new address while we were still travelling. I was assured the locals would be on when we got there. Not so. The sat dish or tailgator we use must be set up, aimed, and receiver on to receive the "bump" they send. I always tell them now to send an authorization. After many calls, I found out that not all CSR's know to do this.

I've had much better luck having CSR's get it right the first time around using the online chat service instead of calling. I use a pre-written script and just copy and paste it into the chat window when it opens. The script both saves time and minimizes typos. I have a master text file with the parks we regularly stop at pre-scripted, along with a template for any new ones. The file also has the dish setup parameters listed for each regular location.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jul 21, 2015
Dish "could" still offer DNS if they chose to do so. They simply choose not to. Mobile waivers (truckers, boaters and RVers) are all eligible from both Dish and DirecTV. Dish discontinued DNS by choice.
georgelesley
Explorer
Jul 20, 2015
We also use Dish and get the locals wherever we are with a call. Once I thought I would get ahead of the game and called with the new address while we were still travelling. I was assured the locals would be on when we got there. Not so. The sat dish or tailgator we use must be set up, aimed, and receiver on to receive the "bump" they send. I always tell them now to send an authorization. After many calls, I found out that not all CSR's know to do this.