Cable and Internet Availability

We're using Dish Network with the Winegard X2 automatic antenna. We tried the Tailgator antenna but since it is smaller it needed a clearer shot to the sky. The X2 has a larger receiver dish inside the dome.

With the TT blocking wifi and cell signals, degrading them, we are in the process of adding a wifi repeater (extender) and a cell phone amplifier. The boxes are inside using antennas inside to service the phones and ipads and external antennas on a 12' extending photo light stand.

I too need the wifi if it available for work and if not I need a good cell signal. The Dish network is just icing on the cake.

2oldman wrote:

DSDP Don wrote:
..., so why do some of you find it necessary to tell us about how it isn't something you need. Who cares and how does it answer the OP's question.

Not uncommon on here, especially when someone complains.

and..."The OP admitted to liking his TV and having need for internet, so why do some of you find it necessary to tell us about how it isn't something you need. Who cares and how does it answer the OP's question."

Maybe because the OP asked for ANY advice or comments? I think that fairly opens the door to other types of answers including the "give it up and enjoy some other things" type.

Deb and Ed M wrote:
I have to admit that the issue of poor-to-non-existent WIFI was what drove us OUT of the RV Snowbirding world. We are only semi-retired, but thanks to technology, we are able to get away for extended periods of time. We MUST have WIFI connections to monitor our businesses, remit Sales Tax and unemployment, send in required reports, etc (plus pay bills and stay in touch with organizations back home, on a personal level).

Last year as we drove to FL with our 5th wheel, we found the only way to get some decent WIFI at most RV parks was to get up at 5 AM or so, before most people were awake. By the time we hit GA, we had decided to look into buying a condo (with our own cable and WIFI), and that's where I am at the moment. Being a Snowbird has been wonderful as long as we can do the online tasks we need to do!

And I'm not blaming the RV parks - at 5 AM, the WIFI was great! It's just that everyone is online now, and the servers can't keep up with the demand.

I am curious - why didn't you just get a hotspot on your cell phone and provide your own internet access instead of giving up your RVing? I also need internet access whenever I travel. Using Verizon, I have not had an issue getting internet access using my smart phone.

Deb and Ed M wrote:
I have to admit that the issue of poor-to-non-existent WIFI was what drove us OUT of the RV Snowbirding world. We are only semi-retired, but thanks to technology, we are able to get away for extended periods of time. We MUST have WIFI connections to monitor our businesses, remit Sales Tax and unemployment, send in required reports, etc (plus pay bills and stay in touch with organizations back home, on a personal level).

It was very unreasonable for you to expect to run your businesses on campground Wifi.

What you should have done was supply your own then you could have continued snowbirding very easily.

I have to admit that the issue of poor-to-non-existent WIFI was what drove us OUT of the RV Snowbirding world. We are only semi-retired, but thanks to technology, we are able to get away for extended periods of time. We MUST have WIFI connections to monitor our businesses, remit Sales Tax and unemployment, send in required reports, etc (plus pay bills and stay in touch with organizations back home, on a personal level).

Last year as we drove to FL with our 5th wheel, we found the only way to get some decent WIFI at most RV parks was to get up at 5 AM or so, before most people were awake. By the time we hit GA, we had decided to look into buying a condo (with our own cable and WIFI), and that's where I am at the moment. Being a Snowbird has been wonderful as long as we can do the online tasks we need to do!

And I'm not blaming the RV parks - at 5 AM, the WIFI was great! It's just that everyone is online now, and the servers can't keep up with the demand.

I purchased Dish pointer Pro and it really helps you locate the spot to place your satellite dish. It uses the camera in the phone to overlay the satellites onto the background so you can clearly see when you have a clear line of sight to the satellite you want. If you have an automatic dish, you place it there and let it align itself.

Like a few have said already. I have a portable dome style sat dish for bell and find most campgrounds I stay in are heavily treed and cant get a signal. I often consider just selling the darned thing.

Dave

I've had Dish for years. I even installed an in motion satellite dish in the RV. I used it when I first got it, but I stay at FHU RV parks when traveling and just use their cable and WIFI now. I'd remove the sat dish except it would leave a pretty big hole in the roof. Since I'm a single RVer, the cable supplies noise which is preferable to silence. And if there's no cable, I (gasp) read a book. At my age, I can re-read a book if I haven't read it in the last year and be surprised by the ending.

And to add to that -

I have one of the automatic, portable, satellite TV antennas. I wanted portable so I could move it around obstructions if needed in order to access the satellites. If you decide to get a portable, you should know that DirectTV does not put out an HD signal that they can receive - only SD. You CAN get their HD signal with a roof mounted unit. I have no idea why this situation exists.

This situation does not exist with Dish. Everything is HD.

I don't have an ax to grind here. I am not pro or con either Dish or DirectTV, but I agree with the above poster that once you view HD programming, you do not want to go back to SD. For that reason, I have a Winegard Pathway X2, which gets Dish.

One additional observation about campground cable. It is always an analog connection, which means Standard Definition (now called Low Def). Over the air signals are Digital and come in High Definition. It is amazing to me how irritating I find standard definition TV after having High Def for 10 years.

If you get satellite, and want High-Def, you need to make sure you get a High-
def satellite antenna.