baby steps for using Direct TV

I do Direct TV on the road. I bought the Winegard portable automatic model GM 1518 from Camping World, looks like a small igloo, I call mine R2D2. It is automatic and therefore you don't have to deal with the compass - azimuth - elevation etc. It is sensitive to tree canopy and there are times when you will not be able to get a signal. I take a receiver from home and hookup the coax to the R2 unit then to the receiver through a window( - connecting the coax to the TT outside port will not work) then I connect the power cord to the TT and the R2 and it begins to seek the satellite. After a few minutes, usually not more than 3 -5 it locks on and bingo TV. There are issues with Direct TV and your ability to receive local channels. Sometimes you can resolve this by going into setup on the receiver box and changing your home zip code to the zip code of the campground...sometimes not. But I have always been able to get everything else that my Direct TV contract provides from HGTV go SciFi.