Dish or Direct TV?

[shadows4]

Which one is better? We have never had satellite. Seriously considering making the switch from cable to satellite at home. One benifit would be to be.able.to use it camping. If you were to do this which would you choose.? Thanks, John

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

psford wrote:
Not sure about the 200 mile range, I have gotten local channels as far away as Phoenix ,Az , 700 miles from home, finally lost the locals when we got to Tombstone area 850 miles from home.

It is not really a range thing.

You get local channels from a 'spot beam' transmitted from the satellite. That beam footprint is usually about 400-500 miles in a near circular pattern. Its kind of like shining a flashlight on a big beach ball. You have to be in the lighted area to receive those 'local channels'.

There is not a separate spot beam for every location. People living 150 miles from me are in the same spot beam coverage as I am.

If your home zip code is in the center of that beam - then 200-250 miles away, you normally lose local channels. If your home is near the edges of the coverage - you might lose locals 80 miles from home in one direction and 400 miles from home in the opposite direction.

Spot beams coverages out in the unpopulated areas of the nation - mostly out west - are a bit larger to lower the cost for the satellite coverage. So you could easily get more range.

psford wrote:
The one thing I do know is that my friend that I camp with in Montana every summer has a much more difficult time getting Dish reception then I do with Direct for whatever reasons. I point mine somewhat south easterly ,and I got a signal.

As mentioned above - it is a factor of satellite position. The Direct satellites are apparently higher above the horizon than the Dish satellites. The closer to the horizon, the easier it is to have a signal blocked by trees, mountains, the next rig over in the campground, etc.

I didn't know that - but will be something to consider if I decide to spend a lot of time far north.

A question for Direct TV users - does anyone full-time with no Direct TV home contract/ setup?

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

NC Hauler wrote:
For a dual set up, someone at home and a separate in the rig plan, you stated Dish is the way to go....I have direct TV and use the receivers from my home in my rig.

Then your situation doesn't apply to what I said in my post.

If you have Dish at home - using Dish on the road is cheaper and better.

If you have Direct at home - using Direct on the road is cheaper and better.

However, if you are like a lot of people, including me, and have a land-line cable provider at home - Dish no-contract is the best/ cheapest option in my opinion.

[Martyn]

sdianel wrote:
We have had DirecTV for over 5 years. No problems. Great service! You can suspend a receiver if you are not using it for a certain length of time.

Ditto

[sdianel_-acct_c]

We full time and have had DirecTV for over 5 years. No problems. Great service! You can suspend a receiver if you are not using it for a certain length of time.

[psford]

NC Hauler wrote:

gafidler wrote:
Dish was a better deal for me than direct. If you are traveling less than 200 miles from home you get locals without doing anything over 200 miles you call and they change the locals for you. I use the same receiver at home and in the RV, I do use 2 different satellite dishes.

I've had both and prefer Direct TV, but again, guess it has to do with choice..I do almost all my camping in the mountains and Direct TV, at one time had to be aimed higher into the sky to get a signal, and this helped get over some mountains and trees; again, back when I had Dish, it aimed lower and could be a bear to get reception when in some mountainous areas.

As far as traveling less than 200 miles and getting locals, I live in Asheville NC and have camped in Pence Springs WV and still gotten all my locals and also to Myrtle Beach and still got my locals...only place I couldn't receive them was at the Outer Banks. I too use the same receiver(s) that I use at home. I was surprised when I could pick them up in WV, though Myrtle Beach was also a nice surprise.

I believe Direct TV offers a little more programming and more HD stations than Dish, (IF that means anything to anyone).

Not sure about the 200 mile range, I have gotten local channels as far away as Phoenix ,Az , 700 miles from home, finally lost the locals when we got to Tombstone area 850 miles from home. Never had Dish ,but have never had a reason to change . My reason for Direct at the time was that Dish did not offer the pro football package, which apparently they do now.

The one thing I do know is that my friend that I camp with in Montana every summer has a much more difficult time getting Dish reception then I do with Direct for whatever reasons. I point mine somewhat south easterly ,and I got a signal.

[bigdogger]

NFL Sunday Ticket is only available on Directv. That makes my decision!

[NC_Hauler]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
Did some research before I went with Dish.

I have Verizon FIOS at home and use that for cable TV.

For someone like me - Dish RV was the best deal - and the no contract option was great.

However, if I had home satellite - it would be Direct and they make it easier to take a receiver from the house and put it in the rig.

Direct with one plan at home cost you nothing extra but equipment (antenna) in the rig.

For a dual setup - someone else at home - and a separate in the rig plan - Dish is the way to go IMHO.

For a dual set up, someone at home and a separate in the rig plan, you stated Dish is the way to go....I have direct TV and use the receivers from my home in my rig. I have 3 receivers, I may take 2 of them with me when camping and leave one at the house. If anyone is at my home they can watch TV and wherever I'm camping, I too can watch Direct TV programming and I only have one plan, it's all I need, been doing it that way for years and years..

[WoodGlue]

The programming on Dish is almost geared toward International audiences. You'll find a lot more Intl channels on Dish or at least access to their paid Intl channels.

WoodGlue

[Michelle_S]

As said by numerous others: Personal choice. We have DirecTV, but have had it for years at the Stick House. Now that we're spending 75% to 80% of our time in the Rig we signed up for the Distant Network feeds, this service is offered by both Dish and Direct. It gives us the major networks no matter where we are, but there is an extra cost for them. We've always used the receivers from the house so have identical programming there or on the road.

[Atom_Ant]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
Did some research before I went with Dish.

I have Verizon FIOS at home and use that for cable TV.

For someone like me - Dish RV was the best deal - and the no contract option was great.

However, if I had home satellite - it would be Direct and they make it easier to take a receiver from the house and put it in the rig.

Direct with one plan at home cost you nothing extra but equipment (antenna) in the rig.

For a dual setup - someone else at home - and a separate in the rig plan - Dish is the way to go IMHO.

PawPaw, you don't need 2 plans with Dish. My RV and house are the same account and I swap out receivers as I please when we take off with the camper, just like Direct. The only cost was the auto antenna on the roof of the camper

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Did some research before I went with Dish.

I have Verizon FIOS at home and use that for cable TV.

For someone like me - Dish RV was the best deal - and the no contract option was great.

However, if I had home satellite - it would be Direct and they make it easier to take a receiver from the house and put it in the rig.

Direct with one plan at home cost you nothing extra but equipment (antenna) in the rig.

For a dual setup - someone else at home - and a separate in the rig plan - Dish is the way to go IMHO.

[NC_Hauler]

gafidler wrote:
Dish was a better deal for me than direct. If you are traveling less than 200 miles from home you get locals without doing anything over 200 miles you call and they change the locals for you. I use the same receiver at home and in the RV, I do use 2 different satellite dishes.

I've had both and prefer Direct TV, but again, guess it has to do with choice..I do almost all my camping in the mountains and Direct TV, at one time had to be aimed higher into the sky to get a signal, and this helped get over some mountains and trees; again, back when I had Dish, it aimed lower and could be a bear to get reception when in some mountainous areas.

As far as traveling less than 200 miles and getting locals, I live in Asheville NC and have camped in Pence Springs WV and still gotten all my locals and also to Myrtle Beach and still got my locals...only place I couldn't receive them was at the Outer Banks. I too use the same receiver(s) that I use at home. I was surprised when I could pick them up in WV, though Myrtle Beach was also a nice surprise.

I believe Direct TV offers a little more programming and more HD stations than Dish, (IF that means anything to anyone).

[Atom_Ant]

Direct TV is harder to find an auto antenna for high def and the auto SK-SWM3 for Direct TV is $3-400 more than the SK-1000 for Dish. However Direct TV genie are now wireless but the Dish Hopper/joey is still hardwire Coax. Beyond that, just a preference on programming.

[WyoTraveler]

Check the programing and decide. I just preferred dish programing. Not a whole lot of difference.Of course the first one that goes a la carte would get my business. For now they keep trying to tell me how important it is that I have all those junk programs.

[Merrykalia]

Get the best deal that you can get and go with that one!!
If you go with Directv, I will refer you and we will both get $10/month off our bill for a total of $100.