Satellite TV or Cable

[Bellpr]

As we start to look to be traveling more and longer trips, we are wondering if we should invest in the Satellite TV for the RV. We already have Direct TV at home and would be easy to bring the receivers with us. Just would need a portable satellite. Seen some on amazon for ~$200. So do I buy one or not? If we did not already have Satellite TV, I'm guessing it would be more expensive. If we decide to drop the Satellite TV, then we are stuck with Cable TV. I assume most campsites have Cable. Satellite TV would just be practical when cable is not available.

[FordDiesel250]

We purchased a King Quest Direct TV portable satellite at Camping World this spring. Hook up was pretty straight forward and its light and easy to use.

[RustyJC]

Durhamcutter wrote:
Ihave Direct TV and have considered a automatic antenna to get my channels, but if you have Direct and buy an automatic antenna you are looking at 5 to 6 hundred dollars plus you will have to buy a special receiver, if you go with Dish for about 350.they will supply you with an antenna and receiver, check them out and see what it will cost you, money is the issue with me don't want to spend that much to watch tv. Happy Camping

No doubt about it - it's more involved and more expensive to get DirecTV HD than Dish HD in the RV, and I'm not biased against DirecTV as I've been a DirecTV customer since the early 1990s.

At the moment we have DirecTV SD using a VuQube 1000 portable dish with remote alignment. It usually takes about 1 or 2 minutes to get it aligned as long as it is reasonably level and the handle is pointing to the north. This is a carryover rig from our previous 5th wheel; I'm contemplating whether it's worth getting the roof-mounted Winegard Traveler automatic HD dish given the blocked signal problems encountered when parking under trees.

Rusty

[Durhamcutter]

Ihave Direct TV and have considered a automatic antenna to get my channels, but if you have Direct and buy an automatic antenna you are looking at 5 to 6 hundred dollars plus you will have to buy a special receiver, if you go with Dish for about 350.they will supply you with an antenna and receiver, check them out and see what it will cost you, money is the issue with me don't want to spend that much to watch tv. Happy Camping

[Beaker]

I take a SD dish with me.
Maybe someone could tell me why with a SlimLime I could not get HD?

[Thumb]

Bellpr wrote:

KCerling wrote:
Most campgrounds do not have cable. If you go Direct TV get an automatic dish, much more enjoyable. But it is fun to watch people trying to manually adjust their dish.

can you give me an example of an Automatic dish so I know what I'm looking for? thanks.

I have the King Flex ( bought on sale about $400)
Works cery well with my Directv and also works with Dish they say
SD only with Directv

Comes with 50' cable so I can locate it away from trees

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Bellpr wrote:
As we start to look to be traveling more and longer trips, we are wondering if we should invest in the Satellite TV for the RV. We already have Direct TV at home and would be easy to bring the receivers with us. Just would need a portable satellite. Seen some on amazon for ~$200. So do I buy one or not? If we did not already have Satellite TV, I'm guessing it would be more expensive. If we decide to drop the Satellite TV, then we are stuck with Cable TV. I assume most campsites have Cable. Satellite TV would just be practical when cable is not available.

You have several options.

However - first item you should be aware of, is the *Technology Corner* forum (here) - which is intended for subjects such as
Satellite TV.

To take one of your *DirecTV* receivers, you will need either:
1. A tripod mounted (adjust it yourself) dish. (cheap solution!)
2. A portable (automatic) dish - compatible with/for DirecTV.
(Ex: The Winegard G-2 Caryout).
Downside = No High Def (with DirecTV).
Upside = works with either DirecTV or Dish. Change service provider later, no big deal
3. A more expensive roof-mounted satellite antenna, such as the Winegard Traveler.

#3 Caveat: If you camp in heavily treed areas, it's "view" of the sky may be blocked, resulting in NO reception.
The tri-pod mounted dish or a portable *may* solve that problem by moving it to a close area with a view of the sky.

*If* you go with *Dish* Satellite TV service, you have the same option as #1 above, and for #2 - a Tailgater "package" is a reasonable ($) alternative (bonus - has High Def)
You can also turn the service on/off if you don't use it at home.

Since there are many/other options,
The rest is "homework" for you to research - and also decide what best "fits" your wallet.

It *really* helps if you go to the appropriate forums for info and/or more questions, details, etc...:W

This forum would also be really beneficial to bring you "up to speed"
- Escapees - "Satellite TV"



~

[rskeans]

Thanks. I didn't know that.

[justafordguy]

rskeans wrote:
We have Directv at home and bring one of our receivers with us. We selected the new King Quest automatic antenna. It only weighs 8 lbs. http://kingconnect.com/product/king-quest-satellite-antenna/ It is only Standard Definition but we find that OK. The cost is less than $500 and sets up very fast, typically less than one minute. Just point the carrying handle towards north to minimize search time.

I just finished installing the same King Quest dish on mine yesterday and use an extra receiver from the house. It's working great but keep in mine if you want local channels you need a small adapter box called a "king UC1000 universal controller". It lets it lock on to two sats at a time.

[CA_Traveler]

A nice benefit of a DVR receiver is we always have recorded shows to watch regardless of any trees. Our single receiver is moved from home to the rig.

And except for the news we time shift watch everything, skipping the commercials so for us it doesn't matter when the show is on.

[CA_Traveler]

We have the RF Mogul automatic dish which is excellent and $$$. It is HD and SWM technology. This dish requires a receiver with SWM capablity and we used it on the HR24 and HR44 receivers.

Sometimes when we're on the fringe of local channels we can still get SD channels.

It's easy and quick to set up a 18" round dish to receive SD only. HD dishes are more involved to setup.

Be advised that there are some areas that DTV does not transmit SD local channels. The first one we discovered was the Eugene, OR area and nearby coast.

[Bellpr]

I also picked up a free antenna off a friends house. its for Direct TV and Standard Def. Would like to find one in HD. All I need to do is make or buy a tri-pod for it.

[Merrykalia]

We have Directv at home and during the camping season, we take our extra receiver to the fifth wheel and it lives there from April until November.

We found (yes, found) our satellite outside an apartment complex that had taken them off their roof after the tenants moved out. The owner called Directv and they said that for $75 each, they would come and take them down. One of the maintenance men went up and took them off and they put them out to be picked up by the garbage truck.

I stopped and talked to them and came away with 2, just in case one didn't work. DH made a really nice holder out of a 5' piece of pipe and a wheel. (It's a pain to store, but for free, it is great).

Last year, we had a really bad storm come through and the antenna got knocked over and busted the plastic casing. We had to go hunting for another one, but a neighbor had discontinued his Directv and he had taken the satellite off his house and it was sitting by the road. Another freebie!

[Arcamper]

taken wrote:
The only problem with using satellite is if you usually camp in wooded campgrounds. Most places we camp in the northeast have no view of the sky from a lot of their sites.

Yep, this is what we have run into. You must have a clear view of the southern sky or you get nothing. I have an app on my phone that is very helpful in finding the satellites.

[RRinNFla]

BTW, you might want to check out the technology forum for more discussions on this topic.

[rskeans]

We have Directv at home and bring one of our receivers with us. We selected the new King Quest automatic antenna. It only weighs 8 lbs. http://kingconnect.com/product/king-quest-satellite-antenna/ It is only Standard Definition but we find that OK. The cost is less than $500 and sets up very fast, typically less than one minute. Just point the carrying handle towards north to minimize search time.