One more satellite question

[lg212]

When we first got satellite service in 2003, everyone said DirecTV was the only way to go due to their service and the elevation of their satellite on the horizon. Now when driving through campgrounds and RV parks I see more Dish antennas.
What is your opinion and why?
Thank you

[Goldencrazy]

First I am a directv user and very pleased. I do have it at home and on the road. They change my address when I want while traveling to get the local channels in the place I have stopped. Their HD is excellent. Second, I think there is as much DTV as Dish in the campgrounds I visit.

[happycamper002]

ncrowley wrote:
I prefer Dish because I can get hidef on a portable dish. I often camp in places where a dish on the roof could not get a signal. We have gone with the automatic X2. It works well and we have up to 100 feet of coax.

If you climb up your RV roof to set your antenna, just make sure you stock up on splints in case you fall off the ladder (God forbid) and break a few brittle bones on your way down.

I've heard Rvers complain having their (portable) Tailgater stolen for having it sitting on the ground at night.

You can buy an add-on device that sets off an alarm if someone disconnects the co-ax. Got it from CW. I'll sell to you if you are interested.

[ncrowley]

I prefer Dish because I can get hidef on a portable dish. I often camp in places where a dish on the roof could not get a signal. We have gone with the automatic X2. It works well and we have up to 100 feet of coax.

[usersmanual]

Dutch_12078 wrote:

usersmanual wrote:

This is why we are paying big bucks for a Tailgater as opposed to a generic antenna.

big bucks? I bought a tailgater pathway 6000 and receiver a month ago
for 386$

The "Tailgater" is a small western arc only unit for Dish use that's made by King. Your Pathway 6000 is made by Winegard and is not a "Tailgater®". Completely different critters...

Oh, and my entire original Dish satellite system, including the receiver, dish, and associated cabling, cost a bit under $250. 🙂

yes and my first pair of running shoes were only 9.95
the 6000 is extremely lite and can be set up anywhere including a tail gate -yes its larger for sure and operates on low voltage from receiver

[usersmanual]

happycamper002 wrote:

usersmanual wrote:

as poster sais there is no such thing as a add on device for locals
other than if u want to watch ota channels through your dish net system

This is true when you are about talking about the main TV box that is permanently installed at home. . . not with the one I carry along in my motor home. Thus sub-unit doesn't have the OTA capability unlike the Main unit.

It plugs in to a USB port in the sub unit. I don't want to hook/unhook the Main unit everytime I go on a trip.

Get on with the times and go out once in a while. 🙂

what I said was only IF you want to watch ota through your receiver nothing stops a person from simply switching to the roof antenna

[Dutch_12078]

usersmanual wrote:

This is why we are paying big bucks for a Tailgater as opposed to a generic antenna.

big bucks? I bought a tailgater pathway 6000 and receiver a month ago
for 386$

The "Tailgater" is a small western arc only unit for Dish use that's made by King. Your Pathway 6000 is made by Winegard and is not a "Tailgater®". Completely different critters...

Oh, and my entire original Dish satellite system, including the receiver, dish, and associated cabling, cost a bit under $250. 🙂

[usersmanual]

This is why we are paying big bucks for a Tailgater as opposed to a generic antenna.

big bucks? I bought a tailgater pathway 6000 and receiver a month ago
for 386$

[happycamper002]

Bill.Satellite wrote:


Not sure what you mean by "I liked the idea of three satellites which makes it easier for the antenna to lock-in". There are 3 satellites but each satellite carries different programming. You can't pick any 1 of the 3 and watch anything you like.
There also is no such thing as being "offered mobile access". Every Dish and DirecTV customer has the option of taking the receiver from their home and using it in their RV anywhere and as often as they like all at no additional charge.
Most of the rest makes no real sense.

You have taken my words out of context. Perhaps your deliberate attempt or simply an onset of cognitive dissonance.

When I say "makes it easier to lock in" doesn't mean that I struggle to aim the antenna. You know very well that Tailgaters are designed to search automatically as in "no human intervention".

When you say "you can't pick any one of the three" you are insinuating that I'm doing the aiming. . . not so. This is why we are paying big bucks for a Tailgater as opposed to a generic antenna.

The "mobile access" that I mentioned refers to the mobile antenna (Tailgater) not the fixed dish mounted in my patio.

If you can focus on the issue and not going around the bushes, the discussion would certainly (and yourself) make sense.

[Jim_Norman]

We generally get a significant number of OTA channels and with the new Digital broadcasts there are a lot of interesting channels. It like Dish is trying to be mote RV friendly with the ability to pay as I go I am thinking that for under $100 I can get a receiver and give Dish a try. If it doesn't suit me, it looks like I just don't reopen after stopping serves and I am done. With Directv I am into a 2 year contact. so the cost is I am not happy there is considerably higher.

Anyone see a flaw?

[usersmanual]

Bill.Satellite wrote:

usersmanual wrote:

happycamper002 wrote:

usersmanual wrote:

as poster sais there is no such thing as a add on device for locals
other than if u want to watch ota channels through your dish net system

This is true when you are about talking about the main TV box that is permanently installed at home. . . not with the one I carry along in my motor home. Thus sub-unit doesn't have the OTA capability unlike the Main unit.

It plugs in to a USB port in the sub unit. I don't want to hook/unhook the Main unit everytime I go on a trip.

Get on with the times and go out once in a while. 🙂

as said there is no such thing u "must buy to watch locals".the device you buy is if u want to watch OTA through your dish receiver
I have a roof antenna as all motorhomes have and watch locals etc through it

"as all motorhomes have"....obviously not correct but I think I will watch this increasingly comical topic develop.

really?? what motor home in the last 15-20 years came with no ota antenna? Iam sure there was the odd one that never had one but for
the most part RV,s in general come with antennas for OTA TV

[happycamper002]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
as all motor homes have"....obviously not correct but I think I will watch this increasingly comical topic develop.

You obviously have no idea about the terrain in the L.A. basin. Any area north of Tujunga, can not receive TV signals through roof mounted antenna because of the high mountains between L.A. basin and Santa Clarita Valley.

No one can get a decent TV signal except radio ocasionally, the reason you won't see TV antennas in the area. So, you can forget your MH antenna.

You simply is one of the comics that makes this site not running short of clowns.

You might want to check those areas in the basin and surrounding valleys about the quality of reception in each particular area. Mr Google will give you a helping hand.

[Jim_Norman]

I've been looking to add Satellite to my RV. We have a Wingard in motion dome. It will get Direct, but not HD or it can get Dish. I am leaning towards Dish even though the rig came with a DIrectTV box. We are not full timing or really even part timers. we get weekends and maybe 4 weeks right now, mostly between April and October, however I take the rig out in March and December for solo trips.

It looks like Dish is the more friendly company for our needs, but not sure. Direct I think will require a 2 year contacts and all pauses add to the contract duration. I really really hate having to have a contract. I think Dish is simply pay as you go start and stop when I want.

Opinions? I don't care to pay for a sports package as I won't watch it. Movies and News are the main reason I want this, too often limited or no cable where we go and I will be 'boondocking' more in the future than in the past.

We don't have satellite at home, too many trees.

[Bill_Satellite]

usersmanual wrote:

happycamper002 wrote:

usersmanual wrote:

as poster sais there is no such thing as a add on device for locals
other than if u want to watch ota channels through your dish net system

This is true when you are about talking about the main TV box that is permanently installed at home. . . not with the one I carry along in my motor home. Thus sub-unit doesn't have the OTA capability unlike the Main unit.

It plugs in to a USB port in the sub unit. I don't want to hook/unhook the Main unit everytime I go on a trip.

Get on with the times and go out once in a while. 🙂

as said there is no such thing u "must buy to watch locals".the device you buy is if u want to watch OTA through your dish receiver
I have a roof antenna as all motorhomes have and watch locals etc through it

"as all motorhomes have"....obviously not correct but I think I will watch this increasingly comical topic develop.

[usersmanual]

happycamper002 wrote:

usersmanual wrote:

as poster sais there is no such thing as a add on device for locals
other than if u want to watch ota channels through your dish net system

This is true when you are about talking about the main TV box that is permanently installed at home. . . not with the one I carry along in my motor home. Thus sub-unit doesn't have the OTA capability unlike the Main unit.

It plugs in to a USB port in the sub unit. I don't want to hook/unhook the Main unit everytime I go on a trip.

Get on with the times and go out once in a while. 🙂

as said there is no such thing u "must buy to watch locals".the device you buy is if u want to watch OTA through your dish receiver
I have a roof antenna as all motorhomes have and watch locals etc through it