Direct TV while traveling questions--UPDATE

[GizmosMom]

We have Direct TV at home and have a direct TV satellite dish mounted on the RV and also a separate receiver.

Last summer while traveling we wanted to watch the Olympics and we had to call in the address of the RV parks that we were staying at each night so that we could receive NBC channels.

We were finally told that we needed a mobile account. We received paper work that we completed and mailed in to Direct TV, Distant Network Services. Never heard from them and then faxed copies of our paperwork to them in May. Called today and spoke with 12 different people and on the phone for 2 hours. They have no clue. We are pretty frustrated.

How do you get your direct TV channels while on the road?
Do you have a separate account?
Do you have to call in and tell them where you are?
Are you using your receiver from home successfully?

Yes, we know that we can use our phones and tablets to watch Direct TV but we paid for the satellite dish and we want to use it.

We appreciate any help, advice, contact numbers that any Direct TV users can give us.

Thanks.

[Bill_Satellite]

Maybe you total bill per month for all services including the mobile waver would be $90/month. The DNS part of that is only $15/month.

[GizmosMom]

Update:
We submitted our application/affidavit again in June. We finally heard back from a Direct TV "Specialist" and she said that the mobile vehicle account would be $90.00 per month. She insisted that was the monthly fee.

What are we missing? Is there different terminology? May I ask how much any of you who have Direct TV pay per month?

We can receive channels while we are within 250 miles from our home. When we travel, however, we cannot. This is what we want.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

[2oldman]

derh20 wrote:
They are extremely difficult to work with.

You should try getting them to enhance a receiver function.

[derh20]

I have DTV at home and put an antenna on the roof of my MH. I have had the unit in my MH for about 2 years now. Out of that 2 years, I have only gotten it to work about 20% of the time. Beware, when you call with problems you will get a different response from every different person you speak to. They are extremely difficult to work with. I might try Dish...maybe they have better customer support.

[Jbird]

Bill.Satellite wrote:

2oldman wrote:

Bill.Satellite wrote:
I am grandfathered into DNS....

How does that work?

New DTV customers are assigned either East or West DNS based upon where the RV is located. As a long time DTV/DNS user I receive both East and West DNS channels for an extra $5/month.

Interesting: I was grandfathered DNS until last year when I quit because I was paying for local channels anyway. My DNS service always cost about 4.00/network. Anyway, giving up the DNS was a HUGE mistake. Its a ridiculous hassle getting my location changed since the first service rep,and sometimes the second, is mystified by the process.

[2oldman]

So that's kinda like free DNS.. thanks!

[Bill_Satellite]

Yep. I just find that a NY address is better as you see the programming early instead of very late. If you never leave the Western US this makes no difference.

[2oldman]

Bill.Satellite wrote:

hpdrver wrote:
What would happen if you gave dtv a New York address and changed locals to that address. Would you receive network coverage around the nation without having to change your location at each stop?

Yes, well sort of. You would not get locals but you would get NY Networks throughout the US. This can also me done if you us an LA address.

Wait.. what? I can give them an LA address and get that everywhere?

[Bill_Satellite]

True! (I still have locals as well when I am in the Houston, TX area).

[mikestock]

bill.Satellite wrote:
You CANNOT have both DNS and local Networks activated at the same time (a few actually have this but it's just an accounting error).

When I first applied for DNS in the early 2000's I expected, by rule, that I would lose locals. I never lost them. I have activated and deactivated DNS four times over the years, but always kept locals.

I don't think anybody at DTV knows their own rules.

[Bill_Satellite]

You CANNOT have both DNS and local Networks activated at the same time (a few actually have this but it's just an accounting error).
So, if you activate DNS on your account it will apply to all receivers on your account no matter where they are located. So, if you want to watch Orlando TV while in Orlando you must turn off the DNS service. If you don't mind watching NY or LA while you are in Orlando then you can just keep DNS service available on all receivers at all times. You just can't have a receiver in Orlando receiving Orlando and a receiver in your RV receiving NY or LA.

[2oldman]

Carl n Susan wrote:
If you have a residential account and you take a receiver with you in the RV, then a call to DTV to change local stations appropriate to your current location will then cause your home boxes too also switch. You will then not be able to view your normal home stations back at the house.

Your home will presumably be out of range of the locals you're getting while traveling.

[Carl_n_Susan]

If you have a residential account and you take a receiver with you in the RV, then a call to DTV to change local stations appropriate to your current location will then cause your home boxes too also switch. You will then not be able to view your normal home stations back at the house.

[2oldman]

GizmosMom wrote:
For those of you who have Direct TV in both the RV and at home, is this true? Do you no longer have your local channels at home?

Everything is Jell-o when dealing with DTV.

I had DNS for years in the early 2000s with just one RV receiver. Turns out I was also getting locals which I was unaware of because, well, I never checked because that's not supposed to happen. I was getting billed for them too, for 2 years. When I told them they only reimbursed me for 3 months of it.

Clock ahead to 2015. I made the mistake of telling them I had a home receiver. BOOM. DNS gone.