DirectTv or Dish Network ?

[Dakota98]

Ok, I'm in a completely uncharted territory here. It appears that one must purchase up front all the needed hardware for RV use & pay only for programming. Correct?

Also, Why would a person choose one over the other? What are the factors that contribute to choosing, aside from equipment cost (if that's the case) & programming options for each.

:h

[GoPackGo]

I decided I wanted HD programming. I also decided that I did not want a roof mounted sat antenna because once you park the rig in a site, the antenna might be blocked by trees, etc.. Your only option then is to move the rig to a different site.

I also liked how all these golfball antennas work - Just give them a clear view of the southern sky, hook up the cable and stand back. They automatically search for the satellites.

So that meant I was looking for one of the golfball sat antennas that would receive Dish programming. They come with a 50 ft cord but many people report using a 100 ft cord successfully.

I chose the Winegard Pathway X2 over the Tailgater for the following reasons -

1. The actual antenna is 19 inches vs 18 inches for the Tailgater. Not a lot I know, but could mean the difference when trying to shoot around tree leaves.

2. With the X2, you have the choice of accessing either the Eastern arc OR the Western arc satellites. Your choice. The Tailgater uses only the Western arc sats. I consider this to be a big deal. There are times when I can 'see' only one set.

3. There are two coax output connections. You can run cables to two receiver boxes on two TVs and watch different channels as long as the channels selected come from the same satellite.

I believe the X2 runs about $50 more on Amazon, but have not looked in a while. Usually can get a good package deal that includes the sat antenna, one 211z receiver box and also a remote control for the 211z.

I mean no disrespect to the Tailgater. I know they are well liked and work well.

I also bought the Winegard tripod. The literature that came with the X2 states it should never be set in water over 2 inches deep or bad things can happen to the electronics. The tripod has already saved it once. I ended up in a place where I got monsooned. The water was at least 6 inches deep on the tripod.

I also got the dishformyrv app for my Iphone (Iphone only). It costs $5 and uses the phone camera. All you do is point the phone at the southern sky and the app overlays 2 sets of 3 red balls onto the sky (or trees if you are standing in the wrong place). Each set corresponds to either the Western arc or Eastern arc satellites. This is a real handy app if you are trying to determine the best place to set the 'golfball' in an 'iffy' area. It works well.

I like my X2. I full time and have traveled about 6,300 miles this year, using it all the time. Started out in Florida, then north up to and across Wisconsin and southern Minnesota, then across to the Rocky Mountain states, down to New Mexico and now Arizona. No complaints.

Note that all these golfball sat antennas get their operating power through the coax cable. That means you must have a direct connection to the inside receiver box. You usually can't just connect up to the sat antenna connection on your RV because many times it has switches in the interior line. Either run the cable through a window/slide or rework the existing RV connection so it does not go through any switches. The solution seems to be to just run a new interior cable.

Tim

[wa8yxm]

3 Major differences.
1: Programming packages. Dish and Direct, epically when it comes to Sports, have different packages.
2: Price: Direc has a policy of rapid price increases,, Dish.. From what I have seen not so much but they too will cha-ching you if they can.

3: Antennas: Now if you use a tripod mounted dish, this does not mattter but

DirecTV offers two levels. DirecTV works with cubes, domes and other "automatic" antennas, roof mounted (provided you are not parked under a tree) in-motion, or not. 1,2,3,4 receivers (or more) with the proper add on switch. no problems (Also works with a tripod dish)

DirecHDTV works ONLY with a tripod mounted or roof mounted Triple LNB Dish, teh domes and cubes can not receive the HD signal.

Dish the proper dome, cube et-al will work with a SINGLE receiver, but for multiple receivers you need a Tripod Mounted Triple LNB Dish.

[Dakota98]

djgarcia wrote:

Dakota98 wrote:
Ok, I'm in a completely uncharted territory here. It appears that one must purchase up front all the needed hardware for RV use & pay only for programming. Correct?

Also, Why would a person choose one over the other? What are the factors that contribute to choosing, aside from equipment cost (if that's the case) & programming options for each.

:h

When I first signed up for Dish, Dish provided the equiptment free. If you want a second Dish receiver for your RV rig so you don't have unplug or move the home receiver back and forth. the cost for the second receiver is $5.00 per month.

I'm 11 months into my 24, if I attempt to add any equipment to my home service at this point, they want me to re-up from this point forward for another 24, just to add another receiver to my existing account. I'm sick & tired of contracts. I fired Verizon over that issue also after 18 years. I'll buy my equipment, at this point & renegotiate with Dish once again when this 24 expires. They gave me a deal nearly equal to a new cutomer, last re-up period to stay with them, but it took over an hour on the phone to do it.

[MarkTwain]

Dakota98 wrote:
Ok, I'm in a completely uncharted territory here. It appears that one must purchase up front all the needed hardware for RV use & pay only for programming. Correct?

Also, Why would a person choose one over the other? What are the factors that contribute to choosing, aside from equipment cost (if that's the case) & programming options for each.

:h

When I first signed up for Dish, Dish provided the equiptment free. If you want a second Dish receiver for your RV rig so you don't have unplug or move the home receiver back and forth. the cost for the second receiver is $5.00 per month.

[MarkTwain]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
Roku-Netflix has nothing to do with this but I agree that Dish has great technical support (as does DirecTV). Roku and Netflix require an internet connection and someway of getting that data without breaking the bank. For most of us that means it can't be done. A tiny few still have a grandfathered unlimited data plan but there are so few available that it's not even a reasonable discussion.

Beside the customers cost for what ever internet service they buy, Roku cost me $8.00 per month:)

[KA4EBU]

Dish and Direct are not going to escape the fiasco cable is having. I think channels will go down and price will go up as they start losing customers as their contracts expire.
It'll all be broadband.

[Bill_Satellite]

Roku-Netflix has nothing to do with this but I agree that Dish has great technical support (as does DirecTV). Roku and Netflix require an internet connection and someway of getting that data without breaking the bank. For most of us that means it can't be done. A tiny few still have a grandfathered unlimited data plan but there are so few available that it's not even a reasonable discussion.

[MarkTwain]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
Dish offers part time service and DirecTV does not. Dish HD programming can be received if you are using a dome style antenna (roof or portable) and DirecTV cannot. Dish used to offer free HD with a 2 year contract and DirecTV costs $10/month.
DirecTV's satellites are closer together and if you don't care about HD only requires you locate 1 single satellite while Dish still requires 3. DirecTV has better coverage coast to coast and into Canada. DirecTV has the DNS Networks available and Dish does not.
It's really a coin toss but sometimes your hardware and requirements will make the choice for you.

X1 and phone technical support for Dish has been great. If the problem can't be solved over the phone, I normally have a tech support technician at my site the next day. I would not have Dish or Direct services without Roko-netflick. The quality, quanity of movie selections is outstanding compared to either Dish or Direct.

[CA_Traveler]

During the HR44 upgrade transition period we also had the HR24 receiver. Pretty amazing as we had 7 channel capability and could watch any recorded show from either receiver. Both receivers worked flawless at home and in the RV.

OP You might want to consider your TVs SD or HD capabiliity. You might save some $ with SD only. I didn't think I needed/wanted HD but I sure enjoy the better quality viewing.

[CA_Traveler]

Single Wire Multiswitch which can carry multiple channels. In other words a single coax cable connects each receiver which provides additional channel support with less cabling costs. A SWM capable dish is also required.

[Dakota98]

CA Traveler wrote:
I upgraded my DTV to SWM and HR44 receiver which can record 5 channels. We move the HR44 from home to the RV. Genie mini receivers can be used with remote TVs to view any of the recorded or live channels so that is a nice option.

DTV also offers a wireless Genie option. My take is that it's not well suited for a RV due to equipment separation requirements. Maybe OK if you have no other WiFi in the rig.

What is SWM ?

[CA_Traveler]

My understanding is that you cannot purchase DTV receivers, they are leased and this includes vendors that "sell" you a DTV receiver. But plan on buying and installing what ever dish you choose. You might get some consideration for a portable dish.

[CA_Traveler]

I upgraded my DTV to SWM and HR44 receiver which can record 5 channels. We move the HR44 from home to the RV. Genie mini receivers can be used with remote TVs to view any of the recorded or live channels so that is a nice option.

DTV also offers a wireless Genie option. My take is that it's not well suited for a RV due to equipment separation requirements. Maybe OK if you have no other WiFi in the rig.

[Bill_Satellite]

Yes to 1,2,3. If you sign a contract you can get the Dish or DirecTV hardware at no cost but the antenna equipment required to receive the programming in an RV is on us.
#4, yes, the Hopper can be used but not with any of the dome type antennas. You would need a full sized open face antenna that you mount on a tripod and point at each new location or an automatic roof mounted antenna like the Winegard Trav'ler.
With DirecTV you can use their Genie with a dome but you would not get HD. So, if you must go with an open face antenna, and you don't mind a contract, I would go with the Genie and DirecTV.