Forum Discussion

JTrac's avatar
JTrac
Explorer
Oct 03, 2015

More DISH/OTA Questions

I started to ask this on a thread that is currently running but I was afraid it had run its course. We have had Dish at home for several years and have used it on the road with a Tailgater. Earlier this year I bit the bullet and installed a Winegard Trav'ler on the roof of the Excel. We have a couple of 211z's for the rv we activate as needed. So far on our trips it has worked flawlessly.

My issue is not with reception but with how the programming works. When the program guide loaded with the Tailgater it would show the channels without the locals, probably because I had to tell it what state we were in. With the Trav'ler it loads as if we are still at home, even showing our home local channels. We just completed a month long trip in another time zone but the guide also still showed our home time. Of course we could not get the home locals but I was able to watch a few Big 12 college football games on the Fox sports channels that we probably would not have gotten had I changed our service address to the rv park. Is this how it will be unless I call and change our address? We travel more in the fall and I really like getting our area football teams on tv no matter where we are. I would probably lose that if I change our address. Fortunately we had rv park cable and used it to get the local locals.

In addition, I bought a couple of the Dish OTA modules for the 211z's. My understanding was they would load the OTA locals on the program guide but this never happened. If my home locals are still loading no matter where I am I'm not sure if the OTA module will override them if the channel numbers happen to be the same. Any tricks or suggestions on getting the modules to work? I made sure the OTA antenna power booster was on and I verified several times that my connections were correct.

I sure hope this makes sense.
  • gatorcq's avatar
    gatorcq
    Explorer
    Oct 04, 2015
    I had DTV for over 8 years. They are NOT RV friendly for one. Next, unless you have both an HD and SD receiver. You may have issues receiving local channels.
    Long story/short story. Some contracts that DTV have with cities, require they only broadcast in HD. So, if you have a HD and SD receiver, only 1 will work.
  • JTrac's avatar
    JTrac
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2015
    The OTA modules were a quick install right before we left for our last trip. I just didn't read up on them, as usual, and assumed the locals would load automatically. Thanks, TechWriter, for bringing me up to speed. Our next trip is next month and I'll get a chance to redeem myself.
  • ljr's avatar
    ljr
    Nomad
    Oct 03, 2015
    TechWriter wrote:
    ljr wrote:
    However if you travel in the eastern US you may get only SD locals or none at all. I made the mistake of purchasing an SK1000 with Dish too. The SK1000 doesn't fully support Dish in all of the eastern markets.

    Larry, that's why I suggest DISH Travler users buy an external portable open-faced dish -- for those times you're parked under trees or when you need the Eastern Arc sats.

    Having two sets of sats is the nature of the beast with DISH.


    That's one approach. I suggest they either switch to Direct or just stick with the portable and save their money.
  • TechWriter's avatar
    TechWriter
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2015
    ljr wrote:
    However if you travel in the eastern US you may get only SD locals or none at all. I made the mistake of purchasing an SK1000 with Dish too. The SK1000 doesn't fully support Dish in all of the eastern markets.

    Larry, that's why I suggest DISH Travler users buy an external portable open-faced dish -- for those times you're parked under trees or when you need the Eastern Arc sats.

    Having two sets of sats is the nature of the beast with DISH.
  • ljr's avatar
    ljr
    Nomad
    Oct 03, 2015
    The advice about calling Dish with your location is correct. However if you travel in the eastern US you may get only SD locals or none at all. I made the mistake of purchasing an SK1000 with Dish too. The SK1000 doesn't fully support Dish in all of the eastern markets.
  • Bill_Satellite's avatar
    Bill_Satellite
    Explorer II
    Oct 03, 2015
    As you mentioned, you likely do NOT want to call or chat with Dish as that could change the reception of your football programming. The OTA module for the receiver is great (be sure you have the antenna up, connect your OTA coax connection and have the power to the booster turned on) but if you have problems it is also not necessary. You can simply use the TV input to change between satellite (HDMI, I assume) to TV or Antenna, scan for the locals and watch TV that way. Yes, it is normal for your local Networks to say listed in your guide unless you called and had your locals changed. If you do a scan at TechWriter mentions above it will not over ride your locals just add more locals to the listing.
  • gatorcq's avatar
    gatorcq
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2015
    I use the Online Chat.
    Tell them my service address has changed.
    I provide them a address including Zip and request locals for that area.
    I also say, I am in an RV. next I state mailing address remains the same.
    I also use a website to determine which city I should change to for the Spot Beam to Reach us as we travel across the country. EX: Denver Service Address, I received the Denver locals from Wyoming to Oklahoma on our way to Texas. As for a service address, I just pick an RV park and give them that as an address. I do NOT state a name. We are full timers, our Dish system: Hopper, Joey, Winegard SK-1000 and Tri-pod if needed.
  • TechWriter's avatar
    TechWriter
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2015
    Local TV stations can come in via your sat dish and/or via an OTA (Over The Air).

    Locals that come from your sat will appear just like any other sat program. However, OTA locals will appear on a yellow background.

    Sat locals are determined by the your DISH Service Address ZIP code. For example, if your Service Address has a Chicago ZIP code, then all the Chicago stations will appear in your program guide. However, if you drive far enough away from Chicago, you'll be unable to receive the Chicago stations even though these stations will still be displayed in your guide.

    As you travel you can call DISH and have them change your Service Address to where you're currently camped. Once this is done, the list of local TV stations available for your new ZIP code will appear in your programming guide.

    To also get OTA locals, they must be scanned in. For DISH VIP receivers, press MENU and select System Setup then Local Channels. Then Scan Locals.

    BTW, scanning OTA locals can also get you the "sub channels" (4-1, 4-2, etc).

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