Satellite TV for dummies!

[Cocky_Camper]

We plan on using our RV a lot for college football tailgating coming up. We have cable at home and are completely Satellite TV illiterate.

I'm looking at just doing the pay as you go option.

My question is that can I purchase a used Satellite and receiver and be able to get it connected? Just trying to look at cost saving options to avoid spending an arm and leg on set up threw the satellite company.

If I can purchase used equipment and it work, is there anything in particular that I need to be looking for?

Thanks in advanced

[Big_Katuna]

Another advantage of the Pathway is that it can seek the eastern arc or the westerns arc which increases your chances of getting a sat with trees.

[rk911]

Cocky_Camper wrote:
Will a dish Tailgater work with a tree top canopy?

not unless it has a mostly clear line-of-sight view of the satellites. the advantage of a portable is being able to move it.

[Cocky_Camper]

Will a dish Tailgater work with a tree top canopy?

[Sandia_Man]

For your situation, Dish network would be a better option as you do not plan to have it installed at home. Dish tends to be more RV friendly as they have a pay as you go plan and you can purchase their receivers for under $100 where Directv prefers to lease their equipment.

We are avid sport fanatics and realize that many of our favorites teams and their respective sports coverage is simply not available OTA or on any of the free major networks. In many instances where we RV there is insufficient OTA signal to get much of anything anyway, with sat tv we get it all.

At one time Directv had an advantage with sports programming, recently that is no longer the case. In fact we are currently subscribed to Dish since the sports package we require is not available on Directv. I do know the SEC network is part of our channel line-up on Dish network.

We have switched back and forth from Directv to Dish numerous times and both are pretty much equal in programming and pricing. One reason we like Dish is using their online chat to easily make changes, many use this feature to enjoy local channels from where they are RVing.

Finally, there is the question of how you will acquire the 3 satellites. We set up our sat tv manually when RVing, takes but a few minutes as we have lots of experience. For newbies a portable automated dome is probably a better choice. You can get Dish HD but not Directv HD with current domes.

[jarata1]

Bumpyroad wrote:

Cocky_Camper wrote:

2chiefsRus wrote:
If you are wanting to get it for football tailgating, why sat tv, why not over the air? If you are getting it to watch sports while tailgating, I have been told that Directv has better sports packages than Dish. So really, what you want to watch may make the decision of Direct or Dish for you.

Have tried over the air antenna, but a lot of times the game is on a network channel, and not an over the air channel. We just return for Darlington Speedway for the NASCAR race. The Gamecocks were on the SEC Network, so we were not able to get it. I'm just exploring my options to see what is out there.

also, direct NFL is a little pricey I've been told
bumpy

Usually free when you sign up

[Bumpyroad]

Cocky_Camper wrote:

2chiefsRus wrote:
If you are wanting to get it for football tailgating, why sat tv, why not over the air? If you are getting it to watch sports while tailgating, I have been told that Directv has better sports packages than Dish. So really, what you want to watch may make the decision of Direct or Dish for you.

Have tried over the air antenna, but a lot of times the game is on a network channel, and not an over the air channel. We just return for Darlington Speedway for the NASCAR race. The Gamecocks were on the SEC Network, so we were not able to get it. I'm just exploring my options to see what is out there.

also, direct NFL is a little pricey I've been told
bumpy

[Cocky_Camper]

2chiefsRus wrote:
If you are wanting to get it for football tailgating, why sat tv, why not over the air? If you are getting it to watch sports while tailgating, I have been told that Directv has better sports packages than Dish. So really, what you want to watch may make the decision of Direct or Dish for you.

Have tried over the air antenna, but a lot of times the game is on a network channel, and not an over the air channel. We just return for Darlington Speedway for the NASCAR race. The Gamecocks were on the SEC Network, so we were not able to get it. I'm just exploring my options to see what is out there.

[2chiefsRus]

If you are wanting to get it for football tailgating, why sat tv, why not over the air? If you are getting it to watch sports while tailgating, I have been told that Directv has better sports packages than Dish. So really, what you want to watch may make the decision of Direct or Dish for you.

[rk911]

pay-as-you-go (PAYG) is available from DISH Network on a month-by-month basis. some folks have reported success using less than a month's worth of service and then getting credit for the unused portion but that has not been our experience. when we want to activate the service I pay for a month in advance. when we're ready to shut it down I simply don't pay the bill.

[goducks10]

If you've never played around with satellites before then it will be tough to figure out. Find a use or new portable self setting satellite dish. Wingard. Tailgator, etc. Then you need a receiver for it. The 211K is the norm but there's also a new one called the Wally. It has more features.
It will cost around $35.00 IIRC a month since you don't have Dish already.
With the portables all you do is set it on the ground, table or the roof of the RV. It needs to be pointed towards the satellites to start. Then you follow the tv on screen menu. Once you do it a few times it's really simple.
I prefer Dish because I can get an HD picture with the portables.
If you go the manual setup route with DirecTv you will have to learn how to point the dish. Not impossible but definitely harder. I don't know what DTV will charge for service if you don't have DTV at home. Dish caters to RV'rs so it easy to communicate with them.

[2oldman]

Cocky_Camper wrote:
If I can purchase used equipment and it work, is there anything in particular that I need to be looking for?

If Directv, a new access card.

If HD and Direct, a Slimline dish, and plenty of practice setting it up.

[Big_Katuna]

Get a Winegard Pathway X2 carryout auto seek sat dome ($400) and a Wally receiver ($80) and you can get DISH to go, no contract buy a month at a time. No learning curve works great, HD.

You cant get Directv HD with a carryout.

[NMDriver]

It is the account card that goes into the receiver that allows you to receive content over the antenna. Go to the Dish or Direct TV internet sites and see what an account will cost.

In the past they would let you suspend an account for a set number of days if you were not using the system but I do not think you can "pay as you go". They want a yearly contract or a month to month account.

[Bumpyroad]

if you buy used sat equipment (or any other) check with dish/direct on the account. if the previous owner owed a bunch,, you are stuck with it.
IIRC walmart had a portable setup dish and receiver for under $500
bumpy