baby steps for using Direct TV

[beachlovingmom]

We will be taking our first trip longer than a weekend next month. We have Direct TV satellite at home. Can someone explain in simple terms what we need to do take it with us? Can I get an extra satellite dish from something like Craig's list or ebay? What parameters do I need to know? Can I take the bedroom box with us in the camper?

Things we need to be aware of?

Our trailer is a 2005. I am assuming the antenna on top will in no way help our digital TV. Is this correct?

Thanks much!

[nomad297]

The best place to go for RV satellite solutions is

www.tv4rv.com

Bruce

[ReferDog]

Read 2oldmans link. Solid signal .com for dishes and acc. Or like some have said switch to Dish and the Tailgater---about 500$+subscription for it.

[MKirkland]

We have dish and use the tailgater. I take the compatible HD single receiver from home to use. I just run the cable through the window. You can also hook the cable up to your normal place with some adjustments. It cost us nothing extra. If we are out of our area, we just call dish with the new service address and we then get our local channels. It takes less then 5 minutes to unhook at home and the same when we are camping. As far as watching tv, we like to watch the news at dinner time. Sometimes we need down time from all the fun.

[2oldman]

Sat TV for RVs

[legolas]

I do Direct TV on the road. I bought the Winegard portable automatic model GM 1518 from Camping World, looks like a small igloo, I call mine R2D2. It is automatic and therefore you don't have to deal with the compass - azimuth - elevation etc. It is sensitive to tree canopy and there are times when you will not be able to get a signal. I take a receiver from home and hookup the coax to the R2 unit then to the receiver through a window( - connecting the coax to the TT outside port will not work) then I connect the power cord to the TT and the R2 and it begins to seek the satellite. After a few minutes, usually not more than 3 -5 it locks on and bingo TV. There are issues with Direct TV and your ability to receive local channels. Sometimes you can resolve this by going into setup on the receiver box and changing your home zip code to the zip code of the campground...sometimes not. But I have always been able to get everything else that my Direct TV contract provides from HGTV go SciFi.

[Seattle_Lion]

We have Directv at home. After investigating, we decided to buy a Dish Tailgater. It works wonderfully. It is true that it costs us extra for the Dish programming, but it is easy to set up and use. We love it. One day we may spring for a roof mount Directv antenna. In the meantime the Tailgater is great.

[thomasmnile]

beachlovingmom wrote:
We will be taking our first trip longer than a weekend next month. We have Direct TV satellite at home. Can someone explain in simple terms what we need to do take it with us? Can I get an extra satellite dish from something like Craig's list or ebay? What parameters do I need to know? Can I take the bedroom box with us in the camper?

Things we need to be aware of?

Our trailer is a 2005. I am assuming the antenna on top will in no way help our digital TV. Is this correct?

Thanks much!

I have home service with Dish. To make your home receiver work on the road, the antenna you buy for the TT must be compatible with your home receiver, otherwise you may not receive all the channels the receiver is capable of tuning in. Also know you will not get local network affiliate channels like you would at home, I believe the receiver "smart" card is programmed to receive the affiliates specific to your home area.You will be able to view all the cable networks without problems. Our travel setup consisted of the home receiver a tripod mounted antenna, and 100' of coax cable. If you're camping in an area with a lot of trees the antenna has to have a clear "view" of the southern horizon to pick up the signal, hence the long antenna cable. Used all this only twice; was such a PITA to set up we stopped using it. Content now to watch DVD's or crank up the roof antenna and watch whatever the TV may pick up, if we turn on the TV at all.

[ckwizard777]

What I do is use a 18" dish i found on craigslist and grab the box out of the spare bedroom which is my only analog box the rest of the house is HD but I am not going to carry the big oval HD dish, The smaller round 18" dish is easier to carry and aim.
Before I leave I will get the azminth and elevation for the zip code I will be staying at off the internet then when ya get there point the dish to the southwest using a compass.
I have the dish pointing compass that I picked up at camping world where you set your azmuinth then find north and set your dish, I can usualy get 95% signal in about 5 min with a clear line of sight but if yer aiming thru a hole in the trees it make take ya longer.
Good Luck.

[Big_Katuna]

No such thing as a digital antenna. Digital signal, yes. But you can get those with a coat hanger. Aiming it at a tower will help. A Winegard Sensar Pro signal meter with amp will often double how many channels you get.

Yes you can take a box out of your house. You should get the same kind of dish/set up that is on your house. Then you won't have to change dish types and mess with setup menus on the box. I bought mine at a flea market but CL or an installer is good too.

You aim with a compass and set the dish to the settings in the boxes set up menus. Find someone that has done it. Get a good tripod. TV4RV.com has a good setup for sale. I made my own.

Directv will be no help so don't ask.

[flyinjake]

beachlovingmom,

The antenna on the trailer will receive digital TV signals. I have a 2002 Wilderness Yukon and that old antenna works just fine. Do not know if a "digital antenna" will provide you with anymore channels.

As for directtv. Yes you can take your box from your house and use it with a seperate dish. First I would suggest you get your model number of the box you will take and go to the directtv forum and ask them what dish and LNB combo you can use with it. Remember if you want HD while camping then you will need an HD dish.

I have taken our satelite several times now and I can setup relatively quickly. Educate yourself by doing your reseach and then practice dialing it in at home before you take it with you.

Jake

[wrenchbender]

Not going there.I go camping to get away from tv.

[janechucknicode]

It all depends if that is what you wish to do, sit and watch TV? We host camp, and 90% we are out of the trailer doing things, The only TV we have is our antenna unit attached and use it.
We do receive good stations IF they are available. Where we go for winter the Mexicans have the advantage as we are right on the border.

When we "take a few days off" we will go out and stay in a motel,, YEH for bigger bed, cable tv "really isn't much" a restaurant for different foods and seeing other folks.

BUt if you wish to pay the extra a lot of people purchase the Tail Gator and sign up for that. SO heard it is the easiest to use and fairly inexpensive.
Other wise enjoy the out doors.
Chuck:B