Satellite TV Question November 02, 2016, 10:37:37 pm Quote from: Linda Hylton - March 25, 2015, 11:02:12 amYahoo Message Number: 151759Regarding your question 1: IMO, the manual satellite dish is obsolete. Oh sure, it'll work, but for DirecTV, you'll get just SD programming, no HD. And with Dish, while it will pick up their HD, since it only *sees* one satellite, you'll either have to re-aim the dish each time you change channels, or select one channel to watch all the time which cuts down on your selection of channels. If it were my rig, I'd immediately replace the manual satellite dish with a Winegard Trav'ler, but since you want to put on another solar panel, don't worry about removing it. There are other options for those who want to watch satellite TV...an automatic dome (which has all of the same problems as the manual satellite dish I described above other than it will automatically toggle between the three Dish satellites depending on which channel you select), or a ground-mounted (usually on a tripod) open-faced, multiple-LNB dish.Linda HyltonWe haven't used the manual, crackup satellite dish on our LD. In our other home, we have Frontier FIOS which has caused us no end of billing problems. So if our endless troubles with Frontier continues, we plan to use satellite for the first time. So that means either Dish or Directv.We'd like to receive satellite TV while traveling especially if we can use some of the same equipment from the house. Our hope is to be able to use the manual, crackup dish. The TV in our LD is the Jansen TV and we don't have plans to change.If I understand Linda's post, we should be able to receive satellite TV with either provider and while it may be clumsy, it should work? And that is the question. We'd like to know if our satellite plans are even workable without significant equipment upgrades and expense. Thank you for your patience.
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #1 – November 02, 2016, 11:18:49 pm Ed,When we took delivery of our 27' RB in 2015 from LD, Todd brought his single antenna DTV receiver to walk us through the process. It was pretty straight forward and all he did was align the dish and we were up and running using his DTV account. My DTV receiver at the S&B's is a dual sat recorder (Todds had no recorder). When I tried to hook it up, I had forgotten the steps, but they are in the LD manual ( or Sat documents).When I called DTV to get a simple one sat non-recording receiver, they insisted on coming by to do the install. I didn't want them to see the LD and jack up my monthly bill (a simple receiver is like $7 a month and an RV receiver could be as much as $50). So I shined it all on for now.Try your home receiver and see how it goes. Todds was a perfect fit and I'd be very happy to have one like it.Best of luck.Kent
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #2 – November 03, 2016, 09:55:11 am Quote from: Traxless - November 02, 2016, 10:37:37 pmWe haven't used the manual, crackup satellite dish on our LD. In our other home, we have Frontier FIOS which has caused us no end of billing problems. So if our endless troubles with Frontier continues, we plan to use satellite for the first time. So that means either Dish or Directv.We'd like to receive satellite TV while traveling especially if we can use some of the same equipment from the house. Our hope is to be able to use the manual, crackup dish. The TV in our LD is the Jansen TV and we don't have plans to change.If I understand Linda's post, we should be able to receive satellite TV with either provider and while it may be clumsy, it should work? And that is the question. We'd like to know if our satellite plans are even workable without significant equipment upgrades and expense. Thank you for your patience.We use DTV at home and have 3 receivers here and ordered (rent) one more for the LD (LD installed manual sat dish). It stays in the LD and no one from DTV came out to install. Install steps are easy to find on line. If not used for a while in the LD, you have to use an Internet connection to connect with DTV and do a "refresh" or "reauthorization" to the LD receiver. Quite easy. As for finding the satellite while traveling, most of the time I use the numbers suggested by ZIP code or I use Dish Align app on my iPhone to find the azimuth and elevation. I have used DTV since 2008 and have found their service to be quite good.Chris
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #3 – November 03, 2016, 10:55:06 am Quote from: Traxless - November 02, 2016, 10:37:37 pmOur hope is to be able to use the manual, crackup dish. The TV in our LD is the Jansen TV and we don't have plans to change.If I understand Linda's post, we should be able to receive satellite TV with either provider and while it may be clumsy, it should work? And that is the question. We'd like to know if our satellite plans are even workable without significant equipment upgrades and expense. Thank you for your patience.If you do not plan on changing out your current single-LNB satellite dish for a Winegard Trav'ler, then I'd probably go with DirecTV. Yes, you'll only get SD programming, but you'll only have to worry about finding one satellite. The only problem may be that DirecTV now has something they call SWM technology which may mean that your old satellite dish may not work with DirecTV...I'd do some research into this before deciding on DirecTV vs Dish.Personally, I think a single-LNB dish is too problematic with Dish since you'd, in essence, be relegated to one satellite, unless you wanted to take the time to re-aim the dish each time you wanted to change to a channel that was on another satellite. That would quickly become a huge PITA.If you don't want to get a new roof-mounted dish like the Winegard Trav'ler, then what *I'd* do is purchase a portable dome for a few hundred dollars. You'll still only get SD programming with DirecTV, but an automatic dome will at least toggle between the Dish satellites when you change channels. Something like the Winegard Carryout G2 will work for both DirecTV and Dish. There are some Dish-only satellite domes such as the Winegard Pathway X2, which is the dome I'd get if we were going to go that way since it will receive both the Western Arc and the Eastern Arc satellites (important if you travel in the Eastern part of the U.S.).Portable Satellite Dish - Winegard Portable Satellite Antennas, Mobile... 1 Likes
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #4 – November 03, 2016, 11:06:47 am Thank you so much Linda. Your guidance is exactly the kind of information that will allow us to make an informed decision. So you know, I've bookmarked your reply as a reference as we move forward. If Frontier doesn't drive us into an early grave, we'll probably just stay with OTA TV in our LD until we're able be gone longer. However, if Frontier continues to hurt my brain, then we'll switch to satellite. I like the portable equipment you recommended ...Amazon.com: Winegard PA6002R Pathway X2 Bundle Satellite TV Antenna: Car...And at least it doesn't break the bank by much! As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #5 – November 03, 2016, 11:11:48 am TV? You people have TVs in your rigs? Like, in color!? Wow! And here I am stuck with just looking out the windows! (A much better view with a new back window!)Joan
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #6 – November 03, 2016, 12:23:24 pm Quote from: JCT - November 03, 2016, 11:11:48 amAnd here I am stuck with just looking out the windows! (A much better view with a new back window!)What's the scoop on the new window, Joan? I think quite a few people are waiting for your report on the factory installation.
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #7 – November 03, 2016, 12:36:24 pm I must admit that I skip over most of the posts about television sets, broadcast plans, and receivers. We have the old- (from 2005) style television. I'm told it won't pick up the new way television is being broadcast, but so far that has not been an issue. We use it to play DVD's of The Great Courses. Local news and weather can be had on our computers/iOS devices. PBS is the only station we ever watch at home, and most of that is available from the computer as well. Using the electronic devices consumes bandwidth, so if there is no free WiFi available, and we don't want to utilize the Verizon Jetpak, we snuggle up together on the sofa and watch on my iPhone that still has an unlimited data plan. It's really surprising how quickly your brain adjusts to that small screen.But all that said, like Joan, we find the large windows to be the best repository of quality daytime programming.Virtual hugs,Judie •~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~• Quote from: JCT - November 03, 2016, 11:11:48 amTV? You people have TVs in your rigs? Like, in color!? Wow! And here I am stuck with just looking out the windows! (A much better view with a new back window!)Joan 1 Likes
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #8 – November 03, 2016, 03:09:43 pm You may already be aware of this, but if your iPhone has the "Personal Hotspot" option in Settings, there's always "free Wi-Fi" available. But big windows are always good, too.Chip
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #9 – November 03, 2016, 03:35:02 pm Yes, I am aware of the "Personal Hotspot", but Verizon is very adamant that I not use it with my unlimited data plan. If I want to use it, I would need to give up my unlimited data plan and go with one of their "Bucket Plans". And, yes, I have tried. :-( Virtual hugs, Judie•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~• Quote from: Chip Chester - November 03, 2016, 03:09:43 pmYou may already be aware of this, but if your iPhone has the "Personal Hotspot" option in Settings, there's always "free Wi-Fi" available. But big windows are always good, too.Chip
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #10 – November 03, 2016, 03:48:28 pm "if your iPhone has the 'Personal Hotspot' option in Settings, there's always 'free Wi-Fi' available. "Personal hotspot usage comes out of my monthly data allowance, so it is far from "free."
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #11 – November 03, 2016, 03:55:18 pm And if you have an unlimited data plan (ATT) it won't allow a personal hotspot
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #12 – November 03, 2016, 10:36:44 pm A few pieces of info.A domed antenna has problems in rain. In my case it would sign off at the first droplets. This can be cured with the product NeverWet sold by Home Depot. It may be by special order only, as it is no longer carried in the stores. A coating for me lasts no more than six months and maybe less.SWM stands for single wire multiplex, I think. Only one coax wire goes to the antenna.I use a KVH TracVision A5 which is obsolete and they will not repair it but is still going strong. It is an in motion automatic antenna that brings in SD channels only. The picture is letter boxed because it was designed before the advent of digital TV but receives it quite well. The dome is only 5 inches high and has the rain problem but works very well in a heavy rain with the proper coating. The KVH TracVision A7 is an SD receiver/antenna but fills a 16/9 screen.The new TracVision A9 is SD for DTV and HD for Dish. The A5 and A7 only receive DTV. The A9 is around $3000 but is where I will go when and if the A5 dies. A7s are available on EBay.The only advantage of the TracVision antennas is , being domed, they work very well in high wind. They are in motion capable but I would think that isn't much of a selling point. They are a bit lighter than the Winegard Traveler and require no holes in the roof to mount. Mine is taped down with VHB tape with no problems in 5 years.Just another way to do it. I'm not recommending anyone spend $3k. My A5 was free but I will buy the A9 when the A5 fails.2006 RB
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #13 – November 04, 2016, 04:30:52 pm When we started traveling by LD in 2003 I thought satellite TV was so cool. Imagine, I thought, watching New Year's Day football out in the middle of Death Valley, or someplace similar. I moved our Dish receiver from house to LD for every trip. And used it a lot.(It's not hard to do. With the manual antenna, just get a zip code app and use the local zip code to get your azimuth and elevation.)Then we started to realize that on some shorter trips we didn't watch TV at all. Then on longer trips too.Then I quit moving the receiver into the LD for most of our motorhome trips. And we've pretty much quit watching TV entirely on the road. We've also made a pact to do our best to avoid radio news, which just seems to stress us out, using satellite radio now mostly for music.This mirrors things at home. Steadily less TV and then only what we record and "deliberately" watch. I'm done with media designed to provoke me, and a lot of it is.If I was buying today I think I'd ask Steve if I could just delete the TV and everything that goes with it. It would be a good halfway step toward going entirely TV free. And would just be another simplification of life on the road. Sort of like cookies in the pantry. You can't eat them if they're not there.It's the rare camp these days that doesn't have some form of internet connectivity right in the motorhome or nearby. That's the best way to stay connected. Check the weather, check the news of interest to you in your own way. Then grab a book or look out the window.Terry2003 26.5'RBGardnerville, NV 6 Likes
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #14 – November 05, 2016, 11:19:17 am I was wondering if Rainex would work as well..it makes rain "sheet" on my windshield instead of drips, runs, etc. I have the newer Winegard G2 plus, and it works so-so in normal to heavy rain..I get rain fade but only under the heaviest downpours do I lose reception;At 07:36 PM 11/3/2016, you wrote:QuoteA few pieces of info.A domed antenna has problems in rain. In my case it would sign off at the first droplets. This can be cured with the product NeverWet sold by Home Depot. It may be by special order only, as it is no longer carried in the stores. A coating for me lasts no more than six months and maybe less. SWM stands for single wire multiplex, I think. Only one coax wire goes to the antenna.I use a KVH TracVision A5 which is obsolete and they will not repair it but is still going strong. It is an in motion automatic antenna that brings in SD channels only. The picture is letter boxed because it was designed before the advent of digital TV but receives it quite well. The dome is only 5 inches high and has the rain problem but works very well in a heavy rain with the proper coating. The KVH TracVision A7 is an SD receiver/antenna but fills a 16/9 screen. The new TracVision A9 is SD for DTV and HD for Dish. The A5 and A7 only receive DTV. The A9 is around $3000 but is where I will go when and if the A5 dies. A7s are available on EBay. The only advantage of the TracVision antennas is , being domed, they work very well in high wind. They are in motion capable but I would think that isn't much of a selling point. They are a bit lighter than the Winegard Traveler and require no holes in the roof to mount. Mine is taped down with VHB tape with no problems in 5 years. Just another way to do it. I'm not recommending anyone spend $3k. My A5 was free but I will buy the A9 when the A5 fails. 2006 RBHarry 2006RBYou can reply to this email and have it posted as a topic reply. LDO Links:index.php?action=notifyboard;board=3.0 Regards, The Lazy Daze Owners Team~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gini Free and Junah, canine xtrodinaire "CHERRYOTTE" our litte red home on wheels "Growing old is mandatory. Growing wise is optional."
Re: Satellite TV Question Reply #15 – November 06, 2016, 01:00:40 am I have a single lnb Weingard antenna which was on my 2003 RB when I purchased it used, but came with no receiver. I chose to go with Dish in July 2015 largely because I did not have to make a two year commitment which seamed to be required for Direct TV. I think it was about $200 each to buy a reciever box and a recorder hard drive device. It is not true that you have to re aim the dish at a different sattelite for every channel, though they do use I think at least 5 sattelites, but mostly 110,119, and 129. After a few months I downgraded from a $60-$70/month plan to the cheapest they had for $20/month but then also retained HBO when they suddenly decided to offer it for $10/month instead of $20/month I think. I mostly watch local channels, mostly PBS (which are on spot beams and require that we call Dish to let them know where we are when we move about the country) and the HBO stuff. The recording device allows me to record shows and watch later. This is a major plus as we can at least watch something if we are camping under trees etc. or just don't put the dish up for a night or two. And we can blast through adds-though there are not adds on most of the stuff I record, sometimes there are. I find I can generally point at one sattelite and get local and HBO channels, so I don't have to keep re-aiming the dish. It did take multiple phone calls to figure out that local channels are on different satellites in different locations when I left the Pacific Northwest after spending about 6 months there a little over a month ago. Traveling to many locations in western Washington and northwestern Oregon we never had to call Dish to update our location and could allways see Seattle channels on satellite 119. We eventually figured out that we needed to point at sattelite 129 in Nevada and Utah and...YMMV.. Depending on location. Finally got this figured out by calling the Dish for outdoor (800-970-7959). I had been given this phone number maybe 9 months ago, but the people at the regular Dish phone number never suggested it even though they could not figure out that I just needed to aim at a different satellite. The Dish for outdoor number also does not tell you to hit 6 to leave a message for tech support to call you, but tries to forward you to your antenna manufacturer, though I was told this may soon change. So support can be sketchy and time consuming but I have only needed it 3-4 times in over a year. Mostly it has been working pretty well for slightly dated tech, and I have heard other RV folks not to impressed with the dome type antennas. As far as streaming video, I don't do it much at all except for short Utube stuff. To much data use and the connection is often just not fast enough. For another $20/month, I could get 6GB more on Verizon. I suppose four movies a month? But then I would have to find free content or pay for Netflix etc. I do have an adapter that connects iPhone to TV using an HDMI cable and it works fine. I have another that is not made by Apple and it is supposed to connect iPhone to many other things other than HDMI or USB (like flash cards ), but that one does not work so reliably. 1 Likes
Topic: Satellite TV Question (Read 413 times)
previous topic - next topic
Topic: Satellite TV Question (Read 413 times)
previous topic - next topic