HD-TV -DirecTv/Dish, KVH/Winegard?

[bmrzmrs]

Okay this forum has me confused.....

We've been a long time DirecTV customer in our stick-house - with a minor interruption to U-Verse (whata mistake). Shortly after the first of the New Year, we will be going full time.

I've read all the posts regarding the "channel lineup" discussion between DirecTV and content providers.

We have zero experience with Dish except when at the sister-in-laws watching whatever they have on. But I'm assuming the channel line up is quite similar between Dish and DirecTV except for package content and pricing?

I can't tell if the KVN DirecTV HD 3 LNB antenna is available or not. If it is, then it appears that it is between SK-3005 and the KVN antenna.

From what I understand DirectTV requires Ka and Ku bands while Dish uses just the Ku band thus a "dome" antenna. At the moment I don't know/remember which satellite antenna system in on the rig we're in the process of PDI'ing but I suspect it will have to change the handle either's HD service.

From a system complexity standpoint, the "similar" Ku band only antenna would appear better.

What say you who have experience with either or both systems? Please limit your comments to getting satellite HD service for the rig.

Thanks in advance,

Roy

[Sequim Guy]

Right now I have 2 DVR's in my MH, set up so I can watch and record on both tvs, independently. However, I want to set up HD on both tvs and it is not going to be simple or cheap.
I have Directv and will keep it, as Dish tv programming sucks.
Getting HD tv is more difficult as the dish, whether on the ground or on the roof, has to pivot on 3-axis in order to get all the satellites for HD.
From what I have read it is fairly difficult to do this manually on the ground and impossible on the roof. So for Directv the only roof options seem to be the SK-3005 or the Motosat HD, both fully motorized and around $1500 to $2000. I plan on getting the SK-3005 this winter. With either of them you just hit the "Find" button and it finds the satellites on its own. Same thing to put away, just hit "Stow" button and you are done.
I don't know about Dish, but Directv uses a spot beam for local channels, so when you leave your local area, you won't get local channels no matter where you go. But you can get locals if you get an rv account, but not sure how many times a month you can change location.

[SVTotem]

If you are going full time and like DTV use the DVR from the house and get the 3005.

The antenna will cost about $2k (installed) which ever service you choose, but will not be easy modified if you try Dish and want to change back.

I have DTV at home, but Dish on the road. I now use Distant Network Service for the major networks, but originally just changed the service address to get local channels. Never a complaint from Dish for doing so, but often had no cell coverage to contact them. What attracted us to Dish was the pay as you go plan since we are not full time.

[Bill Adams]

Since your title mentions KVH, I will assume that this is what you mean by the KVN antenna. If so, there is no 3-LNB KVH antenna. The KVH antenna would be a dome with one single LNB. As you change channels the software moves the LNB between the various satellites but you can never "see" more than one satellite at a time.
Only the open face antennas will allow you to point to all of the DirecTV or Dish Network satellites simultaneously.
No dome on the market can receive the DirecTV HD programming due to the KA band broadcast but if you are using an open face antenna the reception is actually a bit easier with DirecTV as the satellites are very close together and more centrally located than the Dish Network satellites.

[Triker56]

Winegard SK-3005 for DirecTV 101-KU SD 99-KA HD 102.8-KA HD
Dish Network 110/119/129 a much larger spread to get all 3 satellites if in a tree area.

In my MH I have DTV on one SD receiver, one HD DVR receiver and one HD receiver using a Trav'ler SK-3005.
Receivers are going to 4 HD(19", 20", 26", 46") and one CRT(9") TV.

[FlyingDiver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triker56 Winegard SK-3005 for DirecTV 101-KU SD 99-KA HD 102.8-KA HD Dish Network 110/119/129 a much larger spread to get all 3 satellites if in a tree area.

That's a little misleading. Yes, (almost) all the content is on 99/101/103, but the SK-3005 actually needs to see 101 and 119 in order to aim itself. It sets the skew by lining up with both those satellites. So the arc it needs to see is 18 degrees, while the Dish arc is 19 degrees. Not much difference at all.

joe

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

If you don't already know, the following quote comes from Winegard Tech with regard to certain DirecTV receivers when using a SK3005 antenna.

Quote:

The H25 or HR-25 Receivers are not compatible with any Winegard system without the use of additional equipment. It may be used with any of our units with additional equipment but with limited functionality depending on the specific Winegard antenna. The additional requirements are pieces of DirecTV's SWM setup. You will need a SWM-8 switch, SWM power inserter and SWM splitter. The reason the 25's won't work and the 24's do is that the 25's are a SWM only system. You can select multiswitch on the setup, but the receiver does not output any voltage to power the satellite LNB. This is the reason their SWM setup uses a power inserter. In terms of old receiver models, you would need to contact DirecTV regarding that. Any model but a H/HR-25 or HR-34 will work with our antennas. An HD receiver will work but to receiver HD programming you need our SK-3005 Trav'ler and may need DirecTV B-Band Converters as well. Any other receiver will work with any or our domes or manual crank-ups to receive standard definition programming.

[Triker56]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingDiver That's a little misleading. Yes, (almost) all the content is on 99/101/103, but the SK-3005 actually needs to see 101 and 119 in order to aim itself. It sets the skew by lining up with both those satellites. So the arc it needs to see is 18 degrees, while the Dish arc is 19 degrees. Not much difference at all.

That is also not totally correct in all situations.
I have been in locations where it could only see the *101/*110 with no lock on the 119. In those cases when it locks the *101/*110 I just unplug the power from the controller box and the 99/101/102.8 all come in just fine.
Only bad thing doing that is after a few days you have to reset the receiver to update the guide.

Also the SK-3005 controller can be set manually to lock on several different satellites. If it can't see either the 110 or 119 it may be able to see the 101 for SD programs.

If necessary the Skew/Azimuth can easily be changed by hand on the roof also. I have done that also when it locked on the *101/*110/*119 but the 99 didn't for some reason.

[bmrzmrs]

Thanks to all for the feedback. Looks like its a SK-3005 in my future.

[hardy1000]

I just replaced my KVH 4 dome with the SK3005 and use Direct TV. I have an Direct H23 HD reciever and ran 3 cables, (2 for a DVR and one for the rear TV). I did the install myself and got alot of support from Bill Adams, Wineguard Tech support and iRV2 members.

[stik]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmrzmrs From what I understand DirectTV requires Ka and Ku bands while Dish uses just the Ku band thus a "dome" antenna. At the moment I don't know/remember which satellite antenna system in on the rig we're in the process of PDI'ing but I suspect it will have to change the handle either's HD service. From a system complexity standpoint, the "similar" Ku band only antenna would appear better. What say you who have experience with either or both systems? Please limit your comments to getting satellite HD service for the rig. Thanks in advance, Roy

I have had both DirecTV and Dish installed on my motor homes. The 3 LNB on the SK3005 locks on 3 satellites at once (one being the HD bird) and, thus remains fixed once locked on. Reception is GREATH for both normal and HD programming!

When I had DISH, the antenna (inside the dome) would have to re-align to different satellites when I changed to some channels (HD). That was a year and a half ago, perhaps they are now transmitting off just one satellite, but I doubt it.

The complexity of the antenna, i.e. 3 LNBs is not an issue in the 19 months experience I have had with the SK3005.

As an aside, my experience with customer service was much better with DirecTV than with Dish, but then again, I haven't had to call Direct since I got the SK antenna and switched back to DirecTV

I don't think I would make the assumption that both companies line-ups are the same, packaging wise.

Hope this helps.