help..what kind of dish? also have a dome

[IamGadget]

I am getting Direct tv. I have a dome but it is older and will not play in HD. I do not think it would matter that much to me.
However in the package they will give me a dish. I am concerned about what kind of dish they will bring to me. I know they think residential more than motorhome. I know camping world and others sell a dish for motorhomes. Is there anything i should be concerned about? It does not come with a tripod ( that is one flag that they are not thinking motorhome ) Can a good camera tripod be used? or is it a special tripod?
I also want them to get the dome to work as well. I think it would be good to have a dome working and the dish since there are campground that have so many trees that the dome might not get a signal....and the dish can be placed in the open to get a signal...
Any input would be appreciated.....When i signed up they left me with an uncomfortable feeling......they were more interested in a sale. They are supposed to install this friday am. and they have special extra charges for custom installs ( like motorhomes ) thank you

[bdpreece]

Chances are the dish will be nothing more than what they would mount on your house. If they do not include a tripod then without spending extra money it is usless. As far as the dome is concerned if it is programed to point at the correct satellite for what you purchase from direct TV then you will be ok. Otherwise you will need to find someone who supports that type of dome to program it.

[kjburns]

If you're not getting HD with your package, then your dome should be fine. DirecTV SD is all on one satellite (101). You might want a dish and tripod for those times when trees block the dome. A single LNB dish will do for SD. I like the tripods from tv4rv.com.

[Izzyblueye]

First of all you will have to install the dish yourself, unless you are permanently parked somewhere in your RV. You can get a standard tripod at any big box hardware or DIY store, they are not expensive. You will also need a pipe of some kind to attach the dish itself to the tripod. Then you will need to aim the dish for where you are located. Again not rocket science. If you live in your RV then by all means have them install the dish, you will still need a tripod.

[IamGadget]

I have a feeling that the installer will come with a dish that is for a home even though they were told by the rep ( who is really a home sales rep.) that the install is for a motorhome. I do not know what is in store for me when the installer arrives....I have a dome that i want working and the dish for times where i am parked in the trees and need to put a dish where it can get a signal....
To confuse me more i am going to check and see if i can get TV on my computer and then stream it to my flat screen and avoid all of this headache.
I am sure the future ( and maybe now ) that this will be available.
I would like a compact dish since space is a premium

[LindaH]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamGadget To confuse me more i am going to check and see if i can get TV on my computer and then stream it to my flat screen and avoid all of this headache.

How do you access the Internet?

If it's with an air card, doing this will quickly put you over your 5GB per month limit. Even if you went with Millenicom's 20GB per month plan, streaming TV on your computer would probably put you over the 20GB before month's end.

[IamGadget]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LindaH How do you access the Internet? If it's with an air card, doing this will quickly put you over your 5GB per month limit. Even if you went with Millenicom's 20GB per month plan, streaming TV on your computer would probably put you over the 20GB before month's end.

Thanks...I usze wifi at campground or tether with my 3G 4G phone with no limit.
I think I am barking up the wrong tree by trying to avoid direct TV. They are supposed to install Friday am. I already havd a feeling they will not be familiar with motgorhome domes and the dish might not be the correct HD dish....oh well.....thanks for the heads up

[Clay L]

The HD Direct dish will either be a Slimline 3 (3 LNB) or a Slimline SWM (5LNB) - neither one is a compact dish, they are 36" by 22".
Note that both require a bigger mounting tube than the old 18" round dish (SD), so the old tripods will require an adapter. I would not go with an adapter and old type tripod because I think the old tripods are really somewhat too small for the HD dishes.

The TV4RV site shown above by kjburns has the right size tripods.

[W4RLR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamGadget Thanks...I usze wifi at campground or tether with my 3G 4G phone with no limit. I think I am barking up the wrong tree by trying to avoid direct TV. They are supposed to install Friday am. I already havd a feeling they will not be familiar with motgorhome domes and the dish might not be the correct HD dish....oh well.....thanks for the heads up

You will find that "unlimited data" is indeed limited. When you reach a certain threshold set by the service provider, your usage will be "throttled back" and watching TV will be difficult or impossible with the throttled back throughput.

Best to go with the dish, or stick with the dome if you don't care about HD programming.

[IamGadget]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rray32539 You will find that "unlimited data" is indeed limited. When you reach a certain threshold set by the service provider, your usage will be "throttled back" and watching TV will be difficult or impossible with the throttled back throughput. Best to go with the dish, or stick with the dome if you don't care about HD programming.

Thanks....well said.....now I am curious about which dish I am getting..I think it is 18in. And someone told me that the 18in is not HD. If that is what they are bringing me I wonder if I should just cancel the order and kind of regroup to find out more.....
Thanks again

[IamGadget]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clay L The HD Direct dish will either be a Slimline 3 (3 LNB) or a Slimline SWM (5LNB) - neither one is a compact dish, they are 36" by 22". Note that both require a bigger mounting tube than the old 18" round dish (SD), so the old tripods will require an adapter. I would not go with an adapter and old type tripod because I think the old tripods are really somewhat too small for the HD dishes. The TV4RV site shown above by kjburns has the right size tripods.

I did call tvr4 and told him I might be getting a 18in dish. He said it is probably not HD. He does have some nice items to help get setup. He did mention the slimline and he also has a kit to fold the arm for storage