Help with complete new system

[jdogrulz]

Hello Everyone,
Well we are about to embark on a new adventure in our lives. Me and the Wife are leaving the house and going full time in the RV. We are going to move to TX to be close to our daughter and our grand kids. We bought a 97 Fleetwood Pace Arrow and it only has a normal antenna.
I would like to know what is the best setup (equipment) for my needs:


Automatic in motion

HDTV

Be able to watch TV while driving down the highway

To be able to watch two different channels at the same time

Be able to record one channel on one TV and watch another channel on another TV

Have a DVR

Money is not a factor, I would rather spend a little more for the best than come back later and have to pay again for repairs or what ever.

Am I right in saying these makers are the top of the line?:

King Dome

Winegard

KVH

Trackstar

I would really appreciate some opinions on a complete setup to include provider. I have no preference on either DN or Direct TV.

Thank you in advance,
Jeff

[LindaH]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdogrulz Automatic in motion HDTV Be able to watch TV while driving down the highway To be able to watch two different channels at the same time Be able to record one channel on one TV and watch another channel on another TV Have a DVR

Your requirements are pretty much mutually exclusive.

The only *in motion* satellite dish is a dome. You cannot receive HD programming from DirecTV with a dome...any dome. That leave you with Dish Network. Dish Network's SD & HD programming is spread over 3 satellites. Since a dome can only *see* one satellite at a time, you cannot watch different programs on two different TVs, or record one program while watching a different program *IF* those two programs are on two different satellites.

So that means you'll have to decide whether having an in motion dome is more important than your other requirements of being able to watch two different programs on two different TVs and/or watching one program while recording another.

Your best solution, although it won't be in motion, is to get an open-faced, multiple-LNB dish like the Winegard Trav'ler for either Dish Network or DirecTV (they aren't interchangeable, so you'll have to decide which service you want to use). That way, you'll be able to do everything you want except watch TV while traveling down the road.

[jdogrulz]

Thanks for the info Linda

[justaroamer]

Linda has pointed you in the right direction. If it was me, give up the in-motion and go with the Wineguard 3005 or the MotoSat SL5 roof top mounts. The MotoSat is a more stable unit in wind. Installers that install for both Dish and Directv have told me Directv is best bet. If not traveling alot and in one spot for extended stays, save yourself some bucks and go with a take-out antenna. Directv usually will supply for free to new subscribers a take-out antenna and receiver.

[LindaH]

Another option...if you absolutely cannot live without *in motion,* is to give up HD programming and go with DirecTV. DirecTV's SD programming comes on one satellite, the 101, so you can do everything you want...watch two different programs on two different TVs, record one program while watching another, and watch TV while driving down the road. The only thing you won't get is HD.

In the end, you have to decide which is the most important to you: 1) Having the ability to watch TV while traveling or 2) Everything else.

[LindaH]

Quote:

Originally Posted by justaroamer Installers that install for both Dish and Directv have told me Directv is best bet.

We have been both DirecTV and Dish Network customers at one time or another. We are currently Dish Network customers.

Frankly, I see little difference between the two, so I'd make *my* decision on which had the best programming package that I was interested in. There are some differences between the two in the Programming Guide that appears on your TV screen: Dish Network indicates whether or not the program is "new" (i.e., first run), DirecTV does not (or did not as of about a year ago when we switched from them to Dish). Also I find Dish Network's descriptions of programs is better than DirecTV. However, as to the programming itself, it's pretty much six of one, half a dozen of the other.

If you are not a fulltimer and don't have satellite TV in your home, then the hands-down winner would be Dish Network since they now have a program specifically aimed at RVers that is on a pay-as-you-go basis that can be turned off and on at will.

[justaroamer]

Right again, IMHO I would not spend too many hard earned $$ on SD only option. Go HD and don't worry about the in-motion... it is the future. Don't forget the Jack head if you have the old Wineguard crank-up for your local HD solution.

[Elkhartjim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdogrulz Hello Everyone, Automatic in motion HDTV Be able to watch TV while driving down the highway

I assume you know its illegal to have a tv on thats in front of the driver while traveling.

[kjburns]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdogrulz Be able to watch TV while driving down the highway

You can meet this parameter in other ways, either with the DVR or a DVD player. I would gladly give up the in-motion dish in favor of a Trav'ler or MotoSat to get HD on DirecTV.