Receiving local channels with DTV

dsbike · 01-27-2010, 12:25 PM

We full time/ part time. My wife works out of town & uses the RV as her home away from home. For the first time since we had the RV she is 660miles waay from home, had been only 2oo miles prior. We had no problem receiving the local channels, but now we are out of range. Has anyone purchased an antenna to receive locals? We have direct at home and hadn't checked with DTV to see if we can add locals for the RV or if we need to open a new account. A person in the RV park where we are uses an antenna with good results. Was just wondering if anyone else is in the same situation as we are & what they do.

paz · 01-27-2010, 12:39 PM

Unless you live in New York or LA, you will not be able to receive local channels via satellite. Locals for other cities are spot beamed, and you usually can't receive them beyond 150 to 175 miles (straight line distance).

If you're going to be in one location for a while, you can call DTV and temporarily change your service address to the campground, and you will be able to receive local channels that way.

Another option is to have a receiver with an account for your RV that is separate from your home. You can then get distant network service (DNS). You will get ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox from both NY and LA. The cost is $14 a month from DirecTV (but I think it is about to go up). You need to fill out the form (link available at the top of the technology forum) and fax or mail it with a copy of the RV registration. Since we are full-timers, this is what we do.

You should also be able to receive local channels over the air with an antenna. Most RVs come equipped with a Winegard Batwing antenna which does a good job. If you have an older analog TV in your rig you will need a digital converter box in most areas of the country.

Wayne M · 01-27-2010, 12:46 PM

I run into the same situation when we are on the road. About 200 miles from home and I start loosing the "spot" beam broadcasting the local channels. Many others have gone with Distant Networks through All American Direct. Myself, I just try to get local programming with the Batwing, or, if available through the CG, cable. If you do decide to go with All American Direct, you will only get the east/west coast feeds and not your "local" channels. That is, you will get ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX.

It is so unfortunate that they started using "spot" beams for local channel programming. This is so they can bring you the best in marketing advertisements. I don't think they have heard of DVR, as I skip all the commercials anyhow.

Good luck

Bill Adams · 01-27-2010, 01:49 PM

Just to clarify, the All American listed above is for Dish Network customers and not DirecTV.
If you have receivers in the RV and receivers at home (and someone watching both) changing your address when you move will wipe out the local Networks at home!
If you need both sets of receivers operational at the same time then you would need to set up a separate account for the RV and add the DNS services or keep what you have and depend upon your over-the-air TV antenna for locals.

dsbike · 01-28-2010, 07:22 AM

Thanks for the feedback. That was pretty much what I thought. We do receivers on at home & the RV at the same time. I could not get my batwing antenna to pick up. My tv's are new and don't need the converter. I purchased a HD antenna at BestBuy for $30 and will see next week when I go back to the RV if I can either get the batwing or use the new antenna to pick up local channels

Bill Adams · 01-28-2010, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsbike

Thanks for the feedback. That was pretty much what I thought. We do receivers on at home & the RV at the same time. I could not get my batwing antenna to pick up. My tv's are new and don't need the converter. I purchased a HD antenna at BestBuy for $30 and will see next week when I go back to the RV if I can either get the batwing or use the new antenna to pick up local channels

Your Bat-Wing antenna "IS" an HD antenna. Actually, there is no such thing as an HD antenna, but rather an antenna capable of picking of the UHF channels since that's where most of the new digital programming is.
You will want to add the Winegard Wingman to your Batwing for the best UHF performance, but unless you are in the middle of nowhere or down in valley where there's simply no signal, you should be able to pick up some programming.
The Batwing has a power booster that must be on. You can check for proper operation by going on the roof, disconnecting the coax cable where it enters the Batwing and ensure that you have 12+ volts there.
Also remember that you have to do a new channel scan at each new location. Your TV will not pick up channel 3.1, even if it were available unless you allow the TV setup to "find" it via a scan.

KSDP_PA · 01-28-2010, 10:05 AM

might be silly questions but .....
Did you change the TV from "cable" to "air" when you were checking for channels from the batwing ? and then re-run the channel setup ?
It's an easy thing to forget.

Wayne M · 01-28-2010, 05:30 PM

Presently the majority of television broadcast stations are using UHF because the frequencies were more readily available. As time goes on, each "market" will determine if they wish to broadcast in VHF or UHF. Purchasing a good UHF antenna now would not hurt where those broadcasters have switched to UHF for digital, but as we, in RV's move around, having a good VHF and UHF antenna is necessary to receive broadcasts from both markets. Use the signal strength meter built into the television to rotate your antenna and receive the strongest signal for the channel you are watching.

The Winegard MA-1000W Sensar is a motorized VHF/UHF antenna operated by push button from your easy chair in the RV, if you so desire such an antenna. Rotating the antenna for the strongest signal will enhance your viewing of that particular channel.

Good luck.

Bill Adams · 01-28-2010, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M

Presently the majority of television broadcast stations are using UHF because the frequencies were more readily available. As time goes on, each "market" will determine if they wish to broadcast in VHF or UHF. Purchasing a good UHF antenna now would not hurt where those broadcasters have switched to UHF for digital, but as we, in RV's move around, having a good VHF and UHF antenna is necessary to receive broadcasts from both markets. Use the signal strength meter built into the television to rotate your antenna and receive the strongest signal for the channel you are watching.

The Winegard MA-1000W Sensar is a motorized VHF/UHF antenna operated by push button from your easy chair in the RV, if you so desire such an antenna. Rotating the antenna for the strongest signal will enhance your viewing of that particular channel.

Good luck.

I've got the motorized version of the Winegard but you sure can't reach the buttons from any chair anywhere! Since it's hardwired into a 12V circuit, I don't think many people are going to place those controls beside their easy chair!

Wayne M · 01-28-2010, 09:23 PM

I would think that a Control Panel for the MA 1000 could be installed anywhere. Did I miss something in the manual???

Installation Manual

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Adams

I've got the motorized version of the Winegard but you sure can't reach the buttons from any chair anywhere! Since it's hardwired into a 12V circuit, I don't think many people are going to place those controls beside their easy chair!

Bill Adams · 01-29-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M

I would think that a Control Panel for the MA 1000 could be installed anywhere. Did I miss something in the manual???

Installation Manual

Could be and should be are very different scenarios. You are going to need to run a cable from the roof to your lounge chair. If that happens to be in a slide-out, you have a project on your hands. Even if not, I am not sure how attractive that box is going to be screwed to the wall by your chair. Generally speaking, this box is going to be installed in a cabinet where 12V power is available and usually somewhere near the Video Control center.
Since you say you would think you could install it anywhere I must assume (dangerous) that you do not have this unit mounted beside your lounge chair. While many things "can" be done, I am simply pointing out that this kind of an installation would not be standard and may not be practical.
YMMV.

Max Hubrich · 01-29-2010, 10:31 AM

As I travel around, I use the PBS (Public Broadcast System) as an indicator of "over the air" UHF signals emitting from the area I'm in.

Wow-- Do they have a powerful networking system.

LindaH · 01-29-2010, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M

Use the signal strength meter built into the television to rotate your antenna and receive the strongest signal for the channel you are watching.

And where would one find this "signal strength meter?" I've never heard of a TV coming with a built-in signal strength meter...our LCD TV certainly doesn't have one.

Bill Adams · 01-29-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LindaH

And where would one find this "signal strength meter?" I've never heard of a TV coming with a built-in signal strength meter...our LCD TV certainly doesn't have one.

We have 2 TV's and one does and one does not so not everybody is going to be able to use that option.