Community Forums

vibr8t · 09-05-2011, 07:03 AM

Hello, I am new to rv-ing and could really use some help. I am going to be doing a lot of dry camping out in the middle of nowhere and I need to put in both TV and Internet as cheap as possible. Someone told me that I would be searching all day for a signal with a portable dish. I don't have the money for a nice in motion dome right now and I have no idea what to do for internet. Any advise would be extremely helpful. Thanks

rtootle · 09-05-2011, 07:12 AM

I would purchase Direct TV (Directv Satellite Dish Antennas) for TV and a cellular card for internet services provide there is cell phone coverage. This is the combination I use and I am please with it.

Bill Adams · 09-05-2011, 07:34 AM

Cheap is not a word that goes will with satellite TV or any mobile internet connection. The monthly fees add up but worth it for most of us.
If you can get someone to teach you how to point a manual antenna it should only take a few minutes to setup (easiest would be SD programming from DirecTV, the most difficult is SD and HD with Dish Network). The cost of a tripod setup is affordable and if handled properly should last for years.

Captain Ahab · 09-10-2011, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vibr8t

Hello, I am new to rv-ing and could really use some help. I am going to be doing a lot of dry camping out in the middle of nowhere and I need to put in both TV and Internet as cheap as possible. Someone told me that I would be searching all day for a signal with a portable dish. I don't have the money for a nice in motion dome right now and I have no idea what to do for internet. Any advise would be extremely helpful. Thanks

Don't listen to people that you will spend all day searching for a signal. There are many devices that will "point you in the right direction" ad far as locking on to the right satellite. Talk with suppliers of portable satellite dishes as they not only have these devices but will also teach you how to aim and fix on the satellite you need.

vibr8t · 09-10-2011, 11:12 AM

Thanks for all your help.

WhiskeyDelta · 09-10-2011, 12:12 PM

I'm perusing this forum trying to find some specifics and it's kind of a tough search...

For those of you that use dish satellite while you're out camping:

Do you have the same satellite service at home and the RV dish hardware just piggybacks onto your home service?

If your RV dish setup is its own standalone service do you pay the fee whether you use it or not?

Are there plans where you're billed for your connection time?

I meant to talk to a neighbor in our campsite a few weeks ago who had set his up but never got the opportunity.

Thanks, all!

Captain Ahab · 09-10-2011, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiskeyDelta

I'm perusing this forum trying to find some specifics and it's kind of a tough search...

For those of you that use dish satellite while you're out camping:

Do you have the same satellite service at home and the RV dish hardware just piggybacks onto your home service?

If your RV dish setup is its own standalone service do you pay the fee whether you use it or not?

Are there plans where you're billed for your connection time?

I meant to talk to a neighbor in our campsite a few weeks ago who had set his up but never got the opportunity.

Thanks, all!

I am from Canada and don't know how our systems compare to yours but they shouldn't be all that different. We had satellite TV when we had our sticks and bricks house and when we went full timing we had a dish installed on the roof of our 5th wheel and a receiver hooked up by the same satellite company as we did previously and all we did was pick our "packages" of channels we wanted to watch and we get billed monthly as per usual. The beauty of our satellite company (Shawdirect) is that their range extends from the far north of Canada all the way to southern Mexico into Belize and if you have any difficulties they don't quibble just because your out of Canada and will still assist you if you have problems no matter where you are.
I hope that this helps some.

calico · 09-10-2011, 10:43 PM

We are new subscribers to Direct TV this past May, they were offering a free extra dish, tripod and wiring for the motorhome when we signed up, and I believe the special offer has been extended. We take one of the home receivers with us camping, has been awesome! There is no extra charge for using the unit when camping. I think we were the only camper at Buckskin last winter that didn't have a dish set up!!!! We could get no TV reception at all.

faye · 09-10-2011, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain ahab

i am from canada and don't know how our systems compare to yours but they shouldn't be all that different. We had satellite tv when we had our sticks and bricks house and when we went full timing we had a dish installed on the roof of our 5th wheel and a receiver hooked up by the same satellite company as we did previously and all we did was pick our "packages" of channels we wanted to watch and we get billed monthly as per usual. The beauty of our satellite company (shawdirect) is that their range extends from the far north of canada all the way to southern mexico into belize and if you have any difficulties they don't quibble just because your out of canada and will still assist you if you have problems no matter where you are.
I hope that this helps some.

if the dish is stationery on your roof how do you aim it?

theCOMVEE · 09-10-2011, 11:58 PM

I know the antenna rotates ... I presume the dish does as well... I know with Direct TV the dish always has to point in a particular direction.

Ana

DBOL · 09-11-2011, 02:43 AM

I like Dish Net work and have receiver in Motor Home for $5.95 Month because I have in Stick house and not hard to find signal.

Captain Ahab · 09-11-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faye

if the dish is stationery on your roof how do you aim it?

The mount for the dish is fixed to the roof and when I push the power button the dish itself automatically turns and searches for and locks onto the correct satellite(s).

WhiskeyDelta · 09-12-2011, 11:50 AM

So it sounds like everyone with a dish for their RV uses the same service at their earth-fixed residence.

My home provider is Comcast. It appears I wouldn't have a cost effective option for an RV dish unless I ditched Comcast for a satellite provider.

Are these statements pretty accurate?

Bill Adams · 09-12-2011, 03:42 PM

Sounds about right to me! You can also sign up for part time service with Dish Network while you travel but you would still be paying for 2 services while you travel unnecessarily.