Satellite TV or Internet TV? That is the question!

[Purplefans & Harvey]

Hi all! Our rig has a satellite dish that's just sitting unused since we've owned it. But we have a problem when favorite teams are on, and we don't have cable or anything, so now we are checking how to solve this dilemna (and I know.. we shouldn't be watching TV when we're camping anyway!!) But - I'd love your thoughts on which dish service you use - Direct TV , or Dish TV or something else, or do you use the Verizon Hotspot thing and view TV through the computer? Of course, all comments are greatly appreciated - as long as I can find a way for the boys to see the basketball playoffs when they are on!

[offthewall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purplefans & Harvey Hi all! Our rig has a satellite dish that's just sitting unused since we've owned it. But we have a problem when favorite teams are on, and we don't have cable or anything, so now we are checking how to solve this dilemna (and I know.. we shouldn't be watching TV when we're camping anyway!!) But - I'd love your thoughts on which dish service you use - Direct TV , or Dish TV or something else, or do you use the Verizon Hotspot thing and view TV through the computer? Of course, all comments are greatly appreciated - as long as I can find a way for the boys to see the basketball playoffs when they are on!

We use the new DISH pay as you go program which makes satellite TV affordable for infrequent use. You pay a month in advance and can toggle it off an on in increments as short as one day at a time. The problem so far has been DISH networks ignorance of their own program. We've had all sorts of billing issues with them. Hopefully they will get it together as the program is new.

Be careful using an Internet connection for TV viewing. Most have very small monthly GB limits which you can hit pretty fast streaming video. I thought I had a great idea of streaming my Slingbox from home over my Verizon MIFI. I did some testing and realized I could exceed the 5GB limit in an evening of TV watching.

[Route 66]

The only practical solution is satellite if the campgrounds you visit don't have cable or you're too far away for over the air TV.

[wa8yxm]

I will answer that question as best I can:

The ad says "Thosuands of Sattelite channels on our PC for Free, just 49.95"

Does that mean I can get HBO, NFL, NBA, Center Ice, NHL, Nascar, whatever on my PC for free once I install this program? NO, it does not,

You may be able to get SELECTED network shows, AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN BROADCAST, (never live) on the PC, or not,,, The law of critical need applies (The mor[lllllllllle you like the show, the more likely it's "not")

Question 2: What part of 49.95 is free?

www.getmirlo.com This is a free RSS video (and audio) aggrator that can do most of what that 49.95 can do so you can see what you are getting before you get.

MY recommendation: DirecTV

My Preference is Dishnetwork, but DTV works better with RVs

[offthewall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm I will answer that question as best I can: The ad says "Thosuands of Sattelite channels on our PC for Free, just 49.95" Does that mean I can get HBO, NFL, NBA, Center Ice, NHL, Nascar, whatever on my PC for free once I install this program? NO, it does not, You may be able to get SELECTED network shows, AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN BROADCAST, (never live) on the PC, or not,,, The law of critical need applies (The mor[lllllllllle you like the show, the more likely it's "not") Question 2: What part of 49.95 is free? www.getmirlo.com This is a free RSS video (and audio) aggrator that can do most of what that 49.95 can do so you can see what you are getting before you get. MY recommendation: DirecTV My Preference is Dishnetwork, but DTV works better with RVs

I'm curious why you say DTV is better than Dish for RV's. Dish is the only system that let's you get HD with a dome and the pay as you go plan makes it very affordable if you're not a full timer. Believe me I'm not a Dish fanboi. See some of my other threads about the billing issues we've had with them. They just seem to be the best RV solution.

[FlyingDiver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by offthewall I'm curious why you say DTV is better than Dish for RV's. Dish is the only system that let's you get HD with a dome and the pay as you go plan makes it very affordable if you're not a full timer. Believe me I'm not a Dish fanboi. See some of my other threads about the billing issues we've had with them. They just seem to be the best RV solution.

Prior to the current HD system, or if you only have SD TVs, I think DirectTV probably was better than Dish. Just because all the programming was on one satellite (101). With Dish, you need both 110 and 119 for all the SD programming. That's a problem with a dome and multiple receivers.

joe

[Sticks4748]

Just put in the new Dish Rv plan. First place we used it was in the tree's. Put out 280 feet of cable and found a little open spot to get all 3 sats. The dish on the roof just sits there un-used.

[offthewall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingDiver Prior to the current HD system, or if you only have SD TVs, I think DirectTV probably was better than Dish. Just because all the programming was on one satellite (101). With Dish, you need both 110 and 119 for all the SD programming. That's a problem with a dome and multiple receivers. joe

Get what your saying about the sat's, although with our package with DISH all of our channels, in HD, are on the single 61.5 Sat in the northeast which is what we use when "in the clear". The SD's are on the two 110,119 sats. Actually this gives us a lot of flexibility in finding a signal in tree covered areas since the 61.5 sat is at a different angle and direction than the 110,119 combo. Usually one or the other gets us TV.

[codgerbill]

Regarding Dish Network Paygo. What is the actual cost? Do you pay for a whole month even if you only use it for ...say a week or 10 days for a particular month? Does the paygo thingy give you about the same number of channels as Direct TV basic @$29.xx per month? Is the PayGo service a contract of 2 years?

I have tried to call to Dish Network get information but kept getting recorded messages and long hold times.

[offthewall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by codgerbill Regarding Dish Network Paygo. What is the actual cost? Do you pay for a whole month even if you only use it for ...say a week or 10 days for a particular month? Does the paygo thingy give you about the same number of channels as Direct TV basic @$29.xx per month? Is the PayGo service a contract of 2 years? I have tried to call to Dish Network get information but kept getting recorded messages and long hold times.

You can choose any of the DISH packages for the pay as you go. Check out their website to see what's what. You buy the service through either Winegard or another RV reseller. We have the one up from the bottom $44.95/month. There is no contract. You pay for one month up front but only really pay for what you use. For example; I just started the service back up for a weekend trip on a Friday. I payed my $44.95. On Tuesday, I shut the service back off. I now have a credit of $37.50 on my account. At the end of the month when we go to use the service again, I pay $7.50 (to bring me back up to a month of service) and I'm good to go again. It's about $1.50/day for us and we only wind up paying those days we use it.

We had DISH a couple of years ago and cancelled it because it cost too much for the amount of time we were actually in the RV using the service. This works for us. As I stated, it's a new program and DISH is a bit confused when you call in about it. You have to specifically ask for the RV support group, which is based in the US. Those are the only ones who are familiar with administering the program. If they ever get that part of it together, it really will be a perfect RV solution.

[wa8yxm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by offthewall I'm curious why you say DTV is better than Dish for RV's. Dish is the only system that let's you get HD with a dome and the pay as you go plan makes it very affordable if you're not a full timer. Believe me I'm not a Dish fanboi. See some of my other threads about the billing issues we've had with them. They just seem to be the best RV solution.

With Dish, if you want to wach say The SiFy channe, and your spouse wants say "Hallmrk" and a dome there is no joy.. The reason is that those two channels are on different satellites, and the HD programming on yet a thired.. Yes, with a SINGLE receiver, SOME domes can switch rapidly between the different birds and let you see what you will. but if you have TWO receivers, or one DVR (dual input) and want to watch shows on different satellites, no joy.

With Directv... Been there,, Done that. So I know it works

That said. I like Dish better for several reasons,, For one NASA channel.

[Stevegd007]

Here is my 2 cents worth of thought. I purchased (from Radio Shack) a basic Dish receiver (I do not yet have HD TV's in the RV) for around $100 several years ago. There cheaper now and you can find them for sale on Ebay or Amazon too. I put this receiver on my stick house account, then activated the receiver, for an additional of fee of $7/month (this would be an annual fee to me of $84 total). I use this for the RV. Works just fine. Get all the channels I would receive at home. Well except for the spot beam locals if I am out of the spot beam line of site. So if one chooses the Dish RV type of account (i.e. switching it on and off when needed) I am not sure if this would be cheaper, as I use the Dish a lot. For $7/month.

Internet via a satellite reception can be very expensive. The "specialized satellite dish" can cost upwards to $5000. Monthly fees ever higher than Cox or "regular" cable providers. Limits on GB/MB usage are very restrictive, even if you fork over hugh monthly funds for access. Then using Verizon...well they too now have limits on GB usage for fees of upwards to $60/month. You watch TV via the Verizon an you will be paying even more when to blow through your GB limits. I am seeing other providers starting to limit GB usage, my AT&T home DSL now has a GB limit of 150GB/month. Just started this limit.

Best of luck on your choice....an happy trails.

[faye]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevegd007 Here is my 2 cents worth of thought. I purchased (from Radio Shack) a basic Dish receiver (I do not yet have HD TV's in the RV) for around $100 several years ago. There cheaper now and you can find them for sale on Ebay or Amazon too. I put this receiver on my stick house account, then activated the receiver, for an additional of fee of $7/month (this would be an annual fee to me of $84 total). I use this for the RV. Works just fine. Get all the channels I would receive at home. Well except for the spot beam locals if I am out of the spot beam line of site. So if one chooses the Dish RV type of account (i.e. switching it on and off when needed) I am not sure if this would be cheaper, as I use the Dish a lot. For $7/month. Internet via a satellite reception can be very expensive. The "specialized satellite dish" can cost upwards to $5000. Monthly fees ever higher than Cox or "regular" cable providers. Limits on GB/MB usage are very restrictive, even if you fork over hugh monthly funds for access. Then using Verizon...well they too now have limits on GB usage for fees of upwards to $60/month. You watch TV via the Verizon an you will be paying even more when to blow through your GB limits. I am seeing other providers starting to limit GB usage, my AT&T home DSL now has a GB limit of 150GB/month. Just started this limit. Best of luck on your choice....an happy trails.

do you use a portable dish or a dome dish?

[Stevegd007]

faye... I have a roof Kingdome. It automatically finds the correct satellites. Really cool. I also have a backup portable dish, in case I setup/park under trees an such, but I have not used this in a while.