Sat TV - what do you use?

[dee911]

What do most full-timers use for Sat TV? We have the genie system with Direct TV and while we're totally happy with the reception and technical part of it, dealing with Direct TV as full-timers has been nothing short of a nightmare. We were originally told that we could keep our local channels from home (Chicago area) no matter where we travelled. Well, that wasn't true. Next we were told that we should just call them every time we get to a new place and they'll change our service address so we could get local channels. That's fine, except that at least 30% of the time we get a rep who tells us that we need to change to a "mobile service" that will cost us $15 per month more. Every rep we talk to gives us different information.

What I've finally started doing is calling and asking for our address to be changed whenever we get to a new location. If I get the song and dance about "you can't do that unless you upgrade your service", I simply say, "ok, good bye". Then I hang and up and call back and invariably get a different rep who changes our address with no problem. This stinks! Is there a better way? I do NOT want to pay an additional $15 a month when no one mentioned this when they sold it to us. Any advice/help much appreciated!

[EDALLSAILS]

Have a dish on the roof that can't be upgraded. so I bought a Tail gator When we move we call Dish and then they ping the signal for current address and call dish. then we get the local channels. We only call if we are going to be at a location for several days. It is a PITA calling them, takes anywhere between 10 minutes to an hour. safe travels ed

[thrushl]

I'm not sure who can get to this so I'll copy it here for y'all.

This is from Bill Adams over on the FMCA site:

This message has been posted on the AAD website:
All American Direct will cease operations on February 25th 2014 at 11:59 pm. At that time our services will no longer be available. All customers with time remaining on their service will receive a prorated refund by check or credit card. For further information please refer to the FAQ tab on this page.

[CampDaven]

To be honest, I have no Satelite system. I could have enjoyed it while I still worked, but now I am too busy for TV or work. Really!

Being F/T fills ours days with adventure, our evenings with a bit of internet time, a fine home-cooked meal, and...ZZZZZZ....

But my MH came with a Wyneguard Traveler. Want it?

[paz]

Originally Posted by thrushl

I'm not sure who can get to this so I'll copy it here for y'all.

This is from Bill Adams over on the FMCA site:

This message has been posted on the AAD website:
All American Direct will cease operations on February 25th 2014 at 11:59 pm. At that time our services will no longer be available. All customers with time remaining on their service will receive a prorated refund by check or credit card. For further information please refer to the FAQ tab on this page.

For those who are new to satellite TV or to Full-timing, the best way to get network channels when on the road is through distant network service (DNS). Since RVers are mobile, they normally can't receive local channels because locals are spot beamed. DNS provides network feeds from either the east or west coast.

The FCC banned Dish from providing DNS several years ago because of alleged abuse. Therefore, mobile Dish customers have been relying on ADD to provide DNS. With ADD out of the picture, it is unclear how mobile Dish customers will be able to receive network broadcasts unless Dish can win back the right to provide DNS.

With the uncertain future of DNS for Dish customers, Direct looks like the obvious choice for RVers, at least for the near future.

[hogdriver]

I am not fulltiming, if I did I think I'd prefer the sports on DirectTV, but I don't know about the problems with local channels. In our RV we use Dish, and with a few exceptions have had no problems callng CS and switching our service location and getting whatever the local channels are in that area. A long time ago I enjoyed the distant networks but I guess the networks want me to watch the ads in the local area....which I enjoy so much....not

[TeamLyon1029]

We are FullTimers and have the Tailgater from Dish Network. Love it! We do the pay as you go, so if we are on the road for a few weeks, or visiting family, or whatever...we just suspend the service, and turn it back on when you stop. You can pick what local channels you want, we were in West Virginia still getting Kansas stations. We started out with just a regular "point it yourself" Dish and stand...but I would give anything to avoid all the time and frustration my husband spent messing with it. Now we just strap it to an AC and off we go! Also, it's super lightweight and you can carry it with you, or put it inside, and don't have to worry about anyone stealing it.

[dee911]

Thank you everyone for the input. Sounds like there isn't one easy answer and that different things work for different people. Sad to see the state of customer service that we've come to accept tho...very sad.

[luckyd]

There is a HUGE market in "Pay as you go"for Canadian snowbirds.
So far, Dish is the only provider.

Will Direct TV pick this up or will Canadians be forced into a
two year contract with Direct TV??????

[Dennis4809]

We spend several months a year in our motorhome. Have Dish at the house so when we get ready to go, just pull the receivers out of the house and take them to the mh. Have a winegard Traveler on the roof (highly recommend but spendy) and a Tailgater for times when a tree won't move out of the way. As we move I just call Dish and have them update the service address. Can get all but local channels without calling but we like to watch shows carried on The major networks. Currently sitting in Key West, watching Jeopardy out of Miami.

[Triker56]

The east coast DNS comes from NY. Why not just change your service address to there.
And use your Bat Wing for locals where ever you are.

[Us out West]

We have the Tailgater for Dish and use their Pay As You Go feature.

Great HD and easy to switch to receive locals after a move.

[cappelte]

I use the same method as you do when calling DirectTV. If I don't get the response I need when I call them, I hang up and call back until I get the right response. That is what customer service has come down to today. We use a Winegard carryout for our satellite dish.

I had a "customer service" person from DirectTV threaten me with an FCC prosecution if I didn't do what she told me to do. Hysterical.

[Triker56]

Originally Posted by luckyd

Will Direct TV pick this up or will Canadians be forced into a
two year contract with Direct TV??????

With a DTV 2 year contract you can have it shut off for up to 6 months once a year. And that will take you 4 years to do the contract.

That should work for Canadians.