Community Forums

CaptainKip · 02-22-2022, 06:24 PM

Our 2018 coach came with a Winegard in-motion satellite dish on the roof and a Direct TV receiver in the A/V cabinet in the bedroom.

Can someone please give us very detailed step-by-step instructions on how to use it?

I assume step 1 would be to secure a Direct TV account, but then what?

And, to muddy the water.... I think I heard that Dish is actually the more RV-friendly satellite supplier and allows for month-to-month service. I only ask about Direct TV because we already have the receiver.

Thanks again!

dssl · 02-22-2022, 06:38 PM

With DirecTV and an in motion you will get what they call standard definition, which is basically low definition. It's only 1 satellite you can access.
DirecTV doesn't allow month to month and they don't allow you to own your own equipment, so when you sign up they will mark the receiver as owned by them.

If you had DirecTV at home then the extra cost is low enough that it may be worth dealing with the above, but if not then go with Dish network, the receiver isn't very expensive vs what you will pay out over time for the service.

If you switch to Dish you will need to move the dip switches under the dome cover.

I don't have specific instructions I think the receiver you need is a Dish wally.

Rodzent · 02-22-2022, 06:40 PM

I bought a Dish Wally receiver. $50 at PPL. Had to go on the roof, remove dome, and change dip switch settings for dish.

After hooking Wally to antenna coax and HDMI, I turned on antenna and Wally. After about 10 long minutes of whirring on the roof a signal was acquired. Then follow screen prompts to call dish and set up account.

Price varies by program selection. Mine was $50 per month.

I dropped cable at home and got dish for home with Hopper 3. Now my Rv Wally is only $5 a month. Dish was $100 less than my Suddenlink tv subscription

I am happy with the systems. Have had since June of 2021.

Recently bought a portable Playmaker antenna to help in satellite unfriendly sites.

CaptainKip · 02-22-2022, 06:52 PM

DSSL & Rod... thanks very much for the good info! It sounds like Dish is what we need.

Anyone else?

DaveAnderson · 02-23-2022, 08:15 AM

Another vote for Dish. It came with my RV, but for fun, i wanted to try DirectTV since i had it in my house and would have been way cheaper since i wouldn't have had to sign up for a dish account, but it was only Standard Def. tv, which sucks.

On the inmotion unit on the top of your RV, if you take off the plastic dome and open it up, you are able to change the switches to either match up with Dish, or DirectTV...a quick google search, or if you have the manual, will tell you what positioning those switches need to be in.

If you're at a campsite, once it finds the channels, you can probably turn off the searching feature (to save a little battery), since it will continue to follow the satellites and move around periodicially.

It's a great system overall - never had a problem.

Warhorse6 · 02-23-2022, 09:36 AM

Won’t recommend one or the other, but we have direct tv. If you activate your account, you need to ensure your tv setting is on satellite. You must set each one individually if you plan to watch the satellite tv. Turn your satellite switch above left of the drivers compartment. Turn your receiver on and the black fan switch on. Both should be in the same cabinet. You should here a cooling fan running. I suggest you acquire and lock on before moving as it will find the satellite much quicker. Before deciding I would ensure you have a satellite that is compatible with both dish and direct. If you do, then like dssl said, you have have to flip different switches inside the dome. Wineguard should be of some assistance but you have to know what satellite you have.

Newps · 02-23-2022, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainKip

Can someone please give us very detailed step-by-step instructions on how to use it?

Do you have Directv at home? If yes then simply add one or two boxes to your existing account. Once activated then they will work in the RV, the cost would be $6 per box per month in this case. If no then skip Directv altogether because the available programming available on Directv thru any dome type dish is comically bad and SD only.

Do you need/want to be able to watch TV while RV is in motion? If no and you want to continue with Directv then ditch the dome and replace with either the Winegard Trav'ler or the competitor who's name escapes me now. Point is they are full size dishes and the only way to get all the channels as well as HD. You can also go portable with a full size dish and tripod. I have both and use them depending on tree cover.
If you do stick with the dome and go with Dish know that it does get HD with the dome but it can only look at one satellite at a time. This means you can only watch two different channels at the same time if those channels happen to be on the same satellite.