Dish choices, need some help with satellite system

[bmacrc46]

I am a newbie picking up our Class A MH next week and could use some advice on which satellite system to go with.

It seems pretty clear that Dish Network offers the most appealing plan on their pay as you go program. With that in mind I am looking to get a system in place for our Georgetown.

I see there are portable or roof mounted options. Is there any reason I should not do a roof mounted system?

I am mechanically inclined and may be willing to tackle the install myself. Is this something anyone can do or best left to the dealer to install? I do not need in-motion reception and am looking for a few solid choices and recommendations on where to buy if my MH dealer is not the best option.

Thanks in advance for the help,

Barry

[blang]

If you do the roof mount permanent, you could be in trouble with a tree. I have the Winegard Carryout that is currently out from under the tree. I'm thinking about doing a removable mount on the roof so that I can use it either way.

[lllkrob]

Check out the DISH Tailgater system on the "DISH for my RV" web site. Overall it's the simplest, easiest, and cheapest way to go.

[Dave 430]

Barry,
I thought that I read somewhere on here that Dish Network is or was going to stop the "Pay as you go" deal. Maybe a call to them will give you an answer on that.

[Izzyblueye]

My advice is go with the portable dish. I have had roof mounts and in many cases you cannot use them due to tree cover.

[RedWing Nut]

Originally Posted by lllkrob

Check out the DISH Tailgater system on the "DISH for my RV" web site. Overall it's the simplest, easiest, and cheapest way to go.

Dish For RV

[tncruiser]

Originally Posted by Dave 430

Barry,
I thought that I read somewhere on here that Dish Network is or was going to stop the "Pay as you go" deal. Maybe a call to them will give you an answer on that.

i did not read that but if you have dish at home and the compatable reciever there is no extra charge ,if your reciever is not compatable dish will lease you one for 7 bux a moth extra on your dish acct,thats what we did and i just cut my wife "beer budget" by 7 bux so its a wash

brianj

[toneumanns]

Originally Posted by lllkrob

Check out the DISH Tailgater system on the "DISH for my RV" web site. Overall it's the simplest, easiest, and cheapest way to go.

X2.

[TechWriter]

The Tailgater is great especially if you're not full timing or your current RV may not be your last RV.

Otherwise I suggest the Winegard Travler which is a "full featured" dish -- that is, it's the same dish used in many home installs which means you can use pretty much any DISH receiver with it. Not so with the Tailgater -- you have to use a 211k receiver (which is still a very good receiver).

I've installed two Travelers and though they're fairly heavy, a Travler is easy to install.

I also carry a portable sat dish for those times when I'm under trees.

Both the Tailgater & Travler are sure bets.

[bmacrc46]

It looks like the Tailgater is the way to go especially considering the price. The local dealer quoted 6 hours of labor to install a roof mounted system at $112 per hour (ouch).

Thanks to everyone for the help!

[Scarab0088]

Originally Posted by bmacrc46

I am a newbie picking up our Class A MH next week and could use some advice on which satellite system to go with.

It seems pretty clear that Dish Network offers the most appealing plan on their pay as you go program. With that in mind I am looking to get a system in place for our Georgetown.

I see there are portable or roof mounted options. Is there any reason I should not do a roof mounted system?

I am mechanically inclined and may be willing to tackle the install myself. Is this something anyone can do or best left to the dealer to install? I do not need in-motion reception and am looking for a few solid choices and recommendations on where to buy if my MH dealer is not the best option.

Thanks in advance for the help,

Barry

Your first choice will be company - Dish vs. Direct. I will not give any advise on that...it's a Ford vs. Chevy argument in my opinion - but you did hit the nail on the head that Dish has the pay-as-you-go for RV's with no contract and free on/off privileges. That's what I have and why. It's all in what you want

Your second choice will be antennae...fixed rooftop or portable. Fixed will be easy to use (stays wired and won't walk away). Portable can be moved to see the southern sky when there are trees and such above our RV.

I have both...the basic Wingard crank-up that came with my RV and a "Tailgater" portable.

I started with a basic single rooftop dish (would work with either service) Crank-Up Satellite Dish with Digital Magic - Winegard

Here's a trick...if your RV doesn't have a dish on the roof now, you COULD swap the typical Winegard batwing out for one of their rooftop crank-ups (uses the same hole cutout) like this little sweetie.

Down-side is these basic antennaes do not allow for HD signals and only locks 1 SAT at a time (Dish uses 3 SAT's for the typical subscription).

There are more complicated fixed antennea that will autolock and switch as needed...It's all in what you want

Later I added the portable antennae when the Tailgater became available and affordable. Totally automatic, locks on all 3 Dish "birds" at once and will change SAT's as needed when you change channels from inside the RV....It's all in what you want

NOW, here is a trick about Dish...if you ARE NOT currently a Dish subscriber, you can get a ViP-211K and Tailgater portable dish for only $499 for EVERYTHING you need. That is about $300 off retail for the components. This deal is available from Dish or many SAT vendors.

DISHForMyRV: DISH Mobile Satellite Systems & Pay-As-You-Go TV for RV, Tailgating, & the Great Outdoors
This website shows you all about the Dish Network RV account.
Disclaimer - They will stop offering Distant Network Service (DNS - which is East Coast (NY) and West Coast (LA) network affiliates) as of Nov15, so disregard anything on the website about DNS.

It's really all in what you want Good luck!!

[v8dave]

Originally Posted by TechWriter

The Tailgater is great especially if you're not full timing or your current RV may not be your last RV.

Otherwise I suggest the Winegard Travler which is a "full featured" dish -- that is, it's the same dish used in many home installs which means you can use pretty much any DISH receiver with it. Not so with the Tailgater -- you have to use a 211k receiver (which is still a very good receiver).

I've installed two Travelers and though they're fairly heavy, a Travler is easy to install.

I also carry a portable sat dish for those times when I'm under trees.

Both the Tailgater & Travler are sure bets.

Dish does not advertise it but the ViP 211K receiver can be turned into a recorder by adding a USB external disk drive. BUT, the disk drive max size is 750 MB. I have two VIP-211k receivers, one I use in the shop when home and take it out with us when we're on the road.

Choose the external drive carefully most off-the-shelf external drives now have 1 to 2 GB size drives in them. Easiest way is to buy a bare drive and a USB external disk drive enclosure, assemble them your self. If you are uncomfortable with this go to a neighborhood computer shop and have them build one for you. You have to call Dish Network and pay them a one-time-fee to enable the recorder, you are go to go after that.

It can be frustrating to manually aim the satellite receivers, Sometimes its a piece of cake other times its a pain. The Tailgater does it all for you.

The VIP-211K/Tailgater combo can only be tuned to a single channel. If you have two TVs in your Motor Home they will both be on the same channel. (use a splitter on the output of the VIP-211K to feed both TVs).

[bmacrc46]

Originally Posted by v8dave

Dish does not advertise it but the ViP 211K receiver can be turned into a recorder by adding a USB external disk drive. BUT, the disk drive max size is 750 MB.

Choose the external drive carefully most off-the-shelf external drives now have 1 to 2 GB size drives in them. Easiest way is to buy a bare drive and a USB external disk drive enclosure, assemble them your self.

Thank for the tips Dave.

As far as the external drive is concerned it would be easier to partition the hard drive itself to 750 MB. It is something I am familiar with and I do with all my external hard drives.

[Ken C]

Originally Posted by bmacrc46

As far as the external drive is concerned it would be easier to partition the hard drive itself to 750 MB.

Hard disk size info on the web site is outdated. I have a 2 TB connected to my 211K and it works fine. It requires a seperate power supply as opposed to drives powered from the USB connection.