satellite and wi-fi

[CSI]

First, please forgive my ignorant questions. We have a new to us motorhome and are going on our first big trip very soon. We have Direct TV at home and am wondering what I would need to do to get DirectTV in our motorhome? Also, How do most of you get Wi-fi in your motorhome? Or is that very costly and difficult while we are traveling? The RV campgrounds we are staying have free wi-fi, but I'm wondering about during the travel time?

[Spk64]

Does your motorhome have a satellite dish presently? Dome or Open Face?

Wifi at campgrounds is always a crap shoot with you generally losing. It can be good at times but most of the time it is just barely usable.

On the road we use data from our phones. Mostly iphones and ipads with a decent amount of data to use each month. We have AT&T and they have been steadily increasing our monthly amount. I think we have 20gig monthly for our family presently.

[vsheetz]

You need a second receiver and antenna for the Motorhome. The second receiver can be added to your existing Direct TV account. I think it's about $7-8 / month.

For wifi you can use campground wifi and/or provide your own cellular hotspot. A cellular hotspot can be a separate device or or can use your existing phone.

[KC]

Originally Posted by CSI

First, please forgive my ignorant questions. We have a new to us motorhome and are going on our first big trip very soon. We have Direct TV at home and am wondering what I would need to do to get DirectTV in our motorhome? Also, How do most of you get Wi-fi in your motorhome? Or is that very costly and difficult while we are traveling? The RV campgrounds we are staying have free wi-fi, but I'm wondering about during the travel time?

Ok, if you want HD you need a Dish like the one you have at home or a roof top Travler dish, and you will need a receiver to take a long. If SD is ok there are lots of other option out there for you.

WiFi you can look at some type of extender.

KC

[CSI]

[QUOTE=Spk64;3146754]Does your motorhome have a satellite dish presently? Dome or Open Face?

Wifi at campgrounds is always a crap shoot with you generally losing. It can be good at times but most of the time it is just barely usable.

On the road we use data from our phones. Mostly iphones and ipads with a decent amount of data to use each month. We have AT&T and they have been steadily increasing our monthly amount. I think we have 20gig monthly for our family presently.[/QUOTe
VSHEETZ and KC
The motorhome has an antenna, but no satellite dish on it. We have figured out how to make the DVD player work to watch movies, but can not pick up any TV at present.

[cbramsey]

Wife and I use a cellular hotspot for Wi-Fi. Use too many financial websites while traveling to trust campground Wi-Fi.

Do not have satellite service so I will leave that for others to comment.

[Jim2]

For DTV in your MH you need:
an antenna dish compatible with DTV such as, TRAV’LER DIRECTV SWM Slimline Automatic Multi-Satellite TV Antenna - Winegard SK-SWM3 - Satellite Antennas - Camping World

then you need a DTV receiver, which you can buy a new one to keep in the MH or you can take one back & forth from your home for temp use in the MH

For internet access, you either rely on others for wifi where its available and when it works; or you provide your own by getting a cell data plan and hotspot mifi device (which will work anywhere in the country where that cell provider has coverage). choose a cell provider that has the most high speed data coverage in the areas where you plan to travel

[Spk64]

Without having anything to start with for satellite except having directv at home. You can add a receiver for $7 a month I think is the cost.
Satellite dish choices
1. Tripod mounted dish
- manual setup can be a pain
- HD is possible
- moving to avoid trees is a plus
- cheap. $120
2. Carry out dish
- automatic tuning
- can avoid trees by moving
- I think SD only for Directv. Someone can correct me on this part
-$3-500 depending on model and sales
3. Dome mounted on top motorhome
- automatic
- trees a problem if site has blockage
- in motion is an option more dollars
- typically turn it on and once peaked watch tv
- SD only for Directv
- $700- $1500 depending on models, install etc...
4. Winegard Travlr
- one of the best setups
- mounted on top Motorhome
- fully automatic
- HD capable
- better performance in rain and some tree cover
- $1300-$2500. Depending on install or sale cost




Steve

[hawkeye1995]

CSI - You need a satellite dish for the motorhome. It can be the dome type or slimline like you have at home. There are many options for satellite dish. Keep in mind that dome satellites can only receive standard definition signals from direct tv and you can receive some HD channels with Dish Network, but they are going through some major signal changes. Directv will be doing the same about two years. Rumor has it that they will no longer send standard definition signal. Everything with both Directv and Dish Network will be HD. So your best bet for long term investment is a Winegard Traveler for Directv or Dish Network. They both use different setups, so you must decide which one you want. I think the old domes will be a thing of the past in a few years. Now for your Tv not working, make sure you have the Tv amplifier on. It should be a white or black electrical cover with a button. Make sure that button is push in and some have a green light. If the amplifier is not turned on, you will not get a tv signal. When it is turned off, it means you are ready to hook up to a campground cable system. I hope this helps in some way. Good luck.

[Fred and Bonnie]

This issue can get real complicated, best to reach a good tech the understands the in and outs, to explain the Plusses and Minuses of each system.

Go to the "Tech" section and research the "Sticky" areas at the page top.

[URL="http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/"/URL]

Fred

[Fred and Bonnie]

This issue can get real complicated, best to reach a good tech the understands the in and outs, to explain the Plusses and Minuses of each system.

Go to the "Tech" section and research the "Sticky" areas at the page top.


Fred

[SuperGewl]

Originally Posted by vsheetz

You need a second receiver and antenna for the Motorhome. The second receiver can be added to your existing Direct TV account. I think it's about $7-8 / month.

For wifi you can use campground wifi and/or provide your own cellular hotspot. A cellular hotspot can be a separate device or or can use your existing phone.

Actually DON'T get the second receiver for the MH. Just use one of your existing receivers from home when traveling. It's already paid for and may not cost you anything extra for using it on the road.
As far as the antenna is concerned, do you already have one on the MH?
If not then you have lots of options, you can a portable one in the mean time. Which personally you will need no matter what, even if you get a dome or dish installed on the MH. There will be that time when the roof top will not be able to get a line of sight to the satellites and you will need that portable.

[CSI]

You have all helped us immensely. Now to just make some decisions, and find a pile of money to pay for our decisions. Lol thanks again. You are all wonderful.