RV Satellite
“Okay, okay, I’ll make a video!”…is what I said to one RV owner who came up to talk to me about satellite TV in the RV. You see, we talked for about an hour and at the end, he just kept saying “you need to make a video on your blog about this.” He would not let it go until I said “Okay.” So not wanting to break a promise, I made the video and I hope this may help others make a choice.
In this short five minute video I talk about the two providers in the USA and also about the types of RV satellite dishes. I even get into the ever important reception, no pun intended, of NFL Football coverage.
:Rant:
What really gets me though is why the RV industry seems to always include a DirecTV satellite receiver in the coach that comes with a dome. This makes no sense at all seeing that everything else in the coach is setup for HiDef (HDTV). What do I mean? Simple…No dome RV satellite dishes can receive HDTV from DirecTV!!! It is only able to receive standard definition from the dome based on DirecTV using the KA band for all HDTV broadcasts. (Domes use KU band LNB antennas.) Only Dish Network is able to be received in HDTV from a dome as they broadcast everything in the KU band. My only thought is that they get a kickback for each receiver activated. But that is so wrong as it really seems to confuse people and by the time they find this out it’s too late and they are locked into a contract.
:End Rant:
So, do not stand for it, get full HDTV and make the clear choice of Dish Network when using a dome. (Get it? “Clear choice”, because the image is clearer in HD. I crack myself up sometimes)
(And no, this is not a paid endorsement.)
All in all, here is the video I did in regards to “RV Satellite TV and Making a Choice”.
(Please do not attack the messenger as we all have out likes and dislikes.)
Thanks Dave and Brenda…you guys are my Tech Heroes! :)
More than welcome Tom. Hope it helped.
WONDERFUL VIDEO PACKED WITH INFORMATION,,, NOW HOW ABOUT ONE OUTLINING YOUR PERSONAL WIFI SETUP, INCLUDING ANTENNAE AND ALL EQUIPMENT DOWN TO THE COMPUTER.
LOL…Did I not already send that to you via email. :) I will need to consider doing that though. But I think the costs may scare our readers for WiFi in the coach. But yes, it is important.
Oooh, that would be good too…I’m looking at those toys now.
Dido, WONDERFUL VIDEO PACKED WITH INFORMATION,,, NOW HOW ABOUT ONE OUTLINING YOUR PERSONAL WIFI SETUP, INCLUDING ANTENNAE AND ALL EQUIPMENT DOWN TO THE COMPUTER.
Ditto
+2 on the Wifi setup. I have seen the photos, but it would help to have a detailed explanation.
Thanks for sharing this interesting and helpful information.
Thanks David, Great as always.
Great as always to learn from your tech knowledge! The differences you point out would never occur to most folks to even question…just accept what comes with the RV and go from there. After having hi-def, seeing something in standard def makes my eyes hurt! Thanks for bringing up and sharing this info!
You just helped me make my decision for a Dish unit, thanks.
Glad it was of help!
This was so informative. Thank you for your insight. I’m now following you on all sites…lol. Thank you so much for ‘dumbing’ it down for me.
What are your thoughts on tailgate/portable dishes? How hard is it to set them up each time?
They work just like a dome would. It is just a portable dome and thus would have the same issues I mentioned. What you gain is being able to put it where you would like it on the ground or even on a ladder. Setup is as easy as plugging it into the sat in on your RV. (Most have an external sat port). Then you power it up and it does the rest just like a dome.
Thanks. So regular dishes work like dome or has same issues..(not the dome style portable)?
No…If you want to setup a tripod and point the dish correctly, you can use a dish with 3 LNB’s (Dish Network) or 5 LNB’s (DirecTV) and manually set one up. That is different than a Carryout or Tailgater which are automatic single LNB with the same rules as a dome.
True. Just remember that “portable” also involves the risk of theft. Portables are low-hanging fruit to some people – they tend to grow legs.
Hi David and Brenda. Glad you are doing so well. Thanks for the video. I knew all that already but for those that haven’t been in electronics for 30 years, it sure was helpful. Your blog is really excellent. Much better than our dopey little “here’s where we are and what we are doing” blog. I enjoy all the info you get out to people. I’d say it sounds like there is a WiFi video in your future though David. LOL.
We are north of the border now in Saguenay, QC. Hope to bump into you sometime again. God bless and have a great day.
Jim and Irene Gordon
Hey David and Brenda. Thanks for taking the time to put this together. Just curious what your personal reasons are for liking the Winegard system better than the dome if you are using Dish Netwrok. Thanks again!
-j
P.S. An article on your current Wifi setup would be great. Even if you went a more costly route I’m sure you tried a LOT of different things before you settled on your current setup.
Hi…As mentioned in the video, the dome can only point at ONE satellite at a time. Dish network uses 3 and DirecTV using 5 satellites for services. As such, when you change channels, the dome has to move to another satellite. Also, because stations may be on different satellites, you really can not use a DVR, as we do, as you can not be sure what satellite you will be pointing to if you are watching something and you want to record something else at the same time that may be on a different satellite. (OR record multi shows at once.)
Also with a larger dish platter, you do not have rain fade as much as you do with a dome. The dome, based on the size, has a very small platter inside thus it collects less of a signal and is subject to a lot more single loss. Right now, I am shooting my Travl’er though a tree. (though try not to do this.) I would never even have the signal with a dome in this case.
Yup…Trying to figure out when to do a WiFi video. :)
I came across on of your videos on youtube. I switched from Dish to DirecTV. I have a Winegard SK-SWM3 with the current Dish HD Receivers. I have my own reasons for switching, but thats besides the point. At the end of the day you can get DirecTV HD in your RV, just not with a dome. It is not an in-motion system, which is not a big deal for us since my wife and I are the only ones in the RV 90 percent of the time. She would hate watching TV when we are on the move. She enjoys telling me where to go when we are on the road – if you know what I mean.
Hi Michael…Yup, you can surely get DirecTV in HD, but as clearly stated in the video, and was the point of the video, not with a dome. But surely with a tripod or a roof mounted automatic dish. And yup, agree with not watching TV on the move, no reason IMHO without kids that need to be entertained. :) Thanks for checking out our blog.
Hi David, I am getting ready to make a move to the Traveler with Dish.
Will I only have one receiver in the coach? Will we be able to watch different stations at the same time?
Thanks Agin
A good presentation on a complex subject. One size does not fit all.
I left DISH because they were disloyal to their long term RV customers when the discontinued their ‘Distant Locals’ programing. Yes, you can get locals, this does not satisfy the needs of a fulltimer. I cannot program my DISH dvr when I keep changing time zones! With Direct TV I use New York locals all the time.
Hi…Yes, Dish discontinued the distant networks which was an additional cost. However when you arrive somewhere where you will be for some time, you can call into the RV department with the zip code of where you are and they will update your receiver with the local channels which will also update the time zone. You also can use the USB over the air tuner and find and record any local OTA station. Not that this helps you now…but I did not want others to think the same.
Wow, what a great blog! Just found your site, totally awesome lots of good info here! Hey, in regard to DISH we have the Trav’ler as well. My one beef with them is lack of “full” support for the Eastern Arc – we spend a lot of time in the northeast and hitting 129 on the Western Arc is near impossible up here. Yeah I can hit 61.5 or 72 individually in the EA but not getting them both at the same time has limitations. Since my attempted conversations with Winegard have been less than useless, I was wondering if you have any “inside info”? Specifically, I have determined I could replace the WA LNB with an EA LNB fairly easily, but the problem is the Skew – as best I can tell there is no way to access anything in their control box that would let me manually adjust that. If I could only adjust the skew I could get an EA LNB to pick up both 61 and 72 so I could get locals and everything else in HD. Any thoughts? PS I have found one location in RI where I can use the stock Trav’ler to point at 61.5 and I ALSO get (weakly) 72 – and that’s with the WA LNB. Anyway, thanks for all you do!
Hi…
Sorry, I am not aware of any way to do what you are seeking as it is not just the LNB setup it is also the platter shape itself. This is surely a Winegard issue vs a Dish issue they produce the dish for it. Not sure what receiver you are using with it, but I often wondered if I could set my dome dish to hit just 61.5, via dip switch setting, and put that into the switch that would combine the 3 LNB’s and the 1 from the dome this hitting 3 or 4 sats depending on where you are. The Hopper can not do that it it’s switch that I am aware of. Good luck!
Hi David,
We just bought a 2013 Phaeton which has the In-motion satellite wineguard system. Since you posted this article in 2014 is the Direct TV still not able to provide HD? Would you still recommend Dish for RV’ers?
Thanks!
Yes, it still holds true. It is based on the LNB that are used in the domes and DirecTV switched systems a number of years back and thus the LNB’s are not compatible for the new HD sats that use. So if you want HD via Sat dome…you need to have Dish. (Which I recommend anyway.) If you plan to use the coach a lot, I highly recommend not using the dome as it is LOUD and can not tune multi channels at once. So if you have a DVR, you can not watch one channel and record another. Or record multi channels at once. Look into putting in a Winegard Travlier automated dish. You can not use it when driving, but you will be MUCH happier when you are parked. You can get that in Dish or DirecTV versions both supporting HD. (Hope that makes sense.)
David,
We use Dish and have an in-motion Winegard dome, but we also have a Dish Tailgater that we use when in the trees or obstructions…..Hate the Winegard in-motion. Is there a dome I can install and still use the tailgater? The convenience of the Winegard is nice, and you are right, hate the noise while it takes forever to hone in on the signal.
Not really sure what you are asking as you surely can’t use the dome and the Tailgater at the same time unless on two separate receivers. But if you want the best then you want to get a Trav’ler 1000. https://amzn.to/2C8HCkS
Very good video. I use the Dish Network Traveler and do like pay as you go service. Just $5 when not in use is fair. I also use their APP on my IPhone. This allows me to quickly chat with them to change my local service area to where ever I am without changing my billing address. I then get the local channels for that area and the receiver is set to the right time zone. I’m sure this will get you that Blacked Out Game from home.
Hi, Just found your site and think it is great. I know I’ll be on it often.
Just bought a 2015 Tiffin Open Road equipped with an in motion dome satellite dish. Previous owner was set up with DirectTV. What do I do to change it over to Dish? I assume I have to buy a Dish receiver and can’t just change out the card in my current receiver. What else is involved? The Traveler sounds the way to go but for now I want to use what I have.
Hi…If they are still using the same dome, two things need to happen. 1) You need a DishNetwork receiver and 2) You need to open the dome and set some dip switches inside so it know what satellites to use. Right now it is set for DirecTV. How you go about that and what you change I can’t help you with I’m sorry to say. You should have a manual that came with the dome and if not you can look it up online and find the manual, if you know the model, and look at up settings you need. Have fun!
David I have Direct TV and will be switching to Dish as soon as my contract is up.
My question is, will I still be able to use my Direct TV traveler with Dish.
Thanks,
Paul
Good news for you is YES as you can go from DirecTV Trav’ler to DISH but not the other way do to the motors. :) But anyway…check with Winegard as they have a conversion kits. But that kits is based on the version of Trave’ler you currently have. So you need to get the right one. I also found this post by another blogger, so no reason to make another post. :) https://rvseniormoments.com/tech-docs/dish-tv-for-rvs/directv-to-dish-travler-conversions/
Hi Dave and Brenda, Happy new year! I’m new to RVing and find you site outstanding. I have learned so much from you guys. I purchased my used RV last year and completely gutted the inside and restored it to new. Finally starting to use it. My question(s) is this. The RV has an original old Winegard dish that is useless. I want to upgrade to the Traveler and set it up with Dish Network. Did you purchase and install your traveler yourself or did you buy a package from Dish? Same question on the receiver.
Thanks,
Scott
Hi…I had it installed when where picking up the coach from the dealer. I just purchased the receiver and then did the Hopper 3 update and just purchased a Hopper 3. DISH does not install on motor coaches.
Dave, thanks for the quick response. With a new Traveler, do you still need to do the upgrade on the Hopper 3 or are they now comparable?
Hi Scott…You will need to still do this upgrade I show in this tutorial… https://outsideourbubble.com/update-dish-hopper-3-winegard-travler-upgrade/ You See, DISH does not want you to use a Hopper 3 in an RV as people don’t remember to TURN THEM OFF, UNPLUG THEM, when you move. Seeing it has a hard drive, you can crash the drive seeing it mechanical. (It does not like bumps!) As such, the Winegards are setup for more or less standard receivers but surely can be used with a Hopper 3 doing this simple upgrade. Hope this makes sense.
I love your YouTube ‘channel’. I bought the dish, LNB and the Hopper. I am getting ready to put it all in. I read online that the Hopper is not allowed to be used with the Dish RV program. Is that true? On a side note, we just got the Waste Master hose and LOVE it. As much as one can love such a thing LOL.
Hi…I am sorry to say I am not sure if it can or not. Things change. I do know that you surely can use the Hopper 3 in a RV/Coach and update the local channels to your currently location via the APP. But nut sure if you can activate it on a Pay As You Go program.
The Hopper can be used with a “DISH Outdoors” account if you own it (vs leasing it) and you will be able to change your locals via the MyDISH app. If you lease the Hopper you will need to call or chat to change your locals.