Motorhome Newbie

[deuces]

We are getting a motorhome with an in motion satellite dome. We are current Dish subscribers. I was wondering if anyone could help me with my options on how to set things up from an account perspective. I think there is a "proper" way to go about it and a "more economical" way to go about it.

I would also like info on what kind of receiver I should put in the motorhome. We have an old MPEG2 receiver not being used currently, but I'm not sure we will even be able to get SD in MPEG2 anymore, correct?

Please let me know what info I need on the satellite dome to know what sats we will be able to hit and what programming we will be able to receive. Thank you.

 

[steve4810]

I believe Dish still has RV accounts. They enable you to get distant networks.

I have one of these accounts for my travel trailer and as of the last time I asked, they told me I could still get distant netorks if I wished.

You need to fill out a form and swear that the receiver will ONLY be used in the RV, trailer or semi.

As an aside, when I went to lease a mpeg4 HD box for the trailer they told me that leased equipment could not be removed from your residence. They also pointed out that a leased receiver needs to be "on", that is being billed monthly or it must be returned. But if I bought my own I could just call the morning I pulled out and start service and turn it off when I got back. They pro-rate the days and don't charge for the start or stop.

 

[deuces]

If I just add a receiver to my account and stick it in the RV how will they know where it is? If I do that will I be able to get the same programming as in my house?

 

[steve4810]

If I just add a receiver to my account and stick it in the RV how will they know where it is? If I do that will I be able to get the same programming as in my house?

You missed the point. If you add a receiver to your account you will pay for it being "on" 365 days a year (for the 6 - 7 dollar monthly fee). If you own one and get the RV deal you pay 72 bucks divided by 365 times the actual days you use it. If your not yet retired and able to live year around in your RV you'll save about 60 bucks a year for 11+ months it sits in the drive.

And don't plan on a DVR, they have to be hooked to a phone line or you pay another 6 bucks (72 bucks a year) for that privilege.

And with the receivers in your house, if your locals are on spot beams and you drive out of the spot you have NO locals. Whereas with the RV deal you just call Dish and switch to New York or LA or Denver then switch back to your own locals when you are close enough to home to be in the spot.

 

[deuces]

I thought you meant a seperate account. I didn't think Dish would allow you to just add a receiver to your account for the RV. I thought they would require you to have a seperate account and a seperate subscription fee/package.

 

[steve4810]

I thought you meant a seperate account. I didn't think Dish would allow you to just add a receiver to your account for the RV. I thought they would require you to have a seperate account and a seperate subscription fee/package.

Actually a lot of people seem to think that. Don't feel alone.

 

[deuces]

Thanks, so do you or does anyone else know what programming I will be able to get? I have read you can call and get locals for where you are staying at the time, any truth to that? Also I would assume we cannot get our RSNs as we travel down the road, correct? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[steve4810]

I've never tried to get locals anyplace else and had only heard about the new york - LA choice.

You can get anything on the road that you can get at home you just have to buy enough dishes and/or lnbs.

The three sat 1000 series are fussier to aim when you park.

I don't think any of those auto-tracking systems yet have a three sat solution but two sat trackers are around, I've heard and that will get you nearly everything you could want.

Specifics are available on The List on this site that shows channels by satellite. There are hundreds remember so no one is gonna list them here and there isn't really any rhyme or reason for the way they are grouped, as far as I can see.