Tailgate setup - Dish or DirecTV?

[one wolf]

Please forgive me if this has been discussed - I will continue searching for a similar thread. Also, I orignally posted this in the sports forum but was redirected to both the D* and E* forums for better advice, so apologies for the multiple threads in multiple forums.

My buddies and I have been tailgating at our alma mater football games for 22 years - it's as much fun for us now as it was back when we were in school and I hope we'll be doing it for at least 22 more years.

We're upgrading this year to HDTV and thus the old DTV box/dish we used to use with the 36" CRT won't work.

Here's the primary question: what's our best (cheapest) option for HDTV service given our needs:

• Only used 8 weekends in the fall every year
• College football - ACC in particular. We want to be able to catch every possible ACC game. SEC secondary.

That's really it. I realize that neither Dish or DTV offer any kind of plan that lets us pay for only the 8 saturdays we need it and that's fine... but what I don't want is a 2-year commitment or the such.

My gut feel is that we need to buy a HD dish and receiver off criagslist and then activate it through someone's existing account before the season, then turn it off after the season. This sound right?

If yes then the only other question is Dish or DTV. From what I can tell, ESPN's Gameplan Package is available on both. Aside from that are there other college football programming differences between dish and dtv? Specifically ACC?

Thanks very much in advance for any help.

 

[bross]

You can get a pre paid account from Dish, where you buy a receiver upfront and then purchase programing time as you want it. A lot of RVers use this option and only purchase programing when they're using their RV. I'm not sure whether it's available in HD or not. Call Dish and ask what's available.

 

[sportsfan42]

Just set up your dish and take a box to the tailgate, we do it all of the time.

 

[bobvick]

If you are wanting HD I am not real sure about the sports packages, but I think that Dish would be easier to align for HD quickly using the 110,119,129 locations with a Dish 1000.2.
DirecTV relies on Ka band satellites at 99 and 103 for HD and they are more particular to tune.

 

[digiblur]

That would be a pain to line up a DirecTV KA dish out at a game. I'd go with the 1000.2 with DishNetwork, a lot easier to aim. Works well on a simple tripod, a redneck tripod for that matter.

 

[bobvick]

That would be a pain to line up a DirecTV KA dish out at a game. I'd go with the 1000.2 with DishNetwork, a lot easier to aim. Works well on a simple tripod, a redneck tripod for that matter.

I guess if the OP wanted a really quick way to set up DirecTV or Dish for that matter he could invest in a BirDog meter.

 

[lakebum431]

I do quite a bit of tailgating myself. I have E* at home so that is what I use tailgating as well. I have two 32" HD TVs in my tailgate setup now and have them connected with a Dish 1000.2 and a couple receivers. I tailgate in basically the same place every week and have it down where I can set up the dish, align it and be ready to go in about 10 mins. Nothing other than a tripod, dish, compas and level. I have not used a D* dish so can't be help there, but if you decide to go the E* route I'm happy to help with any questions that you may have.

My best advice - practice a couple times at home so you "get the hang of it" before you have to do it in front of your buddies. It isn't hard by any means, but can be harder when people want to get ESPN gameday on ASAP and you get flustered.

 

[gampp]

I'm looking to add HD to my tailgate as well. In looking at the channel lineup, it seems that all of the HD feeds (except for ESPN) that I would need are on the 129 satellite. Do we need a 3LNB dish, or could we use a simple 1 LNB pointed at 129 hooked into an existing 722 and still get HD?

 

[one wolf]

Good stuff here - thanks for the replies.

I see this unfortunately:
DISH Network - Pre-Paid Packages - 1.888.825.2557

Customers with pre-paid accounts are not eligible to receive local channels or Regional Sports Networks.

I wonder why.

 

[delta_charlie]

Hi one wolf and the group, What do you have at home for TV? If you had Dish HD at home I think you could add a second HD receiver (for a second room) at a low cost. The ViP 211 might work well for the second receiver. You could then take this second receiver to the tailgate.

BTW - my HD comes from 61.5 using a single LNB and a Dish 500. Very easy to setup.

Hope this helps, DC

 

[lakebum431]

I'm looking to add HD to my tailgate as well. In looking at the channel lineup, it seems that all of the HD feeds (except for ESPN) that I would need are on the 129 satellite. Do we need a 3LNB dish, or could we use a simple 1 LNB pointed at 129 hooked into an existing 722 and still get HD?

You don't have to have a 3LNB dish if there is nothing on the other satellites that you want. Just figure out which satellite positions you want to see and go from there. Don't forget about local channels though. Lots of good games on them. That being said, depending on where you are you can hook up a small antenna and pull in locals through the Dish receiver. For me the minor cost difference on the 1000.2 and the Dish 500 made it worth it to me to get the 1000.2 to make sure I was flexible if/when channels change positions.

For the OP I'd just buy your equipment and do a no contract setup for the season then cancel when you are done.

 

[Scherrman]

I use to bring a Dish set-up all the time to Iowa games. We were only using SDTV though. If I were to do it now, I would actually get a VuCube. It makes setting things up breeze. The only problem is that it's expensive. If you want to do it a little cheaper, I would buy a 1000.2 antenna kit, some kind of tripod, and bring your HD receiver from home. Once you master setting it up, you can make money helping others set theirs up when tailgating. I've made a few bucks and got some bloody mary's for helping some strangers.

 

[Symbol]

buy your own dish and get someone with an existing account to activate the receiver you OWN(I would say buy a 211k)during the season,it will only cost 5 bucks a month and it can be canceled, also you may use the receiver to aim your dish,personally I use the rceiver to make sure I am locked on the sat,then I use an analog meter to fine tune it

I would suggest you purchase this pack for your tailgate
SATELLITE FINDER KIT SATELITE SIGNAL DIGITAL METER SAT - eBay (item 160286711982 end time Aug-20-09 17:42:25 PDT)
the dish is a breeze to set up if you use a compass and get the alignment info here
Satellite Finder / Dish Pointing Calculator with Google Maps | DishPointer.com

 

[DodgerKing]

Just an FYI...When you post a question comparing one provider to another is a forum for one provider only, you will usually get more favorable results for the provider of that particular forum.

That being said. As a DirecTV sub if your interests is college sports, then their is not much difference between the two providers (Direct may have more games in HD). The setup for Dish will be easier than that of Direct. Dish maybe the way to go for you.

If you interests is Pro sports, then Direct is the way to go, hands down. Dish does not even come close to touching Dish in this realm.

With what you posted in your first post, it looks like Dish would be your best option.

 

[one wolf]

I want to thank everyone for the various very helpful responses.

Just an FYI...When you post a question comparing one provider to another is a forum for one provider only, you will usually get more favorable results for the provider of that particular forum.

Well of course - that's why I posted an identical thread in the DTV forum. No responses on that one which is interesting a little.

With what you posted in your first post, it looks like Dish would be your best option.

I am tending to agree. The biggest issue is that none of us have Dish agreements currently to tag one onto. Seems unusual I guess... maybe because we're in an urban area - cable generally rules.

Thanks again everyone.