satellite TV provider

[lizzyhermit]

for those of you who have one (satellite TV that is) which provider do you prefer? We travel Mexico to Canada, west of the Misissippi River.

 

[dmurdock]

I think they are pretty much the same. I have Dishnetwork and love it. The main selling point for me was that I signed a 1-year agreement (basically you have to subscribe for at least a year) and i got the dish and 2 receivers free (that was 4 years ago). I always hear specials like this on the radio (atleast here in Austin). I've never heard about deals like this for directv, If I do, I might switch to get newer equipment.

 

[Bill Stockard]

We've had DirecTV for 5-6 years with no problems traveling the "lower 48". The transmitting satellite is located approximately 25,000 miles over San Antonio, TX. In the northern states, we had to point the dish pretty low on the horizon. If you go into Canada, I don't know how far north you could go without going "over the horizon". Mexico shouldn't be a problem.



Bill

 

[billr]

You may know that Directtv and Dish Network are trying to merge. Check out either on the Internet and you will find this info. Generally speaking either will get you very good programming in North America but you may need a larger dish in Alaska and parts of North Canada. I use Directtv but will switch to Dish to get the local channels in Denver when I go RVing full time. Directtv just doesn't understand the full picture yet and won't offer local channels.

 

[JHansen]

I can tell you for a fact that both DirecTV and Dish Network work just fine at our latitude here which is about 1/2 way between Calgary and Red Deer-DirecTV with an 18" dish and the Dish Network with a 24" (although I think an 18" would work just fine 95% of the time). Pretty sure they work farther north than here too.



Jason

 

[Dane]

Lizzy,

I install both directv and dish network equipment all day long and prefer directv because you can get regular programming service from one satellite vs 2 satellites for dish network. The single satellite location makes dish tuning easier, especially in marginal locations like Canada. But... the directv receivers cannot tell you which sat you're getting signal from, and dish network recievers can. This can save you headaches in troubleshooting sometimes. I have found that spending extra time leveling the mast and then checking the compass heading and elevation carefully make finding the right bird a snap in most cases.

 

[JHansen]

Dane-I don't have Dish 500 or whatever they call the fancy 2 satellite locking dish thingy..... mine is ancient (5 years old now). It was the 1st mini dish I ever touched-I was in on installing Mom and Dad's C-band which was quite a trial although I did eventually get it sorted out. The Dish Network was a little bit of a challenge trying to get aiming instructions for Canada-but eventually we got it to work. Someday I'd like to make the upgrade to Dish 500 but I dunno if it's gonna happen-CRTC is probably pointing the RCMP in my direction as we speak to haul me and my US dish to the hoosegow! :{



I have been in on helping quite a few of my buddies install the Canadian mini-dish systems up here-I have had a ton better luck putting in the ExpressVu (which is basically Echostar/Dish Network hardware pointing at a Canadian bird) than Star Choice (which is some kind of General Instruments crap)-Star Choice drives me insane!



Jason

 

[bombero]

Direct TV

Those of you that posted must be full time RV's or have it in your home. For us it sucks!!! We have it it in our RV and only activates it when we are on the the road. I shoud sue theM--F"s. I dont want to go into along thing but now I am going to pirate their sigal. They ****** me of so bad I dont care what it costs me!!!

 

[hpaul]

I personally prefer the Dish Network. They never give you a problem about having a phone line hooked up, thus making it easy for travel. Direct TV will accommodate you in this regard, but you need (or did) have to fill out paper work and get it approved.



Coverage of the Dish Network satellites is good throughout the country and lower Canada. Extreme northeast areas require a lower look angle to the satellite, thus can sometimes be a bit of a problem avoidiing obstacles when attempting to setup the antenna.

 

[billr]

Those of you that posted must be full time RV's or have it in your home. For us it sucks!!! We have it it in our RV and only activates it

Dish Network has a one page form to complete to get your RV system working full time. Go to dishnetwork.com and print it out. Send that with a copy of your vehicle registration and you will be legal so long as it remains in the RV. You can also get a choice of local programing if you want to receive the big networks like ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX. That's what I plan to do in a few months when I go RVing full time.

 

[RustyJC]

We have DirecTV at home (1 main & 1 mirrored receiver. ) Our RV receiver is billed as a 2nd mirrored receiver on the home account at $4. 95/month, does not have a phone line connected and does not have to be activated & deactivated when we use our RV.



Rusty

 

[billr]

We have done the same with our Directtv. When we travel we just move one out to the 5ver and hook it up. This method does not get us any local news nor the 4 big networks. Full time RVers do not have a place to hook one receiver to a land line. Dish Network, with the above mentioned form, will give us the regular channels and our choice of 'local' (Denver 5) stations without the need to have a land line hooked to a receiver. We will sell our home and it may be 3 or 4 years before we buy another in another state. There are possibilities for almost anyone if you know where to look. This one works for us.

 

[Bill Stockard]

As posted above, we've had DirecTV for the last 5-6 years. I haven't had a phone line even near the receiver in the last 3 years and get all my programming including all the local DFW stations. I guess I'm lucky



Bill

 

[satmike]

I travel to Baja in the winter. I had Dish Network first I only got about half the channels down at the tip. Directv next got pretty much everything in the day, lose some stations at night. When they reconfigured in Dec. 2001 the transponder with my local channels doesen't get any signal. This is all with a 36" dish

 

[zgordons]

I use Direct TV, and have for around 8 yrs, I have recieved there signal in some very tight areas, cliffs, trees, rocks, ect. I have used it down in Baja, although like the other post said you need the 1 meter, or 36 in antenna, once your 250 miles down, your out of the foot print with the 18 in antenna. I was around 950 miles down, and just put the antenna in the sand, and leaned it up against broken chair, found the signal, and never adjusted for signal strength the whole time at that location. You can line up sights on the ground, to reposition if it ever is bumped or blown out of position, it has always worked for me.

 

[Blakers]

So, if I get Dish Network at home, how do I get it on the road? What is needed?



new to this.



Thanks,

Blake