Carrying over S&B TV and Internet equipment to an RV
BiggarView said
08:59 AM Jan 14, 2015
We are at a sort of crossroads with our current TV and internet. As we approach going FT in a few years, we are switching from one source to another. Currently we are hooked up to Comcast but the current promo we are under is ending and the new rates make looking elsewhere worth checking out. We found a ATT DSL Internet/Direct TV bundle that seems to work for us, but we want to think a bit about the equipment needed. We would be getting a wirelss gateway from ATT or purchasing an equivalent item from a different source but wondered whether it would port to an RV or is there an RV friendly option that we can start with now and build on as we get closer to kick off, if that is even possible. Just trying to keep our costs under control. We envison it likely that satellite TV will be in the RV picture so I'm assuming the Direct TV portion can be adjusted using the DNS part of their service. We'd have to work out a data plan to take the place of DSL in the future but we are thinking about the MIFI devices. Do they act in the same capacity as a DSL gateway(modem and router)... guessing they are probably slower than the DSL also. Any recommendations would be helpful.
-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 14th of January 2015 09:00:59 AM
Barbaraok said
12:44 PM Jan 14, 2015
Forget about a seamless transition to the RV in terms of speed for your internet connections, it isn't going to happen. While some get by with just using whatever WiFi is available at a park, most seem to sooner or later get a data package to cover both phones and internet connection. Lots of people just use their smart phones as an internet connection, others, like ourselves, use a MiFi connection, others use a router with an air card - - but the commonality is that it is all mobile and much slower than what you will be use to with cable internet connection. So then the question becomes - Verizon or AT&T - - for most of the time we have been fulltiming (9 years) it has been Verizon, hands down, but I do understand that AT&T coverage is getting better.
As for TV - no one knows for sure exactly where it is going. If you were starting now, the question would be Direct TV or Dish - - we have Direct TV. In a few years, who knows.
Barb
Technomadia said
04:40 PM Jan 14, 2015
If you still have a 'few years' until RVing plays a major role in your life, I honestly wouldn't recommend thinking about anything that will transition over. Anything you got now would be obsolete by the time you get around to using it in a mobile way, and in the meantime you'll be living with the sacrifices mobile internet brings. If you were only a few months away, my answer would be different.
Setup for your optimal solution now for your current situation, and then when you're a few month out from hitting the road - start looking at what is current then for mobile solutions.
Bill and Linda said
06:29 PM Jan 14, 2015
Brian:
As to the satellite reception equipment, you can move / transfer you home DirecTV equipment to a mobile account if you want DNS for the rig when you go full-time. Not an issue.Or, for now if you are “weekending” you can just move the receivers to the rig and then back in the house.No problem and perfectly legal.You just won’t have DNS till you make it a mobile account. There is no such thing as a home vs. RV DirecTV receiver.One and the same.
Assuming you will be moving around, due to flexibility receiving the satellites in challenging situations, (stuff in the way like mountains, trees, etc.) DirecTV is the better choice for RV use as it is possible to get all channels (well 99% of them) from one satellite; albeit it in standard definition from that single satellite.This includes DNS service for the major networks which can also be received in standard definition from that single (101) satellite.HD is almost always available from the 99 and 103 satellites but sometimes not so due to those obstructions.If you are building a new rig or up-fitting an older one, the Winegard roof mount HD antenna – Trav’ler SK-SWM3 - with the capability to feed 5 different channels at the same time on one piece of coax to multiple DRVs / receivers is a good choice.One button up – find satellites – one button down operation. Highly recommended and it gives you additional satellite finding capability in difficult situations.
BiggarView said
08:38 PM Jan 14, 2015
Thanks Barb, Cherie & Chris, and Bill. I kinda figured as much. With plenty of time to go, and changes in available options we can continue to find the most economical package. We'll probably go with the DSL and satellite deal for now and see what promos come at renewal. At least the satellite portion could port over to mobile living without too much trouble. Now if we just get an accurate handle on our data needs. So far Comcast is reporting that we using anywhere from 7 to 17 GB per month. How our TV and internet surfing and streaming habits will change when we go FT remains to be seen. I wonder if it will go higher or lower or about the same.
We are at a sort of crossroads with our current TV and internet. As we approach going FT in a few years, we are switching from one source to another. Currently we are hooked up to Comcast but the current promo we are under is ending and the new rates make looking elsewhere worth checking out. We found a ATT DSL Internet/Direct TV bundle that seems to work for us, but we want to think a bit about the equipment needed. We would be getting a wirelss gateway from ATT or purchasing an equivalent item from a different source but wondered whether it would port to an RV or is there an RV friendly option that we can start with now and build on as we get closer to kick off, if that is even possible. Just trying to keep our costs under control. We envison it likely that satellite TV will be in the RV picture so I'm assuming the Direct TV portion can be adjusted using the DNS part of their service. We'd have to work out a data plan to take the place of DSL in the future but we are thinking about the MIFI devices. Do they act in the same capacity as a DSL gateway(modem and router)... guessing they are probably slower than the DSL also. Any recommendations would be helpful.
-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 14th of January 2015 09:00:59 AM
As for TV - no one knows for sure exactly where it is going. If you were starting now, the question would be Direct TV or Dish - - we have Direct TV. In a few years, who knows.
Barb
Setup for your optimal solution now for your current situation, and then when you're a few month out from hitting the road - start looking at what is current then for mobile solutions.
Brian:
As to the satellite reception equipment, you can move / transfer you home DirecTV equipment to a mobile account if you want DNS for the rig when you go full-time. Not an issue. Or, for now if you are “weekending” you can just move the receivers to the rig and then back in the house. No problem and perfectly legal. You just won’t have DNS till you make it a mobile account. There is no such thing as a home vs. RV DirecTV receiver. One and the same.
Assuming you will be moving around, due to flexibility receiving the satellites in challenging situations, (stuff in the way like mountains, trees, etc.) DirecTV is the better choice for RV use as it is possible to get all channels (well 99% of them) from one satellite; albeit it in standard definition from that single satellite. This includes DNS service for the major networks which can also be received in standard definition from that single (101) satellite. HD is almost always available from the 99 and 103 satellites but sometimes not so due to those obstructions. If you are building a new rig or up-fitting an older one, the Winegard roof mount HD antenna – Trav’ler SK-SWM3 - with the capability to feed 5 different channels at the same time on one piece of coax to multiple DRVs / receivers is a good choice. One button up – find satellites – one button down operation. Highly recommended and it gives you additional satellite finding capability in difficult situations.
Thanks Barb, Cherie & Chris, and Bill. I kinda figured as much. With plenty of time to go, and changes in available options we can continue to find the most economical package. We'll probably go with the DSL and satellite deal for now and see what promos come at renewal. At least the satellite portion could port over to mobile living without too much trouble. Now if we just get an accurate handle on our data needs. So far Comcast is reporting that we using anywhere from 7 to 17 GB per month. How our TV and internet surfing and streaming habits will change when we go FT remains to be seen. I wonder if it will go higher or lower or about the same.
Brian