DirecTV Questions - RV-Dreams Community Forum

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

DirecTV Questions

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

We called about 5 weeks ago and added it to our home system, G

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

If I understand your question I suggest:

www.solidsignal.com

Here is the link on that site to a standard definition antenna:

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=02&p=46DTVDE2&d=DIRECTV-18-Dish-Antenna-with-Dual-LNB-and-Mount-(46DTVDE2)&c=DIRECTV Dishes&sku=053818480106

You run a cable (RG-6) from the antenna to the single antenna connection on the back of your receiver.

You also need a tripod mount and Camping World has those. I recommend the Wingard TR-3500.

Safe travels

Bill

TXRVr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Your question is a bit confusing. Please expand on it. Are you trying to get service re-established, just get a dish antenna, or both?

Ken & Sarah · RV-Dreams Family Member

We ordered our fifth wheel with the Direct TV satellite dish, when it came time to move into the fifth wheel and activate, we did not have Direct TV in the apt, I contacted a local dealer/installer and they came out and hooked up the receivers. I did have trouble getting a waiver to have a DVR because the way the unit is wired I cant' record one channel and watch another. But no one said they don't go mobil anymore. If you can check with a reputable local dealer to see if they can overcome the roadblock.

Happytrails · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm not sure exactly what your question(s) might be but we have DirectTV. When we moved into our motorhome we called DirectTV and they came to our campground and installed the two receivers/DVR. Our automatic satellite was already mounted on the roof. We called a number (they gave us) for Distant Network Service. We had to fill out some paperwork and send that in before they would approve it. It cost an additional $14.95 per month. We get east and west coast major stations. Whenever we move we do not have to call in and tell them a zip code for coordinates for the nearest station. Much easier. We have had no problems. Good luck with this!!

Happytrails · RV-Dreams Family Member

I meant to add that we also have a portable satellite that we use whenever we are in trees and can't get the roof mounted one to lock onto satellites. We purchased our portable from Camping World. DirectTV did tell us they do not provide extra portable satellites. This might be what they are telling you????? Hope this helps.

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Happytrails wrote:

We purchased our portable from Camping World. DirectTV did tell us they do not provide extra portable satellites. This might be what they are telling you????? Hope this helps.

Actually, when I signed on with DirectV, it was a switch from Dish. Dish gave me the same amount of grief about a remote dish for the RV. When I called DirecTV, they siad we will give you a spare dish, you have to get the mount for it. When you go RVing, just take one of the receivers to the RV and be happy. Maybe a different way of asking the question will help?

TXRVr · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have several spare dishes so I haven't tried this idea. I was thinking that with the new conversion to home mounted HD Slimline dishes there may be alot of surplus oval dishes. My first place to call would be the installers than DirecTV contracts with. Has anyone tried this?

two travelers · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have Dish TV at home but we are spending the summer at the campground.. I called Dish and asked them what I would need to do to get service at the camper.. They told me I could take one of my receivers boxes up to the camper and than call a local tec to come up and set up a dish for us...It would be like opening a new account.. patti

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for all the helpful hints. We called a local installer and they are shipping us everything we need along with full instructions on how to set up the satellite and hook up the receiver. The problem was talking directly to DirecTV. They didn't seem to have a clue. Also, the rep at Camping World seemed clueless as well. How can they sell such expensive equipment and not know how it works? Oh well, we should receive the equipment within 3 to 5 business days. Hopefully, it will work. I miss my DVR biggrin

Postalpair · RV-Dreams Family Member

Call Direct TV and ask for Distant Network Service.....Tell them that you are a full time RV'er....you want East coast and West Coast Feeds. They will send you some paperwork to fill out. You will have to certify that you live in your RV permanently or that the system is permanently mounted in the RV and has it's own account. You have to fill out a Mobile Waiver....it allows you to distant network services ( east coast and west coast feeds ) and to remove the phone line requirements. This information was taken from Mark Nemeth's Escapee's column, plus some of our own experiences from Direct TV. Mr. Nemeth and our own personal experience has found out that you can have a residential account, or a mobile account.....not a combo. of both....
Good Luck!!!

mcw50 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our biggest complaint with Direct TV is that every time you call them with a problem or question, you talk to someone different...and get a different answer to whatever problem you are trying to solve. We never had satellite service in our home and finally decided to get in in the RV after we'd been driving around with a factory installed dish on the roof for several years....merely had an installer at an RV rally get us all installed, up and running with no problems. It took a week or two for all the paperwork/waiver to be approved. We also have a portable dish for shady campgrounds! Our biggest problem was last summer when the receiver "died" after five years of heavy use and we were on the road making it difficult to send us stuff...plus we are not wired for HD and most new models were incompatible with our rig. It took us all summer, shipments and returns all over the US and conversations with many techs at Direct to finally get everything set up and operating correctly again and life is great now. We have just the "basic" package with only East Coast networks (we can watch "late night" programs earlier while out west

Mary

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have used Dish and Direct-Tv and use Direct-Tv only now, we found Direct-Tv to be the most efficent and the simplest to set up. We used a Tri-pod mount for years but now have the Winguard Travler 3 roof mount. We have two HD receivers for our Samsung 40" LED and a Samsung 19" LCD. We still carry the Tri-Pod mount just in case we have no choice but to park under trees. We try very hard never to park under trees, a tree is only a hazzard for RV's.

The key to HDTV is a heavy duty Tri-Pod with adjustable legs. The most important thing for getting a good signal is a level Tri-Pod. We have used the Tri-Pods from CW but found them not to be very strong or durable. If you spend anytime in the Soouth Texas (RGV) you will learn you must have a good Tri-Pod. We have set the Tri-Pod system up in most of the States and have never really had a issue.

I highly recomend the Winguard Traveler 3 roof mount just one touch of a button and it will lock onto all 3 of the Sattelites for HDTV. I agree about the only issue with Direct-Tv is you never get to talk to the same person, and in some cases there is a language problem, but just hang up and call again. GBY....