A New DirecTV Problem - RV-Dreams Community Forum

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

A New DirecTV Problem

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would put in more calls to Direct TV. If I remember right, I'm thinking that one needs to ask for a supervisor on occasion as the "regular" phone tech may not have as much experience in what to do. While we have Direct TV, we are still "static" full-timers and haven't traveled yet. We'll get to do that in July, but we will still be static, but in Colorado instead.

I'm sure that more experienced "hands" with this issue will be along soon and give you much better answers.

Terry

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

K & E wrote:
We've been using a standard satellite dish on a tripod with DirecTV for four years. We have a residential location in the summer and use the same address for our signal all summer. When we've been travelling in the winter we've had no problem with calling and having our local channel location changed. Today we arrived in Mexico Beach, Florida, about 50 miles east of Panama City. When I called to change our local channel location I was told that the only channels available in our area are HD channels and we can't get any local channels from them on our standard receiver. I was also told that it is illegal for them to be changing our locations as often as they do. They should only be changing them if we are in the same area for a month or more. When we originally signed up we were told we could change our local location as many times as we wanted. Anyone have any insight on this. We've never heard of this before. Thanks!

I’ll give a shot at answering your questions but your are gonna roll your eyes.

First, it is indeed illegal to receive local stations outside of the area where you billing is located. The FCC rule is now much more stringently enforced due to actions by Dish, not Direct TV. That is why you ran into trouble getting the locals changed so often.

Only HD’s in your area now? Actually that could definitely be the case on a single LNB 18” standard definition antenna. Many of the locals in smaller TV markets had to be put on other satellites other than the main standard definition bird 101. There just wasn’t enough room on that single satellite. To receive some of the locals it requires an additional LNB’s and a larger or separate dish. All the local station HD’s are on 2 satellites, 99 and 103 and with an HD satellite dish you get both satellites by default.

So, what’s the fix? If you just want the networks, CBS, ABC, FOX, etc, then you need to sign up for DNS. DNS provides the network shows from east or west coast stations and they are all on the 101 satellite which your 18” dish can receive.

Go here to learn about DNS. Getting DNS is the easy way (once you get it) to have all the networks coast to coast and never have to worry about this.

http://www.directv.com/learn/pdf/DNS_Vehicles_Aff.pdf

IF you specifically want the local TV stations you’ll have to go to an off-air receiver. Either using your TV or if you have the correct Direct TV equipment you can add an off-air antenna addition (called an AM-21) to your Direct TV receiver. If you have a DVR adding this AM-21 is a good thing. If you don’t have a DVR then just use the TV set and the roof off-air antenna.

The easy ways is just get DNS. That’s what most do who travel around and use an off-air antenna for the locals when needed.

Sorry, I told you would roll your eyes.