Changing DirecTV DNS coastal feed - RV-Dreams Community Forum

David and Cheryl · RV-Dreams Family Member

Changing DirecTV DNS coastal feed

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Actually, I like having the NY feed when on the West Coast - - can get the programs early in the afternoon/evening, and then watch other programs or switch to OTA for local news.

David and Cheryl · RV-Dreams Family Member

The only problem is that we're often in locations where we can't pick up an OTA signal, either because we're too far away from the transmitter or because there's no local broadcast.

Anyway, after an hour and a half, I finally got in touch with a supervisor, who knew exactly how to make the change. Five minutes later, we were receiving the west coast feeds instead of the east coast ones. I asked her what we should do next time we change coasts to avoid this hassle. She said that she noted in our account that we were qualified to receive DNS and either coast's feed, along with how to change it, so that a front line agent can make the change. I'm not terribly optimistic, but we'll see near the end of this year as we move back east.

CJSX2fromCT · RV-Dreams Family Member

We just call in and give them the zip code we are in and they switch us to the local channels.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

CJSX2fromCT wrote:
We just call in and give them the zip code we are in and they switch us to the local channels.

That is the plan that we intend to use. So far, so good. What I like about this approach is that we get local weather on the Sat.

David and Cheryl · RV-Dreams Family Member

RonC wrote:
CJSX2fromCT wrote:
We just call in and give them the zip code we are in and they switch us to the local channels.
That is the plan that we intend to use. So far, so good. What I like about this approach is that we get local weather on the Sat.

So neither of you have DNS, I assume? You're just changing your service address zip code?

I've heard that if you change locations frequently, they get suspicious. We're moving on average once a week, so I wonder if that would be a problem.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

We like to stay for a month at a time, but often ... if you don't move too far ... there is no need to change the service address As the "spot beam coverage" is pretty big.

-- Edited by RonC on Friday 27th of January 2017 09:10:14 PM

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

They really never get suspicious, because there is no attempt to deceive. We're in an RV and have moved ... no need to trick or deceive anybody. DirecTV seems to understand our situation and, so far, it has not been an issue. I think in days gone by, this may have been an issue, but in 2017 ... not so much. David, you are correct that we do not subscribe to DNS and changing the service address is what we do. The billing address remains our "domicile address".

-- Edited by RonC on Friday 27th of January 2017 09:08:02 PM

-- Edited by RonC on Friday 27th of January 2017 09:11:08 PM

-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 28th of January 2017 03:58:38 PM

-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 28th of January 2017 03:59:52 PM

CJSX2fromCT · RV-Dreams Family Member

Here is the number we call to change 866 514 3582 they are aware we are full timers no issues at all

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

RonC wrote:
CJSX2fromCT wrote:
We just call in and give them the zip code we are in and they switch us to the local channels.
That is the plan that we intend to use. So far, so good. What I like about this approach is that we get local weather on the Sat.

I've been told that they won't change DNS based on your current zip code but will do it if you don't have DNS. We just use the NY feeds on our DNS generally and have the AM-21 add on to get OTA local channels for weather. Back when we had a SD mailing service we alternated our "location" between it and our son's house in VA as needed to get the correct coast DNS for our physical location but we ended up with both east and west feeds a year or so ago on a change. There's nothing technical preventing them from giving you both.

When necessary I just called them up and told them I was moving to my "other address" and gave it to them and told them I needed to switch my DNS. Ask for the RV/mobile department. Occasionally I had to hang up and call back. Call the tech support number…not the sales number (or press whatever for tech support when the answer, can't remember which one it is).

We like our AM21 because it gives us whatever local OTA channels there are, puts them in the guide so we can record them if we want to, and doesn't require switching the set from the DirecTV receiver to the batwing to use the OTA antenna.

nwtraveler · RV-Dreams Community Member

It's been a few years since we signed up for DNS so I don't remember the specifics, but we have both
East and West coast feeds. We haven't been on the road in a few years now but still get both coasts
as well as our local feeds, so it's just a matter of selecting the channel for either an East coast or West
coast feed or local.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

nwtraveler wrote:
It's been a few years since we signed up for DNS so I don't remember the specifics, but we have both
East and West coast feeds. We haven't been on the road in a few years now but still get both coasts
as well as our local feeds, so it's just a matter of selecting the channel for either an East coast or West
coast feed or local.

For new DNS signups - One can only get the east or west coast HD feeds - not both. (FCC lawyer stuff) So one gets, usually, the east or west coast DNS stations based on their billing address. In the past both were available at the same time and those who had DNS prior to the new FCC rules got to keep them. So if you have both, don't cancel and expect to ever get both east and west back.

These comments are just for DNS - not for changing the local stations from one place to another.

Just FYI and YMMV

Bill

David and Cheryl · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill and Linda wrote:
nwtraveler wrote:
It's been a few years since we signed up for DNS so I don't remember the specifics, but we have both
East and West coast feeds. We haven't been on the road in a few years now but still get both coasts
as well as our local feeds, so it's just a matter of selecting the channel for either an East coast or West
coast feed or local.
For new DNS signups - One can only get the east or west coast HD feeds - not both. (FCC lawyer stuff) So one gets, usually, the east or west coast DNS stations based on their billing address. In the past both were available at the same time and those who had DNS prior to the new FCC rules got to keep them. So if you have both, don't cancel and expect to ever get both east and west back.
These comments are just for DNS - not for changing the local stations from one place to another.
Just FYI and YMMV
Bill

That's what I had understood as well. But when we called in and finally got to the supervisor who knew what she was doing, she said we could sign up for both east and west coast feeds, but that each one would be $15/month (that is, 2x what we were already paying). I declined since we don't change east-west locations that often. For sure though, if you had both feeds and you're grandfathered in, don't give that up--at the very least it will end up costing you more if you ever want to go back.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Not sure why, if you are on the West Coast, you want west feed; use OTA antenna for locals and get network things EARLY. That's how we use ours.

David and Cheryl · RV-Dreams Family Member

Barbaraok wrote:
Not sure why, if you are on the West Coast, you want west feed; use OTA antenna for locals and get network things EARLY. That's how we use ours.

Because it's often TOO early, LOL. We don't have a DVR.

Many times we aren't in an area with OTA reception, so the satellite feed is our only source.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

CJSX2fromCT wrote:
Here is the number we call to change 866 514 3582 they are aware we are full timers no issues at all

That's not a good number. Tried it and got connected to a virtual conferencing center.

-- Edited by RonC on Friday 7th of April 2017 08:32:34 PM

CJSX2fromCT · RV-Dreams Family Member

sorry 866 514 3528

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

Really thinking about switching to DNS (if I get East Coast Services). Because we seldom watch live shows and the DVR would work best on DNS. We'll see.