DISH vs DirecTV

Even though this PC will be my fourth motorhome (17 years on my last one), I find that I am somewhat behind on new "technology".  I have finally quit obsessing on the fridge and settled on the normally installed Norcold.  Now, I am obsessing with satellite TV offerings.  I have had DirecTV for over 30 years in both my home and last two motorhomes.  We are watching less and less TV, but still enjoy watching some things and not ready for going solely to over-the-air.  I like some aspects of DISH.  The ability to start and stop subscriptions is one.   I have ordered a DirecTV receiver.  I am very familiar with DirecTV and can easily setup mobile dish if under trees.  Also, I am not that interested in local channels and I'm OK with the east coast feeds provided by DirecTV.  Did I just answer my own question?

Any comments and recommendations will be appreciated.

PS...I did do a search before submitting this comment, but the hits were all pretty old.

Cheers...Barry T

Hi Barry,
We went with DISH because we have that at home and it was relatively cheap to just add another receiver.  One irritating thing is that if not used for about 2 months DISH shuts off the receiver.  You then have to call and get it reinstated, even though I paid the bill each month.  Not a big deal and the folks on the phone were easy to deal with, understood it was in an RV and knew exactly what to do.

However, even though we do watch TV at home I have found that we really have little interest in watching it in the RV.  We have used the evening time for discussing what we saw that day and planning the next.  If buying again I would not have the satellite dish installed.  If we were full time I might think differently.

Hi Barry,
We went with DISH because we have that at home and it was relatively cheap to just add another receiver.  One irritating thing is that if not used for about 2 months DISH shuts off the receiver.  You then have to call and get it reinstated, even though I paid the bill each month.  Not a big deal and the folks on the phone were easy to deal with, understood it was in an RV and knew exactly what to do.

However, even though we do watch TV at home I have found that we really have little interest in watching it in the RV.  We have used the evening time for discussing what we saw that day and planning the next.  If buying again I would not have the satellite dish installed.  If we were full time I might think differently.

Thanks, jatrax.  We fulltimed in our last motorhome for 10 years and had an in-motion satelite dome and loved it.  We have DirecTV at home and the charge for the additional receiver in the motorhome is minimal.  With DirecTV,  the receiver also needs to be reinstated if off electricity for a period.  However, it can easilty be done on DirecTV's website, even on my phone.  I'm still leaning toward DTV.  My understanding that most dishes can be converted by using some dip switches.   

BTW, I decided against the DE0061 Norcold and going with the absorption.  I figger if I become unhappy, I can take it to one of several places I am familiar with and have a small residential installed.  All it takes is money!      Again, I appreciate your input on the fridge and, now, the satelite.

Cheers...BarryT

DTV likely makes sense for you since already have that at home.  I would be wary of assuming that most dishes can be converted.  I know some can but as I understand it not all can use the new DTV satellites.  I'm no expert here, just something I read.

On the fridge remember the difference between the DE0061 and a residential is that the DE0061 will operate on 12 volt supply but a residential one requires either shore power or an inverter.  If you are having an inverter installed ask them to add a receptacle wired to the inverter in the area at the rear of the refrigerator.  I doubt they would charge you much for that and then you are covered if you want to change in the future.

DTV likely makes sense for you since already have that at hope.  I would be wary of assuming that most dishes can be converted.  I know some can but as I understand it not all can use the new DTV satellites.  I'm no expert here, just something I read.

On the fridge remember the difference between the DE0061 and a residential is that the DE0061 will operate on 12 volt supply but a residential one requires either shore power or an inverter.  If you are having an inverter installed ask them to add a receptacle wired to the inverter in the area at the rear of the refrigerator.  I doubt they would charge you much for that and then you are covered if you want to change in the future.

Good idea on the extra plug.  For those considering a PC, I have found them to be extremely accommodating with modifications and/or customizations.  We never used the dinette in our last two motorhomes, so in the PC, we are having a cabinet installed with 3 drawers and 3 shelves (with doors) installed and space between the cabinet and the sofa for two TV trays.  Corian top.  The cabinet will have two pop-up tower plugs hooked to the inverter.   This will be a nice extension to the galley and will provide additional storage for stuff.  Also, having a euro chair behind the passenger seat instead of cabinets.  My point...all these mods have been reasonably priced.  I'm building it for us, with no regard for resell.  Oh, its a 3100.

I guess I just hijacked my own thread!!

Cheers...BarryT

I am having difficulty hooking up the Tailgater from Dish.  I am not at all sure where to connect the Wally.  Should I use the input video and sound, or #3 output video and sound.  I know I hook the coax to the Wally and the incoming antenna, then the Tailgater to the outside antenna hookup (or I think I know).  And then, where do I set the sound console, Aux1 or where?  Do I use the Dish remote to program the channels?
Thanks all for any help.  I have learned A BUNCH  from this forum.  You're all great help.

I am having difficulty hooking up the Tailgater from Dish.  I am not at all sure where to connect the Wally.  Should I use the input video and sound, or #3 output video and sound.  I know I hook the coax to the Wally and the incoming antenna, then the Tailgater to the outside antenna hookup (or I think I know).  And then, where do I set the sound console, Aux1 or where?  Do I use the Dish remote to program the channels?
Thanks all for any help.  I have learned A BUNCH  from this forum.  You're all great help.

I Have a 2012 model 3100 using a Wally and a Wineguard Pathway X2. I did this to get Dish to work.
Can't use the outside antenna jack because of the splitter for rear TV.
Hook cable from the Tailgater directly to the Wally.
I don't have a HDMI connection on my TV. I used an RCA cable from the TV to the Wally.
Turn off your antenna booster.
Select the correct "source" on your TV using the remote.
Turn on Wally and the menu should pop up on the TV.
Follow instructions.
Good luck.

What is the "source" you use?  I have not been able to find the Dish.  I hooked the Wally to the RCA block, and the tailgater to the Wally.  No Dish.  I can see lots of satellites with my Satellite Finder app.  Usually the TV uses the antenna and then goes to the RCA, then to the surround sound.  Nada here.
Any ideas?

Thanks
Chuck

OK. I think I understand your question.
1. You have the TV connected to the Wally via RCA connecters.
2. Shut off the an antenna booster inside the upper right cabinet.
3. With the TV remote select source.
4. Slowly toggle thru sources until Dish appears. Sometimes takes a second or two to display.
5. Follow on screen instructions.

Good luck.
 

DTV likely makes sense for you since already have that at home.  I would be wary of assuming that most dishes can be converted.  I know some can but as I understand it not all can use the new DTV satellites.  I'm no expert here, just something I read.

On the fridge remember the difference between the DE0061 and a residential is that the DE0061 will operate on 12 volt supply but a residential one requires either shore power or an inverter.  If you are having an inverter installed ask them to add a receptacle wired to the inverter in the area at the rear of the refrigerator.  I doubt they would charge you much for that and then you are covered if you want to change in the future.

One of the guys over on the Winnebago Fuse Owners Forum put this fridge power consumption comparison together now that certain models are using Residential 120V fridges.

Let me try that chart again to see if it comes out fully

Thanks all.  TheLuvShack, I found out the problem.  I was plugged into the Output side of the RCA block.  The Dish tech told me I needed to be on the Input side.  When I plugged in the Wally to the input side of the RCA block - BAM- I had Dish TV!

Great! Another mystery solved.
I've been the recipient of advice from some very helpful folks on this forum. Thanks to all that participate!!