Direct TV Distant Network Services

[garhawk]

A year ago we signed on with Direct TV in order to have a receiver inside the bus which would log us on with the same services which we have at the house.  That is what we were promised when we visited the local Direct TV downtown storefront and purchased their "premium" service.

What a surprise when we traveled outside the broadcast cone of the local area TV networks - no network (ABC, CBS, NBC) reception. 

For over a year now, we have attempted to sign on to their Distant Network Services (DNS).  Finally, on March 23, 2012, their representative assured us that for $5.00 per month for the next 12 months, we would be receiving their DNS.  They were crediting our account $10.00 per month from their regular fee of $15.00 per month for the aggravation over the past year.

Yesterday I received a call from a Direct TV representative who informed me that she was setting up a separate account for the RV and, the charge was to be $15.00 per month.  It was an extremely difficult conversation (?) as she spoke less than passable English.  I asked for a supervisor and was put on hold.  After 23 minutes simply hung up the phone.

This morning I called Direct TV and luckily got the DNS expert.  She said they would set up a separate account.  The charge would be $15.00 plus $68.99 per month for the bus.  She informed me that it is a federal law they (Direct TV) must follow.  The frustration is getting to be too much. 

We're leaving on a six week vacation May 3rd and, would really like to connect with the TV networks outside our local area.  What are our options? 

[busguy01]

I didn't tell you this -- but it is simple IF you do not want LOCAL networks. If that works for you - simply set up an RV account with east and west coast networks and cancel your home accouint. When home use your bus reciever in the house. Do not connect phone line at any time for any reason.
JimH

[dukegrad98]

Sorry for the minor hijack...I don't know what to tell you about your situation, but busguy01's response caught my eye. 

I have a DirecTV subscription at my vacation cabin.  I've been wondering if I can just buy an extra receiver (say from an online auction), install it in the coach, and pop in my pre-existing little access card into it, then aim the dish correctly.  I don't really care about local networks and all that; it would just be nice to have some "free tv" in the bus.  I'm only at the cabin a month or two per year, but I pay a full monthly subscription year-round.  Might as well be able to watch some television in the RV every now and then.  Anyone tried this?  Thanks.

Cheers, John

[Seangie]

Garhawk,

We have a TV that is newer (2 years old) that has an ATSC (digital/hdtv) tuner built in. (this is standard with all newer TV's).   We get our TV over the air with a standard RF antenna (free).  Usually works well enough to get the local channels.  Depends on your location and how far away from the broadcasting towers you are.  If you have an older TV without an ATSC tuner you can always by a DVD/VCR with an ATSC tuner built in or just a plain ATSC tuner box to hook up to your TV if you don't feel like replacing the entire television.

-Sean

[BRUISER]

I thought lets say you have 3 receivers in your house.

1 in living room , 1 in bedroom and 1 in garage..

can't you just take the one from garage and put it in RV and then use a mobile Dish when camping or traveling? or will this not work due to zip code being different?

[Cary and Don]

We take the receiver out of the house for the bus.  We have gone up and down the west coast and always received our locals.  We do not have a separate account for the bus.  I don't know if we would loose the locals if we went east or not,  but I don't think the satellite knows where you are. You don't need the phone line unless you order pay-per-view.

Don and Cary
1973 05 Eagle
GM 4107
Neoplan AN340

[skihor]

With Dish Network, I have to call to change the zip code to get locals. It's a pain in the a** but doable. So when traveling if we want locals we have to call every night with the local zip codes and it takes an hour, sometimes, before they start working. So, coupled with setting the dish up, and dealing with customer service, who may or may not speak recognizable english... DVR. Before going to bed, (at home), I search the program guide far into the night and record "stuff" for future travel. We have over 200 hours to peruse. For staying on top of current events listen to the radio.

Don & Sheila

[Geoff]

I had a very interesting conversation with my Direct TV installer about using the receiver from the house in the bus.  I told about how if I was out of my home state that the local TV channels didn't work, and that I had heard of years past that you could get an RV account that let you choose which city you wanted your local news from.  He told me that because of 9-11 the new government regulations would not allow this option any more.  The gov't didn't want you getting news from another area if their was a national emergency.  He also said the old RV's who had the optional pick of local news were grandfathered in.  Interesting.  He also said that tv became digitalized because the government wanted to keep all the analog signals for government use.

[buswarrior]

Geoff, your Direct TV installer is quite a creative fellow.

Conspiracy theory must be his hobby.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hoi Folks,

Here's how DTV works.

Your local channels are Pin Beemed to your area [usually a tri state region] and all the standard cable channels are

directed over the entire united states & Canada. When you travel out of your Local area, you will lose your local

channels but not the rest.

This is what I do, keep your home account and either bring recievers from home when you travel or have dedicated

reciever for your coach. Either way, you don't need an account for your coach. What you can do iwhen your out

of your local channel broadcast region, simply install a digital antenna and input it into your main reciever [ANT] in your coach.

This will allow you to recieve local channels in your travels around the country. This can be done on your remote control

by pressing the ANT [antenna or AUX] input to switch from sat to aux or antenna. You will still always have normal Sat

broadcasting at all times.

So, forget about DNS and East or West broadcasting fees and deticated RV monthly service...

Hope this helps!
Nick-

KVH dealer for 5 years!

[eagle19952]

I have Dish, I just simply tell them i have moved, I am a contractor and i bid short jobs , I have moved into nonexistant addresses...once they told me that address had service already and i told them oh ah yeah sorry i am in unit B....
They don't know...

[garhawk]

Thanks to all who forwarded your helpful ideas. 

We have a dedicated receiver box in the bus along with a static rooftop King antenna.  The problem is that we do not have an 'air' antenna for the local channels when we are away from our home area and, even if we had such an antenna, it is not always that we are close enough to the towers to receive the signal.  Also, many small communities do not have the full slate of network broadcasters.

The concern for us is that my wife enjoys several network shows and we like to watch weekend PGA golf which is only on the major networks, along with some other major sporting events.  We can certainly live without the network hookup but, why should we?  Our coach is already mostly equipped.  We just needed to know how to avoid the Direct TV ploy for another $100 per month of our cash!

Thanks Nick - you certainly seem to have the right answer.  I'll get started on it right away!

[Geoff]

It sounded reasonable to me. 

Geoff, your Direct TV installer is quite a creative fellow.

Conspiracy theory must be his hobby.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Garhawk,

Just thought you would like to see the digital HD antenna I use on the coach for locals.

http://www.homeantenna.org/antenna-hd600.html

Lava


Nick-

[Ralph7]

Well I cary all 3 (2 black receivers and the DVR) in the bus. If they are not used for 30 days direct shuts them off and all I do is call and they restart. Now if I get close to home(house) I get local channels. Now on the road yes it cost $15.00 for East OR west feeds (6 or 7 channels).
   I am living in the bus and my house is where the Direct was installed! But It works.
   Before I lived in the bus and we traveled we just took the receivers and left, but if you go to Wall mart and get a $35-$40 outside antenna it works ok for local, BUT you need to search for local channels. OH if near the southern border (Mexico)  many US stations still broadcast both analog and digital.
  Like stated before you need to learn how to use your remote, to go from local antenna to dish.
As for for aiming I now use a cheap automatic dome! No HD! 
  I no longer live in the house and have a mail box (Soth Dakota address) Direct does not care, just $$.
  When I had the house I had only 1 bill, so just add East feeds or west feeds, not 2 bills. So you pay 15 extra @ mo., but if you only need it a few weeks a year, try the antenna.