Satellite system or antenna ? What are you using for tv reception?

[scanzel]

I have been looking at the many options for tv reception but have not decide on the best way to go yet. Cable is not always available at parks, antenna only gets local. Satellite units seem to either need one of the big two for service. I have looked at KVH. What is everyone using for your tv reception ?

[wg4t50]

We all do it our way, and that does not fit everyone.  I use Directv 2 at home and 1 in the motorhome, the motorhome now uses the Traveler SWM antenna, and it works fine, sees theu trees very good, it is a large non dome type, it erects and aims, all visable, takes about 4-5 minutes to find and lock all 5 or 7 satellites, is a HD version and does great.  Also have the new HD tv, and it will program its self for all the local chanels it canfind, and does great also.
I always have the tv  on something, but not always watching, mostly for backround noise I think.
Do what makes youhappy.

[bevans6]

It depends on a couple of key factors - your need for constant availability of your accustomed TV channels, and your ability to spend money.  Check those two boxes "yes" and you need a satellite system.  Check them "Heck YES" and you need a mobile satellite system that lets you watch while the bus is moving (presumably you have a driver).  Check no to one or the other, you get a crank up antenna and a cable hookup for when you are in a camp with cable.  Check no to both and you probably get folding camp chairs for comfy campfire viewing...

I have a crank up Wineguard with the add-on thing, and I think it's great.  Sometimes I also take a DVD player.  I need constant availability of "my" channels but I gots no money...  BTW the antenna usually gets all the national networks, it just doesn't get off-air stuff like Speed Channel, Food Network.

Brian

[lostagain]

Why bother with TV?

You can get all the news, and anything you want from the Internet with a laptop nowadays.

My kids, and more and more people we know, mostly younger ones, don't watch TV. They do it all with the computer.

We still watch TV at home, but there are so many commercials, it is frustrating.

We have a nice flat screen in the bus, we only use it to watch a movie once in a while.

Just get as good Internet access as you can.

JC

[muldoonman]

Dish at home and  Winguard Mobile Sat. with Dish on coach. Just costs 10 bucks plus tax extra added to home bill. Winguard has been giving me fits lately hunting for sat when parked. Grand Daughter likes it going down the road for her goofy shows!

[sdc53]

Ditto for the HD style, automatic winegard with directv service at home and in the bus. Same channels and shows as at home.  You can use the same boxes... We leave one in the living room in bus all the time, and take the bedroom one from the house and put it in the bedroom on the bus... Since its a DVR, it has all the same stuff setup to record and watch as in the bedroom at home.  My understanding (which may be incorrect) is that the smaller "dome" type and/or "in motion" type dishes are not HD capable.  We have the larger robotic arm type one.

[wg4t50]

I  do laugh a good bit,  my DW very seldom travels with me, she has no need for TV in the RV at all, so my need does not require the in motion setup, why the Winegard Traveler, yes it is not a dome, but a self erecting big dish that aligns all 3 axes, squew, elevation and azmith, (Cant spell), it does take a few minutes for it to get happy, but really does seem to look thru trees very well, it is the HD setup, but I do not have HD receivers.  Reason, the Samsung Smart 32" is more clear than my old eyes can detect any improvement with the actual HD receiver, so save the added $10 per month fee for HD.
In the end, I am a happy camper.

[saddleup]

Dish tailgater been working great for us since we got it in Yuma last winter,moved it a bunch and if we are going to be somplace for a while,simple phone call gets the locals,eseyer to setup then dealing,with whats probebly going to be a bad cable hookup in a rv park

[Emcemv]

I'm with Brian on this one.....not big TV watchers so we are going to keep it simple. I broke the wineguard antenna on our bus the first week we had it......on the last trip we took this weekend, we realized we need some basic TV so we will be replacing it with a new Wineguard crankup and stick with whatever local channels we can get.  At the camping weekend in Newport RI this weekend, I heard some people were getting 10-15 channels with just an antenna.

Bruce

[Tikvah]

Skip TV altogether.  Can't put up with commercials.  If I'm in the mood, I'll rent a movie or (with good internet) watch netflix.  TV left my house many years ago, best thing we ever did.

Dave

[Cary and Don]

We have two standard dishes on the bus,  one KVH and one Winegard in motion.  We also take our HD receivers from the house with us.  If you are going to buy a dish try and get the HD one if you have HD receivers.  Those receivers are a bear to make work on a non HD dish.  You have to reprogram all your stations with each move between the bus and house.  Reason for two dishes?  It came with the KVH and it is useless in the rain, any rain.  Otherwise it is great.

Don and Cary

[lvmci]

Hi All, in my travels, Ive always enjoyed watching local tv. To me its like going to a mom and pop resturant in stead of a mc donalds, getting the local flavor, also the weather from locals I think is more accurate. In LA and other places when Im working theres the local traffic. Most people are amazed at how many over the air broadcast channels there are. A good antenna is important for good reception, rabbit ears in a tin can doesnt lend itself to high definition broadcasts, lvmci...

[DaveNCari]

We have the VuQube...Direct TV...it has worked well most places we have been...

Dave

[Chopper Scott]

I've had great luck with Dish's Tailgater also. I have cable at home so it costs me more per month for Dish services but you only have to pay for the month's you are using it.