Direct TV or DISH? That is the question.

[eagle19952]

most of DISH's worthwhile content is on 119.

the further east you go, the harder it is to get a strong signal.
out west, no problem.

http://www.alanthompson.com/dish-network-satellite-tv-channel-listings.asp

[windtrader]

PP - Thanks, good to know. I'm assuming you are referencing where you use a home receiver on the road. Dish RV program states 7 bucks a month for receiver while on the road https://get.dishformyrv.com/existing-customers
That mobile Wally can be purchased for 50 bucks with a coupon. Other models work on mobile (Wally
ViP 211, ViP 211k, ViP 211, ViP 411) You can start/stop when you want on a monthly basis.

Coupled with DISH Pay-As-You-Go program and a Portable HD Satellite Antenna, this is a mobile customer's ultimate package for satellite TV on the open road. DISH's Pay-As-You-Go program is simple

Directv makes the statement that you describe about losing local channels once outside the spot beam area.
https://support.directv.com/equipment/2760 Dish does the same spot beaming so it seems you'll lose your local channels.

Qualifying for East or West Network Feeds
Did you know that some DIRECTV customers may be eligible to receive non-local feeds of major broadcast networks? Eligibility is governed by federal law*, and is determined by several factors including:
You don't live near a metropolitan area
You can't get any TV reception whatsoever
You live more than 70 miles from TV station broadcast towers
Don't know if RV use qualifies under the regs"
*Under the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA) DIRECTV is permitted to transmit non-local feeds of major broadcast networks "for private home viewing" to "persons who reside in unserved households." "Private home viewing" is defined as "viewing, for private use in a household by means of satellite reception equipment which is operated by an individual in that household and which serves only that household." An "unserved household" is defined as one that receives less than a Grade B signal from local TV stations. SHVIA requires that we use the Individual Location Longley-Rice ("ILLR") model to determine whether a customer resides in an unserved household.
**In cities where local off-air HD programs are available. Off-air antenna required; reception may vary based on geographic location. Programs not delivered in HD in all markets.

[Oonrahnjay]

PP - Thanks, good to know. I'm assuming you are referencing where you use a home receiver on the road. Dish RV program states 7 bucks a month for receiver while on the road https://get.dishformyrv.com/existing-customers
That mobile Wally can be purchased for 50 bucks with a coupon. Other models work on mobile (Wally
ViP 211, ViP 211k, ViP 211, ViP 411) You can start/stop when you want on a monthly basis.

Coupled with DISH Pay-As-You-Go program and a Portable HD Satellite Antenna, this is a mobile customer's ultimate package for satellite TV on the open road. DISH's Pay-As-You-Go program is simple

Directv makes the statement that you describe about losing local channels once outside the spot beam area.
https://support.directv.com/equipment/2760 Dish does the same spot beaming so it seems you'll lose your local channels.

Qualifying for East or West Network Feeds
Did you know that some DIRECTV customers may be eligible to receive non-local feeds of major broadcast networks? Eligibility is governed by federal law*, and is determined by several factors including:
You don't live near a metropolitan area
You can't get any TV reception whatsoever
You live more than 70 miles from TV station broadcast towers
Don't know if RV use qualifies under the regs"
*Under the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA) DIRECTV is permitted to transmit non-local feeds of major broadcast networks "for private home viewing" to "persons who reside in unserved households." "Private home viewing" is defined as "viewing, for private use in a household by means of satellite reception equipment which is operated by an individual in that household and which serves only that household." An "unserved household" is defined as one that receives less than a Grade B signal from local TV stations. SHVIA requires that we use the Individual Location Longley-Rice ("ILLR") model to determine whether a customer resides in an unserved household.
**In cities where local off-air HD programs are available. Off-air antenna required; reception may vary based on geographic location. Programs not delivered in HD in all markets.

      Well, that clarifies it!    

[eagle19952]

      Well, that clarifies it!    

it really is much more simple.

you find an address nearby.
for instance, 1000 Main St.
zip 11111

you then call the and request that you have moved.
your new address is 1000 Main St. #A
ZIP 11111

THEN you go online and go paperless.

the A simply denotes a second service IF the current address is already a customer.

[PP]

it really is much more simple.

you find an address nearby.
for instance, 1000 Main St.
zip 11111

you then call the and request that you have moved.
your new address is 1000 Main St. #A
ZIP 11111

THEN you go online and go paperless.
the A simply denotes a second service IF the current address is already a customer.

And every night you're on the road you have to call if you want to watch TV. Or like us, we were paperless, that's not the problem, but when you move around alot it gets old having to call all the time.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

12 years, all over the country and we never had to call. Had a Yuma address, had both the East coast and West coast networks. Did have to pay an extra $5 a month so that we could have both.

[eagle19952]

And every night you're on the road you have to call if you want to watch TV. Or like us, we were paperless, that's not the problem, but when you move around alot it gets old having to call all the time.

when i'm on the road..tv is not on my radar...

if there is football to be watched i go get wings
or beef obrady
or beer.

[Oonrahnjay]

when i'm on the road..tv is not on my radar...   

     Atshooally, if I understood all this stuff, it wouldn't matter 'cause I haven't owned a TV in years (since the Great Digital Antenna Massacree of 2008).  Never missed it.

[eagle19952]

12 years, all over the country and we never had to call. Had a Yuma address, had both the East coast and West coast networks. Did have to pay an extra $5 a month so that we could have both.

which is fine, but i like local channels.

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

I had Direct TV for over 15 years and just switched to Dish after Direct TV quoted me $199 to set up my stationary dish (held down by 6 cement blocks) in a new RV park and site it in.  They used to do this for free or charge $99, which is easy money for them for what they have to do, so I said cancel my subscription and all I will have to send back is the program card because my contract had expired.  I also noticed that since AT&T bought them, service went down hill fast, and prices went up, which does not surprise me.

However I am noticing little things that are starting to drive me crazy with Dish equipment such as you have to turn off your Receiver and your TV with two different buttons on the remote rather than just hitting one button to turn both off.  This is no big deal, but if you forget to turn off your receiver when you are playing back a recording of Barney Fife, then when you start it up again, you can not start it where it left off as it runs to the end of the show.  This was so easy with Direct TV.  There are many more things which I may or may not get used to. 

[Utahclaimjumper]

Isnt it a bitch when you get old and slow, Gary??>>>D

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Isnt it a bitch when you get old and slow, Gary??>>>D

Yes, you know it. 

[Dave5Cs]

And yes you can stop it when off the road, But only for 6 months and then they charge us $5.34 a month even if we are not using it. If we use it it goes up to 40.00 a month.

Ed they no longer let you buy both coasts. We can only have West because of our home base address and then like Eagle Don said we have to call in and get them to switch it for Local news channels depending on our address we are at.

Also don't like having to disconnect Wally every night or it sounds like a spaceship landing all night on the roof of the Bus while it searches for Satellites.

Most of the time we turn the TV off or Watch Prime Amazon Movies or series.

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

99% of the time I watch pre-recorded shows on the DVR. I seldom watch TV live as I hate commercials.  With Direct TV, I could fast forward thru the commercials and stop on a dime and catch the next part of the show right at the beginning of the segment.

However with Dish, I always shoot past the beginning and waste a lot of time going back and forth to get to the beginning. Does anyone else have this problem with Dish or am I the only one that only plays back pre-recorded shows?

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Another issue I discovered yesterday is that after I removed my Dish Playmaker from my temporary roof location to take the bus to get new House Batteries, after I returned I decided to not hook it up and just watch pre-recorded shows rather than getting the ladder out and setting it back up on the roof where it will be safe.  However, when I tried to watch pre-recorded shows it would not work. I called Dish they told me I have to hook up the Playmaker and find a satellite signal so I could watch pre-recorded shows. 

This is a hassle because if you are traveling and stop in a rest area for a few hours of R&R and want to watch a show you have recorded, this means you have to get your dome out and set it up in site of the satellites and boot it up and wait 15 minutes to find a signal to watch a show. Also I record shows sometimes so I will have something to watch if I spend a night in a campground with no clear view of the sky.  You can't do this with the Dish Playmaker.  I never had to do this with my Direct TV dish.  Has anyone else run into this?