Dish Network or Direct TV?

[JackConrad]

JR,
  We purchased a signal strength meter and compass at Camping World to use when setting up our portable dish. The meter connects in line in the coax from the antenna to the bus. The compass gets us pointed in the generral direction. One thing to remember, the meter tells you if you are finding a satelitte, but it may not be the sdatelitte you want. If aiming the rooftop from inside your bus, the set up mode on your receiver will show a signal strength meter on your TV screen. First few times can be very frustrating, but after a few times of setting it up, it becomes very easy.  If possible have someone familiar with setting up your brand (Dish Network ot Direct TV).  Hope this helps, Jack

[wrench]

  This guy (buzz) tell it all : http://forums.al7bar.tk/showthread.php?t=141701,,
To really learn about satellite signals you will have read a lot in satellite forums. The signals from satellites vary from differant sources. There are differant bands C-band (Big Dish - a.k.a. BUD) and Ku band (Small Dish) are the most common. But even those two bands have differant signals also, Analog, analog encrypted (not free),Digital, Digital encrypted(not free). There from there those signals may require differant type of equipment on the dish. For instance, you may have noticed that on the Ku band some signals have Vertical/Horizontal polarity and others have Left/Right polarity. Those two require differant LNB's. Linear as opposed to Circular. Only "Suscription Package Providers" use Circular polarity. Namely the ones Big 2 D_sh & DTV in the U.S. and Bev in Canada. You could use those dish LNB setups to receive there Free (not encrypted) signals if that is what you are after. If you want more Get a larger dish (Ku band a 91cm at least and for C-band a 7' minimum). Join several forums and read the "Newbie" sections. - Good luck!
ps - Stay with the digital receivers, analog signals is too expensive for companies to lease transponder space (satellite usage).
                Hope this help   wrench

  If you're handy to aim a dish by hand(read: compas, angle meter,or sun,) you could get a free to air receiver & get all you need.  (BUT NO PROGRAMATION FROM D.TV. OR D.N.)
  here FAQ: http://forums.al7bar.tk/index.php

Hi, wrench

I went to the website and see you can buy receivers to watch "free tv", do you have a link to what stations are available?  I didn't see a simple introduction to everything, or perhaps you can explain what we are getting into here.

--Geoff

[Ross]

With my Dish service, basically everything but the local channels are on 119.  I rarely switch to 110.  I think there is one channel that I occationally like to watch that is on 110, but most of the time I'm tired and too lazy to re-point the dish (even though it takes less than a minute) so I just watch something else.  One thing I'd like to try is to mount the Dish Network dual LNB on the Winegard dish.  It would take some fabrication and I'm not sure it would work, so it is low on the list. 

As someone already mentioned, if you have a crank-up dish, get the digital magic elevation sensor.  When I park, I align the inside ring to north using a compass, go to the setup screen, enter the zipcode to where ever I am and read the elevation and azimuth.  You rad the elevation on the digial magic readout and just point the dish to the right azimuth.  The whole process takes less than a minute.  it takes longer for the receiver ti initialize after a power loss than it does to align the dish.

[jjrbus]

After reading these posts, I would like to add my 2 cents worth.  If you want to go down into Mexico you need a bigger dish, Like 3 feet. You can get reception on standard dish but lose channels and clarity the farther south you go. The roof mounted setups are great, I just bought the King Dome, but you also need a freestanding dish, if you are under a tree or by a building the roof mounts are useless. Now that you have a tripod mounted dish a sattelite finder is a must have. They are about the size of a  pack of cigeretts and very easy to use.  Camping world has them for $36.99 also Radio Shack but if you poke around a little you can proboboy save a few dollars.
If you buy a new receiver the ones with UHF remotes are pricey. They are nice if you have 1 receiver and 2 or 3 TVs.  A way around this is a IR extender You can usually get them where you buy TVs.  The brand I have is a "Leapfrog" without being complicated it will control TV, sattelite receiver, VCR  DVD player. just go into electronics dept and ask for an IR extender.
                                                                                                           Work?/Play safely Jim

[NJT5047]

After carefully analyzing all the data, we signed up for Direct TV today.  This'll be a new experience.   Only $54 bucks a month for a lot of channels and 3 receivers.  I'm going to dedicate one for the bus.  I don't do PPV, ain't going to Mexico (can't afford the fuel to get there), and mostly watch Fox News and the Weather Channel.   
Now as Jack and jjr suggested,  have  to get one of those meter thingies to set the portable dish that I'll have to have when camped in the trees.   I'm gonna put a dish on the barn so I can hook the sat TV up when the bus is stored. 
Hoping the RG6 cabling I've installed for CG pedestal cable TV will work OK with the satellite signal.  I know the cablevision cable works because I coupled the cables together where the satellie receiver is supposed to sit and watched cable TV when in a couple of campgrounds  that offered cablevision. 
Hope I can figure out the satellite remote!  JR
   

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

JR,

Good Choice!   Your RG6 coax will be just fine for Sat.

Nick-

[JackConrad]

Nick,
  We have our home Direct TV antenna installed on the front of the shop. We have 2 RG6 coax cables going through an underground conduit to the receivers in the house and a third coax going to the bus, along with shoreline, when it is parkied inside the shop (the normal place for the bus when we are not using it). Direct TV sends an "update" signal occasionally and keeping the bus plugged in allows the receiver to remain updated. On a couple occassions, when we did not keep the bus connected, we would arrive somwhere, turn on the Direct TV and get a message on every channel "No Subscription For This Channel" and a phone number to call. A quick call to that number and the receiver was re-activated.  You can get one of the meters at Camping World.   Jack

[wrench]

 I tough I answerded your question, but I guess no,  here again or here: This guy (Buzz) say it better that I could:

To really learn about satellite signals you will have read a lot in satellite forums. The signals from satellites vary from differant sources. There are differant bands C-band (Big Dish - a.k.a. BUD) and Ku band (Small Dish) are the most common. But even those two bands have differant signals also, Analog, analog encrypted (not free),Digital, Digital encrypted(not free). There from there those signals may require differant type of equipment on the dish. For instance, you may have noticed that on the Ku band some signals have Vertical/Horizontal polarity and others have Left/Right polarity. Those two require differant LNB's. Linear as opposed to Circular. Only "Suscription Package Providers" use Circular polarity. Namely the ones Big 2 D_sh & DTV in the U.S. and Bev in Canada. You could use those dish LNB setups to receive there Free (not encrypted) signals if that is what you are after. If you want more Get a larger dish (Ku band a 91cm at least and for C-band a 7' minimum). Join several forums and read the "Newbie" sections. - Good luck!
ps - Stay with the digital receivers, analog signals is too expensive for companies to lease transponder space (satellite usage).
         wrench

  If you're handy to aim a dish by hand(read: compas, angle meter,or sun,) you could get a free to air receiver & get all you need.  (BUT NO PROGRAMATION FROM D.TV. OR D.N.)
  here FAQ: http://forums.al7bar.tk/index.php

Hi, wrench

I went to the website and see you can buy receivers to watch "free tv", do you have a link to what stations are available?  I didn't see a simple introduction to everything, or perhaps you can explain what we are getting into here.

--Geoff

[wrench]

 I did answerded twice to Geoff & did not show, so here again with an other way.  This guy (Buzz)say it better that I could:

To really learn about satellite signals you will have read a lot in satellite forums. The signals from satellites vary from differant sources. There are differant bands C-band (Big Dish - a.k.a. BUD) and Ku band (Small Dish) are the most common. But even those two bands have differant signals also, Analog, analog encrypted (not free),Digital, Digital encrypted(not free). There from there those signals may require differant type of equipment on the dish. For instance, you may have noticed that on the Ku band some signals have Vertical/Horizontal polarity and others have Left/Right polarity. Those two require differant LNB's. Linear as opposed to Circular. Only "Suscription Package Providers" use Circular polarity. Namely the ones Big 2 D_sh & DTV in the U.S. and Bev in Canada. You could use those dish LNB setups to receive there Free (not encrypted) signals if that is what you are after. If you want more Get a larger dish (Ku band a 91cm at least and for C-band a 7' minimum). Join several forums and read the "Newbie" sections. - Good luck!
ps - Stay with the digital receivers, analog signals is too expensive for companies to lease transponder space (satellite usage).

                     hope it help   wrench

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Jack,

You might have the RCA D-10 recievers, [also another model not sure of #'s]. Theese recievers need to be connected to a phone line to recieve updates. The newer recievers can recieve updates through the dish. I just baught all new ones last fall and I don't remember the Mo #'s, I'll have to get back to you on them but, they have TEVO service. They record 35hrs of programing, ect.
So, I'm able to leave the recievers in the bus with no phone lines connected ever! Now, Direct tv only needs phone connections to keep customers from farming out multipal recievers to neighbors. Phone line keeps them all in the same household.

Nick-

Nick,
We have our home Direct TV antenna installed on the front of the shop. We have 2 RG6 coax cables going through an underground conduit to the receivers in the house and a third coax going to the bus, along with shoreline, when it is parkied inside the shop (the normal place for the bus when we are not using it). Direct TV sends an "update" signal occasionally and keeping the bus plugged in allows the receiver to remain updated. On a couple occassions, when we did not keep the bus connected, we would arrive somwhere, turn on the Direct TV and get a message on every channel "No Subscription For This Channel" and a phone number to call. A quick call to that number and the receiver was re-activated. You can get one of the meters at Camping World. Jack

[Dallas]

I have Direct TV and I didn't use a home phone to activate it. I used our prepaid cell.
It's not connected to the home phone of which we have 2 lines and since I don't use PPV, (My Porno is home grown), haven't had a problem.
I've been 300 miles away and have had no problems, except getting my local channels.
Haven't figured that on out yet.... But I will.
Part of being a bus nut is learning the ability to be able to figure out things for yourself.
I learn a new skill everyday. whether it's the ability to lie to the Insurance or the ability to replace injectors on my 6-71.
Ya'll do it your way.
You takes your choice and pays youir nickel!

Dallas

[JackConrad]

Nick,
   Our receivers are Hughes, these do not have DVR or TIVO. We only need to keep the receiver connected to the antenna for updates, not a phone line. None of our 3 receivers have ever been connected to a phone line. A friend with Direct TV has Phillips receivers. Not only are the remotes different, the backgrounds on the TV when listening to the audio music channels are different.  Jack

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Jack,

I think Maybe I misread your post. Sorry.
Nick-

Nick,
Our receivers are Hughes, these do not have DVR or TIVO. We only need to keep the receiver connected to the antenna for updates, not a phone line. None of our 3 receivers have ever been connected to a phone line. A friend with Direct TV has Phillips receivers. Not only are the remotes different, the backgrounds on the TV when listening to the audio music channels are different. Jack

[skihor]

You buy a  "Coolsat 5000" on ebay then get someone to download the right codes into it and you get EVERY channel available for FREE. Once or twice a year the codes change and you have to download the new codes again. I believe it works with Direct TV dish's