satellite tv

**wingnut60** · 07-05-2010, 10:56 AM

Need some advice/help from all you satellite tv experts--
I have the Winegard Carryout receiver and it works well now that I have gotten used to how it needs to be connected to my Dish TV DVR receiver.
However, we have found that we cannot get the major networks when on the road--we can only get the major (called 'local' channels by Dish) when in promimity to DFW area where we live. Dish says we can only get 'local' channels by changing the billing address, something not practical as we are only out 2-3 weeks at a time.
Is there a solution to this situation--can I actually somehow get the major channels when traveling and in a single location for a week or so? Is DirectTV any different?
I am getting fed up with Dish but don't want to change anything if there is no benefit to the change.
Any help will certainly be much appreciated--it is irksome not being able to know what is going on locally when in one place for several days.
Thanks,
Joe

sje · 07-05-2010, 11:15 AM

I have dish network, and when we are rving, i just call them up and give them my zip where I am at, and they have switched me to the locals whereever I am at. another possibility may be to get the network feeds they offer to people that are not by any location that has local channels. I have always kept the same billing address, and they have switched me, just told them I was in my rv. sje

**wingnut60** · 07-05-2010, 11:22 AM

SJE,

Thanks for the reponse--Dish has NEVER--over numerous and contentious conversations--indicated it was that simple.

I will try once again when I am up in CO in 2 weeks.

Joe

rdunk · 07-05-2010, 01:30 PM

FWIW - I am no expert on this so........... - there are legal regs. that both Dish and Direct have to contend with. If one is a fulltimer, as we were, then it is very simple, just as sje said. If you don't fulltime, and have a satellite receiver at your "stickhouse", then other factors come into play, that are caused by advertisers wanting to get their money's worth..

Because there are laws the satellite providers must deal with, then they will likely err on the safe side. Because of this, and often the inexperience of the people they have for .RVers to work with, it is sometimes difficult to simply just change a fulltimer's address for the local channels.

Once Dish gets a fulltimer "certified" as being a fulltimer, it then becomes much easier to change the address for the locals, because that will be reflected in their computer database.

Robert Duncan

edt · 07-06-2010, 05:28 AM

Have changed my service address any time we are in a location for a week and never had a problem but I use Direct .

Motor31 · 07-06-2010, 09:54 AM

I use Direct. We get the national channels by having opted for the full time RV option after sending in the appropriate form for it. I get both East and West coast feeds as I am still on non HD TV. I had been told before that if you have HD TV you can only get either West or East coast feeds. For the local channels and news / weather I simply crank up the batwing antenna.

The View 5046 · 07-06-2010, 05:31 PM

Thats correct, if you have Direct and HDTV you can only get East or West coast feed not both. Don't make since to me must be that the Government is involved. I watch no local new so I could care less about local news. For the weather I go the the Weather Channel or use the Laptop. I might add if your going to get HDTV get the Traveler 3 roof mounted wineguard and life is much easier. Set down and level in less that 20 minutes and have HDTV.. GBY....

**wingnut60** · 07-06-2010, 08:28 PM

Only if you don't have trees around?

Thanks for the suggestion.

Joe

sje · 07-06-2010, 09:31 PM

Joe, i am not a fulltimer , just snowbird for a couple of months and that is exactly what i told dish, and they transfered me to local stations, no questions asked except what zip code i was at. please post next time you call and let us know what happens. sje

**wingnut60** · 07-06-2010, 11:18 PM

Again, thanks for the support from the voices of experience. I am going to be in CO near Creede and then near Leadville. To use the sat, will have to kick the gen in, not sure if I will try it this time out--and phone svc may be a problem. But it leaves me optimistic about getting something done if I just don't lose my temper with the language barrier--and the last time I thought I was talking to Pakistan, the tech was in Ohio!!

This forum contains a world of advice, and I appreciate all the help.

Joe

Gemstone · 07-07-2010, 11:03 AM

"This forum contains a world of advice, and I appreciate all the help."

I couldn't agree more...for specific info on the DRV product, IMO...this forum is the best.... For general RV info, the Escapees forum is hard to beat.

Regards
Gemstone