Satellite Experience

[JudyJB]

For some of you who are thinking about a dish, just wanted to let you know it took a LONG time at Camping World today--6.5 hours! Good thing I got there early because I was worried about parking here in the dark due to the tight fit in between trees.

It is all installed, and I set up my account via phone after they installed everything and I knew the receiver information. The only bad experience was dealing over the phone with the Dish customer service agents who still could not get it in their thick heads that I did NOT have an address they could come over to, and I did NOT want a long sales spiel, and I just wanted to set up my new account for an RV. (I had the same exerperience last week trying to get info from DirectTV, to be fair.) It took 6 people and 40 minutes to get things straight. the service guy said that is a typical experience as the regular people you call seem to be clueless about the different situations with motorhomes.

It worked in the parking lot, but this campground has too many trees so as hard as it tried, it could not get a signal here. I am going to try to find a different campground for tomorrow that is more in the open so I can better test it before I go to the wilds of the Flamingo Campground way down in the Everyglades.

Also found out from the service guy that the power cord to my TV is getting pinched every time I fold it back into travel mode. It is badly frayed, so I will need to set up a Fleetwood warranty appointment for that and my continually smelly toilet which I have observed leaking occasionally.

Will let you know how everything works tomorrow. Long day and I am very tired.

[JudyJB]

Left Collier-Seminole State Park, which I really disliked, and headed out to Midway Campground down the road 40 miles. There was plenty of space there, electric, and no trees to ruin my satellite signal or to make getting in and out of my camping site so difficult. It is even paved and grassy. I know I am paying for two campgrounds tonight, but I am headed to way down in the Everglades tomorrow and I wanted to make sure everything was working with my new dish before I headed there. If not, I could have driven back to Ft. Myers tomorrow and postponed my trip to Flamingo a day.

Satellite is working very well. I was so excited to have a channel (Ovation) where my favorite British antique roadshow programs were playing! Yea!! Haven't seen these in years.

I am slowly getting used to the guide and menu on the remote. (Took me 4 hours to adjust the sound, duh.) Way too many buttons for me! One thing I learned is that I have a choice of three online program guides--one has all channels, but I cannot access all of those channels. One has just "My HD" channels and another has "All My" channels, which is what I am using. The funny thing is that when I switch between certain channels, I can hear the dish cycling to find the new channel. It must be because it is using two or three satellites?? Need to check. Wonder how that would work with a manual satellite?

Anyway, I gorged myself on TV today. Next thing is to figure out the local channels. Because my legal address is in Ohio, I have been assigned the Cleveland local channels, but I can't get them because the satellite sends them only to locations in Cleveland. (Make sense?) What I need to do is call DISH with my local ZIP code and they will temporarily switch me to the local channels there. I can do it as often as I choose. Otherwise, I will have to pay another $10 to get New York or San Francisco local channels all the time.

[Azusateach]

Glad you're figuring things out, Judy.

I'm curious as to why your dome needs to locate new satellites every time you switch stations. That seems ... cumbersome. Switching stations and picking up a new signal should be almost immediate. It is at home, and it is with my portable dome when I'm camping. In fact, once the dome locks on to a satellite I disconnect the electricity altogether and it doesn't "whir" anymore at all.

That might be a question for the Dish people when you call and give them your current zip code.

Laura

[JudyJB]

It only does it occasionally and just for a couple of seconds but I will ask Dish why it is doing that. It doesn't seem to interrupt anything.

[linann]

Judy, Check out the Nike Missile tour while you are in the Everglades National Park. The Park has lots of interesting, free ranger led programs. Also, don't miss nearby Biscayne National Park. We spent a week in that area a year ago and booked a free canoe trip from Biscayne. There are several Mexican restaurants in the Homestead area. I believe El Toro is the one on Krome that we really liked. Have fun!

[monik7]

Judy: What made you decide to go with Dish? I saw you got a lot of recommendations and was wondering what finally helped you make a decision.
Sandi

[JudyJB]

I went with Dish because they offered HD TV. Time will tell if I can really tell the difference. So far, it has been good and I am enjoying it.

[KarenS]

ok while we are on this subject, which do you ladies prefer the dome on top of rv or the portable, and if portable which one do you have so I can make that decision also- I am thinking I need satellite and I need to make a choice on that issue first? Thanks KarenS

[Dawn309]

Karen, what I chose was the automatic satellite dish that folds down when not in use and then extends up when I push the button in the rig. It is the traditional looking dish. It is just mounted to the top of my rig. So far, I have not been anywhere I could not get out from under the trees enough to get a signal. I have the portable dome too, just in case.

[chalet05]

I have the portable Winegard Carryout - not taking a chance with trees. With the tripod I have been using, I have had to carry it far from the rig - in Kansas of all places. Not putting down Kansas because I was born there, but late DH used to joke about no trees in Kansas.

[KarenS]

ok, thanks ladies are the portable hard to set up? and do you have the ones that get the signal themselves or do you have to manually set it to signal? thanks Karens

[chalet05]

I just cable lock it so it doesn't run away, hook it up, and it finds the satellite. You do have to follow the steps in correct order - the first time I plugged the satellite into 12 volt power too soon. Super simple.

[Dawn309]

I just cable lock it so it doesn't run away, hook it up, and it finds the satellite. You do have to follow the steps in correct order - the first time I plugged the satellite into 12 volt power too soon. Super simple.

I don't cable lock mine. Paul is using it right now. I agree it is super easy to do. The first time I set mine up, I did the same thing.

[Redwahine]

I too have the portable Winegard Carryout. I have HD Tvs in the rig, but did not want the hassle or expense for the satellite dishes or service needed for HD. I can't tell the difference on the TV. It is so versatile and easy to set up. Just put it anywhere, plug it in and it finds the satellite automatically. We use a cable lock to keep it from growing legs and walking

[KarenS]

you ladies all rock thanks