DISH Network in 2nd owner's Motorhome

[erniet]

2 years ago I purchase a motorhome that the previous owner left the Dish Network boxes in the motorhome. Can I use them? I have a Dish account at my house using the Hopper. The boxes they left are 211K's with a card and some sort of antenna connected to them. I've visited 6 different Dish franchises and I have received 6 different answers of what needs to be done! On top of my motorhome there is a Dark colored dome that I'm guessing has the receiver enclosed.

Thanks, Ernie

See photos of what I have.

[bubbles]

The dome is the antenna. Contact Dish to add the receiver to your account. They may use the 211K card you have or be issued a new card for the 211K. It's very easy to do. You may even be able to do it via mydish.com.

[NO3putt]

Ernie, 1. The little antenna is a remote control extender, not sure why you would need one in a motorhome. The round dome on roof would be the satellite antenna. Did they leave the 211's hooked up? There should be a switch somewhere in the entertainment cabinet that will turn on the satellite antenna, when turned on you will hear the antenna move until it finds the satellites. One coax cable will go from the satellite antenna, input, one will go to tv. Would turn on tv, receiver and satellite an see what you get. You will have to contact dish and get the receiver, card etc. Assigned into your name. We use dish outdoors so we only pay for the months we are in the motorhome. Skip

[TowPro]

Yes you can.

[bubbles]

The unit in the second photo appears to be: part of a NextGen IR to RF Remote Signal Conversion Extension Kit 433 MHz. and may not be for the 211K because it is IR remote controlled unless something else was accomplished that I can't think of. Your dome antenna may be a carryout that has provisions for rooftop mount. If this is the case the 211K provides the power for it through the coax. Answering one of your other questions: there is no receiver (per se) in the antenna dome the receiver is the VIP-211K.

[TowPro]

but I would recommend just buying a new Wally. it has an RF remote (which is probably the same remote you have at home). you can add DVR if you want, you can add WIFI if you want for netflix and if you really think you need it you can add a OTA module. Plus its smaller than a 211K (and probably uses less power?)

[bubbles]

Everything said about a Wally is correct. However; if the current 211K distribution to the TV's is coax cable the Wally has no coax cable output so if HDMI distribution is not possible an RF modulator to convert the Wally composite video output to coax may be required; not expensive just something to think about. Of course there is always wireless HDMI.

[satdog01]

Unless you move you Dish account location as you move, you may not get local channels from you home base. We DVR some local stuff so do not move account. The 211K has a OTA coax port that you can hook the rv OTA and the receiver will scan and display local channels for the area you are camping in. Another feature is a strength meter shows for a few seconds as you switch the local channels which helps in pointing ota antenna. I chose to stay with the 211K option for this reason. Home base local channels start to drop off satellite around 350 miles from home.