Dish Network vs Direct TV

karpcbk15 · 06-01-2017, 06:14 AM

We currently have had Direct TV for many years. We take our Standard definition DVR along in our RV. We're using the King Quest auto portable dish. Looking at changing to Dish Network because we can use King universal controller on Dish with the present Quest dish. The thing that caught my eye is Dish offers SD / HD using the present dish where Direct TV is on SD unless you go to the roof mounted dish.

Present dish users? Thoughts? Do you use the "Hopper"? What receivers do you use?

If we stick with Direct TV, we'll use their SWM option so to be able to use 2-3 Receivers.
You feed back is welcome!

Jim34RL · 06-01-2017, 10:07 AM

Hi, I have been a Dish customer for over 20 years at our present location. The last 10 years we have been camping, we have been using the Dish systems.

I use a portable Dish Tailgater and a Dish 300 Receiver which excepts SD and HD signals for use with one TV. This has been more than adequate for our needs. The receiver at the time we purchase it was $100 and cost about $7. a month from Dish for usage. There are no other fees involved unless we rent a movie from them when we are traveling with the trailer. This system receives the same channels that we have at home except for local channels when we are on the road. If I am close to our home say within 100 to 150 miles I can receive our local channels also.

The only problem is once in awhile with a very heavy rain fall you will loose the satellite signal.

W5CI · 06-01-2017, 10:13 AM

I use a Dish VIP211 receiver taken from home with the Tailgater for my RV, it receives everything that I receive here at home, if I leave the state by any distance I lose my local channels but nothing else. there is no extra charges for this setup. I hope this helps

doc73 · 06-01-2017, 10:16 AM

We had dish for the last few years and used a Tailgator in the trailer a few times. We were happy with the service but eventually got unhappy with paying the prices for them (not any different for Verizon, Comcast, Dish or Direct so not a know there).

Seasonal · 06-01-2017, 10:22 AM

In the past year, I have had both direct TV and DISH. Moved to direct TV because they could offer a package that included the internet. I prefer the DISH user experience more than direct. The menu on direct is a bit more clunky. Both services work fine and about the same quality.

whj77372 · 06-01-2017, 10:31 AM

With Dish you can pause your service for a little less then $6 per month. That is what we do. We went with Dish because of the HD that you can't get on DirecTV without spending about $1,600 if you install and over $2,000 if they install. We use the 211 receiver and Tailgater. When I got it about four years ago from a Dish dealer in Jacksonville, FL, it was $199 for the Tailgater, 211 receiver and coaxial. It was shipped two day service and no sales tax because I am in Texas. Good Luck

NMWildcat · 06-01-2017, 12:32 PM

Dish has better RV support. Even has a separate RV tech dept. Can change your local channel address to where you are to receive the areas local channels. Can get HD from a portables sat dish.

The only plus I can think of for Direct is that they have a better sports package.

BandJCarm · 06-01-2017, 12:38 PM

Have had both, I like Direct way better. YMMV.

Fiddler Dan · 06-01-2017, 01:43 PM

We have just camped for a month and watched Directtv anywhere by using the Directtv App on an Ipad or Iphone. You may have to have ATT Phone service but there is no Data usage for watching all of the TV programming and you can access your home DVR just as though you were at home. By running an HDMI cable and Iphone adapter from the IPAD/Iphone to the TV you can watch HD TV at no charge anywhere. No antenna or dish is necessary. Be sure to register your Iphones and Ipads with your DVR while you are at home by going to App settings and DVR or you will not get all of the programming.

Benny1953 · 06-01-2017, 01:54 PM

Did you have to get a different dish for the internet and how much did it cost.
Thanks
Benny Chaney

Fiddler Dan · 06-01-2017, 03:09 PM

Just check out directv.com
DIRECTV anytime, anywhere.
Download the free DIRECTV App and start streaming your favorite live and downloaded pre-recorded shows on your mobile device with your DIRECTV subscription, and no additional equipment needed.
The only extra item is a HDMI cable and Iphone/Ipad adapter available at Walmart, about$30

Reb Kitt · 06-01-2017, 03:29 PM

We have Dish for our home and while camping. Our camper is always being used in some way or another VIP211 works like a champ. On the road we use a Tailgater and only had a problem in New Mexico and at the bottom Red Rocks Canyon in OK.

doc73 · 06-01-2017, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiddler Dan

Just check out directv.com
DIRECTV anytime, anywhere.
Download the free DIRECTV App and start streaming your favorite live and downloaded pre-recorded shows on your mobile device with your DIRECTV subscription, and no additional equipment needed.
The only extra item is a HDMI cable and Iphone/Ipad adapter available at Walmart, about$30

We had the same thing with Dish, Dish Anywhere it might have been called. This seems to be pretty standard now that we are in the digital handheld age.

bwodom · 06-01-2017, 06:33 PM

When we had our motorhome with roof-mounted satellite, we just took our receiver from home (DirectTV). Our contract will run out this year and we frankly have not been that happy with DTV and will likely not renew so did not want to purchase a satellite for DTV (particularly since they don't have RV Flex plan as Dish does).

When we traded for our fifth wheel, we got a portable Tailgater and the DISH RV Flex Plan which we can order on a month-by-month basis since we don't camp full time. We are very happy with it. We added local channels to the basic plan, and we can add/remove the appropriate programming as-needed via Internet or phone call (i.e. we get Fox for NASCAR races only during that season).

Customer service has been fine. Since our DirectTV is still connected at home (our son and d-I-l live in an apartment downstairs) we can still view SOME shows/movies on our computer should weather/interference prevent our using satellite (as long as we have Internet, of course).

We thought about purchasing the satellite that allows both DirectTV and DISH but price was too expensive.

Sailor Bill · 06-01-2017, 07:05 PM

We were Dish customers for years and Direct sent us one of there mailers offering cash and "a better deal", we took the bate and it was a big mistake. As soon as our 1 year contract was up we went back to dish. Have the Tailgater and 211 receiver in the 5th wheel and it works just fine but this winter when we head south we will take our hopper and a tripod dish so we will have full use of the DVR. We just pay the extra $7.00 a month to have the TV available at home or on the road. It is very simple to call and have the locals for whatever area we are in transfered to the setup with out changing the billing address.

jkoenig24 · 06-01-2017, 07:18 PM

My 2015 Dynamax DX3-37RB had an In-Motion satellite dish as OEM. The dealer's (Terrytown RV, Grand Rapids, MI) PDI guy recommended Dish so, I signed up. It seems that Dish sales reps have a different price sheet than Dish billing. Dish billing took me over the coals by jacking up the rates WELL over what I had agreed to. I dropped them three months into their service. The In-Motion satellite can NOT do Direct TV HiDef. I'd need a second satellite dish. I decided I could live with OTA signals and, whatever cable an RV park might provide.

OldCoot · 06-01-2017, 07:20 PM

Been a Dish customer for 15 yrs. Use the Tailgater and have no complaints. Here is how I use the Tailgater with my homemade mounts.

donanddona · 06-01-2017, 07:34 PM

I use the Wineguard Pathway X2 with a Wally in the living room and a 211z in the bedroom. My Dish rep says that the wally box now uses the same software as the hopper. This get me thinking that the wireless joeys might be an option for several TV locations

BandJCarm · 06-01-2017, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karpcbk15

We currently have had Direct TV for many years. We take our Standard definition DVR along in our RV. We're using the King Quest auto portable dish. Looking at changing to Dish Network because we can use King universal controller on Dish with the present Quest dish. The thing that caught my eye is Dish offers SD / HD using the present dish where Direct TV is on SD unless you go to the roof mounted dish.

Present dish users? Thoughts? Do you use the "Hopper"? What receivers do you use?

If we stick with Direct TV, we'll use their SWM option so to be able to use 2-3 Receivers.
You feed back is welcome!

I re-read your initial post.

actually.......no. You CAN get HD content with Direct without going to the Travl'r roof mount. I do. You just have to learn how to point a portable dish. I figured it out, takes about 2 minutes now. I didn't care for DISH customer service, but many love 'em.

I would not switch just to get one or the other. Get what you have at home, cheapest way to go. Travl'r is only automatic HD Direct dish, but it has limitations too (trees, etc.).

**Mr. Dan** · 06-01-2017, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

I re-read your initial post.

actually.......no. You CAN get HD content with Direct without going to the Travl'r roof mount. I do. You just have to learn how to point a portable dish. I figured it out, takes about 2 minutes now. I didn't care for DISH customer service, but many love 'em.

I would not switch just to get one or the other. Get what you have at home, cheapest way to go. Travl'r is only automatic HD Direct dish, but it has limitations too (trees, etc.).

Yes.... I take my main DIRECTV receiver and a mini-Genie receiver from my house when I travel. I set up my traveling portable oval antenna, set it wherever I need, and have HD service on two TVs PDQ. I don't pay any extra for the traveling service since it's my house system just away from my house.

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