View Full Version : How to change "locals" while traveling in an RV
bsprague
12-16-09, 11:23 PM
I have and R-15 and a single LNB antenna on my motorhome. It has an automatic KVH antenna that finds the 101 satellite with the flip of a switch. I spend most of my time in the Seattle/Tacoma market. I can drive my motorhome anywhere in Washington state and most of Oregon and still receive my Seattle locals.
I am now traveling in California. Yesterday I was near Los Banos, which is about 100 miles southeast of San Francisco. I called to switch my "service address" thinking I would get San Francisco locals. Giving the exact address for the RV Campground I was in, I got a lot of confusion and nothing between channels 1 and 70. Did I pick an address where there were no locals?
I want the "spot beam" turned on for the nearest major city. I will be spending a month in a small town 60 miles northeast of San Diego. Should I give DirecTV an address in San Diego?
I thought it was simple. Apparently I don't understand how "locals" work. Suggestions please?
Thanks.
I have and R-15 and a single LNB antenna on my motorhome. It has an automatic KVH antenna that finds the 101 satellite with the flip of a switch. I spend most of my time in the Seattle/Tacoma market. I can drive my motorhome anywhere in Washington state and most of Oregon and still receive my Seattle locals.
I am now traveling in California. Yesterday I was near Los Banos, which is about 100 miles southeast of San Francisco. I called to switch my "service address" thinking I would get San Francisco locals. Giving the exact address for the RV Campground I was in, I got a lot of confusion and nothing between channels 1 and 70. Did I pick an address where there were no locals?
I want the "spot beam" turned on for the nearest major city. I will be spending a month in a small town 60 miles northeast of San Diego. Should I give DirecTV an address in San Diego?
I thought it was simple. Apparently I don't understand how "locals" work. Suggestions please?
Thanks.
Locals sit on multiple satellites. My locals in Vegas are on the 119 degree satellite. The locals in L.A. and New York are on the 101 satellite. Varies by where you are.
Will your KVH dish track all of DirecTVs non-hd satellites? Or just the 101. If it's just the 101, you're going to have problems picking up locals.
Also, your receiver needs to know it has access to multiple satellites. If you tell it it can only get the 101 satellite, your receiver will refuse to pickup channels that aren't on the 101. (So you have to re-run the satellite setup and select 3LNB, as in 101, 110, and 119).
bsprague
12-17-09, 12:01 AM
Locals sit on multiple satellites. My locals in Vegas are on the 119 degree satellite. The locals in L.A. and New York are on the 101 satellite. Varies by where you are.
Will your KVH dish track all of DirecTVs non-hd satellites? Or just the 101. If it's just the 101, you're going to have problems picking up locals.
Also, your receiver needs to know it has access to multiple satellites. If you tell it it can only get the 101 satellite, your receiver will refuse to pickup channels that aren't on the 101. (So you have to re-run the satellite setup and select 3LNB, as in 101, 110, and 119).
Thanks for the reply.
My KVH antenna locks onto a single satellite. It was developed when it didn't need to be smart enough to switch satellites. Apparently, the Seattle locals are on the 101 because it works perfectly there.
So if I drive to a different area, would I have to provide an address where the locals are on the 101?
How do I determine what markets or cities are on the 101? If I knew that, I could use a RV Campground directory and pick an address.
I'm not trying to fool DirecTV. I think I pay for locals so I think I should be able to get them for a city near where I am.
If it were up to DirecTV, they'd let you get whatever locals you want. But its not. Its up to the FCC and the networks (and their local affiliates). I beleive there is a resource on DirecTVs website for determining where locals come via zip code. We may have a list here on the board that I will attempt to look for right now.
To my knowledge, the only locals available in Calif on the 101 are from San Fran, Sacramento, LA, and San Diego. They are all on spot beams with maybe exception of LA. These would all be SD if you are only able to see the 101 with your dish.
You can check www.directv.com/locals to verify your address/zip code at the RV park is in one of the four above cities. If your RV park is not in one of the above cities, you might not be able to get the locals without changing your dish.
Best bet would be to call care, let them know of your situation of being in at RV park, and they will be able to help. They just need to verify that your RV address is in the correct DMA. If memory serves me correctly, Los Banos would fall under Fresno-Visalia DMA, which is on the 119 and is the reason it was not working with your setup.
Have fun while visiting California!
Wont this be an issue alot going forward though? I mean arnt alot of the locals on 99 and 103 now? If has a single LNB dish and only gets 101 then I dont see how that would work very well.
DirecTVs customer resource doesnt specify which satellites inparticular locals come from. Check out the following pages:
http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa119.html
http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa110.html
http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa101.html
http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa72.html
Those pages tell you which channels are on which of DirecTVs Standard Def broadcasting satellites. 101 is the only one you can pick up with your dish but atleast those pages will tell you whats where.
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/localChannels.jsp?assetId=900018
You can punch your current zip code in there to see which channels would be available to you if your dish is capable of picking them up.
Wont this be an issue alot going forward though? I mean arnt alot of the locals on 99 and 103 now? If has a single LNB dish and only gets 101 then I dont see how that would work very well.
HD locals are on 99/103.
The OP has an R15 (non HD DVR)
non-issue.
Try resetting your receiver.
Also, try refreshing your services (http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/mydirectv/mysystem/mySystemResendAuthorization.jsp?fr=AS&)
My recommendation:
Use DirecTVs page to find out which locals are available in your area, then find out where those locals come from.
If you are supposed to be able to receive a certain cities locals, and that cities locals are on the 101 satellite, your receiver shouldnt have an issue picking them up.
HD locals are on 99/103.
The OP has an R15 (non HD DVR)
non-issue.
Thats part of my point though. With alot of DMA's being HD wont this cause alot of problems for a traveler with only getting signal from 101?
Wont this be an issue alot going forward though? I mean arnt alot of the locals on 99 and 103 now? If has a single LNB dish and only gets 101 then I dont see how that would work very well.
HD locals are on 99/103.
The OP has an R15 (non HD DVR)
non-issue.
Thats part of my point though. With alot of DMA's being HD wont this cause alot of problems for a traveler with only getting signal from 101?
...
You're missing the big picture.
Anyone who has an HD receiver is going to need to get more than the 101 if they want HD. They'll need the 99/103. Since the HD locals and the HD nationals are all on the 99/103, any HD traveler who wants HD locals or HD nationals is going to need a dish compatible with 99/103.
75% of travelers know this or are about to find out.
The OP has a non HD receiver. As do most of us who travel in RVs. Plenty of people have HD receivers, and HD DVRs, but for a service with limited use while you're on the road (unless you have an automatic tracking KVH dish like the op has), you dont "need" HD. Especially for "snowbirds" who are just traveling along the country but would like access to local news.
SD locals are on SD broadcasting birds. HD locals are on HD broadcasting birds. If the OP lived in an MPEG-4 market where their "sd" locals were on an HD broadcasting bird, they would be well aware of all this because they wouldnt be getting their OWN locals.
Unless you have the misguided belief that once locals are broadcast in HD, they are no longer broadcast in SD...?
In that case, no. I get my Sin City SD locals from the 119 and my Sin City HD locals from the 99.
...
Unless you have the misguided belief that once locals are broadcast in HD, they are no longer broadcast in SD...?
In that case, no. I get my Sin City SD locals from the 119 and my Sin City HD locals from the 99.
Maybe thats it. I was under the impression if they offered locals in a market in HD that you had HD locals and not SD. Seems like a waste to offer them in both SD and HD but then again I guess there are alot out there that dont have HD recievers. I just thought there was a lot of HD only local markets that would cause alot of problems with getting locals for a RV user if you were only able to get signal from 101.
Maybe thats it. I was under the impression if they offered locals in a market in HD that you had HD locals and not SD. Seems like a waste to offer them in both SD and HD but then again I guess there are alot out there that dont have HD recievers. I just thought there was a lot of HD only local markets that would cause alot of problems with getting locals for a RV user if you were only able to get signal from 101.
Yea... The HD market share just is NOT that big...
DirecTV would have to hand out MPEG-4 compatible equipment for free like they did in the MPEG-4 markets before they could turn off the SD locals in any other market...
Consider all the households that have 1 HD receiver (HD / HDDVR) and multiple SD receivers. None of those SD receivers would get locals....
So it's not really a waste.
For the OP, getting a multi-satellite dish and a tripod ground mount would allow you to set up for reception at any location. As long as you are going to be staying someplace for long enough to make setting up and aligning the dish worth the effort. This is a very common solution for RV users.
bsprague
12-17-09, 09:04 AM
I'm the OP. Thanks for the insights.
There were two parts I didn't understand. I thought all the SD locals were on the 101. I also thought you could tell DirecTV where your were and they would change "the service address" so that you could get locals for the nearest city channels that were on the 101.
Now I think I understand that you have to provide and address from one of the major 101 cities. To do that I have two choices: Drive to one of those cities or pretend I have driven there! I will do one or the other and report back with results.
Additional background for those that are interested in "mobile" DirecTV:
-DirecTV actively seeks mobile customers on their website.
-In the early days, the only network channels came from the east and west coasts. Now that is called Distant Network Services (or DNS). To get it you have to file paper work called a "waiver". The waiver has to be approved by your local stations at your "home base". About a half million people live in their RVs and many use a relative's address for the "home base".
-DNS costs an extra $12 per month. I had it for a long time but shut it off 6 months ago to save a little cash.
-KVH is a major supplier of mobile dish antennas to the military and marine markets. They also have a few models for the RV/Truck market.
-The model KVH I have sits under a plastic dome and actively tracks the satellite. Someone can watch TV while I'm driving down the road.
-Because I have an R-15 with a hard disk, I normally turn the entire system off to protect the drive from potholes and expansion joints.
-To my knowledge nobody has yet offered an "in motion" dish system that will track multiple satellites. That was changing until the RV market crashed!
-For multiple satellite tracking most in a RV set up the dish each time they stop. They ether use a tripod and do it by hand or they have an automatic one that is an open dish (not under a dome). The leading brand of open dish is MotoSat.
PokerJoker
12-17-09, 11:47 AM
-In the early days, the only network channels came from the east and west coasts. Now that is called Distant Network Services (or DNS). To get it you have to file paper work called a "waiver". The waiver has to be approved by your local stations at your "home base". About a half million people live in their RVs and many use a relative's address for the "home base".
-DNS costs an extra $12 per month. I had it for a long time but shut it off 6 months ago to save a little cash.
-KVH is a major supplier of mobile dish antennas to the military and marine markets. They also have a few models for the RV/Truck market.
-The model KVH I have sits under a plastic dome and actively tracks the satellite. Someone can watch TV while I'm driving down the road.
-Because I have an R-15 with a hard disk, I normally turn the entire system off to protect the drive from potholes and expansion joints.
-To my knowledge nobody has yet offered an "in motion" dish system that will track multiple satellites. That was changing until the RV market crashed!
-For multiple satellite tracking most in a RV set up the dish each time they stop. They ether use a tripod and do it by hand or they have an automatic one that is an open dish (not under a dome). The leading brand of open dish is MotoSat.
Mostly correct, but there is another option. If you have an RV AND a standard household account with DirecTV, you can file their RV waiver form and set up a separate secondary account for the RV. No approvals from local stations are required. You then get DNS locals from east or west coast depending on the location of the "primary" household account.
The hitch, of course, is that it will cost you a lot more than $12 extra a month. In fact you get to pay the full rate for two D* accounts. You also apparently can't get stuff like PPV and NFL ST in the RV.
I chose to go this route with my Motosat setup on a 45' Newell coach. Works well. You are correct, RV owners are forced to choose between having in-motion limited SD TV, or having HD and full channel coverage. Since I just got done refitting the coach with all-HD electronics, I chose the latter. I don't see the possibility of in-motion HD for RVs happening anytime soon, the dome would have to be too big. (They do make one now for boats, and it's huge.)
Keith
Most SD locals come from 101, but some are on 119 and some are on 99 and 103.
doctor j
12-17-09, 04:06 PM
Most SD locals come from 101, but some are on 119 and some are on 99 and 103.
DBSTalk reference for Directv LIL's by DMA and satellite for SD and HD channels.
http://members.cox.net/oknewshawk/DTV_LIL_CITY.html
Doctor j
BennyGregg
12-17-09, 05:35 PM
I have an RV. I have two receivers at home, both HD. I will have a dish that receives 99 101 103 that I set up at my RV. When RV'ing, can I take one of the receivers from home I call DirecTV each place I camp - which might change several times a week - and just ask them to change the address assigned based on where I am camped so that I can get whatever spot beams are available in that area? In other words, how often will DirecTV allow you to change your service address?
bsprague
12-17-09, 07:30 PM
I have an RV. I have two receivers at home, both HD. I will have a dish that receives 99 101 103 that I set up at my RV. When RV'ing, can I take one of the receivers from home I call DirecTV each place I camp - which might change several times a week - and just ask them to change the address assigned based on where I am camped so that I can get whatever spot beams are available in that area? In other words, how often will DirecTV allow you to change your service address?
I'm the OP.
I'm currently confused. 6 months ago when I stopped my DNS service to save the $12 per month the customer care representative said I could change the "service address" any time I wanted.
This week the first CSR said OK and changed it. Trouble was that I unknowingly used an address where the locals came from something other than the primary 101 satellite. Confused, I called again and the next CCR said it was policy to not change the "service address".
The next place I'm going, the locals are on the 101. So I will call again and see what policy the CSR will follow.
The hard part for you may be setting up the dish you have. I'm guessing it is a "Slimline". They are more complicated than setting up the traditional oval dishes with one LNB pointed at the 101 satellite.
bsprague
12-17-09, 07:37 PM
Mostly correct, but there is another option. If you have an RV AND a standard household account with DirecTV, you can file their RV waiver form and set up a separate secondary account for the RV. No approvals from local stations are required. You then get DNS locals from east or west coast depending on the location of the "primary" household account.
The hitch, of course, is that it will cost you a lot more than $12 extra a month. In fact you get to pay the full rate for two D* accounts. You also apparently can't get stuff like PPV and NFL ST in the RV.
I chose to go this route with my Motosat setup on a 45' Newell coach. Works well. You are correct, RV owners are forced to choose between having in-motion limited SD TV, or having HD and full channel coverage. Since I just got done refitting the coach with all-HD electronics, I chose the latter. I don't see the possibility of in-motion HD for RVs happening anytime soon, the dome would have to be too big. (They do make one now for boats, and it's huge.)
Keith
I was encouraged by DirecTV to have a reciever or two in my condo and another in my RV on the same account. When and why did that policy change? I've had an RV and DirecTV for a long time and I've never met anybody with two accounts that pay twice! $100 a month is more than enough to watch TV. They will get $0 before they get $200!
I was encouraged by DirecTV to have a reciever or two in my condo and another in my RV on the same account. When and why did that policy change? I've had an RV and DirecTV for a long time and I've never met anybody with two accounts that pay twice! $100 a month is more than enough to watch TV. They will get $0 before they get $200!
The policy hasnt changed muched. Theyve just made more options, choice is good. Its easier for some people to have 2 accounts, dont ask me why because I dont know.
Technically, if you're in your RV, DirecTV doesnt want anyone using your receivers at home, if you tell DirecTV that isnt possible, they want you to have 2 seperate accounts. DirecTV wont know that you're watching TV from your RV and TV from your 'home' at the same time unless you tell them. Ethical/Not, that's just how it is.
I have 3 receivers in my RV, and 6 receivers in the house. I activate/deactivate them on a regular basis depending on my needs.
In RE: to the locals. As carl6 stated, not all locals are on the 101. Most are. Spot beams do effect some people. My locals here in vegas are on a spot beam on the 119, so if I travel to California, seeing as that the spot beam is only ~50 miles if I remember correctly, I wouldnt be able to receive my LV locals, because I'd be outside the spot beam.
There is no reason you cant change your service address. Sometimes, the receivers don't update immediately, or don't update at all. Thats when a reset comes in. I remember a guy a few years back who moved and 2 of his receivers refused to take his new address, he ended up having to get new equipment after trouble-shooting for 2 weeks.
Use the link I gave you earlier for DirecTVs LiL check. That'll tell you what city you can get your locals out of. Then use the LyngSat pages to find out what satellite those channels come from. If the locals come from the 101, and you're within the city limits, you don't have to worry about the spot beam. You may need to reset your receiver, refresh your receiver, and if neither of those work try re-running the satellite dish setup (on the receiver). I imagine you would choose 'Round 18"' as your KVH dish.
Thanks for all the mobile info. Personally, Having had a boat, Jet Ski's, RVs, and done cross-country travelling, as well as extensive research into DNS, I can't say I learned anything, but its good to know that you're pretty knowledgeable about how your account is supposed to work. :)
Confused, I called again and the next CCR said it was policy to not change the "service address".
There is a policy in place not to arbitrarily change the service address.
This is because plenty of sports fans call in trying to change their service address so they can watch out of market sports games.
You can't call in and tell DirecTV you're in one place but want the locals for another place nearby. If the CSR changes your address for that Direct reason, they're violating a federal law.
You can however, call in and tell DirecTV that you're in your RV and have moved to X camp site, and give them that service address. I personally wouldnt give DirecTV an address in LA, for example, unless I was actually in LA, but thats just part of my ethics. (LA's locals are on the 101 satellite, non spot beam, as those are used for DNS, so are New Yorks).
Note that DNS locals (LA and New York) tend to be blacked out (sporting wise) more often than usual. Its to keep people from using DNS as a loophole to watching games they shouldnt have access to.
//
If a CSR utterly refuses to change your service address, please try not to get frustrated with them. They're trying to do their job and obey the law. Politely end the call, wait a few minutes, and call back. Explain to the next CSR that you're in your RV, if they still refuse to change your address, politely request to speak with a supervisor. If there is a prime sporting event going on at the time (suchas a major football game), CSRs/Supervisors are less likely to change your address while that inparticular event is in session.
bsprague
12-22-09, 10:48 AM
I didn't get it to work.
After using the information provided in this thread I was sure San Diego channels 6, 8, 10 and 39 (among others) would be provided on the 101 to the service address in zip 92004. The map of the spot beam covers Borrego Springs, CA.
A very nice CSR made the change in address. I did a menu reset. No locals. I did a reset on the DirecTV web site. No locals.
I called a second very nice CSR who coached me through "reprogramming" from the menu and did another reset from her end. She confirmed that I "should" be getting 6, 8, 10 and 39.
Still no locals.
I think the solution will be to watch locals on an over the air antenna or cable. The only disadvantage is that I can't use the DVR.
Bummer when I thought it should work.
Shades228
12-22-09, 03:14 PM
To clarify:
If you have an RV receiver on your home account. Changing your address is against the TOS and gets into areas that close threads. You would need to stay inside the spot beam for your area.
If you want local affiliates in an RV no matter what you need to have a second account setup and then ask them to send you the RV/Truck DNS request. It's a legal form you can fill out and submit documentation with.
To clarify:
If you have an RV receiver on your home account. Changing your address is against the TOS and gets into areas that close threads. You would need to stay inside the spot beam for your area.
If you want local affiliates in an RV no matter what you need to have a second account setup and then ask them to send you the RV/Truck DNS request. It's a legal form you can fill out and submit documentation with.
How do you figure?
So long as no one is using the receivers at home there is no reason you cant change the service address while travelling.
Alot of mobile customers do exactly that. Its just like going between to a vacation home, so long as no one is using the left over receivers.
makaiguy
12-22-09, 04:44 PM
The RV waiver allows you to sign up for "Distant Locals" from New York and/or LA, so you can get network programming no matter where you are in the country. My understanding is that you may not apply a RV waiver to a home account. That is why, if you want the RV waiver for your RV, it must be on its own account.
It used to be that you could call DTV and switch back and forth between which of your two account you wished to have active, so that you were only paying for one of them at a time. I have no idea if you can still do this.
Richierich
12-22-09, 04:44 PM
I heard from another source that you are only allowed to change your service address 4 times per year. I will try to find that source of information but it was because alot of people were trying to do it to watch sports when technically they were blacked out.
My Motorhome will have Motosat as well as TracStar so I can pick up SD while traveling and HD via Sats 99, 101 & 103 via Motosat while stationary using an A/B Switch. I am going to buy another SL3 Dish for hooking up manually in case I can't get line of sight for the Motosat.
Of course I will get the RV Waiver but that is only for watching Los Angeles or New York Locals but not both. To get SD Locals I will have the TracStar and to get everything else I will have Motosat to get HD plus locals when possible because they are on either 99, 101 or 103.
Also, with my Motosat Package I will be connected to Datastorm to get DSL by locking onto the Hughes Internet Satellite. This package cost $5,000 plus I believe $80 per month for DSL.
Also, I really don't need TV when motoring down the road as I need to concentrate on driving.
Richierich
12-22-09, 05:33 PM
Also, you might want to PM Flugelman who is a member here as he is very very knowledgeable about RVing and gaining access to Directv HD and SD Locals.
Shades228
12-22-09, 06:31 PM
How do you figure?
So long as no one is using the receivers at home there is no reason you cant change the service address while travelling.
Alot of mobile customers do exactly that. Its just like going between to a vacation home, so long as no one is using the left over receivers.
Because those receivers are still active at the residence. It doesn't matter if someone is there or not. It's the same reason you're not allowed to have service at 2 locations at the same time on an account. The instant your home starts receiving locals not in that DMA you're in violation of the FCC.
Richierich
12-22-09, 07:00 PM
If Directv monitors the fact that you have DVRs at Two Different Residences then they can then address that issue and either cancel you or have you adhere to their policy which is to comply with Federal Regulation.
Because those receivers are still active at the residence. It doesn't matter if someone is there or not. It's the same reason you're not allowed to have service at 2 locations at the same time on an account. The instant your home starts receiving locals not in that DMA you're in violation of the FCC.
Then why does DirecTV want you to have owned receivers in your second location but doesn't mind if you have leased receivers in your primary location? You're not supposed to be able to deactivate your primary location unless you have 2 distinguished accounts. So there's no reason you cant change your service address to get locals where you're currently at so long as no one is watching TV at your primary location.
So long as either A) You're transporting the receivers with you (and their leased) or B) The receivers in your secondary location are stationary and owned, you're all set.
By transporting with you I'm referring to taking them out of your primary location, and then putting them back in your primary location. By stationary I'm referring to them staying at their own location (be it another home or a travelling RV).
I didn't get it to work.
After using the information provided in this thread I was sure San Diego channels 6, 8, 10 and 39 (among others) would be provided on the 101 to the service address in zip 92004. The map of the spot beam covers Borrego Springs, CA.
Do the channels show up in your guide, and you just don't get anything on them, or do they not even appear in the guide.
Regardless of where you are located, if your account is properly set for that location, the channels should appear in your guide. If they are there, and you don't get anything on them, then you either do not have the correct dish, or you are outside the spot beam. If they are not in the guide at all, then your account is not properly set for that location.
Shades228
12-22-09, 09:39 PM
Then why does DirecTV want you to have owned receivers in your second location but doesn't mind if you have leased receivers in your primary location? You're not supposed to be able to deactivate your primary location unless you have 2 distinguished accounts. So there's no reason you cant change your service address to get locals where you're currently at so long as no one is watching TV at your primary location.
So long as either A) You're transporting the receivers with you (and their leased) or B) The receivers in your secondary location are stationary and owned, you're all set.
By transporting with you I'm referring to taking them out of your primary location, and then putting them back in your primary location. By stationary I'm referring to them staying at their own location (be it another home or a travelling RV).
Owned equipment can be disconnected at will and not required to be sent back. So an owned receiver in an RV is prefered because you can deactivate it and not have to return it. You can do it with leased but then you must keep it active and pay the $5 a month. Owned does not mean that it's ok to keep active at a second location no matter what.
Their policy on RV is as I posted above. If you keep the RV on the home account locals are based on the service address and that shouldn't be changed.
RV accounts get DNS and the service address is always where the RV is registered.
I do close to 20k miles a year in our motorhome... so I know a few things about this. I get everything but NBC as they will not allow it. CBS, ABC and Fox are never a problem, but they are not "local" channels. They are national feeds, not spot beams.
When you say "locals" do you mean local to your Seattle area?
I have my KVH in my garage (for sale if anyone is interested), so I know a few things about those too. I switched to using a slimline so I could get HD with our DVRs. Its not "in motion", but I will take that sacrifice over a great picture.
With the KVH I still had to use the zip code in the location I was in to program the dish to follow the correct bird as the azimuth/longitude and latitude would change as we drove down that highway. I would re-do my sat setup each time we parked if we did more than a few miles that particular day.
bsprague
12-23-09, 07:22 AM
To clarify:
If you have an RV receiver on your home account. Changing your address is against the TOS and gets into areas that close threads. You would need to stay inside the spot beam for your area.
If you want local affiliates in an RV no matter what you need to have a second account setup and then ask them to send you the RV/Truck DNS request. It's a legal form you can fill out and submit documentation with.
The sequence for set up is long. It started as a home account when DirecTV was brand new. I sold the house and move into a motorhome full time to cover my 48 state sales territory. The account was switched to what I remember being called a "mobile RV account". The company I was selling for went broke, I parked the motorhome in one spot near Seattle and closed the account to use the "free cable" that was provided. A year later I upgraded to a DVR and an "in motion" dome antenna. When I called DirecTV to get a new account I was told I could only activate the old RV account. Six month later my wife decided to buy us a condo near Seattle. HD was new so I called DirecTV to ask their preferred way of hooking up an HD TV in the new condo. They said they wanted to add it to the existing RV account.
So, what I think I have is an "RV" account with an extra receiver in a condo.
Until about 6 months ago I paid the $12 per month for the DNS. Included in the DirecTV service is "local channels". I want to watch and record local channels where I live. I'm not living in New York or Los Angeles so I don't want DNS. For six weeks I am living where the local channels on the cable come from San Diego. On DirecTV San Diego SD locals are on the Los Angeles 101 spot beam.
I have never intended to cheat, do anything illegal, not be ethical or violate any terms of service. I am trying to figure out how to watch the correct local channels AND ADVERTISING for where I am living.
I don't think anybody will close the thread if there is no intent to cheat, lie, steal or violate the FCCs. Instead, I might be able to figure out what the FCC dictates to DirecTV and they intend for me as a long time customer that has chosen to sent them tons of money through lots of changes in the market, the FCC and the TOS.
bsprague
12-23-09, 07:35 AM
Because those receivers are still active at the residence. It doesn't matter if someone is there or not. It's the same reason you're not allowed to have service at 2 locations at the same time on an account. The instant your home starts receiving locals not in that DMA you're in violation of the FCC. Two years ago I went on the road for 6 months and was paying for the DNS. (I drove the motorhome to Newfoundland and back.) A CSR at DirecTV suggested I could save some money by deactivating the receivers in the condo. The result was that an equipment retrieval box was sent to my condo. My son, while checking on our condo, called to ask why there was an empty DirecTV box on the front porch. By this time i was in Ontario. To fix it, I tried to phone them. ALL of DirecTV's numbers are toll free from the lower 48 states. You CAN'T call them from Canada. After many e-mails to someone who typed with a confusing dialect I was able to get them to reset the account to where it was before I left. In other words, at DirecTV's insistence I was required to KEEP the condo receivers ACTIVE!
bsprague
12-23-09, 07:39 AM
Because those receivers are still active at the residence. It doesn't matter if someone is there or not. It's the same reason you're not allowed to have service at 2 locations at the same time on an account. The instant your home starts receiving locals not in that DMA you're in violation of the FCC.
I do close to 20k miles a year in our motorhome... so I know a few things about this. I get everything but NBC as they will not allow it. CBS, ABC and Fox are never a problem, but they are not "local" channels. They are national feeds, not spot beams.
When you say "locals" do you mean local to your Seattle area?
When I am near Seattle, I want Seattle channels. For 6 weeks I am in Borrego Springs. When I check at DirecTV.com the locals for Borrego Springs come from San Diego. While I'm here I want the locals for here! I don't want the DNS nationals from New York or Los Angeles.
bsprague
12-23-09, 07:46 AM
Do the channels show up in your guide, and you just don't get anything on them, or do they not even appear in the guide.
Regardless of where you are located, if your account is properly set for that location, the channels should appear in your guide. If they are there, and you don't get anything on them, then you either do not have the correct dish, or you are outside the spot beam. If they are not in the guide at all, then your account is not properly set for that location.
The channels don't show up on the guide.
When I left Seattle, the Seattle channels were in the guide. They stayed in the guide but were blank as I drove south at about the California border.
The first CSR tried to set my "service address" for a town near San Francisco. The channels disappeared from the guide. That was when I learned that many smaller towns have locals on satelites other than the 101.
Homework using sites posted early in this thread suggested that the locals for my address for 6 weeks would be from San Diego and on the 101.
The last CSR reset my address for 92004 and said I should see the channels in the guide. There are no channels in the guide between 1 and 74.
bsprague
12-23-09, 07:51 AM
......Regardless of where you are located, if your account is properly set for that location, the channels should appear in your guide. If they are there, and you don't get anything on them, then you either do not have the correct dish, or you are outside the spot beam. If they are not in the guide at all, then your account is not properly set for that location.
They are not in the guide. There are no locals for anywhere in the guide. That suggests that when I called the CSR, she didn't properly set the account for my location. If I call DirecTV again, what should I ask them to do?
The channels don't show up on the guide.
Was the receiver connected and getting satellite signal when the change was made? It must get the change via the satellite feed. If not, then (with the receiver on) go to your account on the DirecTV website and re-send authorization to that receiver.
If after resending authorization you still do not see the locals, then you need to call again. They might not have set the locals properly.
bsprague
12-23-09, 07:54 AM
Thanks to all of you for your suggestions and help.
For anyone that is not sure my intentions are pure, I want to emphasise that I don't want to do anything wrong, illegal, immoral, unethical, against the FCCs or against the TOS.
I simply want to watch and record the local channels including local news, weather and advertising for where I am currently living near San Diego.
I am still trying to wrap my head around this.
What I am reading is that you want your local Seattle channels to watch in your motorhome in a place such as Los Angeles? Am I correct?
bsprague
12-23-09, 08:14 AM
Was the receiver connected and getting satellite signal when the change was made? It must get the change via the satellite feed. If not, then (with the receiver on) go to your account on the DirecTV website and re-send authorization to that receiver.
If after resending authorization you still do not see the locals, then you need to call again. They might not have set the locals properly.
Yes. It is connected and was connected. I get all the channels from 74 up in brilliant SD color.
I did re-send the authorization from the website. Did it twice even. Then I did a menu reset of my R-16.
Still have no channels in the guide from 1 to 71.
The last CSR suggested I needed to pay for a service call to my motorhome! That does not make sense because it is reciever a 100 or so channels. Tuners 1 and 2 are showing 92% on transponder 1 on 101 (A).
bsprague
12-23-09, 08:17 AM
I am still trying to wrap my head around this.
What I am reading is that you want your local Seattle channels to watch in your motorhome in a place such as Los Angeles? Am I correct?
No.
Only when I'm in Seattle do I want to watch Seattle channels. If I go to Chicago, I want to watch Chicago channels.
Now I am near San Diego and I want to watch San Diego channels.
I have no interest in watching Los Angeles or New York channels as offered under the extra cost DNS service offered to RVs, trucks and boats.
bsprague
12-23-09, 08:27 AM
I have my KVH in my garage (for sale if anyone is interested), so I know a few things about those too. I switched to using a slimline so I could get HD with our DVRs. Its not "in motion", but I will take that sacrifice over a great picture.
With the KVH I still had to use the zip code in the location I was in to program the dish to follow the correct bird as the azimuth/longitude and latitude would change as we drove down that highway. I would re-do my sat setup each time we parked if we did more than a few miles that particular day.
Older model KVHs are not worth much anymore. To work right they need DirecTV receivers that had the "low speed data port". They are not provided anymore. You have to find them on eBay or somewhere.
No.
Only when I'm in Seattle do I want to watch Seattle channels. If I go to Chicago, I want to watch Chicago channels.
Now I am near San Diego and I want to watch San Diego channels.
I have no interest in watching Los Angeles or New York channels as offered under the extra cost DNS service offered to RVs, trucks and boats.
Thanks for the clarification. Don't worry about things like "they are gonna come and get you"... thats not the point. DirecTV has policies in place for RV's. You are doing nothing wrong here... so please people: if you don't understand DirecTV's policy for RV'ers, kindly withhold your comments.
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=P1400120
When I put my waiver in DirecTV dropped DNS costs for me. I think at the time it was 1.99 per feed, but its been zero ever since I filled out some paperwork to prove to them I had an RV and we use it. (NBC would not give me a waiver, so I am out of luck on shows such as SNL, but we have a roof antenna we use for that)
Older model KVHs are not worth much anymore. To work right they need DirecTV receivers that had the "low speed data port". They are not provided anymore. You have to find them on eBay or somewhere.
This is a 2008 model.
Older model KVHs are not worth much anymore. To work right they need DirecTV receivers that had the "low speed data port". They are not provided anymore. You have to find them on eBay or somewhere.
All of the current series of DirecTV receivers and DVRs support serial RS232 through a USB to RS232 adapter. You can use the older model KVH with any receiver or DVR.
All of the current series of DirecTV receivers and DVRs support serial RS232 through a USB to RS232 adapter. You can use the older model KVH with any receiver or DVR.
A "win" if you have your RV already set up with USB cables.
Thanks for the clarification. Don't worry about things like "they are gonna come and get you"... thats not the point. DirecTV has policies in place for RV's. You are doing nothing wrong here... so please people: if you don't understand DirecTV's policy for RV'ers, kindly withhold your comments.
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=P1400120
When I put my waiver in DirecTV dropped DNS costs for me. I think at the time it was 1.99 per feed, but its been zero ever since I filled out some paperwork to prove to them I had an RV and we use it. (NBC would not give me a waiver, so I am out of luck on shows such as SNL, but we have a roof antenna we use for that)
Why dont you reapply for it. You can do it yourself on the website or call and ask them to do it. I was turned down myself many times. I kept resubmitting them over and over again and now have all approved except for one CBS but I continue to work on it until either its granted to or I get LIL. FYI no I dont have a RV account.
A "win" if you have your RV already set up with USB cables.
No, just serial data cable. The RS232 <-> USB adapter would be placed at the receiver, so your DB9 connection is at the receiver location, just a few inches away and plugged into the USB port.
Richierich
12-23-09, 05:22 PM
I have an RV. I have two receivers at home, both HD. I will have a dish that receives 99 101 103 that I set up at my RV. When RV'ing, can I take one of the receivers from home I call DirecTV each place I camp - which might change several times a week - and just ask them to change the address assigned based on where I am camped so that I can get whatever spot beams are available in that area? In other words, how often will DirecTV allow you to change your service address?
Directv has changed their Policy towards changing your service address and you are now only allowed to change it a couple of times a year. Alot of Sports Junkies were changing their service address in order to get nearby blacked out games and then would change back to their original address after the game and it got to be a big hassle for CSRs and Directv wanted to comply with the FCC so they tightened up their policy and procedures.
The best way is to receive it OTA with an OTA antenna and a AM21 OTA Tuner to connect to your DVR. You will have to go thru the Guide Setup Procedure again and enter your zip code for the area you are now in.
elaclair
12-23-09, 07:43 PM
Directv has changed their Policy towards changing your service address and you are now only allowed to change it a couple of times a year.
Do you know when this policy changed? As recently as the first week in September, I have been changing my service address about 6-8 times a month, and have never had any CSR balk at the change...I'd change it on Friday when I headed to the mountains, and again on Monday when I headed back home.
Richierich
12-24-09, 04:25 AM
Well, I have heard from other RVers that they are tightening up their policy but I guess it depends upon which CSR you talk to as to whether you can change it. I hope that is the case when I get my RV which should be soon.
I will be using my AM21 OTA Tuner to pick up OTA Locals so I won't have to change my address but I will have to go thru Guided Setup each time I get to my location and enter the Zip Code for that area.
Their policy on RV is as I posted above. If you keep the RV on the home account locals are based on the service address and that shouldn't be changed.
Where does it say that. It's been less than a month since we did major research on the RV policies and nowhere do I recall it mentioning that receivers in an RV have to use the locals from the primary service address.
And although I didn't quote it, it's also worth mentioning I never said it was ok to leave owned receivers activated at a location other than the primary when the primary location was in use.
Richierich
12-24-09, 05:47 AM
CJTE, I am confused by all of this talk.
I will have an RV. I have two OWNED DVRs and 4 LEASED DVRs. If I want to take my two OWNED DVRs with me in my RV I can do that but I have to unplug my 4 LEASED DVRs at home. I can't Deactivate them or I have to send them back.
However, if they are unplugged then Directv will not SEE a DVR at my Primary Location and I will be allowed to use the 2 OWNED DVRs at my Secondary RV Location which I will then change my Service Address to that Location so I can receive HD Locals there in my RV.
Is this correct or am I missing something or getting something wrong?
I would prefer to do that rather than have to use an OTA antenna and an AM21 Tuner. :confused:
When I am near Seattle, I want Seattle channels. For 6 weeks I am in Borrego Springs. When I check at DirecTV.com the locals for Borrego Springs come from San Diego. While I'm here I want the locals for here! I don't want the DNS nationals from New York or Los Angeles.
This brings up an issue I have always wondered about. I do not have an RV, drive a big rig, or such, but if I did, I would certainly want to see the locals for wherever I was at the time, not NY and LA. Actually I cannot think of a place I would rather not have locals from than NYC.
A few months ago our local electric company gave a "good will" tour of a new tug boat it uses to move coal barges up and down the Ohio and Mississippi. Very nice DirecTV system. HD multiple receivers and such. Obviously very sophisticated, because it works while the boat is moving. Asked the guy giving the tour and he said it was very nice and in the old days they just tried to pick up "whatever" with an antenna, which was obviously hit and miss. But he mentioned how much he did not like the NY stations.
It would seem to me that a GPS based device, tied to the already authorized RV and commercial transportation accounts, would be something that people would want.
Because those receivers are still active at the residence. It doesn't matter if someone is there or not. It's the same reason you're not allowed to have service at 2 locations at the same time on an account. The instant your home starts receiving locals not in that DMA you're in violation of the FCC.
How, exactly, do you "violate the FCC?" Unless you're doing something naughty with a commisioner, etc? :D
But seriously - any "ethical" concerns here are trumped by the fact that the home system isn't in use at the time. If it is, you're right, it's bad.
Richierich
12-24-09, 06:49 AM
This brings up an issue I have always wondered about. I do not have an RV, drive a big rig, or such, but if I did, I would certainly want to see the locals for wherever I was at the time, not NY and LA. Actually I cannot think of a place I would rather not have locals from than NYC.
It would seem to me that a GPS based device, tied to the already authorized RV and commercial transportation accounts, would be something that people would want.
Here is a link to a Marine Satellite Tracking Device that works but is too tall to put on top of an RV.
http://www.kvh.com/products/Product.asp?id=182
Shades228
12-24-09, 11:31 AM
Where does it say that. It's been less than a month since we did major research on the RV policies and nowhere do I recall it mentioning that receivers in an RV have to use the locals from the primary service address.
And although I didn't quote it, it's also worth mentioning I never said it was ok to leave owned receivers activated at a location other than the primary when the primary location was in use.
If you call and ask they will tell you. The policy is the same for commercial trucks, RV, and boats. The service address is to remain at the vehicle registration address, or registered port address. The billing address is allowed to be changed. With that said I think we all know what happens in actual practice. Given the fact that they could enforce this instantly without notice I just say what their policies are.
Sorry if I misinterprited what you meant about owned receivers.
Richierich
12-24-09, 12:23 PM
But seriously - any "ethical" concerns here are trumped by the fact that the home system isn't in use at the time. If it is, you're right, it's bad.
So, if I unplug my "LEASED DVRs" at home but I do not deactivate them and I take my "OWNED DVRs" with me in the RV and when I get to my destination I call Directv and have them change my Service Address to my New Address then I should get Locals and I am not in violation of FCC Rules and Policies because I am not using my DVRs at my Primary Address and I am using my "OWNED DVRs" at my Secondary Service Address which I guess will now be changed to be my Primary Service Address.
texasbrit
12-24-09, 02:54 PM
So, if I unplug my "LEASED DVRs" at home but I do not deactivate them and I take my "OWNED DVRs" with me in the RV and when I get to my destination I call Directv and have them change my Service Address to my New Address then I should get Locals and I am not in violation of FCC Rules and Policies because I am not using my DVRs at my Primary Address and I am using my "OWNED DVRs" at my Secondary Service Address which I guess will now be changed to be my Primary Service Address.
You don't really even have to unplug the leased DVRs at home, and in fact it does not matter if the equipment is owned or leased. The only issue there is that if you de-activate a leased receiver DirecTV will want it back. But DirecTV simply tells you that the terms of service only allow you to use the equipment at the service address. As far as DirecTV is concerned, there is only ONE service address, no primary and secondary. If you go somewhere in your RV and change the service address to that location, DirecTV assumes that the equipment is in use at that location, and that you are going to be honest and not use equipment in two places at once.
The real issue is changing your service address. If you try to do this too often then the CSR may easily refuse to do it. For snowbirds who move service address twice a year, this isn't an issue, but if you try to do it every weekend you could run into a problem. My guess is that if you have been doing this regularly for a while, they might continue to let you do it.
Richierich
12-24-09, 03:01 PM
Thank you for your input, texasbrit, my parents and brother were from Texas but I was born in Panama City, Fla so I didn't get to enjoy Texas.
I will probably be in 4 or 5 different locations each year so I would only have to change it that many times, so I would probably change it from 8 to 10 times a year.
I am not trying to take advantage of a situation but just trying to understand what I am entitled to do and what I can't do. This a very gray area that is not easy to understand and comprehend just what you can and can't do.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
hdtvfan0001
12-24-09, 03:19 PM
Thank you for your input, texasbrit, my parents and brother were from Texas but I was born in Panama City, Fla so I didn't get to enjoy Texas.
Kudos...most people wouldn't admit that. :D:lol:
I am not trying to take advantage of a situation but just trying to understand what I am entitled to do and what I can't do. This a very gray area that is not easy to understand and comprehend just what you can and can't do.
One would think they would have some written policy/instruction on that topic and service.
Perhaps sending them an e-mail requesting the policy/instructions would reap some useful information - use the contact us page on their site to communicate - I've always received a pretty decent quality response that way...better than just a standard CSR phone call attempt.
Richierich
12-24-09, 03:22 PM
Panama City was a very nice place back then before it became a party scene like Daytona Beach but at least I am a Native Floridian!!!
Ain't many of us around!!!
jimisham
12-25-09, 05:56 AM
Thank you for your input, texasbrit, my parents and brother were from Texas but I was born in Panama City, Fla so I didn't get to enjoy Texas.
I will probably be in 4 or 5 different locations each year so I would only have to change it that many times, so I would probably change it from 8 to 10 times a year.
I am not trying to take advantage of a situation but just trying to understand what I am entitled to do and what I can't do. This a very gray area that is not easy to understand and comprehend just what you can and can't do.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Directv may not allow you to change locals that many times. From what I read on an RV forum they may change the locals for you only two or three times a year.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/listings/forum/38.cfm
texasbrit
12-25-09, 06:50 AM
As hdtvfan says, it might be good to have some written policy on this. However, it would probably be more restrictive than today's practice which seems to be to let the CSR decide.
Richierich
12-25-09, 07:12 AM
jimisham, Merry Christmas to you and everyone here and thanks so much for that link as I am New to RVing and need all the access to info that I can get.
A very good Forum it seems for RVers and I just joined.
It seems like this is a Grey Area and they just don't want us abusing the privilege and tying up their CSRs by changing it more frequently than we should. If I am going to be in one place for 2 or 3 months I will change it else I will just use my OTA antenna and my AM21 OTA Tuner.
Thanks texasbrit for your information as well as all of this not crystal clear and alot of us are confused as to exactly what we can and can't do or should or shouldn't do such as change your Service Address once a week which is too much work for the CSRs and looks to be a violation of FCC Rules.
hdtvfan0001
12-25-09, 07:30 AM
As hdtvfan says, it might be good to have some written policy on this. However, it would probably be more restrictive than today's practice which seems to be to let the CSR decide.
Yup - get it in writing, so you can follow "policy". :D
Richierich
12-25-09, 07:32 AM
I am going to Email Ellen Filipiak today so she can send me an Official Written Directv Document of Policy so I know what I can and can not do!!!
Mailto:ellen.filipiak@directv.com
Why dont you reapply for it. You can do it yourself on the website or call and ask them to do it. I was turned down myself many times. I kept resubmitting them over and over again and now have all approved except for one CBS but I continue to work on it until either its granted to or I get LIL. FYI no I dont have a RV account.
I have and it keeps getting kicked back with a no. I will again in January, as I always do. :lol:
Richierich
12-25-09, 07:40 AM
Is the CBS Affiliate in your Service Address locale a privately owned affiliate or is it owned by the National Corporate CBS?
If it is owned by the National Corporation then they should give you the waiver but if it is owned by a private company in your locale then they can deny it.
I am still scratching my head around somethings I am reading in this thread.
What I *think* some are wanting here is to be able to get their locals out of their local area. Spot beams carry my locals.
Once I drive far enough out of my area, I am no longer getting a broadcast from my home areas spot beam, so there is no way I could get my "home channels" out of my county area.
When travelling I would get "their" locals, not mine.
Is the CBS Affiliate in your Service Address locale a privately owned affiliate or is it owned by the National Corporate CBS?
If it is owned by the National Corporation then they should give you the waiver but if it is owned by a private company in your locale then they can deny it.
It all comes down to your service address Rich. Unless you do a "full waiver" (have a separate account you fully pay for as your mobile account), your receivers will be mirrored to your home receivers.
If you are "richierich" enough to afford two accounts, then your mobile account will get ALL the national feeds both in SD and HD (if you have the equipment in your RV).
NBC will not give me the waiver as they won't for my home.
We have a Slimline 5 feeding two DVRs in our coach.
Richierich
12-25-09, 07:47 AM
No Barry, I think most people want the actual locals in the area that they are not residing in as the RV Campground or Park so they can get Weather, News Alerts, Area Events such as Festivals, etc. which is important to me so I know what is going on in the area I am now living in.
Not sure if it's against policy here, and if it is: mods kindly delete (I will self report this).
This is the forums that I use for all things mobile, both internet and mobile satellite TV:
http://www.datastormusers.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/index.html
Richierich
12-25-09, 07:51 AM
I don't want to pay for two accounts no matter how much money I have if I can just take my "OWNED" HR23-700 and put it in my RV and get service. If I can change my Service Address occasionally to pick up locals then great.
If not I will have an OTA antenna installed and feed it to my AM21 OTA Tuner and be done with it. However, this requires going thru the Guided Setup and entering Zip Code info each time I get to my destination.
No Barry, I think most people want the actual locals in the area that they are not residing in as the RV Campground or Park so they can get Weather, News Alerts, Area Events such as Festivals, etc. which is important to me so I know what is going on in the area I am now living in.
Thanks Rich. I think that one or two were thinking they could get their locals in a different area, so I wanted to clarify that it would not be possible (except for National feeds).
I don't want to pay for two accounts no matter how much money I have if I can just take my "OWNED" HR23-700 and put it in my RV and get service. If I can change my Service Address occasionally to pick up locals then great.
If not I will have an OTA antenna installed and feed it to my AM21 OTA Tuner and be done with it. However, this requires going thru the Guided Setup and entering Zio Code info each time I get to my destination.
We have a monster OTA antenna on our roof and just use the built in tuners in our TV's or OTA. Less equipment is better in a rolling house. ;)
Richierich
12-25-09, 07:53 AM
Thanks Barry for that link as I will have Datastorm along with Motosat all rolled into one unit for locking onto the MPEG-4 HD Channels (Sats 99, 101 & 103) and the Hughesnet Internet Satellite to get DSL.
if I can just take my "OWNED" HR23-700 and put it in my RV and get service.
Of course you can Rich. They are your receivers, and you pay for mirroring fees for them.
I take my leased receivers with me everywhere we go, and I asked all about this many years back. Most of the time they are right there in my driveway.
What a lot of "almost full timers" do is have the two accounts, and whey they get that snowbird fever they just suspend one account (this can be done more than once a year), and "unsuspend" their mobile account. This way they are theoretically paying for only one account at a time. The reason for doing such a crazy thing as a mobile account with the DirecTV RV waiver will include all the national feeds, both East and West.
Thanks Barry for that link as I will have Datastorm along with Motosat all rolled into one unit for locking onto the MPEG-4 HD Channels (Sats 99, 101 & 103) and the Hughesnet Internet Satellite to get DSL.
That link is my definitive. We have two dishes on our roof, so we are usually quite a spectacle at a KOA. :lol:
Makes it easy to find the motorhome at night. ;)
Richierich
12-25-09, 08:05 AM
I am having the G74 Dish installed which is a combination of the Motosat and the G74 Datastorm combined into one unit for ease of use and being able to only have one Dish on top of the RV.
I am buying a 2006 Country Coach Affinity.
I am buying a 2006 Country Coach Affinity.
Nice coach Rich, and a great time to be buying one. ;)
Perhaps we will meet up somewhere during the spring/summer. When we travel we always update our location with the Datastorm crew as our internet dish can force broadcast our GPS location (with military grade resolution), if we want it to.
I see some of my friends are out having fun. Of note is how many in in the south right now (they all spread out during the summer): http://map.datastormusers.com/
hdtvfan0001
12-25-09, 08:14 AM
I am having the G74 Dish installed which is a combination of the Motosat and the G74 Datastorm combined into one unit for ease of use and being able to only have one Dish on top of the RV.
I am buying a 2006 Country Coach Affinity.
Yeah...Rich is going to be driving me around the whole country in that on my DirecTV Fanboy Celebrity Tour in 2010. ;):D
Autographs will all be free. :lol:
Richierich
12-25-09, 08:16 AM
Hey, it is always Great to have a Directv FanBoy on board in case I have some problems with my expensive Directv setup.
Can I get an Autograph when we are in Las Vegas!!! :lol:
hdtvfan0001
12-25-09, 08:18 AM
Hey, it is always Great to have a Directv FanBoy on board in case I have some problems with my expensive Directv setup.
Can I get an Autograph when we are in Las Vegas!!! :lol:
Stand in line. :D:lol:
In 2011 you can drive us there. :)
Richierich
12-25-09, 08:21 AM
Isn't it Great when Great Minds Think Alike!!!
Of course we can drive out there in the Affinity and watch Great Directv when we are not at the Consumer Electronics Show trying to figure out how we can convince our wives to let us spend MORE of our hard earned MONEY on Futuristic Electronic Toys.
Isn't it Great when Great Minds Think Alike!!!
Of course we can drive out there in the Affinity and watch Great Directv when we are not at the Consumer Electronics Show trying to figure out how we can convince our wives to let us spend MORE of our hard earned MONEY on Futuristic Electronic Toys.
There is an OUTSTANDING "park" in Las Vegas.
hdtvfan0001
12-25-09, 08:23 AM
Isn't it Great when Great Minds Think Alike!!!
Of course we can drive out there in the Affinity and watch Great Directv when we are not at the Consumer Electronics Show trying to figure out how we can convince our wives to let us spend MORE of our hard earned MONEY on Futuristic Electronic Toys.
Sounds like you have the locals issue just about resolved for that now. :D
CNet also covers it onsite as well.
It'll be interesting to see the official policy information you get. I'm sure they have it.
Richierich
12-25-09, 08:26 AM
Well it's great we have Forums like DBSTALK.COM so we can figure out all of these things so we can further enhance our toy enjoyment.
What is that link to that Las Vegas RV Resort?
What is that link to that Las Vegas RV Resort?
http://www.lasvegasmotorcoachresort.com/
At $49 a night its the most expensive we ever go to, but hey: 6 swimming pools? (one is strictly for dogs). ;)
(right around the corner from The Mandalay).
hdtvfan0001
12-25-09, 08:30 AM
They have this great thing called Google....:D
Here's another one even closer to the CES location...
http://www.lasvegasrvresort.com/
Another thing of importance:
"most" RVs have a coax hookup throughout to hook up the provided cable feeds that just about every RV park has in place. Yes, I know it's not DirecTV, and yes: it sucks.. but it's another way to get "locals".
Richierich
12-25-09, 08:35 AM
They have this great thing called Google....:D
Here's another one even closer to the CES location...
http://www.lasvegasrvresort.com/
Not everyone knows the Internet like you do FanBoy as some of us are just old retired folks who are lucky if we can remember how to log on to this thing that Al Gore created.
Way to go Al!!! :lol:
You know I just think that this Internet thing might catch on someday!!! :hurah:
Not everyone knows the Internet like you do FanBoi as some of us are just old retired folks who are lucky if we can remember how to log on to this thing that Al Gore created.
Way to go Al!!! :lol:
You know I just think that this Internet thing might catch on someday!!! :hurah:
Fixed your post Rich.
Richierich
12-25-09, 11:37 AM
That is a little joke between hdtvfan0001 and me that started some time ago. :lol:
From the looks of your avatar I guess I will need to start hauling my bike around Rich. ;)
Richierich
12-25-09, 12:23 PM
I am having an enclosed trailer (32') built which will contain my Honda VTX 1800R with a Condor Chock and 4 tiedowns, a Golfcart that goes 30 MPH and either a Rubicon 4 door Jeep or my SeaDoo depending on whether I go to Key West or the Mountains or Arizona!!!
At least it is nice to know that we can get locals via cable at alot of locations.
I am having an enclosed trailer (32') built which will contain my Honda VTX 1800R with a Condor Chock and 4 tiedowns, a Golfcart that goes 30 MPH and either a Rubicon 4 door Jeep or my SeaDoo depending on whether I go to Key West or the Mountains or Arizona!!!
At least it is nice to know that we can get locals via cable at alot of locations.
You will easily be able to pickup OTA with your coaches roof antenna. It's the easy way to do things, and easy is where it's at.
Shades228
12-26-09, 01:22 AM
No Barry, I think most people want the actual locals in the area that they are not residing in as the RV Campground or Park so they can get Weather, News Alerts, Area Events such as Festivals, etc. which is important to me so I know what is going on in the area I am now living in.
Some RV parks have basic cable included in the rental fee, or at a very reduced rate, so you can look for those as well. With locals and the DNS you could get more options. Also while it will only help with weather there is the active channel that you can specify zip codes for.
Tim Godsil
12-26-09, 02:10 AM
they do make a tracking ka/ku dish and dish 1000
http://www.dmbruss.com/images/FullTimingLifeStyle/TV/WinegardTravler2_small.jpg
they are cheap to only 1300 dollars :lol:
Richierich
12-26-09, 02:21 AM
they do make a tracking ka/ku dish and dish 1000
http://www.dmbruss.com/images/FullTimingLifeStyle/TV/WinegardTravler2_small.jpg
they are cheap to only 1300 dollars :lol:
Who sells a Tracking Ka/Ku Dish as I have only seen one and it is designed for a boat and is too tall for the top of an RV and is very expensive not that the Motosat is cheap (it doesn't track while in motion).
Tim Godsil
12-26-09, 02:34 AM
its made by winegard
Richierich
12-26-09, 02:35 AM
Yes but it not an "In Motion" satellite tracker only a stationary satellite tracker.
they do make a tracking ka/ku dish and dish 1000
http://www.dmbruss.com/images/FullTimingLifeStyle/TV/WinegardTravler2_small.jpg
they are cheap to only 1300 dollars :lol:
This is not a dish that "tracks" Tim.
What this guy does is lock onto a satellite once you are stationary. ;)
TheRatPatrol
12-26-09, 10:31 AM
its made by winegard
Link (http://www.winegard.com/travler/index.php)
This is not a dish that "tracks" Tim.
What this guy does is lock onto a satellite once you are stationary. ;)
Should you really be watching TV while you're driving down the road in your RV? ;)
hdtvfan0001
12-26-09, 10:38 AM
Should you really be watching TV while you're driving down the road in your RV? ;)
Good point...its hard to text and watch HDTV at the same time. :eek2::eek2::eek2:
Richierich
12-26-09, 12:32 PM
The Driver doesn't watch the TV but if you are checking out Weather Conditions then it might be okay to tune to The Weather Channel and let the wife monitor it for weather that you might be driving into.
However, I am going to have the Music Server on and I'll be listening to 7.1 Surround Sound on my Bose System. :)
Should you really be watching TV while you're driving down the road in your RV? ;)
No, but his kids sure like that feature. It was also nice to have all of our programs we record happening while driving down Route 66.
However, I am going to have the Music Server on and I'll be listening to 7.1 Surround Sound on my Bose System. :)
Very similar scenario here Rich. When do you take delivery?
Richierich
12-26-09, 01:47 PM
I don't know exactly when the financial transaction will be finalized but I am hoping within the next month.
Can't wait.
Ah, I just reached 2500 POSTS!!!
Spending way too much time here in this forum and way too much money on Electronic Toys according to my Chief Financial Officer.
bsprague
12-27-09, 05:59 PM
I am the original poster. The thread is about getting local channels when you travel in and RV.
I finally got it to work. I waited about 10 days to gather my courage. Thinking I knew how it is was supposed to work, knowing what channels are authorized for where I am and knowing that they are on the 101, I called again.
I got someone named Josh. I told him where I was and that I thought the service address was not set right. In 30 seconds or less it was fixed! I now have the San Diego local channels like I am supposed to have.
I asked for Josh's ID number and asked if there was a supervisor that would put it in his record that he fixed what five other CSRs couldn't.
Josh's employee number is 439009. He should get a raise.
Richierich
12-27-09, 06:22 PM
Well, Bill I hope you didn't think we hijacked your thread but we were waiting for you to do just what you did and that was to call back to Directv and talk to another CSR and confirm that they had properly transferred your Service Address.
I have had similar problems where I had to call 3 or 4 times because I just didn't think they either did it or knew exactly what to do.
I am glad you resolved your problem as I will be doing the same as I travel in my new RV.
This stuff is very confusing especially to someone like me who is Retired and probably not the most proficient at knowing how all of this stuff works. But thanks to forums like DBSTALK.COM we can find comfort and solutions as we work thru our problems.
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