jimpat4649

Please visit the FMCA Military Veterans Chapter website: http://www.militaryvets-fmca.com/index.html Enjoy. FMCA 86th International Convention - Madison Wisconsin August 10-13, 2011. We will be visiting the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. They have some special exhibits which will add to our experience here. In additional to our get together, remember the meeting here will elect new Chapter Officers and the Chapter bylaw change will be presented to the attending members which will allow us to offer new members who join late in the year an extended membership of an additional 3 months beyond a year for their membership fee. We are also looking for an American Legion or VFW close by our parking site to add additional activities coordinated with our visit to Madison! Any suggestions? If you will be there let Bev King know at dd694@verizon.net Hope to see you in Madison.

Has anyone compared DISH vs DIRECTV; as far as prices and programming?

You can add your name & address to FMCA directory for a Stoppin' Spot. Stop Over &/or Come Visit.

I started this thread....to share info and warn others. and no believed me!

Since another welcomed his brother vets; I'll welcome aboard my SISTER Vets! I noticed a few husbands included their Veteran wives info with their posts. Thank YOU all for your Service!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! For those who asked: We are in Indio, CA; not too cold as far as weather! We have a 2007 Fleetwood Expedition. We finally were able to get someone to check it out. After I searched and researched and troubleshoot, along with checking everyone's suggestions without a fix. We were able to take it to an RV repair place less than 3 miles away! Turns out the Emergency On/Off switch was broken. When we went to fill with propane, my husband pressed the switch, but he said it had felt a little different (almost stubborn) from the last time we filled with propane. It's a small ($5.95) rocker switch that apparently gets brittle and cracks according to the RV repairman. One of simplest and cheapest repairs (by someone other than ourselves)! Ten minutes labor- but had to pay minimum of half hour. We had called 3 different Mobile RV Repairs... but all were booked for more than a week; I guess that was in our favor as we didn't have to pay a Service Visit Charge!

We've been dry camping and apparently low on propane because Check light came on and refrigerator wouldn't run on propane. We went and filled with 19.5 gallons for our 30 gal tank. Now: Tried burners on stove and they won't light. Refrig won't light/start and check light eventually comes on. Water heater won't start; check light comes on for that too. All the ignitors click, click click. and nothing- Check light comes on. Emergency shut off switch has been turned on, off, on and nothing happens. Advised to listen if solenoid clicks with rapid off/on of emergency shut off. Tried stove burners, they lit but in less than one minute the flame died down to nothing.

Thank you for your inquiry and interest in Willie and Company Fan Club Chapter of FMCA. Please do an FMCA Chapter Search (keyword "willie") and you will find Willie and Company Fan Club was chartered on May 9, 1992. The chapter also is listed in the Family Motor Coaching's January 2011 Chapter Directory on page 191. Willie and Company has appeared as daytime Entertainment at many of the FMCA International Conventions with a program devoted to RV antics enjoyed by all ages. Willie and Company Fan Club Chapter meetings in recent years have always been scheduled at the International Conventions. Willie and Company Fan Club Chapter initially began in New York as entertainment during events with the Niagara Frontier Travelers and Fingerlakers FMCA Chapters; The Northeast Area. Again, I appreciate your interest. Patricia K. Sennett, F16182 D Willie and Company Fan CLub Chapter President

I'm excited to share news that Freightliner is bringing Willie & Company to Perry, Ga., to perform at FMCA's Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase. Ventriloquist Peggy Miller brings to life some of FMCA's most loved characters, including Willie. She and Willie have provided laughs at FMCA conventions and area rallies for more than 15 years. Willie & Company will be performing: Monday, March 14: Noon Tuesday, March 15: 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 16: 11 a.m. The Willie & Co. Fan Club chapter will have a meeting on Wednesday, March 16, from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m., in Seminar 5 (Multipurpose Building / INFO Center). Please join our chapter in expressing our gratitude for bringing Willie & Co. to Perry. And, be sure to enjoy the Show. Visit www.willieandco.com.

I have emailed your post to: "Beverly King" <dd694@verizon.net>. The Secretary for the FMCA Military Veterans Chapter. The Chapter has printed a brochure that includes an application for membership.

I just wanted to share news from the Chapter Newsletter, Issue #2, Winter 2010/2011 Military Veterans Chapter Brochure: Bev & Jerry King have designed a very attractive brochure. Available at Chapter Fairs. If you are traveling around, especially to pre-rallies, plan ahead and email Bev & Jerry ( dd694@verizon.net ) to request copies. The tri-fold brochure includes an application and answers to most questions. New Chapter Polo Shirts Available: We have our own Chapter Golf Shirt thanks to Rick Dupuis. The Polo Shirt is Black with the crossed American & Canadian Flags and our Chapter Name. The shirts come in the regular unisex sizes like L-2XX. They are $23 each plus a small chipping charge. Samples will be available in Brooksville, FL (Feb 2-16 2011). Better yet, order ahead from Rick at rickdupuis1@gmail.com . New WebSite Launched: Web Master Jerry King has created and launched a web site for the Military Veterans Chapter. Be sure to check it out for information on upcoming events and reports on those in which they have participated. There is also a message board for you to communicate your ideas and thoughts to the rest of the Chapter. With talented members like Jerry who are willing to volunteer their expertise our Chapter will be a real success. Over 700 people have visited the web page so far! Enjoy the site: www.militaryvets-FMCA.com .

==================== So, what happened to my post with the links to the articles in the newspapers etc? I know I posted, and you mentioned it- but now it's gone?!?!

A search of FMCA Member Directory: F204334 COLTELLINO CARL & TRACY COLTELLINO CAPE CORAL, FL Coach: NEWMAR INDUSTRIES

SEVERAL NORTHEAST AREA MEMBERS HAVE RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM SOME ONE THAT HAS HIJACKED SYLVIA PLAISTAD FROM PENNY MIXERS CHAPTERS E-MAIL. THEY ARE CLAIMING TO BE HER AND STATING THAT THEY ARE IN LONDON, ENGLAND AND HAVE HAD MONEY STOLEN AND ARE ASKING THEM TO CALL OR E-MAIL HER TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO SEND MONEY. THIS IS A SCAM , SYLVIA IS AT HOME , WE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.

Visit www.dishformyrv.com Enjoy. Pay-as-you-go Programming for RVs No contracts - No start & stop fees - No Equipment Leases Introducing the new DISH Network pay-as-you-go programming for RV owners, tailgaters, and campers. Signing up is as simple as 1, 2, 3! Simply purchase your DISH Network Mobile receiver, and if you don't have one already, a mobile satellite antenna. Choose from popular brands including Winegard, King Controls, KVH, or MotoSat. Next, choose any programming package offered by DISH Network. Once you have the equipment and have chosen your programming, simply call our toll number (1-800-472-1039) to speak with an RV specialist who will help you get started right away!

================================================== Our experience Update: DirecTV is back-dating NEW subscribers to May 2010. Thus as we subscribed to DirecTV in August, we are not eligible to get dual-coast DNS according to the interpretation of STELA by DirecTV. DirecTV is interpreting the FCC legislation to be subscriber WITH DirecTV prior to May 2010, however, we were subscribers to dual-coast DNS with All American Direct (as a DISH subscriber) and are eligible for dual-coast- no matter who are current satellite TV subscription is with. DirecTV is supposedly currently discussing their interpretation of STELA with their legal department concerning new subscribers. I've said repeatedly, we can't be the ONLY RVers in this situation- we aren't that lucky!

Bill, I appreciate your input. However, what is on the Internet and what signals they will allow us are not the same and what DirecTV states to us with each & every phone call. DirecTV has our Waiver, South Dakota Vehicle Registration- which doesn't expire until Mar 2011, Copies of our South Dakota Driver's Licenses valid until 2014.

I know you are very skeptical about our experience and I appreciate your info and advice; along with Mr Butler's. I wish I could shorten this up, but I want to address the input from you and Mr Butler. Our RV is registered in South Dakota in my husband's name. We are Full-timers since October 2002; no permanent residence; only PMB for address in South Dakota. We have Faxed our info and waiver (again) to the FAX number you provided; same one we used in mid-August 2010. We have requested dropping HD since our KVH dome is incapable of receiving HD. The Vendor we dealt with informed DirecTV we turned in the Tripod/LNB's he provided back to him and thus can not receive HD. We have jumped through every hoop... I am quite stubborn and this frustration.... well; I just want to let others be aware of this - just in case they find themselves in a similar situation. Perhaps you may wish to verify this info (E & W not available) on your own; call DIrecTV Toll Free from a PayPhone (?) so as not to link to your own accounts. For DISH, DNS provided by Sobongo (Formally known as All American Direct) at 800-909-9677. Calls to them also share the same info: East and West NOT available to new subscribers. Their website has NOT been updated to indicate the new restrictions; but calling them verifies unavailable E & W to New subscribers. If we had signed with Direct TV prior to July 28, 2010, we would have been grandfatherd under the old FCC Rules and been able to receive E&W Distant Networks; like yourself, Mr Butler and several thousand (?) other (grandfathered) RVers. I have NOT been able to find any other New (after 1 August 2010) Subscriber willing to share their experience; goood or bad. If you know someone willing to share their success as a new subscriber to give us some leverage, we'd appreciate it. Our own UPDATE: DirecTV: Contracts do not guarantee DNS; thus we would have to pay the Early Contract Cancellation fee; minimum of $20/month for the remaining 22 months of our 2 year Contract; approximately $440. Plus return the Receiver (at our expense). The FMCA Redmond Convention Vendor we signed with for DirecTV has made attempts to resolve this with DirecTV, shared our frustration and extends apoplogies without a solution. Naturally, we can attempt to use our batwing for Local Channels... since currently (temporarily) we are on the West Coast and our SD address (Central time) gives us East Distant Networks with DirecTV; but that can't be hooked up to the DVR. It was a matter of timing and our luck.... all for TV! If this ever resolves somehow.... I'll be certain to Post here. Again, thank you for your advice and replies.

Legislation was passed on July 28, 2010 and enacted on August 1, 2010. East and West feeds are not available.

We're only trying to get E&W standard def; (not HD for anything, even though we have HD for Life under the new Promo.) Our KVH dome is not HD capable, we will accept Standard Def. We would only get HD with our free standing tripod antenna- which DirecTV then says we aren't eligible for DNS because we don't have a fixed/permanent antenna or whatever term they use for RV waiver! Another circle of excuses/reasoning. Service Address is Sioux Falls, SD = Central Time zone. NOTE: Mr Butler has same and receives E&W DNS. Right now, we're receiving East DNS for NYC; it can't be HD because our KVH dome isn't capable. By the way, our MH is a 2007; fairly new & not about to spend $$$ to upgrade KVH; not that that would help this situation with DirecTV. We questioned the $15 monthly Charge which is the charge that other DirecTV RV customers are paying for E&W; DirecTV is good with circles of excuses and can't answer us! We figure we won't argue that charge/payment in case that would jeopardize us that we aren't paying and therefore won't receive DNS- Oh look: another circle Catch 22! I've searched google etc for "new" FCC regs for E&W DNS and must not have the key search word. You and Mr Butler may both be receiving E&W under "grandfather" contract and New subscribers are prevented? Can you understand our frustration? I appreciate both yours and Mr Butler's input and advice. Part of my initial Post was to see if any New DirecTV subscribers are having the same issue. I'm not sure if they weren't having a problem they'd want to risk or jeopardize their own feed and share info here. Now maybe this could serve as a "warning" if there are new Fed Regs......for new subscribers

Over 90 minutes spent going in circles with DirecTV....with several reps and supervisors etc Verified they have our RV Waiver, Vehicle Registrations on file. At one point we were told we needed to FAX our CDL Driver's Licenses! Again we were told it is NOW illegal to receive East and West Distant Networks! Here's our bill- note the Network Package. Since our KVH dome antenna is not HD capable, we'd give up HD and just get Standard feed for East and West. 09/14 10/13 CHOICE ULTIMATE Monthly 68.99 09/14 10/13 HD Access Monthly 10.00 09/14 10/13 Network Package Monthly 15.00 09/14 10/13 DIRECTV DVR Service Monthly 7.00 09/14 10/13 DIRECTV on DEMAND Tune to Ch. 1000 for more info 0.00 Fees 09/15 Primary Leased Receiver 5.00 Where can I find out if there has been New/Recent Fed laws preventing East & West? Maybe you are under old rules/contract and are allowed to receive E&W; but new subscribers can't??????

Thank you for the advice Bill. However, the waiver was signed, faxed with copies of our Motorhome Vehicle Registration along with the requested copies of our Driver's Licenses on August 13, 2010 with Credit card payment in full and CC automatic payments set up. On Sept 13, 2010 we received notice from our CC that our SECOND month of service (including Distant Networks) has been paid to DirecTV. Phone calls to DirecTV by our Installer (one of the Vendors at the FMCA Convention in Redmond) and ourselves have been UNSUCCESSFUL for us to get West Coast Distant Networks feed. We have followed the advice of our Installer for re-booting etc etc etc the system. We have completed the requested 48hour "wait" period several times the past 5 weeks. Since Halloween is already featured in stores, I may have to haunt DirecTV... wouldn't you at this point? By the way, DISH - the final straw for them supposedly was: after Katrina in New Orleans, DISH set up and provided TV with East & West; which violated Fed regs....their kindness backfired when they continued supplying this service for longer than necessary.

Thank you for the prompt reply. We will continue to haunt DirecTV... We're also fulltimers; celebrating 8 years on October 2! Our address, vehicles regist are in Sioux Falls SD- Minnehaha County; where our niece lives; but we use a PMB. We had been with DISH for over 14 years; until a glitch just before Redmond! They insisted our problem was BOTH our antennas- the KVH dome and our free standing.... Service call (plus$$) proved their Receiver was the problem... but no solution from DISH. They didn't care if we left; and they refunded the remaining 10 months of our prepaid annual subscription. I've been trying to google etc searches to see if there are new Fed Regulations that don't allow East & West. One comical reply: the new law is to prevent being able to see Game Shows and Reality TV answers and results before you are supposed to in your own time zone! Gee, they better stop Internet broadcasts too! if that's the case.

We switched to DirecTV from DISH while at Redmond FMCA Convention. We were told/re-assured with the RV waiver etc we could still get East & West Coast feeds of National Networks with DirecTV. We've been trying to get the promised East & West with DIrect TV; however, now they say No, the Fed Govt doesn't allow it. Anyone know if this is true; or just another Frustration? By the way, when we were with DISH we also had to subscribe to All American Direct (may have name change) for the East and West feeds of National Networks.

I want to share this info from Bev King, Chapter Secretary : It's here! We now have a web page for our chapter! Go to: http://www.militaryvets-fmca.com. Surf the page and find the Guest book. Please sign the Guest book. Be sure to "Bookmark" it. If you have any questions or suggestions, contact the WEBMASTER: Jerry King E-Mail: dd694@verizon.net