DISH TV for RVers...?

[tlbrown1]

With a KVH R-5 autotrack dome antenna on a Class A motorhome, I was subscribing to Direct TV service. We use the RV about four months a year, and were paying Direct TV for twelve months service.

After switching out all the OEM analog TVs to flat screen HDTVs, I was amazed at the over-the-air digital broadcasts available in our usual travel patterns. If it wasn't for specific HBO and other cable programs that we enjoy year-around, I would have stopped spending money on satellite TV service.

Then I was attracted to DISH TV's pay-as-you-go offer for RVers. I purchased a DISH receiver for the RV, and paid their one time fee to attach a 2tb external hard drive for DVR capability (780 SD hours worth!). I paid KVH to reprogram my sat dome, from Direct to DISH. I got authorization for Distant Local Stations (a paperwork drill that has to be repeated every time your RV registration is renewed).

Today, after my second season subscribing to DISH TV for RVers, I have concluded that DISH RVer service doesn't match up with their advertising. In the DISH TV corporate ocean, their RV division is a small fish that gets little attention. An extraordinary amount of time and patience is required to wade through their automated Customer Service phone system to find an agent even remotely knowledgeable about Dish for RVers and their pay-as-you-go scheme.

DISH claims that you can simply "pause" the service, and not pay for the months you don't need it. But unless you want to pay DISH a small monthly charge to keep your account "active," turning the DISH TV for RVers service on and off is more like administrative birth and death.... every time.

[born2travel]

After I had a debacle of Dish not being able to locate my documents proving I was in an RV, they changed me to "snowbird status" and I have never had to resubmit any documents. I simply call them and play push this push that until I get a human then I ask for an RV human. I give them my service area zipcode and I get locals at no extra charge.

I have no monthly fee to keep the account active. But I have had the pay as you go for 3 years and maybe I am grandfathered. I'm thinking you have to ask for an RV specialist. When I called the first time the person was clueless. She wanted to explain everything but what I needed and couldn't seem to understand the concept of a home moving down the road to another location. I finally asked if they had anyone that dealt with RV accounts and poof - everything was fixed.

[wigginsjsr]

We have had Dish for 3 years with no problems. When we are not traveling, we just don't pay the bill. When we are ready to go on the road, we pay the bill and the service is restored. No phone calls or dealing with the customer service area. I usually pay the bill, and wait 24 hours, service always seems to be there. I do have to send in new paperwork each time I renew the license for the coach, but not a big hassel.

We also get remote off-air stations from New York and LA for $5 per month. This enables us to follow our regular network programming when traveling. We use our regular antenna for local off-air where we are located.

[hermanmullins]

We have had Dish Network for many years. In our home we have 2 HDDVRs and one standard receiver. My 2 DVRs are at our home and the Standard rec. is at our farm. When we go on a trip, I just take the receiver from the farm and put it in the coach. Sometime we go less then 50 miles and can't get our locals. But sometimes we are 200 miles from home and we will get our home channels. When we plan on being in one place for several days I just call Dish and they will transfer us to the local channels where we are. Dish has always been very understanding and will switch our locals with out and hassle. I do not ask for a RV tech I just speek with whom ever picks up the call. At present time we are also changing out our coach TVs to digital and will get the Bat Wing adapter and we will see how that works on the locals.

One of these days when our ship comes in we might change our dish to a Hi Def. 3 LNB dish.

Herman

[RVerOnTheMove]

It appears the OP only wants to use the Dish service for 4 months per year and does not use Dish while at home. The Dish PAYG program allows for this. However, it appears that the OP's Dish account was never setup properly for the PAYG service but instead setup as a standard account causing him his current issues. With the PAYG service you simply call and have the service turned on for a specified period of time (30 day blocks). At the end of that time period the service simply ends unless you tell them to extend it for another 30+ days. It does work, and work well, but if the account is not setup properly you can end up with a 2 year contract and the issues he is describing above.

[mcbrian]

I had DISH for one month last year. I told them that I was in an RV and wanted the "Pay as you Go" program. They never asked for proof of an RV. They said I would get my local channels but I did not after leaving my home area . When I called them about the local channels, they said they could not understand why I wasn't getting them. I tried to explain the RVing concept to them but with no luck. After nearly 30 minutes on the phone, I gave up. It would be nice if DISH provided a true description of their service and a dedicated phone number.

[lewisedge]

My motorhome dealer installed a rooftop Dish-compatible dome antenna and a Dish TV receiver before I took delivery of my coach in May of 2012. Shortly afterward, I opened a subscription to their satellite service. After I subscribed and paid in advance with a credit card, they eliminated my local channels from their service but never offered to reduce their price for the lost service. Although they require that I buy channels, that I never watch, in order for me to get the movie channels that I do watch, it was working pretty well until recently. Pictures were HD and beautiful.

I dewinterized my coach this spring, after suspending my satellite service through the winter, then called Dish TV to activate my service. First they incorrectly told me that they would need to send a technician to "adjust" my antenna at a cost of $135.00 before activating my service. Since my antenna tracks the satellites automatically, that was completely unnecessary. Finally, after reaching a supervisor to explain that my antenna was on the roof of my motorhome and needed no adjustment they finally agreed to activate my service. On April 18th, I paid them $82.60 for a month of "premium" service with the understanding that I could pause my service when it was not needed and not pay for unused time. Dish-TV acknowledged all of my payments via email and also acknowledged via email every time I paused and unpaused my service. Until yesterday, I had used just nine days from my prepaid month having paused and unpaused the service three times.

When I called them on July 7th to remove the pause again, even though their most recent bill stated that I had a half-month credit balance, they demanded that I pay them an additional $104.69. They refused to explain why I could not use the remaining time for which I had already paid but had not used. When I tried to get an explanation they offered none, but repeatedly and robotically said that I would need to pay them $104.69 or they would not unpause my service. There was also no explanation regarding how much additional time that the $104.69 would buy me.

At this point, I have a huge investment in an automatic tracking antenna, receiver and hard drive (which they charged me $42.40 to activatein order to digitally record satellite programming) but am being blackmailed for more money that I do not feel that I owe them. Otherwise, all of that expensive equipment that I bought to receive satellite TV is useless. If Dish TV is going to bill me for service in my RV, when it is not being used, then their vaunted RV pause program is a sham. Have other subscribers had this problem? I am beyond frustrated over this.

When I bought my coach from the Lakewood, NJ Camping World, their Website advertised the following:

"Enjoy DISH Network Pay-As-You-Go programming with the ViP211k receiver.

"Pay-As-You-Go is ideal for anyone wanting to enjoy satellite TV on a seasonal or temporary basis without having to commit to a long term contract. Purchase the DISH Network 211K HD receiver and prepay for 30-days of programming at a time. Stop and start programming as you need, without penalties. The DISH Network 211k is an HD single-tuner satellite receiver that works with any satellite antenna compatible for DISH Network on both SD and HD televisions. ViP211k is DVR ready so you can add our own external USB hard drive. Own up to 3 ViP211k receivers. Programming package, HD upgrade fees, additional receiver fees, installation and satellite antenna not included."

[retiredblade]

Last year I finally broke down and bought a Winegard Traveler Dish TV satellite system.

Installed it myself, hardest job was carrying it up the ladder. Got it all set up and getting to where I was going I called to have it turned on, picked a package and it worked, midway during the season, I upgraded the package. Upon leaving for home, I quit paying and service was stop.

This year went on internet and picked a upgrade package, picked auto pay and I get free HD. I am hoping when I get to where I am going I can just flip the switch, have the antenna find the sat. and have no problems.

The only gripe I have is not being able to get my local channels back home but I think that has something to do with regulations. Otherwise, so far, no other complaints.

[billbaldwin]

lewisedge

I’m confused…….

I’ve not seen a PAYG Package that would allow you to only pay for the days you use.

The normal PAYG contract is to start and stop 30 days at a time.

[billbaldwin]

From the Dish RV Web Site

DISH is the first, and only, provider to offer pay-as-you-go TV for RV owners, tailgaters, trucks and campers.

No contract required

No charge to start and stop monthly service

No credit check or Social Security number required

All packages are on a 30-day, Month-to-Month basis

Get DISH and pay only for the months of service you use. With this program, you can get over 60 top high-definition channels for just $44.99 a month.

[tlbrown1]

Latest chapter in my DISH TV Saga is a problem with a replacement receiver. The 211K I was using apparently fried the power supply, and DISH sent me a replacement, the 211Z. I spent several hours trying to get it working, first with my KVH R-5 on the roof, and then with a King Flex Cube carryout. After many, many calls to DISH TV and then finally to King, I found that the re-manufactured 211Z receiver needed to be "programmed." And furthermore, it had to be "programmed" using a fixed antenna.

Fortunately, my neighbor here at home is a DISH TV subscriber, and he let me use his fixed antenna to "program" my new receiver. It took less than two hours on the phone with DISH TV. The biggest hurdle was getting them to activate my receiver only long enough to program it. It will be another six weeks until we mount up and move out in the motorhome and I didn't want to pay for the TV service until I need it. With my account on an autopay to a credit card, I simply didn't trust them.

Hopefully, in six weeks, I will not have another DISH TV Sage chapter to share.

[hermanmullins]

We have Dish in our home. Therefore we have a receiver (a 211) that stays in the coach and we just call Dish when we travel and are in one place for several days to change us to the local channel where we are.

We have several friends that do the same thing and some that have Direct and do the same with no problem.

The key is that we scribe to Dish at home.

Herman

[tlbrown1]

For sure, life would be much easier if I had a DISH TV antenna on my roof here at home, and I could just unhook one of the DISH TV receivers from the house connection and stick it in the RV when needed.

But.... the boss (a.k.a. "the Wife") is not going to part with her COMCAST On-Demand, which she uses to follow a half-dozen shows that are broadcast live at inconvenient times.

"A happy wife is a happy life."

[jgallego]

Dish has blockbuster online to download movies. You can also get HULU for about $8 per month that will let you download the latest television show. In addition you could go online to the various network sites and watch previously shown programs. You can use your ipad, iPhone or tablet hooked up to your television monitor to watch them normally.

We use dish and love it. We have it both at home and in the motorhome.

Jaime

[hillmer]

I subscribe to DISH in my home and have two of their DVR receivers that are Dual Mode capable. The receiver can support two TVs. I would like to take one of these receivers in my RV for an upcoming long trip (4 Months) and not have to deal with the pay as you go receiver. My RV is set up to receive DISH programming. Does anyone know if I can do this and continue to get two TV support by using the existing video cabling in the coach?

Thanks,

Jay

[mypopslou]

For the last 3 years I have also used DISH for my TV. I bought it because of the advertising all of you have stated, that I can start and stop service without any fee's or penalties. The first time I did it I was told that there is a $5 per month Pause fee. I politely disagreed and explained that my DISH is in a motorhome and after being transferred several times I found someone who told me the would change me the $5 but credit it each month so not to worry.

That worked the first year, the second year I had to go through the process all over again. The third year which was October 2014, same situation but here is it April and I want to turn it back on as soon as my rig is out of the shop and I get a bill for $12. I called and asked them what it was and they told me they only credited the pause fee for 6 months and I was now being charged again. I again went through the explanation but this year was different as I could not convince them of my situation. I read the advertisement in Camping World Catalog and asked why we were having this discussion. They told me under that program they overcharge RV'ers and then credit them back.

I politely told the young lady that I did not believe her because I was sure someone would have filed a law suit against them for false advertising. I asked to speak to a supervisor who knew about the RV program. I did not get anywhere with her either and as a matter of fact she told me there was nothing she could do for me and was going to close my account.

Not sure what I am going to do now, any suggestions

[retiredblade]

I don't think there are many people at Dish that understands RVer's pay as you go program. This year I stopped paying April 15th, all the way into May I got a bill for $158. The first time I contacted support I had to explain to them how the program works. He or she had to talk to their supervisor at which time they understood and said they would wipe out the $158. Fine, got a bill again, $158. To which I E mailed back, "I don't owe you a dime" To which I got a reply by someone who must knows something and they agreed and wiped it out. Now I am going to wait and see if I get a bill in June. Mass confusion at that company.

[2008monaco]

We had dish at home so we went with pay as you go dish in our coach. They lie, lie, lie. First when I called to get connected as we traveled I only got people from a foreign country to answer the phone that only spoke broken English. One time they asked why I moved so much, none of their business but I had to explain we had an RV and we had pay as you go service , well what is a RV, I hold them it was a box with wheels and a motor. My husband and dog left the campgrounds when I had to call Dish and change my location. Usually I was shouting at them by the end of the call and I always had to call back twice to get the connection and they would say, oh we forgot to do it. Bullshit. This went on for two years. We were in Quartsite at the RV rally and Direct was there. We changed our service at home that we had for 15 years and the coach that we had for 2 years and with Direct. No problem. When we are out in the coach I get on my computer and refresh the RV receiver. Amazing, it's done in two seconds. Dish called me after I got rid of them and asked me why, I told them I always got to speak to foreign people in a foreign country and was harassed all the time. They then told me there was a USA phone number to call and get better service. I said why did you not tell me that in the first place and NO I did not want Dish every again. I always get people in the USA to speak with Direct and they are always polite.

[wayne77590]

I subscribe to DISH in my home and have two of their DVR receivers that are Dual Mode capable. The receiver can support two TVs. I would like to take one of these receivers in my RV for an upcoming long trip (4 Months) and not have to deal with the pay as you go receiver. My RV is set up to receive DISH programming. Does anyone know if I can do this and continue to get two TV support by using the existing video cabling in the coach?

Thanks,

Jay

Jay, I do exactly as you have stated you wish to do. I have the VIP-722 receiver. I do not have a satellite antenna on the roof so I use the portable Carryout antenna. The antenna input is only to Sat-1 input. I use HDMI out to the primary receiver in the living area and the "Distribution Out," connector to feed the bedroom TV. I use the BOMB (Box Of Many Buttons) as my distribution center. I did have to add a couple splitters but it is all working well for us as we watch the same channels. If you have a dome antenna and hook up two leads, one to Sat-1 and one to Sat-2 you will have more functionality but you will still only be able to watch one channel - unless, like in my case, I hook the bat-wing antenna up to the antenna in on the 722 and scan for local channels. Then I can record either one satellite program and watch an over-the-air program or vice versa. The dome antenna's can only received one satellite bird at a time and Dish has 3 birds and can provide HD.

If you need any clarification PM or email me your phone number and I'll give you a call.

[2008monaco]

We went to the Quartside AZ rally and got signed up with Direct with a nice gentleman.  We switched to Direct at our home at the same time.  I have NO problems now.  People came to our coach and installed the receiver and gave us the other 4 receivers at home.  When we get in our coach after hooked up to power or have the generator on I turn on the antenna, then the receiver, put the slides out, then put the TV down and by that time it has connected to the satilite and we have TV.  Such a relief not to have to fight. So easy. I pay a monthly bill for the 5 receivers.

You all were too nice to Dish. Or else I am a nasty old woman.  I never recommend Dish

Edited November 18, 2021 by 2008monaco
forgot to enter a few more comments

[elkhartjim]

"You all were too nice to Dish. Or else I am a nasty old woman.  I never recommend Dish"

Just wait until you need technical help or want to change your local channels. God only know where the person will be located in the world or what language they will speak but they won't have a clue what an RV is and they certainly won't be speaking a language that is easily understood. I wish you well.

 

[hermanmullins]

57 minutes ago, elkhartjim said:

"You all were too nice to Dish. Or else I am a nasty old woman.  I never recommend Dish"

Just wait until you need technical help or want to change your local channels. God only know where the person will be located in the world or what language they will speak but they won't have a clue what an RV is and they certainly won't be speaking a language that is easily understood. I wish you well.

 

I have had Dish Network for over 15 years. For 12 years I have have it in my Coach. I have never had a problem with either service or tech issues. Yes some time there may be an issue with understanding the tech person but you have the same problem with any place you call even your local grocery store. Some people like Fords some Chevrolet are they bad people, no. I for one like Dish over Direct but that is my choose. So let agree to disagree.

Now I am going back to watching "Bitchen Rides' on my Dish DYI Channel.

Herman

[chindog]

Zombie thread alert!!!

[wayne77590]

Bring it alive!

For those who have dome antennas, DTV does not provide HD. Dish does.  DTV does not have a local TV antenna, Dish does and it works well. Plug it into the USB port, scan for channels on the satellite receiver and voila, guide and all on the receiver. DTV can record 5 channels at a time. Dish, using the Hopper can record 16 at one time.

When and if I call for support or to change my local channels to the zip code I'm in, I ask for technical support. I don't wish to speak with the guy sitting on an upsidedown 5 gallon bucket in the middle of a desert using a laptop or smaller device.