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There are presently THREE DIFFERENT SMALL DISH SATELLITE SYSTEMS in operation. I will give you some brief info on each, keep in mind they are different systems, with different technology, if you buy equipment for one, it will work only on that providers system!
- The original system is the Hughes DSS system which originally used RCA equipment and is erroneously known by many as DirecTV. DirecTV is a programming provider for many of the channels on the DSS system. The other programming provider for the DSS system is USSB, which offers the Premium Channels (HBO,SHOWTIME, etc.). These two programming providers do not offer any channels available on the others service. This greatly eliminates the programming competition, as you may be familiar with on the Large Dish systems. Equipment for the DSS system is available from Thomson (RCA and GE brands), Sony, Magnavox, and Memorex. There may be other brands in your area of the country, if you want this system, look for the DSS trademark.
- The second competing system is the DishNetwork. This offering has been around since the spring of 96. It has been a distant second however it is gaining speed with the addition of new Satellite's. Programming for this system is available only from the DishNetwork itself and is more economical than the DSS plans. DishNetwork may not offer all the channels you are interested in and it seems to lack some of the pay-per-view offerings that DSS carries. It does offer City Packages however. These packages include all the major TV Stations from a selected major US city. To qualify for a city's package, you must be enrolled with DishNetwork using a zip code from the desired cities coverage area (requires a second dish). These offerings are different than the PrimeTime24 style package which will be discussed below. Other unique offering's from DishNetwork include some foreign country networks (at additional cost, AND using a second dish)
- The third offering is the Primestar system. This system is different from the other two systems in one major aspect. Primestar is typically a leased system unlike DSS and DishNetwork in which you purchase the equipment. For that reason Primestar generally is not available for RV'ers. Primestar installs the equipment at your site and requires a fixed address for customers. (Primestar wants to know where its equipment is if you terminate service) Programming is available only from Primestar, your monthly programming includes the lease fees. The Cable TV industry owned Primestar with additional investment by Rupert Murdock. Primestar has been purchased by DirecTV and its future is in question at this time.
Standard Broadcast Network Availability
Standard Broadcast Network offerings (ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, FOX, etc) are available on the minidish systems via services that are presently involved in a major court case as well as pending action by the FCC. DSS viewers previously viewed the network offerings via a package called PrimeTime24 that is offered by DirecTV as an ala carte item. In February 1999, DSS customers were changed to a package of network offerings from New York City (eastern time zone plus Fox and PBS backbone) and Los Angeles (pacific time) in an effort to avoid a legal problem (discussed below). DishNetwork viewers get a similar package (although with different "host" stations). These packages rebroadcast typical network affiliate stations from various stations around the country with a Eastern time zone service as well as a Pacific time zone offering. For a few dollars extra, you can get both time zones on you system. This is very handy! The court challenge to these network offerings are based on the presumption that if you watch the networks via your Sat. system, you will be foregoing the offering's (and commercials) of the network stations in your home area. Stations in your home zip code area have the right under current rules to object to your receiving network coverage from a station (via satellite) other than your local broadcaster. As such the question of network stations programming is perhaps the most volatile problem facing the satellite industry today. As an example: My hometown CBS affiliate, WBOC-TV in Salisbury, Md. has objected to my usage of the satellite system to receive CBS network programming when on the road far from Salisbury in my motorhome. I have written WBOC-TV and called them from New Mexico and Missouri to complain about their action and their refusal to grant me a waiver. Any local broadcaster serving your listed billing address with the Satellite provider can object to your viewing. This problem will hopefully be addressed this spring by either the US Congress or the FCC to grant people with special needs (such as RV'ers) relief from such absurdity. In the meantime, consider very carefully what address and phone number combination you use when signing up for programming service (The programming service provider's use the phone number as an account number). You may be able to use a friend's or relatives address and phone number if their area is not in an immediate service area of local broadcast TV service. Consider their time zone also, as the time displayed on your systems clock will represent the time zone for the zip code provided at sign-up.
Current information on this situation is available at http://www.tvaccessnow.com/new.html and www.PrimeTime24.com It is not too late to contact your Representatives and Senators as well as the FCC about this matter! Contact www.tvaccessnow.com for for easy access to your congressional representatives.
RV Dish Installation (take your time reading this section!)
Purchase your dish at any source you desire. Get the best deal possible. You don't have to buy the system from a RV supplier. Home units will work in your RV when you set up. When you call to arrange programming, tell the provider that you will be using the System in your RV. Power your receiver via a quality surge protection device! While I personally don't recommend mounting of the minidish on the RV, If you want the dish installed on the RV, buy the system from a RV dealer that has installation experience. Check for references before trusting your expensive RV to just anyone! Your dish will be mounted on the roof and that's where the water leaks happen! The dish has to see a Satellite (bird) located off the coast of Texas. If your rig is parked under a tree you may not be able to use your system! I have a portable mount for my unit; I am thus able to aim through openings in trees without having to move the RV. . If money is not a question, you can both install a dish on the rig's roof, and carry a portable unit for problem areas. If you fabricate a mounting fixture for your dish, be aware that the dish requires a 1 _" round mounting pipe (post). The most critical part of dish setup is to make sure the dish mounting (vertical) post is plumb! You should use a bubble level and check two sides to insure the post is perfectly vertical! Ignore this step and you will learn what frustration really is!
Regardless of the portable mounting system used, steel plates, old wheels, brake rotors, 2 X 12's, etc., Check out the Bullseye http://bart.ccis.com/home/lwb/ mounting system at the rversonline product review page http://rversonline.org/RV4Bullseye.html . This mount is wonderful, has a unique bubble mount, and makes setup of your system a "Snap"! You can adapt the Bullseye to virtually any type of portable installation. It is heavy gauge steel and the hardware is first class! It shouldn't tip over like some of the homebrew tripod mounts I have seen used, it is small enough to allow easy travel, and it's price is a bargain considering the design, materials, and workmanship.
K-mart and WalMart sell hiking style compasses with a flip-up sighting device for under $10. Get your heading from your on-screen set up menu and sight at a distant object for the best accuracy. Stand clear of large metal objects (like your rig!) to get accurate sightings. If you routinely have to set up around trees, invest in a good carpenters inclinometer ($10) at a local ACE hardware, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. It will allow you to sight upwards through trees and other obstructions to pick a good ground mounting spot for your dish. Practice with the compass, inclinometer and your dish the next time the spouse goes to line dancing class. Experiment with different locations around the campsite. With practice, you should be able to get your dish setup time down to 5 minutes under most circumstances!
Use good quality RG-6 cable whenever possible. Twenty-five feet of cable is usually enough to get to the RV's CATV jack to get inside. I carry an extra 25 feet of cable with a double female "F" connector as an extension cord although I seldom need it. Note: The CATV input in your rig may not be RG-6 cable, it will probably be the normally used RG-59 type. I have successfully used the RG59 in this configuration as it is usually a short length with little additional loss over RG-6 (under this circumstance). The alternative is to figure a way to run a new piece of RG-6 through the rig, often easier said than done, and in reality, little improvement in signal strength is gained (assuming the original cable was properly installed).
Be advised that some CATV input cable harnesses route the CATV input via the rigs TV Antenna preamplifier. This can cause a problem with use of the original CATV input for Satellite cable routing. If your rig is wired this way, you have two options:
- Install a new (second) input cable through your rig for the dish input to the receiver.
- Remove the preamp from the typical wall mounting, and identify the CATV input from the outside jack (on BRAUN brand amplifiers, it is the cable mounted on a single connector plate, two other coax cables share a common mounting plate) . Once identified, unscrew this cable from the pre-amp unit and connect a jumper cable to it using a double female "F" connector available at Radio Shack. Route the other end of the jumper cable to your Satellite receivers Satellite dish input. You can either route a second jumper cable back to the original point in the preamp, or (probably easier) directly to your TV or (preferred) TV system switching box. Rigs with a TV system switch box are easier to work with as the CATV input usually goes directly to the switch and you can feed more than one TV at that point. If you wish to use an outside tuning meter to aim your dish, do so very cautiously! The various Satellites are parked in orbit very close to each other. It is very easy to tune to the wrong bird using one of the after-market meters. Use your systems internal tuning circuits to get initial "system lock-on". This insures that your dish is aimed at the proper system, then use the outside meter to tweak your system for maximum indication at the meters lowest sensitivity.
If you use push-on antenna adapter connectors anywhere in your system, be aware that these adapters can add considerable losses and affect system operation. (I use the push-on adapters only on the receiver connectors to allow easier transfer from home to rig.)
If you dry camp (no AC Electric Hookup), you can use a power inverter to run the system off your batteries. Use a good quality inverter in the 40-50 watt range to power your Sat. system. Choose a unit designed to power a laptop, as it will have a good simulated AC waveform, which is vital to good operation.
Turn your inverter on and off with the dish receiver unit unplugged to prevent glitches getting into your system when you dry camp. Turn off the inverter when not in use to conserve your batteries, even if the receiver is turned off! Both will draw current from your battery, even if you think they are off.
The installation of a Minidish TV system in your RV can be a challenge. It can also be very successful and provide great reception in area's isolated from the rest of the World.
Recently, DirecTV customer service rep's are advising RV'ing customers that their company does not want to allow ANY service to customers without a telephone line hooked up to their DSS receiver and will be implementing changes prohibiting new activations to customers without a telephone line hook up to their DSS receiver. RV'ers are not given any special consideration when they question the statement. This may be a result of poorly trained rep's or inadequate supervision of them. RV'ers should use caution in their consideration of service provider's and, document any discussions with DirecTV rep's or get written confirmation of any intended service as it applies to your useage in your RV. I am concerned by this possible change in attitude by DirecTV.
NOTE: This online manual is a work in progress and is subject to change at any given time. It is also a generic peace of work and is meant only as a general guide. Each Caravan/RV is distinct and individual in it's own right, do not take anything written here literally as it may or may not apply to the exact Caravan/RV you will be using.