Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-15-2014, 01:25 PM   #1
Guru
 
seasalt007's Avatar
 
City: Punta Gorda, FL
Vessel Name: Aweigh
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 42
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 628
Dish vs Direct TV

If one were to start from scratch...installing a satellite dish and then choosing Dish or Direct TV as a service provider, which would be the most hassle free provider to get ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX while cruising? I don't much care about HD so that is not an issue with the sat dish or the provider.

I want to watch the major broadcast networks and the local news regardless of what might be considered local plus The History Channel, Food Network, FX, A&E, etc.
seasalt007 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2014, 01:45 PM   #2
Moderator Emeritus
 
dimer2's Avatar
 
City: Cameron, La
Vessel Name: Baobab
Vessel Model: Bayliner 4788
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,660
I have had both and will be sticking with Dish even though customer support is in Manila! Had it on the boat since December without any problems
dimer2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2014, 01:54 PM   #3
Guru
 
City: Tuckerton, NJ
Vessel Name: WIRELESS ONE
Vessel Model: 36 Gulstar MarkII
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 938
On the East coast I have had great results with Direct TV using the smaller KVH M3 TracVision. I get all the local channels for my billing zip code. Using LED TFT 12VDC TV/ Monitors my eyes aren't good enough to be bothered with HDTV. My largest TV was is 26" the smallest 19".
Bill
Billylll is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2014, 02:01 PM   #4
Guru
 
seasalt007's Avatar
 
City: Punta Gorda, FL
Vessel Name: Aweigh
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 42
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 628
BillyIII,

If you were cruising the East Coast would it be easier to pretend to be in the NYC service area or to change one's service area, say, once a week?
seasalt007 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2014, 02:09 PM   #5
Guru
 
hmason's Avatar
 
City: Stuart FL
Vessel Name: Lucky Lucky
Vessel Model: Pacific Mariner 65
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,760
We have had Dish for 2 years and have been very pleased. We are snowbirds from CT to FL and we keep the New York location. We receive all the NY networks while in FL. To get the FL local stations we use an over the air antenna. Howard
__________________
Howard
Lucky Lucky
Stuart, FL
hmason is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2014, 02:32 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Pura Vida's Avatar
 
City: Knoxville
Vessel Name: Pura Vida
Vessel Model: 08 Meridian 490 Pilothouse
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 316
A few years ago I was also choosing between Dish or Direct. We have a covered slip and have to use a fixed dish at the dock then change to track KVH vision when out of the slip on the water. The local tec that was to install my track vision recommended I go with Direct due to having to change from slip/ fixed sat dish then to open water/ KVH track vision. Just to verify I called KVH track vision for advice and they recommended that direct was easier to change between the dock dish and track vision on the water. I have had great reception with direct but have no experience with dish. I only know of one boat in my area that has dish and he is happy with dish, his solution for covered vs open water was two dish boxes one for under the slip and one hooked to track vision for the water.
Attached Thumbnails
PuraVidaTN10042014.jpg  
Pura Vida is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2014, 02:51 PM   #7
Guru
 
City: Tuckerton, NJ
Vessel Name: WIRELESS ONE
Vessel Model: 36 Gulstar MarkII
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 938
Quote:
Originally Posted by seasalt007 View Post
BillyIII,

If you were cruising the East Coast would it be easier to pretend to be in the NYC service area or to change one's service area, say, once a week?
No, I have a good over the air TV antenna for the locals channels when I used to cruise in my Mainship. I intend to duplicate the setup if I ever get moving on the GulfStar.
Anyway my wife always liked following up on the local news the spot beam seemed to work since we were on market boarders for NYC or Phila by our billing zip code.
Bill
Billylll is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2014, 03:24 PM   #8
Guru
 
Moonstruck's Avatar
 
City: Hailing Port: Charleston, SC
Vessel Name: Moonstruck
Vessel Model: Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,276
I use Direct TV because to add 2 TVs for the boat to my monthly statement was only $12.00. When on the boat, I can call to have the local areas switched to my location.
__________________
Don on Moonstruck
Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
When cruising life is simpler, but on a grander scale (author unknown)
https://moonstruckblog.wordpress.com/
Moonstruck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2014, 03:30 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Adelaide's Avatar
 
City: La Conner, WA
Vessel Name: Adelaide
Vessel Model: 1983 Tung Hwa Clipper
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 385
Dish vs Direct TV

We have Dish at home. The service allows me to use the 'Dish anywhere' App. I just hook my phone up to my flat screen on the boat. I get access to my home DVR and television channels anywhere in the world.
Adelaide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2014, 03:56 PM   #10
Guru
 
Edelweiss's Avatar
 
City: PNW
Vessel Model: 1976 Californian Tricabin LRC
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,860
I've had both and they're pretty close.

In the mid 90's I moved onto my boat for a year and installed Directv. I moved ashore 18 months later, the house already had Dish installed and they offered a two year discount service contract so I switched to Dish. At the end of the contract I switched back to Directv.

Directv offered channel packages that better suited my tastes and I have it at home and the boat.
__________________
Larry B
Careful . . .I Have a Generator and I'm not afraid to use it !
Edelweiss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2014, 04:02 PM   #11
Guru
 
caltexflanc's Avatar
 
City: North Carolina for now
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,348
I have had both. I find DISH's overall customer service to be far superior. I don't know about the Manila comment as all the people I have ever dealt with sounded like Americans. I found dealing with Direct on various issues for the boat system was frustrating and I ended up really regretting not spending a few extra bucks at the time and getting a DISH compatible system. Now that we are back on land the difference is even greater, as the DISH Sling / Hopper / DISH Anywhere system is really state of the art, IMO.
__________________
George

"There's the Right Way, the Wrong Way, and what some guy says he's gotten away with"
caltexflanc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2014, 04:58 PM   #12
Moderator Emeritus
 
dimer2's Avatar
 
City: Cameron, La
Vessel Name: Baobab
Vessel Model: Bayliner 4788
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,660
George, real simple....while waiting for the receiver to boot up I made small talk to 'Charles' who said he was in Manila. We chatted about the Hurricane they had just had, as he knew we where on a boat.
dimer2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2014, 07:54 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
SaltyDog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 251
I've had DTV since 99. No problems. No experience with dish. Nice to see both outfits have more praise than horror stories.
SaltyDog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2014, 08:22 PM   #14
Guru
 
Rogerh's Avatar
 
City: Niceville, FL
Vessel Name: At Last
Vessel Model: 1990 Jefferson 52 Marquessa
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 724
Totally happy with Direct. The service tech I had when setting the boat up was very familiar with boats and told me what to ask when I talked to KVH to get the SW update I needed. I just think it all depends on the tech you get. Who knows the one I had, which I can't say enough about, may have worked for Dish several years ago. Luck of the draw.
Rogerh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2014, 05:12 AM   #15
Dauntless Award
 
Wxx3's Avatar
 
City: Wrangell, Alaska
Vessel Name: Dauntless
Vessel Model: Kadey Krogen 42 - 148
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,820
I had Dish for a year and ended up getting it. Why:

They dropped channels thy only they carried, why I went to dish in the first place.

There customer service is guaranteed to not only NOT be able to help you, but to waste your time in the process.

Near the end, when I was having trouble acquiring one of thier sats, they finally confessed that dish had changed something to make it problematic for my antenna to acquire they satellite.
__________________
Richard on Dauntless,
New York

a Kadey Krogen 42 currently: https://share.garmin.com/dauntless
Blog:
https://dauntlessatsea.com
Wxx3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2014, 09:14 AM   #16
Guru
 
motion30's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,181
I have the M1 setup and direct tv. For me customer service had been very good
motion30 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2014, 11:04 AM   #17
Veteran Member
 
City: Seattle
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 92
I've had both - started with DTV but now have Dish.
Customer service was one reason for getting rid of DTV.
Getting HDTV with my satellite dish was another.

If you don't care about HDTV and if you're going to be a full time customer, they're about the same.

When I had DTV, I owned my own receiver and could activate/deactivate service when I wanted.
I'd pay a daily rate, about $2/day. Great for weekend trips
The hassle was getting DTV customer service to understand this when I shut the service off.
They'd always charge me for a contract cancellation fee ($400) when no contract existed.

With Dish, they have a dishformyrv program which allows me to come and go (just like DTV) but on a monthly basis.
Sure I pay more now with Dish, but not having to spend 2-3 hrs on the phone with a DTV CSR is worth it.
Most of their CSRs are new, and don't understand all of the services DTV offers. (They're trained to zero in on the 2 year contract)
Plus, with Dish I can turn service on/off via web. DTV you cannot - you have to talk to someone.

Make sure you really don't want HDTV, because if you do that could make your DTV vs Dish decision for you.
DTV has HD channels on KU and KA band, which means you'll need a bigger, heavier, more expensive satellite.
Dish has HD channels on KU band, so a smaller, lighter, cheaper satellite.
Patemey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2014, 11:27 AM   #18
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 16
Sat dish

I bought a Wineguard in-motion dish for $1000 new. It does track underway and at the dock you can turn off the power and its stays locked on. This was with DirectTV as we already had it at home. Good reception but not at anchor. It's set to go off tracking under 4 mph for a couple of minutes. Then you have to change the DIP switch for the dish to stay in the tracking mode when the boats swings. There is a little current draw and a bit of whirring as a result but mostly not noticeable.
gregarious is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:56 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012