Dish RVing?

[smilingangel079]

Hi! I am wanting to use my Dish when I go camping (which is most weekends) I have a motor home. Do I need to buy a special dish? I have Dish 500 at my house. My mother has an old Dish 500 receiver that I could have if I wanted to use it? Would I be able to use it, and if so what would I need to do? Or get my husband to do? Thanks for any assistance, I have been able to get any reply from customer support at Dish.

Angie

 

[Mark_AR]

You just need a tripod or some sort of mounting to hold your dish when you are parked.

Like this: http://www.ideamaster.com/budget/rvmount.htm

I've heard of some type that auto point, but I'd say the cost would be quite a abit more.

I used an old brake drum as a base for a temporary setup while roofers were re-roofing my house.

If you want broadcast networks while on vacation then dish has a form for truckers and RV'ers.

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/locals/rv_truck/index.shtml

 

[smilingangel079]

Thanks! Do I need to buy a special dish, or can I use my mom's old 500 dish? Will it have to be reset or anything?

 

[dfergie]

I go camping a couple of times a month and take a Dish 500, I have rigged up bolts on both sides of the camper's where I can mount it. Have a tripod also you need tent stakes to secure it to the ground, picked it up at Radio Shack. and btw Welcome to Satellite Guys

 

[Mark_AR]

You can use any dish 500 antenna, you just need to have a receiver that you can activate through dish network. They will charge you for an extra receiver though. You might want to call Dish back and ask another CSR. If you dont get an concrete answer you like, call back and get a different CSR.

Getting answers is like winning the lottery with customer support.

It may take a little expertise for your husband to get the dish pointed in the right direction the first couple times, but after a while, it gets easier as long as you have a clear shot to the south wherever you are parked.

 

[dfergie]

Take a level and a compass, they come in handy

 

[smilingangel079]

Thanks! Another question of sorts

I don't have to do anything special to the dish or the receiver? A friend told me they had to change the location numbers or something on the receiver. Since I'm using a used receiver would that matter?

 

[dfergie]

Depends on how far from home you go as far as dish pointing. Your Reciever wont know the difference.

 

[Stargazer]

The only thing that you are doing by changing your zip code is changing the numbers that it tells you to set your dish at. That is just to help you setup your dish and does not cause your receiver to function any different no matter what zip code is punched in.