Satellite Internet Survey - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

Satellite Internet Survey

RVDude · RV-Dreams Family Member

Seems to be some confusion as to Tivo and WiFi????

Right out of the box a Series2 Tivo has the software (I forget the rev number) to fully support WiFi and has the USB port on the back. All that you need to add is a compatible WiFi USB adapter for $30 or so. Tivo can then be removed from the phone and will use the WiFi for all updates. I've used my Tivo at home for 3 or 4 years without a phone line - it just accesses my WiFi at home and updates every day just like it did on the phone. True to Tivo form, the WiFi setup was a breeze. Once WiFi connected, I can even schedule my Tivo to record programs from any web browser by going to the Tivo web site which is a great feature when you are away from your Tivo box. If you want to install Tivo desktop on your PC you can download Tivo recordings to your hard drive for archive or to burn DVDs.

Here's the Tivo networking support page.

Howard · Host

We have DirecTV DRV R10s. When we bought those from Best Buy in 2005, TIVO was incorporated in those boxes. TIVO and DirecTV used to work together, but they have since split and DirecTV DVRs now have their own recording systems and TIVO does only standalones now as I understand it.

But the TIVO on our boxes is still supported. So although the term "TIVO" is in fact used generically for many recording systems, ours really is TIVO. smile

We're just lucky I guess. smile

But I didn't know that we could get pay-per-view via our internet connection. I need more information on how that works. biggrin

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

Howard,
That's correct, the R-10 do use the Tivo service/technology but the R-15 and later boxes do not. I am not sure what happens when the Tivo/DTV agreement expires but I hope by box will still work.
As to the pay-per-view, this is one of my favorite options and is available to any DTV (and likely Dish as well) customer with any kind of a receiver. With DTV you just need to setup and on-line account where you can check you bill and add/subtract services, etc. There is a complete program guide and many services available. One of the options is to order pay-per-view. Once you find what you want, select the time you want and order the movie. We usually wait until it's just about time and a second or 2 after you click order, the channel comes to life. It's great and it just appears on your next bill or you can choose to pay separately with a credit card.

Howard · Host

Well, we've had an online account since the beginning. I guess we have had the capablity all along to get pay-per-view, but we never tried it. I thought we needed a phone line for pay-per-view. That's what I get for assuming. biggrin

mrsgeek · RV-Dreams Family Member

hmmm, I didn't think it had been that long since I checked in on this forum! :-}
We're full-time and wouldn't be without our Datastorm. We've had ours for about 4 years.

We are going to our 4th Datastorm user's rally in Tucson the end of this month - presenting several of our seminars. I see all the posts here by Bill Adams ... Bill and Janet are the creme de la creme of Datastorm installers and we look forward to seeing them again at the rally.

We are also dealers/installers. We will be at the Gypsy Journal rally in Casa Grande (we'll be in Casa Grande all winter) and we'll be at the RV-Dreams rally in Branson next June presenting our most popular seminars.

See ya.
Chris Guld
www.geeksontour.com

Froggi · RV-Dreams Family Member

I look forward to meeting you guys, I follow your blog & get your newsletter and enjoy both very much. I will be at Nick's rally as well as the RV Dreams. <g>

SoCalToolGuy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hello to Bill Adams and any other Datastorm installers that might want to reply. I have seen recently that a few lucky folks have bought used roof top equipment on Ebay. What would you charge to check out and install the equipment if someone buys used? Is the installation cost different from a motorhome to a fifth wheel? Just a thought for down the line. Thanks,
Ray

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

We charge $650 to $750 to install a used Datastorm and train you on its use. This does not cover any charges for repairs or updates that might be necessary to make your system work properly. So dealers charge as much as $1000 so it's worth shopping around not only for the best price but the best installation.
Installation on a motorhome or a 5th wheel should be the same but no one can say for sure until the installation is reviewed. It is very rare that either would have any kind of an installation problem.
Be aware that a Datastorm with 4000 modems or a D1 controller is totally unusable. You will need a D2/6000 at a mini mun but I would not recommend anything less than a D2/7000. If you do not have power available to your 5er while you are towing then you will need a D3 controller as the D2 compass must be calibrated by turning the RV 180 degrees while the system is powered up. The D3 does not use a compass so this is not necessary.
The older Datastorm antennas had the upper control board (UCB) mounted between the arms that support the dish. If you buy one of these it is likely that you will also need to update this UCB for an additional $99 plus installation.

SoCalToolGuy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Bill. I probably won't have a used unit for you to install but it is nice to know what your charge would be. It's too bad we are not quite ready to have you install one for us. I see by the Datastorm map you are only about an hour away from us. We are just waiting for the house to sell and then we are on our way. we had our first offer yesterday and we countered so it is a waiting game right now. We will be at the Gypsy Journal rally in February so maybe we can hook up there. Thanks again, Ray.

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

I just picked up a used Datastorm if anyone is interested.

SoCalToolGuy · RV-Dreams Family Member

whatcha got?

Froggi · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey Bill, back on the DTV DVR issue.....am I reading this correctly on the various sites....the $99 is the equipment upgrade fee, my monthly DVR fee goes from my curretn $4.99 a month to $5.99 a month and I am taking on a two year committment again? (mine is ended over a year ago)

If I buy one, won't I have to have access to a land line to activate it? (assuming that is how it is done....but how do I then deactivate my old DVR box?)

Sorry for what are probably basic questions, but it's so hard to wade through all the online fine print. LOL!

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

Donna,
I am not sure what an upgrade path might involve. I am not a DTV dealer any longer so when I wanted a DVR I went to Best Buy and bought one. I think the current receivers are considered leased units and "in theory" would have to be returned when your service stops.
When you change from one receiver to another you just call DTV and tell them what you want to do. They will take care of deactivating the old one.
The R-15 receiver does not need a phone line connected (the older R-10 did need a one time phone connection). If you are getting some other receiver I cannot tell you if it needs a phone line, but if it does not have the Tivo logo on it then it would be my best guess that you will not need a phone line.

-- Edited by Bill Adams at 09:16, 2007-10-11

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ray,
I have an F1 Datastorm mount only. It could be paired up with someones existing modem and a used D2 controller or new D3 and new modem. It worked when I removed it from the RV but I think it might need a new transmitter in the next year or 2 as it appears a bit weaker than a new one. This costs about $500 should it be necessary.

SoCalToolGuy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Bill. I will just wait for a complete system either new or used. We can't do anything yet anyway. Our rig is in storage for a couple more weeks.
Ray

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

I just got a great deal on a 2nd F1. Amazing, I never have 2 used units. If anyone is going to be in the Tucson, AZ area any time soon I have a dish that is only about 3 years old and has all the updates including D3 controller and 7000 modem.
This is available for sale as an installed unit only if you can catch up with us somewhere.
$2795 installed. If you have your own Hughes modem then the price would be $2495 installed.
Edit: Sorry, Sold!

-- Edited by Bill Adams at 20:56, 2007-10-12

SoCalToolGuy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill, I can't get to Tucson in the near future but we will be in Casa Grande in February. Is there any way that I can put a deposit on the equipment until then? If this would work out let me know. Is there any warranty on the equip? If you want to email me my email is: likearock@socal.rr.com.
Thanks, Ray.

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

I will contact you privately, but there would be no way for me to hang onto it for that long.

-- Edited by Bill Adams at 13:29, 2007-10-12

SoCalToolGuy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ok Bill. It was just a thought. Keep me in mind if something else should materialize. Are you going to be in So. Cal. in the future? I am in the Orange Co. area. Thanks, Ray.

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

We just left the Ontario, CA area and we may be returning in Nov. or Dec. We usually head for Vegas for the Holidays and we have our coach serviced in Mira Loma, CA. If you click on the link in my signature you will see exactly where I am and what our travel plans might be.

RVDude · RV-Dreams Family Member

Some time ago in this thread we talked about using a WiFi enabled TiVo to update itself through a MotoSat WiFi internet setup. I finally got around to running the test to confirm my prior experience.

The answer is positively YES. I just fully recommissioned my TiVo to an entirely new zip code and am getting daily TiVo updates all completely though the WiFi MotoSat. All features including the TiVo internet add-ons ("Music, Photos, and More" i.e. photo viewer, movie tickets, Yahoo! services, etc.) all work flawlessly (save for the satellite latency) over MotoSat.

My particulars are
MotoSat (F1, HN7000S, D3, on G16/99W, using a LinkSys G+B router),
TiVo (Series 2, had not even been online for more than 6 months, using a LinkSys USB WiFi adapter))

So all you TiVo fans with MotoSat, fire up your TiVo and get it online!

Perfectlygoode · RV-Dreams Family Member

We purchased a tripod internet system last month. Our first reason for the tripod system over roof mount was cost. It just didn't fit into our present budget! Our second reason, my family owns a lot on the Tippicanoe River in Indiana. We spend a good part of our summers at the river. It's FREE! There are sooooo many trees, it would have been impossible to park our fiver somewhere where the roof mount could have locked on to a signal. My Dad has found a small "window" where we can place our satelitte tripod and recieve a signal. Now, setting that puppy up the first time was a challenge. I feel confident that it will get easier and frankly, I think our brains need the exercise! Ya know if you don't use it, you lose it. biggrin

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

For that treed lot it might be worth getting a second internet dish and putting it up in one of the trees from ebay. You can run high quality cables for hundreds of feet. Many Datastorm owners have a fixed dish somewhere and use the modem when they are where the fixed dish sits, so they have the best of both worlds.

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

I know this subject has been discussed but I am curious. We are going to be going full time very soon and a decision has to be made soon. I would like to know how many of you folks that have the Datastorm rooftop system feel that the large $$ investment was worth it or of you had it to do over again would you opt for a more economical system. We are casual daily internet surfers and don't anticipate a blog or website yet. With this in mind, those of you that fall into this catagory, what are you using. I really don't want to go cell phone based system so please don't include feedback on that type. I am really just trying to decide if we should go rooftop, tripod, or just rely on wifi. Thanks for your feedback on this. It really is a big decision

I think this topic has gotten highly diluted and discussions of other topics might be better served by starting a new topic.

FD5 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill,
Will you be at the RV-Dreams rally in Branson, Mo. June 11-15th?

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

No, I am sorry to say that I will not be.

-- Edited by Bill Adams at 07:10, 2008-05-08

RVDude · RV-Dreams Family Member

-- Edited by RVDude at 21:35, 2008-05-07

mrsgeek · RV-Dreams Family Member

If anyone is intrerested in a Datastorm satellite dish, let us know. If you order one now, we can have it shipped to Branson and install it at the rally. You can check our website for more details. http://www.geeksontour.com/satellite.cfm

We will arrive in Branson, on Saturday the 7th. We'll be busy with our 'Computer Boot Camp' pre-rally on Monday and Tuesday, and when we give our Internet seminar during the rally, but there should be plenty of time in there to do an installation. We can also stay after the rally if necessary.

Fordiesel250 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Do they offer used sattelite dishes and if they do what can of price range are we talking about? My DW and I are discussing purchasing something and I think this would fit our bill.