Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
Thanks for the push in Chattanooga. We close on our house next Tuesday, and we are already in our 30' KZ fifth wheel. We intend to upgrade it after the house closes.
We are still wading through Internet and satellite options. We have had Direct for a long time, so we lean that way. I would certainly like to hear your set-up and suggestions on where to start. College football is only a month away so I am more eager to get this finished than Lee.
We also signed up for the May Rally yesterday. Needless to say, we are super excited about the future right now.
For TV get a good satellite installation and for Internet, you could depend on WI-FI or get your own provider just like you will do for your cellular service.
I'm still in S&B mode, but I've been wondering about this, too. I'm particularly interested to hear about how you get TV programming and internet while boondocking.
Patti
-- Edited by PrairieRV on Thursday 4th of August 2016 07:21:15 AM
DirectTV for that…we also got the AM-21 add on which connects your batwing antenna through the DirectTV receiver for over the air local channels. We have Distant Network Service (DNS) so we always have NYC and LA network channels…otherwise you can only get them through the AM-21.
Internet…we have a WifiRanger pair…that picks up campground wifi pretty well…and supplement that with a Verizon Mifi device with a 30 GB/month plan.
I tried to cover all bases........have a good external deep fringe antenna for TV mounted on a 28' extendable painters pole.......added direct TV prepaid (no contract) for the times I really need it.........added a CCX miler Wifi antenna to the top of the pole for finding all the open wifi.....and 10 gigs of AT&T for when I dont.........total cost for set up (dish already on rig) 200.00.....total monthly costs for Internet/phone 65.00.......dish when needed 40.00..........simple life your costs may vary !!
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1998 ...Harney Renegade DP class A
rers1@mail.com
My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)
We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
I like Mikes set up. It works for him... not sure is works for me but that is okay. For me in recent years... TV is getting just plain boring, or more correctly, an expensive sleep aid as Cindi is frequently waking me up just so I can go to bed. I have considered the idea of relying solely on OTA TV signals and streaming everything else and avoiding a dish altogether. For our consumption patterns this seems like the best solution. Roughly $180 month for 2 smart phones and sufficient data. Wifi when available. No satellite. Data rates have gone down big time since I began research into FTing.
YMMV as they say.
Brian
-- Edited by BiggarView on Thursday 11th of August 2016 06:34:24 PM
If you're staying in place for a few days ... call DirecTV and ask for the RV department ... They will "temporarily" change your address so that you can receive the local networks ... just like at home. They are happy to do it! When you go full time you have to execute an affidavit to that effect and you can then get the NY or LA network feeds. I personally LIKE the local feeds (temporary) because you get relevant news and weather info. This isn't practical when you're on the move, but when you settle for a week or so, it makes a lot of sense.
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Ron and Janice
2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system
2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114 LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW
Sorry for the delay in responding. I was out backpacking when you posted and I didn't see it.
Here's what we have in the way of equipment.
TV
DirecTV Genie DVR with Distant Network Service (New York & Los Angeles network channels)
Winegard Trav'ler SWM Automatic Rooftop Dish
DirecTV Slimline 5 LNB (only need 3 LNB) SWM portable dish with Heavy Duty Tripod from TV4RV.com (for when rooftop is blocked by trees)
Winegard Sensar crank-up antenna (with Wingman booster) for over-the-air TV (old equipment, many other options now)
We rarely use the over-the-air antenna, but if we used it more, we probably would add the DirecTV AM21 which intergrates over-the-air channels into the DVR program guide.
Costs keep going up and we get so much garbage we don't need or want; We really like our DirecTV, but it's the first luxury I'd cut if necessary
Internet (Keep in mind we have more devices, data, and costs than most)
Verizon 30GB plan with unlimited voice & text
Verizon 4G Broadband Router with Voice (primary internet device)
Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot—AC791L (secondary internet device)
weBoost Drive 4G-M cellular booster
weBoost Sleek cradle booster (old device, but does the job when out driving around)
Wilson Trucker Mirror-Mount Trucker Antenna (old antenna, but does the job)
Verizon Moto X smart phones
AT&T GoPhone (prepaid device for times when in AT&T coverage area where no Verizon service)
Internet technology is changing constantly and it's hard to keep up to date. Since we've been in the east, our two internet devices have given us pretty good data connection without the need for the boosting equipment. The 4G Broadband Router with Voice has an especially good antenna although it requires AC power for data, so the AC791L is better for boondocking.
Sorry for the delay in responding. I was out backpacking when you posted and I didn't see it.
Here's what we have in the way of equipment.
TV
DirecTV Genie DVR with Distant Network Service (New York & Los Angeles network channels)
Winegard Trav'ler SWM Automatic Rooftop Dish
DirecTV Slimline 5 LNB (only need 3 LNB) SWM portable dish with Heavy Duty Tripod from TV4RV.com (for when rooftop is blocked by trees)
Winegard Sensar crank-up antenna (with Wingman booster) for over-the-air TV (old equipment, many other options now)
We rarely use the over-the-air antenna, but if we used it more, we probably would add the DirecTV AM21 which intergrates over-the-air channels into the DVR program guide.
We've found the AM21 over-the-air DirecTV tuner to be very useful at times and have used it for years. But IF you're interested in having this flexibility for over-the-air TV fully integrated into the DirecTV DVR - works really well including full guide and series recording capability - I strongly recommend you get one ASAP. They are out of manufacture and I doubt they will be available much longer.
There is nothing wrong with the product and it will work with almost every DVR DirecTV made including the HR-44 Genie. But they have simply stopped building them for various business reasons. (Actually the guy who ran that division left and the product sort of dropped off the plate.) Naturally supply and demand has and will continue to raise the price. Shop around. But it’s pretty much now or never.
I have considered the idea of relying solely on OTA TV signals and streaming everything else and avoiding a dish altogether. For our consumption patterns this seems like the best solution. Roughly $180 month for 2 smart phones and sufficient data. Wifi when available. No satellite. Data rates have gone down big time since I began research into FTing.
