RE: satellite dishes while camping..

[B]

 
Can someone walk me through what i would need to use a satellite while camping? We have Dish network at home and my brother has an extra dish ( okay still mounted to his roof but still with enough pleading my husband may go get it...) Would it be worth it for my husband to go up and remove it for a 9 day camping trip in the Catskills? Normally we bring a tv/vcr combo but for that long we will not be able to rent VCR tapes and the reception is always really bad where ever we camp. I love having the television for nights, the kids will lay inside and watch a movie and fall asleep and my hubby and i will get much needed private time besides the fact that we have been having the rainiest spring i ever remember so another reason for satellite Tv. would it work in the catskiils? What all do i need? Thanks B

[LKaskel]

 B
Well...........you need the dish, an activated receiver and a tv with compatible hookups to the receiver.  Mounting the dish is an issue so you will need something to mount it with.  I see many campers with a tripod so that seems like the easy way to go.  Last big thing is the alignment.  Once set up you will need to point the dish in the correct direction and angle to pick up the sattelite.  Someone else will need to give you that info.  All in all I think it is not that big of a deal to be up and running.  I personally enjoy getting away from the tv while camping but it would be nice to catch the news a couple of times.  Good luck!

[B]

 B
so my husband whom is a very handy carpenter could make some type of a tri pod do you suppose?  I make no excuses for wanting TV in my old age( sort of)  I just want it!! B

[B]

 B
OKay we want to try it, how do I find out the zipcode, is that all I need? B

[Gone-Camping]

 B
Grab the dish, if it ll work with one of your receivers that is. Just bring the whole thing along. About the only thing you d need is some way to mount the dish, most people utilize a tri-pod, but have seen others place them on a board and park one wheel of the car on the board. Campingworld.com has the tripods if you need one of them....
 
 You already have a paid subscription, so just bring along one of your receivers and the card that goes with it. You don t need the phone line to make the receiver work!!!
 
 Zip code? www.usps.com will have it!!!

[wahoonc]

 B
Okay! Anybody have a tracking satelite system on their popup?[8D]
 
 Aaron[]

[LKaskel]

 B
How do you know where to point the thing?  Buddy of mine moved his at the house and had a heck of a time getting it pointed right.

[wahoonc]

 LKaskel

 

ORIGINAL:  LKaskel
 
 How do you know where to point the thing?  Buddy of mine moved his at the house and had a heck of a time getting it pointed right.
 

 We always " preaimed"  ours using a compass and a protractor to get the correct direction(azimuth) and angle(elevation), then there was a help screen on the TV that would tell you when you got it right on.
 
 Aaron[]

[PopUpTrio]

 B
We take our satellite (we have an extra for camping) and our receiver from home.  We bought a tripod at Radio Shack.  Just get the address for the campground (zip code), Most state parks list it on their map.  With a compass and that, we don t have any trouble aiming the dish.  We use Direct Tv but Dish is probably similar.  You plug in the zipcode on the setup display and it will give you the coordinates.  But, actually, we just point the dish using a compass and generally find the satellite within a few minutes of moving it around.

[whitestar505]

 B
Can t we leave somethings home? At this rate camping will be like living at home...[&:][][&:][]

[wahoonc]

 B
I do leave things at home, like the dog, 3 cats, MIL...the keys to the camper[8D]
 FWIW we are simplifiying our popup camping, going back to the basics, then buying a TT for the times we need the more home like atmosphere[]
 
 
 Aaron[]

[2manytoyz]

http://2manytoyz.com/dish.html  

You only need a second dish, a tripod mount designed for camping (RV stores), and take your existing satellite receiver.  Enter your zip code, follow the on screen instructions for dialing in the satellite.  Takes some practice, so become at expert in your backyard before heading out.

Alas, our cable company offered us a sweet deal to "come back".  I no longer have a satellite receiver, so the dish and stand will soon be going on Ebay.

Worked amazingly well.  I now take a portable 7" DVD player and movies.

[Gone-Camping]

It's odd that this old thread popped back to life! I'm ending a ten year stint as a tow truck driver this Friday, and starting Monday I'm going to be a Direct TV Installer Sub-Contractor...

If anyone still using this thread for info, campingworld.com sells the tripod's for the sat dish...