does anybody bring their direct tv receiver with them, when camping?

[j&h]

i purchased a standard round dish, a tripod to set it on, and enough cable to move it around(in case of tree blockage). i just figured that i could set up the dish, listen for the tone and i would be watching HBO in my PU. i cant access the menu options because i have no signal and i have no signal because i cant access the menu options :confused:  is there a device out there that helps me aim the sat.? does anybody else have a set-up like this?     thanks J

[EvanDoss]

i purchased a standard round dish, a tripod to set it on, and enough cable to move it around(in case of tree blockage). i just figured that i could set up the dish, listen for the tone and i would be watching HBO in my PU. i cant access the menu options because i have no signal and i have no signal because i cant access the menu options :confused:  is there a device out there that helps me aim the sat.? does anybody else have a set-up like this?     thanks J

I have never taken a satellite TV with me camping.  I have always relied on my media center laptop to fulfill my TV addiction while camping but I have seen a few products at CampingWorld.com that seems to do what you are looking for so I assume it

[j&h]

we also bring our laptop along, you can only watch so many movies though. i looked in to the hd tv tuners, but for 5 or 6 channels(depending on reception) it didnt seem worth it.  i have been doing a little more research on using a portable satelite set-up, it looks like the sat finder is the way to go. i guess the difference between catching a signal or not can be measured in just few degrees.  im looking forward to my next trip to give it another shot. also this guys site was a big help  http://www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/sat.htm

[Old Goat]

No TV's on our trips. When we go camping we like to get away from TV and all the media and let the ole world with all it's troubles go on with out us. The peace and quiet is wonderful with plenty of time to enjoy a good book or indulge in a hobby. I, like a lot of others, have come to believe that TV is the greatest time waster ever created by man....

[SpeakEasy]

i guess the difference between catching a signal or not can be measured in just few degrees.

A few degrees? I would think it would be a few thousandths of a degree. Think about extending the legs of even a tiny angle out 22,500 miles (isn't that the distance from earth for a satellite in geosyncronous orbit?).

-Speak

[battleb]

A few degrees? I would think it would be a few thousandths of a degree. Think about extending the legs of even a tiny angle out 22,500 miles (isn't that the distance from earth for a satellite in geosyncronous orbit?).

-Speak

Hmmmmm......
I think there are a few decimals missing from the 22,500 number. I would think the satalites are someplace closer to the 200 mile #...give or take 50 miles. 22,500, i think, is 1/4 the distance to the moon.

[SpeakEasy]

Hmmmmm......
I think there are a few decimals missing from the 22,500 number. I would think the satalites are someplace closer to the 200 mile #...give or take 50 miles. 22,500, i think, is 1/4 the distance to the moon.

The distance to the moon is in the neighborhood of 250,000 miles, so my 22,500 figure is somewhere near 1/10 of that.

My 22,500 miles may be off a little, but not by powers of 10. A geosynchronous orbit is something very special. It is the height of an orbit where the satellite stays in the same relative position over a location on earth, even as it orbits the earth. How could it do this? Well, its orbit is sychronized to the spin of the earth on its axis. Communications satellites have to be in geosynchronous orbits, or it would be impossible to aim a signal at them.

-Speak

[chasd60]

No TV's on our trips. When we go camping we like to get away from TV and all the media and let the ole world with all it's troubles go on with out us. The peace and quiet is wonderful with plenty of time to enjoy a good book or indulge in a hobby. I, like a lot of others, have come to believe that TV is the greatest time waster ever created by man....

That probably means you don't bring your Direct TV receiver with you when camping?
 
I will bring mine if I switch from cable to satellite. I am a fan of mixed martial arts and it seems the good fights will be on when I am gone on trips with the camper.
 
I don't enjoy reading too much except to learn. I have some good magazines like Popular Science, Popular Mechanics and Home Power but usually finish reading them right after I get them.
 
TV and reading come in the late evening for us when RV'ING.
I know a guy that brings his and he just uses one of the inexpensive signal strength meters.

[wavery]

We don't need TV when we go camping........we have our crazy parrot :sombraro:

I never could figure out why people bring a TV camping. It seems to be somewhat of a paradox.....isn't it more comfortable at home, for watching TV?

We go out & play......sit around the campfire or play a few rounds of cards and talk.

[j&h]

seems there are mixed reveiws on even watching tv, let alone trying to find a signal. its not that i dont fish , play cards, or hike. as often as we are using our pu now(socal, great weather) i thought it would be nice to have tv set-up. so.........camping(check), cold beer(check), saturday night fight(check) it dosnt get much better than that(for my money). anyway.... i did decide to buy a signal meter and it looks like satelite tv will be on my camping prep. list from now on

                                             sincerely, SEMI-treehugger   j.