Switching To DISH

[cooperhawk]

its my understanding that it will require a call to get it turned on .... still debating which portable dome antenna to order .... hope to figure that out and order it next week .... do you have any concerns about using the voice activated remote .. .. I've heard stories that Google monitors the voice commands

Go to the APP store on your smart phone and download Dish My Way and My Dish. With these apps you can turn your receivers on and off whenever you want. Otherwise you can call them or use a Chat on their web site to do it.

We have thought about the remote monitoring us, but we're pretty boring and doubt there's much they'd gain by it.

[cooperhawk]

On the subject of monitoring, the second Monday of each month I travel to our local Cracker Barrel and have breakfast with several retirees I worked with. Yesterday I got in my car, plugged my phone in to charge, and the screen lit up and said "28 minutes to Cracker Barrel with no traffic delays". Now that's getting spooky.

[CT_Shooter]

If your phone is an Android, review and adjust the Location settings. You can always change them back if you need to. Though I don't actually know, the iPhone likely has similar settings.

https://support.google.com/accounts/ans ... 7281?hl=en

On the subject of monitoring, the second Monday of each month I travel to our local Cracker Barrel and have breakfast with several retirees I worked with. Yesterday I got in my car, plugged my phone in to charge, and the screen lit up and said "28 minutes to Cracker Barrel with no traffic delays". Now that's getting spooky.

[JEBar]

heck of a day technology wise for this old country boy .... DISH sent out a fellow who installed our system in the house .... he said he couldn't get up on the roof to attach the dish to our chimney where the one from Direct has been since day 1 .... he has set a temporary dish outside and said someone will be sent out to mount a permanent one on a pole .... all in all, he did a good job .... in addition, UPS delivered the Wally receiver for the camper .... it was hot out there while I removed the Direct equipment and hooked up the Wally .... the connections with our TV weren't anywhere close to being the same so considerable trial and error took place .... the good news is, its connected to the camper's dome dish .... the bad news is, we will have to move the camper away from the treeline to get a signal .... the Wally has been activated and I've been told as soon as we get signal, the system should be fully operational


as if that wasn't enough, a replacement electronic thermostat for our home Heat/Air system arrived ... per instructions I call for assistance with programing it .... took most of an hour .... shortly after getting off it started getting hot and I do mean hot in the house .... bottom line, the heat pump was blowing hot not cool air .... 20 minute wait to speak to another customer rep who proved to be a rookie .... put up with her for most of an hour and finally demanded to speak with a supervisor ... the guy proved to be outstanding .... again, bottom line, the replacement electronic thermostat proved to be defective .... it will not link up with the system's control but he was able to get it to run the AC .... it actually reached 90 in the house, now its down to 77 .... thought for a while that we were going to have to move back into the camper .... thankfully, that won't be necessary ....

[markiver54]

Trials and tribulations...I feel for Ya Jim, but sounds all too familiar...unfortunately.

[JEBar]

we are currently setup at Zooland Campground near Asheboro, NC .... lots of pine trees .... a good bit of open sky ... it took several minutes for our roof mounted Winegard CarryOut 2 to lock onto a signal .... I know almost nothing about the signal strength ratings of DISH .... I do know that our home system show a 7.5 to 8 .... the fellow that installed our home system said that was very good, most of the signals for the ones he has installed in larger towns are around 2.5 .... the signal strength we have right now is 2.8 and we have a good, very clear picture .... so far, it appears things are working ...

[CT_Shooter]

Glad to hear it's working. Unlike the old analog broadcast technology, even a relatively "weak", though consistent, digital A/V signal will provide all of the data necessary to fill the display screen and speakers.

[JEBar]

that certainly appears to be the case

[JEBar]

just finished another equipment activation .... that being an external hard drive for the Wally receiver .... doing so will give us the ability to store up to 100 hours of program recording .... as this is being typed we are recording "A Fist Full of Dollars" .... I'd say that is getting it off to a good start ..

[cooperhawk]

We have two 211s. One in the lounge and one in the bedroom. I have a hard drive on the lounge unit and we record programs when we aren't in the unit. Unfortunately they will not record and let you watch another channel at the same time.

I am setting up a "Chromecast" unit for use when we cannot get a satellite due to trees, ect. What that does is let you use Dish "Sling" to access your programs through cell phone towers using Dish Anywhere. Pretty slick.

Here's the one problem that solves. When traveling on short trips and you request "Locals" for your current location, your Hopper will not record at your home even if it's left on. Using the Chromecast I can access the locals over the cell tower without requesting Dish to change my service address.

[JEBar]

I am setting up a "Chromecast" unit for use when we cannot get a satellite due to trees, ect. What that does is let you use Dish "Sling" to access your programs through cell phone towers using Dish Anywhere. Pretty slick.

Here's the one problem that solves. When traveling on short trips and you request "Locals" for your current location, your Hopper will not record at your home even if it's left on. Using the Chromecast I can access the locals over the cell tower without requesting Dish to change my service address.

someday I hope to be able to understand concepts like this ..

[JEBar]

OK, learned something .... if you are watching the TV in our camper, the only show you can record is the one you are watching .... if the TV/Wally receiver is off, you can record any program for which you have a signal ....

[cooperhawk]

Well, we have two receivers, one in the lounge and one in the bedroom. We can watch in the bedroom and still record in the lounge where the hard drive is.
Now with the Tailgater I'm not sure you can do that. I think that one only locks on one satellite at a time. We have a "Taveler" on the roof.

If your Hopper is set up with a wifi connection in your home, then you can use "Sling" to access it at your home where ever you are, using the internet and using a smart phone.
Just download the app and use your hot spot. Now once you've done that, use either a Chromecast or Firestick to transfer that signal from your phone
to your TV. Sounds complicated, but it's really not.

We go traveling for six weeks at a time and I use this stuff all the time.

[JEBar]

maybe we can camp together down the line when we are in eastern South Dakota next summer .. .. I'd sure like to see your setup

[cooperhawk]

Could happen.

[JEBar]

well, after sending them a monthly check for service for just under 19 years, we have officially canceled our service with Direct TV / AT&T .... no drama, the rep I spoke with was courteous .... based on her tone, I expect a call from their marketing folks .... they are welcome to call but what's done is done ....our equipment is so old that none of it has to be returned, no surprise there .... they are going to send a prepaid envelope for us to return the control cards (for lack of a better term) from our receivers .... just ordered a Winegard CarryOut G2+ to use as our portable antenna for use when we cannot lock onto a signal with our 3 year old CarryOut G2 .... it should be here on Tuesday .... it should fit our current tripod, that's another good thing ..... as noted in another thread, we are pleased with the level of performance we received this weekend from DISH ....

[Mags]

.
now the spam mail begins. We cancelled DTV years ago. We still get "we want you back" invitations in mail every month or so.

... we have officially canceled our service with Direct TV / AT&T ....

[markiver54]

.
now the spam mail begins. We cancelled DTV years ago. We still get "we want you back" invitations in mail every month or so.

... we have officially canceled our service with Direct TV / AT&T ....

Here, here...we, unfortunately are still
In the grips of DTV/AT&T. Hope to change that soon. DTV was ok, until AT&T stepped in!!!

[Mags]

.
Been there, years ago when we moved here. Because of trees and hills poor OTA reception and no cable service and no internet then. Back then DTV, Hughes and Dish were the only options for us. Hughes and Dish weren't very good then.

Here, here...we, unfortunately are still
In the grips of DTV/AT&T. Hope to change that soon. DTV was ok, until AT&T stepped in!!!

[JEBar]

sadly, we have noticed a gradual decline in customer service since AT&T took over ..... we never had any problem with their equipment which they backed .... they are losing customers because of their decision to phase out old plans and equipment .... frankly, they are so big that they won't miss our business and I tend to believe we will end up feeling much the same way about them