Dish Vs Directv Satellite Dish?

[AWCHIEF]

Curious why does the Dirctv portable satellite dish cost so much more than the Dish model?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Both systems appear to be the same sort of $300-ish price for the automatic antenna versions.

Bob

[Al and Missy]

Hey Michael,

The two companies have different approaches to multiple satellites. DirecTV dishes are adjustable in three axes Az, El, and Tilt, while Dish uses only Az and El. Also, the less expensive 18" round dish will get HD on Dish, but the larger elliptical dish is needed to get HD on DirecTV. If you are OK with standard definition, you can get a self-pointing dish for either for about the same price but the DirecTV HD dish has three axes to align and the dish is bigger and heavier so the motors and electronics are more powerful and more expensive.

Also the Winegard 18" dish I had (which was originally used by the PO for Dish, but I used on DirecTV SD) used something in the satellite receiver and wouldn't align (or stow) without a connection to the receiver. The Winegard Trav'ler HD dish is completely self-contained. Just turn it on and it finds the satellites (or stows) whether the receiver is connected and powered up or not.

The larger DirecTV dish sits in the open so all electronics have to be weather proof while the current group of round dishes are in radomes which provides protection for the whole system.

Does that justify a 3-4x price increase, probably not but that's part of it.

Al

[rmkrum]

Personally, I'm having trouble with the need for TV when I'm enjoying camping or traveling in my AS.

Most of the places I go have antenna reception at minimum. Use our TV so little I'm beginning to resent the wasted weight...and the difficulty keeping it secured during travel.

Used it maybe and hour or two, on three separate days, to check weather, on the last epic trip of over 9 weeks on the road.

[AWCHIEF]

Al, thank you for the on point response. Some people have a hard time doing that.

[pmclemore]

Since I have Dish at home, it was no-brainer that I would get Dish for the road. Costs only 7 bucks/month to turn the travel receiver on. And when you return home, they will pro-rate that 7 bucks for actual days used.

I have the Wineguard Pathfinder X2 dish. The X2 is to be much preferred because it will find both the eastern and western arcs. This is handy when your view to the south is obstructed but the west is clear - or vice versa.

Pat