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Sat TV question

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by firedreamer, Aug 22, 2013.

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  1. firedreamer, Aug 22, 2013
    #1
    firedreamer

    firedreamer New Member

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    OK Capt's and Admiral's..... i need some information about how you ll get the local networks ( ABC ,NBC etc) if you move around a lot. We have been aboard for 20 months and stayed pretty much in the Columbia river. Now we are just beginning to move around and we are up in Port Angeles at the min. Direct TV, My sat provider( I have a KVH M1 Sat antenna) tells me its now illegal to have them change my location every few months to get local channels. Some law or change the FCC implemented awhile back, or so they say. I have had them Change My Zip code for the service a time or two in the past and that would allow me to get the local network channels until this last jump up the coast. Anybody know anything about this and if so what do you do ?
  2. ranger58sb, Aug 22, 2013
    #2
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

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    Are you actually out of "air TV" (VHF, UHF) antenna range? If not, can't you simply by-pass the Direct TV equipment using a AM/FM/TV antenna?

    -Chris
  3. Sea Gull, Aug 22, 2013
    #3
    Sea Gull

    Sea Gull Member

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    This is the same as we do. No matter where we cruise, the DirecTV gives us our home stations, but we use a digital receiver coupled to a Glomax antenna to pull in over-the-air local stations. Sometimes we get one or two, sometimes we get dozens.
  4. chesapeake46, Aug 22, 2013
    #4
    chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    I bought an inexpensive amplifying antenea at the shack with the same results.
  5. Pascal, Aug 22, 2013
    #5
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    If you really can't live without the network garbage programming and their brain numbing in depth useless news coverage you can still call direct and change your service zip code. I be never done it more than every few months but never had an issue
  6. CaptPKilbride, Aug 22, 2013
    #6
    CaptPKilbride

    CaptPKilbride Senior Member

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    Directv

    Directv should, if you tell them the reciever is installed in a mobile installation like a boat or an RV, allow you to subscribe to the nationwide feed(s) for the major network(s). You can even get both east and west coast feeds.
  7. firedreamer, Aug 22, 2013
    #7
    firedreamer

    firedreamer New Member

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    OK thanks for the suggestions, I will talk to "the Shack" guys. As for calling Direct I guess I was not clear. That's what we have been doing the last yr or so when we would move down river. I would call them and they would change Zip codes. This last time tho they said The FCC changed or made a law that now makes it illegal to do that. Both they and I could be fined. I will also look into other antennas but don't want to spend a lot. There are just 2 or 3 shows the Admiral and I like on network TV so if I can get them it would be nice

    Also, "Chesapeake46" could you be more specific about what you bought at The Shack? i would like to have a better idea of what im looking for if I find a less than knowledgeable sales person on the particular day I go in.
  8. MBevins, Aug 22, 2013
    #8
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Actually the FCC changed the law to specifically exclude boats from a mobile classification. They only allow RV's and semi trucks. You must provide Direct with a copy of the vehicle registration. (So the other cruising people say).
    Do you think some DC lobbyist is involved?
  9. CaptPKilbride, Aug 23, 2013
    #9
    CaptPKilbride

    CaptPKilbride Senior Member

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    Just tell them you mounted the nice KVH sat dome on your car ... problem solved ;D
  10. MBevins, Aug 23, 2013
    #10
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Hey Mildred ! Look at that M1 on the Smart Car !
  11. trmnewt, Aug 25, 2013
    #11
    trmnewt

    trmnewt Member

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    One thing I am considering is a Slingbox 500. It wouldn't give you a signal underway like sat TV, but if you have wi-fi where you dock, and a smart TV, you are set. You connect to your direct TV receiver at home and streams the content to the Internet. Log in with your smart TV and you have an exact copy of your direct TV screen and you can watch any content you watch at home, including anything on DVR. And no subscription fee!!
  12. MBevins, Aug 26, 2013
    #12
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Only issue with that that is if your relying on the marina WIFI to provide adequate bandwidth to support the streaming your you're not going to be happy. Most of them provide notoriously horrible WIFI service.
  13. chesapeake46, Aug 26, 2013
    #13
    chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    Model: 15-254 | Catalog #: 15-254
    $ 34.99 on the interweb page.
    Spring for one that has 120 volt ( or 125 or 90 VAC... whatever... ) amplifier to get the most of it.

    We are about 25 miles from the center of Baltimore and we are in a boat house with a tin roof.
    I know the tin roof plays havoc with phone reception and I imagine it does not help TV reception.
    That said, I get about 15 channels in the slip.
    1/3 of them are in spanish.
    This is better than when the signal was analogue though.

    You do need to reprogram the TV(s) if you travel too far and you need to reprogram each time you switch from cable to antennea.
    Reprograming only takes a couple pushes of buttons and the TV does the rest.

    For as much as we use it, this works fine.