Direct TV Connection

Anchor Management

Anchor Management

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Nov 27, 2010
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Trying to get new boxes for my boat. I jumped on my brothers service and used his boxes in the past. Direct TV is a nightmare. (Customer Service person wanted to know what RF meant)They transferred me 5 times and then told me I have to call KVH. They don't handle marine stuff. I also tried lying to them on a subsequent call telling them that I have a dish at my house from old owner and want them to send me two boxes and I will hook up myself because of attack dogs in the house. They require an installer. Any ideas on how I can just get the boxes?
 
Have you tried EBay? Maybe Craigslist?
 
No. I thought that direct required you to rent boxes or go through certified supplier now but will investigate. Thanks.
 
Hank, how did the service get turned off?

You could have them install them at your house, then just move them to the boat. They have to be turned on when the service is turned on. You can buy your own boxes, but they charge you for each one anyway.

I'm trying Dish network this year, because with my satellite antenna, I'll be able to get HD programing - which I can't with Direct.
 
My brother cancelled his subscription at his home and my boat boxes were on his account. I don't have a dish at my house and don't plan on getting one. I have no need for HD on boat. Not even sure the TV's are HD but certainly possible. I still have the boxes on my boat so we will see if I can just have them transferred to my name but not sure if they will allow that. Seems crazy not too but I do recall something like that in the past. Other thing is I think at least two of them have DVR's which I have never recorded a single thing on my boat so I'm paying for something I don't need. (Besides the boat :)
 
Your problem is going to be that once they hear boat, they are going to refer you to KVH, and you'll pay much more.

You are better off ordering it for your house, then have the installer mount the dish on the porch or ground. Once it's turned on, remove the dish and bring the boxes up to the boat.

Other option is to piggy back off someone who has direct TV. The boxes have to be connected to the antenna when the service is turned on.
 
depends on what KVH equipment you already have. I would reach out to KVH and find out what model # boxes are compatible, then google/ebay those. not all terrestrial based system boxes are compatible with all KVH equipment.
 
Hank I got mine from the company that installed my KVH stuff on the boat, the folks you suggested who did the upgrade to the electronics on your 36C. (Not sure I can list the compny name/number here) If you no longer have the number let me know... BK... :--)))
 
For direct tv I bought a box from solidsignal dot com.
Came, hooked it up and added to my existing account.

You can buy from them, they give you the access card as well.
Then call direct with info on tv to activate.
 
I've bought DirecTV boxes from both Solid Signal and Weaknees. Also from Amazon, but I think that was just a storefront for Solid Signal. The only real reason to buy directly from DirecTV is if you're getting new service or a retention upgrade and they're giving you a big discount. If they're going to charge list price, just don't bother.
 
You can have my old boxes I got from ebay about 20 years ago. They're probably not compatible with the newer stuff anyway. Could be they're more hackable being that old.
 
Careful with the KVH M1 & M3 systems assuming that's the model you have Hank, the primary box powers and gives the dish synchro's commands to track Direct's bird at 101 degrees.
Bill
 
You my want to check with KVH, as I recall they now offer a service where you can suspend your acct during layup
 
Direct is a nightmare....I had an account with them for years on my old motorhome. It was a seasonal account specific for a motorhome. EVERYTIME we moved to a different campground we had to call customer service ....be on hold for 20-30 minutes..... and have them adjust my " home address " making the campgrounds zip code my new address.....then wait until they send a fix over the air so I could get my service. A month ago we trade in our motorhome for a new one and I will NEVER use Direct on the new coach. I'd rather have nothing then to deal with them again.
 
quote:
Originally posted by BarrenRiver

You my want to check with KVH, as I recall they now offer a service where you can suspend your acct during layup

Click to expand...

I have had DirecTV/KVH since 2009, and have always been able to suspend service while on the hard for up to 6 months..
 
quote:
Originally posted by Double D

Direct is a nightmare....I had an account with them for years on my old motorhome. It was a seasonal account specific for a motorhome. EVERYTIME we moved to a different campground we had to call customer service ....be on hold for 20-30 minutes..... and have them adjust my " home address " making the campgrounds zip code my new address.....then wait until they send a fix over the air so I could get my service. A month ago we trade in our motorhome for a new one and I will NEVER use Direct on the new coach. I'd rather have nothing then to deal with them again.

Click to expand...
 
In 2008 I bought the big, expensive Winegard auto DirecTV dish for my RV and installed it myself. Big, heavy, awkward (until mounted) but when I pulled into a campground (or boondocking site), I just pushed the "on" button, then went ahead with leveling, hookups, etc. The thing would turn on, seek and find the satellites and lock on. It was almost spooky to watch the thing - like a blind robot groping at the sky. When done setting up, I'd go inside and DirecTV was up and running.

I had no problems with any company, no problem with moving each day, no problem with billing. That thing is a dinosaur now - much smaller and less expensive units are available now.

I started off with one of those little portable dishes that you aim yourself and don't think I ever did get a decent hookup with that awful thing.

quote:
Originally posted by Double D

Direct is a nightmare....I had an account with them for years on my old motorhome. It was a seasonal account specific for a motorhome. EVERYTIME we moved to a different campground we had to call customer service ....be on hold for 20-30 minutes..... and have them adjust my " home address " making the campgrounds zip code my new address.....then wait until they send a fix over the air so I could get my service. A month ago we trade in our motorhome for a new one and I will NEVER use Direct on the new coach. I'd rather have nothing then to deal with them again.

Click to expand...
 
quote:
Originally posted by Billylll

Careful with the KVH M1 & M3 systems assuming that's the model you have Hank, the primary box powers and gives the dish synchro's commands to track Direct's bird at 101 degrees.
Bill

Click to expand...


Hank's system has a controller separate from the KVH boxes this allows him to use any standard home box which it what he was doing until his brother cancel the account.
 
quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN


I'm trying Dish network this year, because with my satellite antenna, I'll be able to get HD programing - which I can't with Direct.

Click to expand...


Mike, I've been with Dish for nearly 20 years (except for 2 years of HD bliss with now defunct Voom). I have them at home as well as boat and ski condo. Service is under $100/month for 3 receivers (condo and boat share a receiver) , HD programming, 2 premiums, sports package, and The Blaze. They don't freak out about the boat issue but may bump you to level 2 tech support (all US-based customer service). Hit me up with any questions. I prefer the 211 receivers. $40 one time fee to activate DVR features on external HD. We take our main home external hard drive with us to the boat as it has all our movies. Language is Linux so drives can even be backed up.

FYI, folks, adding a receiver to somebody else's account is called "stacking" and is in violation of TOS. I've read people get away with it if 3 or less receivers are on an account. I've read Dish has a department that has reportedly called account holders and asked for all serial numbers at one time.
 
We do a little over the air TV for local news. Mostly we just bring our satellite box DVR to the boat, and then watch all the stuff we have recorded and not watched yet. BIG plus is we almost never have to watch a commercial. Fast Forward rules. Besides, we usually fall asleep before a 1/2 hour program has ended anyway. Who goes to their boat on a weekend to watch TV ?
 
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