Maxwell Satellite
Quality Design...Quality Equipment

If you have a clear view of the southern sky, the DirecTV system will work at your location wherever that may be within the continental USA. There are five satellites providing the complete High-Definition service, Ku-band 101, 110, 119, and Ka-band 103, 99. This may change so check with DirecTV for up-to-date information.

No, but if you are expecting free equipment from DirecTV this is probably required. Usually the installer comes to your RV site and installs the equipment anywhere you want it. We recommend you set up your HD PortaKit and allow the installer to set the reflector (dish) and mount right on the Offset Bracket mast. As always, check with DirecTV for the latest information.

If you already have the HD Slimline equipment, see below.

This is a difficult question to answer as it does not have any logical explanation. For many years RVers have been traveling with their DirecTV equipment. For many years DirecTV officially said "No" to this notion that their equipment could travel around. That directive did little to slow down the RVer's determination to have TV on the road. Look around in any RV park. Satellite dishes sprout up everywhere there are RVers.

Finally within the last year or so DirecTV started embracing this segment of the population. There is a lot of money to be made from RV customers who do not have access to any of their cable competitors. DirecTV is currently running large ads in RV magazines.

Apparently the DirecTV customer service personnel have not been trained or alerted to this new interest in RV customers. Large corporations rarely communicate, in a timely manner, policy changes to their employees. Be prepared by not mentioning the word "RV," "mobile," or "portable."

If you are expecting free equipment from DirecTV an installer is probably required. Usually any installer will come to your RV site and install the equipment anywhere you want it. We recommend you set up your HD PortaKit and allow the installer to set the reflector (dish) and mount right on the Offset Bracket mast.

Be prepared to wait 5-10 days for an installer to call and make an appointment. Sometimes the sales rep gives you the installer's telephone number and allows you to call to set the date. This cuts the wait time down by several days, assuming the installer can fit you into the schedule.

Sometimes it is just easier for fulltime RVers to purchase their own receiver/antenna and eliminate the "installer" game. That was our choice and we have no regrets. Fifteen minutes on the phone compared to waiting for days and sometimes weeks for the installer to show, this was a no-brainer.

Hi-definition receivers run about $75, with DVRs around $200. BestBuy and Circuit City stores carry DirecTV HD receivers but not the antenna. There are hundreds of online stores including Amazon.com. Do not buy a receiver on eBay.com. Most of these cannot be activated as they are leased units and forbidden by DirecTV to be re-sold.

Here are online merchants where you can purchase the Slimline Antenna. Click here.
Another vendor to check, click here.
Another vendor to check, click here.
[Not affiliated with these companies. These links are a courtesy only]

Read the next answer for more detailed information about getting service initiated.

As fulltime RVers we are not often in one place long enough to jump through the hoops required by DirecTV. We purchased our own equipment and started on the long journey to get service from DirecTV. The following is our story and hopefully it will help make the path smoother for you.

It only took 15 minutes from beginning the sign up process with DirecTV to watching TV once we learned the inside track.

Our experience is that the most effective course is to say goodbye to any confused representative that may answer your call. Try the call again. Eventually you get someone that signs you up for service. Apparently DirecTV has several support centers around the country that are connected to each telephone number.

For speedy service from the sales representative, don't mention the word "RV," "mobile," or "portable."

The easiest way to get service initiated if you have already purchased your DirecTV HD receiver is to call the so-called RV Department at 800-769-4635.

Explain that you have already purchased the HD equipment but wish to start service. (See "Lease Plan" explanation below.)

Indicate that you do not need an installer to set up the equipment. Also indicate that you have your dish pointed and the signal registering on the TV monitor.

Be prepared to prove that you have the antenna pointed and the satellites linked in. The sales rep must verify this or the process grinds to a halt.

It is physically impossible to continue with the service sign up process without the Receiver locked onto the satellites. So be ready to go before calling for service activation. The sales rep is not trained to help you with any pointing issues.

Tips to Help Smooth the Sign Up Process

Installer Required - No!

Service Install Address - Keep in mind that the Service Install Address you give the rep dictates the local HD channels available to you. (See below for Distant Network comments.)

Install Address Owned or Rented - The sales rep asks during the sign up process if your install address is "owned" or "rented,"--- if you answer "rented" know that you must have the owner's "written" permission to have an installer on the property. Whether you must have this "permission" sent to DirecTV first or just hand it to the installer is a question we cannot answer.

If you are planning to use our HD PortaKit, you do not need permission from DirecTV as it is not a permanent installation. However, do not expect the sales rep to understand this explanation. The installer does understand.

Telephone - DirecTV does not require a telephone regardless of what you may read in their ads. This is a question you may also get from the rep when you sign up for service. Just say "No" and wait for the "you can't get PPV, etc." lecture to end. Be silent and wait for the next question.

Numbers to Know - Have the Serial and Receiver ID number (both found on the back of the receiver), and Access Card number ready.

A Social Security Number is now required, no exceptions. However, you do not need to leave a credit card number with them as online payment is available (or snail mail, of course). They do ask permission to run a credit check. Whether this request is connected with "no credit card" or not we do not know as we prefer not to let DirecTV automatically bill our credit card each month...as least until all the rebates have kicked in and we are satisfied that all program criteria is met.

Programming - Know the programming package you want before calling for service. Make sure you read the fine print because the sales rep may not be aware of the latest promotion. If you have Internet access, visit www.directv.com for the latest packages.

Rebates - Ask the sales rep to start any rebate process at the time you sign up. Be patient and courteous (which sometimes is a big effort) and all will be revealed. Check the information given to you with the package information you retrieved online.

DVR Service - If you have the DVR receiver model, remind the rep to activate the DVR service. (If the rep fails to complete this for you, an e-mail sent on the DirecTV website is all it takes to start this service. Have your account number ready.)

Once the sign up process is complete, DirecTV begins streaming into your television set immediately. The whole process takes about 10-15 minutes if you follow our process described here and have your receiver ID, Serial, and access card numbers handy.

Apparently DirecTV has figured out a way to retrieve part of their manufacturing cost.

If you purchase the receiver (tuner) for around $200 online or at big box stores such as Best Buy, DirecTV adds the monthly lease amount to your account. When we signed up for the current promotional HD package, the first Receiver Lease Fee was waived ($4.99 per month). Check online or call DirecTV for up-to-date information.

[By the way, Wal-Mart no longer carries DirecTV receivers even though the official DirecTV website claims it is so.]

If you purchase the receiver from a vendor for around $700, no lease fee is applied to your account. On the surface, this is not a cost effective purchase unless the lease fee increases.

After you have the hardware set up and the cabling attached to the back of the receiver, expect to spend about a half-hour the first time getting used to the controls and linking up with the satellites.

After you have set up a few times, expect to have the five satellite signals peaked in about 2 minutes. This assumes the equipment is assembled and the satellite coordinates set on the antenna.

Note: If you have been offline for several days expect a 20 minute wait while DirecTV downloads new files to your receiver. [yawn]

We include with all our systems:
	Our copyrighted Assembly and Setup Guide - containing illustrated step-by-step instructions and includes the Distant Network form.
	DeWalt Heavy-duty tripod with stabilizing enhancements...and sturdy stakes are included to make it wind-resistant.
	Custom-designed Offset Bracket to give balance and stability to the dish assembly. This also give you easy signal finding capability.
	To make it even easier, our products come equipped with the SatBeeper that provides a signal tone at the dish directly to your ear plug. Set the coordinates, listen for the highest pitch, you're done. No expensive signal finders necessary with our HD PortaKit.
	No tools to mess with, just easily adjustable knobs. We even provide a place to keep those knobs when storing the equipment, so everything stays together and speeds up the setup/take down process.

Once you have your HD DirecTV service initiated you can fill out the RV Distant Network form included in our Assembly and Setup Guide. Mail this completed form to the address listed on the form.

It can take up to 14 days for the Distant Networks (ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS) to be initiated. The charge is currently $11.99 per month for both East and West coast feeds. PBS is $1.99 per month additional. As usual, check with DirecTV for the latest pricing.

As you know, the local HD channels disappear when you move more than 200 miles away from your "install address."

A

No. The Internet is a separate service that requires different equipment.

We prefer the flexibility of a tripod-based portable system, particularly since we are fulltimers. We never know where we will be parking our 40-foot motorhome tomorrow or next month. A tripod-based system allows us to move the dish anywhere we need to in order to find the satellites. If we had a roof-mounted system in a heavily treed area we would be without TV service...besides we like to park in the shade during the summer.