Can I Use my Home Dish Receiver in my RV?

Going on a road trip doesn’t mean you have to leave all the comforts of home behind. If TV is one of the things you miss when RVing, you should look into getting TV on the road.

In-motion HD is a satellite TV system that uses a special antenna to give you access to your satellite TV subscription anywhere in the country. You can watch TV while someone else drives your RV, and catch up on your favorite TV shows once you reach an RV park.

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Can I Use my Home Dish Receiver in my RV?

You can take your Dish receiver to another location, but you will have to call your service provider to update your service address. You can bring your receiver to your vacation home, call Dish, and get all your favorite channels in a new location. You’ll have to call again and switch your service a second time when you head home.

It’s easier to add a second receiver to your account for a small fee. You’ll have two active receivers and will be able to receive service in your RV or vacation home without having to call and switch your service address.

The Need for a Top Up Account

Because watching TV in your RV requires you to use an in-motion HD antenna, you’ll have to upgrade your account and pay an additional fee for this service.

Once you subscribe to Dish Outdoors, you’ll receive an antenna for your RV and will be able to add up to three set-tops to your accounts. If you subscribe to Dish Mobile HD, you’ll get a Wally receiver for your RV and can add up to three receivers to your account.

Is Your RV Ready to Receive In-Motion Television?

You’ll need to install an antenna on your RV. Dish offers in-motion antennae with a protective dome so you can get a signal while driving. The higher you can mount your antenna, the better the signal will be. The best in-motion satellite antenna for watching TV in your RV is the Playmaker by Winegard. It comes in a bundle with the Wally receiver.

If you can’t install a satellite dish on your RV, you’ll have to purchase a standard definition dish and a tripod mount. Depending on the design of your new satellite dish, you might have to take it down when you drive.

Does your RV already have a dish? Figure out if it’s a standard definition or high-definition antenna. One of the advantages of satellite TV is that you can get your favorite channels in HD or even Full HD. A standard definition antenna means you won’t be able to watch content in HD.

You’ll need to run a coaxial cable between your antenna and receiver. You’ll also need to connect your TV to your receiver with HDMI or RCA cables. If you want to use your RV’s wiring, make sure the coaxial cable isn’t longer than 50 feet since the signal could lose some of its quality.

Your RV can receive in-motion TV if the antenna has a clear line of sight to the Southwest sky. You should have a coaxial cable that connects the antenna to the receiver and a connection between your TV and receiver. Turn your receiver on, and your TV will walk you through the setup process.

If you have more than one TV in your RV, you’ll have to upgrade your receiver with a multi-switch to use the same device for more than one TV. The easiest option is to add another receiver to your account and connect the two receivers to the same antenna. It’s a simple setup, and you’ll be able to watch two different channels.

What Sort of Channels Can I Get on my Dish TV for RV?

You can get local channels as an add-on with your Dish TV subscription. If you’re paying an additional fee to get these channels, you can watch them regardless of your location.

If you want to explore local channels in the area you’re visiting while RVing, you’ll have to call Dish and update your service address. Your receiver can pick up more channels as you travel, but you won’t be able to access them until you change your service address.

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Final Thoughts

Switching your home receiver to your RV makes sense if you already have an antenna mounted on your RV. It’s also a good option if you’re going on a long road trip and don’t mind changing your service address.

If you don’t have an antenna for your RV, your best bet is to get a bundle from Dish with an in-motion antenna and a new receiver for your RV.

There are other alternatives to consider if you don’t want to upgrade your RV with an antenna and receiver, including watching DVDs, streaming content with a mobile hotspot, or watching local channels with a rabbit ears TV antenna.