After almost 20 years of RVing all across the US from San Diego to Bar Harbor & as far north as Jasper, BC, Canada, I have found a TV solution that works well for my wife & I. We use our KVH RV1 in-motion dome to watch Directv in Standard Definition while driving and for short, overnight stops. When we spend more than a day, anywhere, I set up a tripod-mounted Directv SWiM dish to watch Directv HD for the duration of our stay. Using a Birdog satellite alignment tool, including the time required to drag out & assemble the tripod & dish, I can usually be watching Directv HD in less than 15 minutes.
We bring our 5-channel Directv Genie receiver/DVR from home, loaded with all of our most recent movies & programs, and install it in the RV. We can watch 2 separate programs using a second, non DVR Directv receiver, purchased on-line & permanently installed in the bedroom. We can record 5 programs and/or movies, ALL simultaneously, while we are out sightseeing, checking out local restaurants, visiting with our campground neighbors by the campfire, etc.
This solution provides the us with so many options! If we are camping in a wooded location where our in-motion dome's reception is blocked by trees or the weather is so bad outside that I don't want to bother with setting up the tripod-mounted dish, we can always watch a previously-recorded movie or other program from the DVR.
Best of all, the total cost for this solution, both outright & monthly, is very comparable, and in many cases, much less than what some of our RVing friends have spent for their equipment. Other than the $15 additional monthly Directv cost for their Distant Network package, allowing us to receive the 5 major networks from anywhere, we have no other monthly costs for using Directv in our RV!
Although I have made several changes over the years, the basic concept has remained unchanged. I hope our solution offers some insight for those of you considering affordable options for their TV viewing choices. I would be more than happy to provide specific answers to anyone via PM.
Felix
1997 Monaco Windsor
1994 Toyota 4Runner
Motosat/RF Mogul F1/D3 Hughes HN7000S