I concur. I tried killing 2 birds with one stone, but it's like one size fits all clothing, they don't actually fit anybody. You can certainly stream video over the Internet, but you need a fast WiFi connection to do it, and most free WiFi isn't all that fast. You an use a 4G broadband connection, but the data plans mean you'll be paying several hundred dollars a month to do it.
I had a VuCube V-10, which worked great, but I upgraded mine to a cheaper and better Tailgater, which is the same as a Cube (the V-2000), and finds the satellites automatically, including the HD channels, and it considerably cheaper. The
Tailgater is for Dish Network only ($350), however. The Tailgater is now available at
Camping World. ($322)
A few weeks ago I got a new computer. Toshiba Satellite P855-S5200 at Best Buy. Good price, fast computer, bunches of RAM.
Some questions:
1)can you get local channels( ABC,NBC,CBS)?
Yes, but generally, no. If you have local channels on the dish at home, and you are in the truck within the Spot Beam (about a 200 mile radius of the house) you'll get the same local channels. Outside that Spot Beam and you won't get them. All American Direct (
ALLAMERICANDIRECT.COM the name has changed several times over the years) offers locals (ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox) from either NY or San Francisco for all-4 networks from one coast is $12.99, and all-4 from both coasts are $14.99. I have both coasts, which comes in handy when I miss one show on eastern time, and can catch it 3 hours later on western time.
The coastal local channels are Standard Definition only. The FCC may be allowing Dish Network to carry distant networks (your home locals while you are on the road) some time soon, but nothing yet. They used to be able to do that, but local stations complained that travelers in the area could watch their own locals instead of the stations in the area, and the FCC caved. That may be changing back soon. You can, of course, use an HD antenna to receive the locally over-the-air broadcasts, but it's a pain in a mobile situation because you have to do a new search for locals every time, which can take up to 20 minutes. Having the locals right on the satellite itself is sweet.
2) is the picture quality affected by vehicles moving around like my digital signal.
Not really. The satellite receiver sits high on the vehicle and the satellites are high in the sky, so unless there's something in between the two, you'll get a good signal that is unaffected by moving vehicles. Trees and dense clouds will affected it, same as a dish at home.
Phil, for the occasional TV watcher, those USB TV tuners work OK. Not great, but not bad. I used one for a while. You do need a decent computer with a powerful enough CPU. But they do work rather well, and is a good option for someone not wanting a dish, or for someone to use until they realize they want a dish.
I have Dish Network with HBO and Starz, and Encore and a couple of other movie channels. I watch mostly movies and Reds games, and football. And Jerseylicious.
