I have Direct TV @ home with four boxes. Phone in to CSR but was told I couldn't use a house box in a mobile unit, must have special reciever. It was all very confusing, is as though they are against RV or Trucker TV patrons.
Hi coneagle59fal,
The technology has been migrating from the older multi-switch to newer Single wire module (SWM) designs. The new receivers all support SWM. Some of them also support older multi-switch. The satellite dish's LNB has to match the receiver capabilities.
Bottom line, if you take one of your home receivers with you in the RV, and you get a dish with LNB from Ebay or elsewhere, you can watch satellite while on the road using your existing programming package. If you have local stations at home, as long as you don't go very far, you should be able to receive those same stations while traveling.
If you leave your local area, you won't have CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, or WB network programs without signing up for Distant Network Services. But that puts you into a mess of new FCC rules and costs extra.
If you want High Def programming, you'll need a Slimline 3 or 5 dish and a tripod. And you'll have to learn to aim the dish. If you're ok with standard definition while traveling, you can get one of several auto-aiming, carryout dishes,
like this one. But you'll need to check the compatibility with the model of receiver you plan on taking with you.