Well, as far as the TV service goes, the quality and so forth, I find DTV and Dish to be comparably equal. I do like to be able to get HD and the winegard will get HD with Dish but not with DTV. I use my dish strictly as a portable and if I were to mount it, I would do so on the ladder using the removable quick release mount. But honestly I find that most places I camp I back in under trees and I like to be able to use the satellite dish on the ground. If I have a clear sky, I put it on top of my Bighorn. I made a weight from one of those concrete covered on plastic round weights (10lbs) and made a stem from a galvanized pipe length of about 3 inches and threaded that into a pipe floor mount (glued this assembly into the hole in the weight). I put rubber tips that I got a Walmart on the legs of the tripod stand and a piece of rubber mat (cut to round and glued) under the weight to protect the roof of the 5th wheel and use a bungee cord between the pipe and the bottom of the tripod to weigh it down.
As far as the service, I got a special price for a year 1/2 off and just decided to try dish when I got the new Winegard. I have read where a lot of people who have mounted dishes on top have trouble getting a signal. In fact I was just camping in Savannah GA and a fellow came over to talk when he saw my dish setup. His dish was on top and he said he was always having to try to get a site with southern sky clearance and it was a pain. After the year was over, I would say the price with DTV and Dish is about the same, the DTV service went out during storms a lot more often. But otherwise the quality is good on both. I just use one of my house receivers when we go camping. Wether I set my dish on the roof or on the ground or picnic table, I use a 20 foot 3/8 inch and and lock it to the 5th wheel. Many times a campground will only have a few choices of sites and I like the flexiblity of portability. Like I said they do make a ladder mount with a quick release. It depends too on what type of camping you do. We travel camp, that is staying at one place 3 to 5 days and then traveling on. We only camp for a week or two in one place when we do local campgrounds. So I like to be able just sit the dish out and let it do its thing.
I have heard people say that dish has a lower sky angle than DTV and make it harder to get a signal, but I have not experienced this problem myself. I have also heard that when you quit Dish, you have to pay to send back the equiptment, where DTV sends post paid boxes. I do know that dish charges me $7 a month because I don't have a hard telephone line. I don't like that charge and don't find any use to have a hard line anymore with multiple cell phones in the house. Best wishes in your decision.