RVTV Option Four: Subscription Satellite TV

The Art of Compromise:

When it comes to packing for most any road trip, wizened RVers know they must at least attempt to strike a practical balance between: Weight and Worth.

Compromise is part of the challenge, and the joy of RVing!

It's About Weight:

On one hand, I would never advise a fellow hiker, to carry a TV into the woods. (That would seem antithetical.)

Yet once, I did pack in a Belly-Telly/Radio, (about four pounds, including batteries) just to see what could be seen in the wild.

Unfortunately, where we hiked, deep into a National Forest, there was no available Over The Air (OTA) TV Signal. But, the extra effort did pay off: I managed to get some pretty good SW Radio. (Oddly, I remember, the sounds of voice and music, where absolutely cheery by the campfire.)

It's About Worth:

There is something strange about deciding to pack entertainment and other creature comforts, (like TV/Radio) or deciding not to pack them, for the road.

Maybe, it's the anticipated estrangement there from, the temporary loss, the potential media withdrawal symptoms, that requires forethought.

At any rate, the notion of getting away from it all, may be well and good in theory, but actually taking some of it with, (like TV/Radio) can be almost perversely gratifying.

Concessions:

As with preparing to hike the back trails, initially, every RVer must make some careful choices about what to take, and what not to take.

Practically, there is only so much you can carry. The Absolute Basics must go along, and can be readily justified.

But the question of carrying Entertainment Gear, in your RV, or not, can be considerably more difficult.

Advance planning, weighing, and budgeting can help you avoid spending too much on one necessity, (Fuel, for instance) only to be compelled to economize (painfully) on another... the ultimate RV lifestyle bummer!

Satellite TV is Boon-dock TV:

When it comes to TV on the road, I am willing to make major concessions (Weight and Worth Department) if Remote and Dry Camps are on the itinerary.

For me, High-quality TV is simply a must. So, I will factor weight: about 80 pounds for everything Satellite TV related. (Antenna Kit, Receiver, Coax Cable, and LED TV.)

Plus, I reckon some extra gasoline will be used. I will subtract about 2 Miles from my MPG Factor for the added cargo.

And, budget-wise, after I calculate: Fuel, RV Maintenance, Food & Beverage, Sundries, I routinely add enough extra for Satellite Service: About $60/Month, or roughly: $2/Day.

When I plan to Free Camp, I know there will be little or no OTA TV. But I also know I will be able to receive Satellite Signal. That's a given.

So, my priorities must shift a bit, as the nature of problem takes on a slightly different complexion. As a savvy RVer, you must be flexible.

Remote Provisioning and Power Budgeting:

Free Camping usually means I will have no facilities. Extra preparation, weight, and funding will be required. Tanking up with Water is a must. For cooking and heating fuel: Toping up Propane. (I also factor: Less MPG here too.)

For 110V AC Electricity: I will use my Honda Generator. (Extra weight, extra gas, I know.) Running continuously, I will use about one gallon per day. (Extra money.)

Using the Generator to power Satellite Receiver, and LED TV, is gross over-kill. Instead, I carry a Coleman Powermate Inverter. With the Inverter, the 12V DC battery in my Tahoe allows me to watch about four hours a day, without running the motor, if I like.

At about 50 Watts: LED TV, plus Receiver, can be run for hours before needing recharge.

My Battery Charger, running on the Honda, can be used to keep the RV Deep Cycle, topped up at about 12.3 Volts. (I think a small Solar Panel, connected to the Deep Cycle, might work well too.)

Portable, Affordable Satellite TV:

If you are both RVer, and Satellite TV customer, making your home System, road ready, is actually fairly easy.

Many Class A Units come equipped with Automatic Satellite Roof Top Antennas. Add your home Satellite Receiver, and it's almost Plug and Play!

Some RVers, myself included, build, install, and carry, their own Portable Satellite RVTV. (Standard Definition Satellite TV Receivers and Ground Mount Antenna-combos, are economical to assemble, easy to transport, and simple to connect.)

The Very Best RVTV:

These days, as a Full Timer, I travel with Satellite RVTV, using a Portable Ground Mount Antenna Kit, of my own design.

Now, depending on: 1. Budget, 2. Location, 3. Weather, 4. Time of day, and 5. Mood; I can choose between Satellite, (via Antenna Kit) OTA, (via Bat Wing) and Cable (via RV Parks).

For good measure, I carry a PCTV Adapter, which delivers Standard Definition, (SDTV) Enhanced Definition, (EDTV) and even High Definition (HDTV) TV, and displays crystal-clear OTA TV, and Cable TV, right on my laptop PC!

RV Friends: With all the techie TV gear, and all the time I have devoted to RVTV over the last decade, you'd be right to call me a Techie. But, Techie Tubie, would be more accurate.

In my constant search for the Best RVTV, this mission, has been all means to an end.

Quest and Conquest:

Since 2000, I have methodically, literally; purchased, installed, and/or experimented with Four of the Five Kinds of Portable RVTV for: OTA, for Satellite (High Definition and Standard) for PCTV, and Cable.

Alright: I concede, RV Park Cable TV is not really portable.

But, as it's readily available, nearly everywhere on the Grid; as far as access goes, portability isn't really the issue. Making your RV, Cable-ready before disembarking, may be.

 Five Options:

Recently, I have also written an Illustrated Technical How To Series, and Free Special Report, covering all (5) Five available methods of obtaining the Very Best RVTV on the Road, as well as the complete DIY Procedures, you will need to get Very Best RVTV on the Road, for yourself. (See Resources.)

Happy Trails and Thanks for Tuning In!