mall dish satellite systems are popping up in campgrounds like wild flowers. Picture quality and the number of available channels are so superior to off-the-air TV that a regular antenna is becoming a useless appendage. The initial cost is approaching one tenth of the cost of the big satellite systems of only three years ago. All the standard cable channels are available along with the networks, music channels, and pay-per-view movies and sports events. Installation in a coach is quite easy if one plans for the system during the basic conversion process. Adding one to a finished coach is more difficult.

These new systems use digital technology that was unheard of only a few years ago. This provides the superb picture quality that many owners say is the best reason to buy one. For the TV fan, a satellite system eliminates regular TV's out of range problems and gives a clear picture even in the most remote places. For the person who is more selective in their TV viewing, it gives a variety of programs surpassing that found on many cable systems. The signals from the satellites are strong enough to get a good picture anywhere in the 48 states and a hundred or so miles into Canada and Mexico.

The goal of this article is to give anyone thinking about buying a satellite system for use in a bus conversion the fundamental information they need. This includes the hardware, customizing it for use in campgrounds, setting it up each time you stop, and to how ask the right questions before committing to the system and the programming. There are some down sides. Cost is one, but it is generally comparable to cable. Another is that you must point the antenna at the satellite. This requires a somewhat complicated process every time you move, unless you pay for an automatic system. Pointing the dish at the satellite must be done quite accurately. There are aids to doing this. When you set up camp it can take from five to fifteen minutes to get everything connected and aimed. Along with this, you must have a clear view toward the satellite with nothing in the way. This can be a problem for roof mounted antennas that can only be moved by moving the coach. The last drawback is that you can't get local stations unless you have a separate antenna.

To watch satellite TV, you need some electronics and the codes to descramble the signals. The electronics (earth station) consists of a dish reflector that directs the energy into a feed horn containing a low noise block amplifier (LNB). This makes up the antenna system that connects by a cable to the receiver/controller. The receiver/controller is about the size of a VCR and is usually located near the VCR. Its function is to descramble the signal and convert it to one the TV can display. You must pay a programming provider to get the code to descramble their signal. Satellite dishes can be mounted permanently on the roof, but most people just use the dish that comes with the system and build a base to hold it.

In normal home operation, the receiver/controller is connected to the dish and the telephone lines. It communicates to the programming provider via the phone lines. The programming provider communicates with the receiver/controller via the satellite link. This generally happens during the middle of the night. If your system is not fully operating, you will not get the new code. You can call them and arrange for a retransmittal, but the dish must be up and the system operating in the standby mode when they download.

Pay-per-View movies and sporting events are the primary area of conflict between the providers and the RV customer. As our systems are not on all the time, and are not connected to the phone line, the normal communications the provider expects are not there. Personally, its going to be a long time before they get any money out of me. However, for some people, watching new movies is a major advantage of the satellite systems.

There are presently (Oct '97) four different satellite programming providers. The most common is the combination of Direct TV* and USSB*. These companies provide the programming for the RCA and Sony hardware. The second one to come along was PRIMESTAR. It is a rental only system where you rent the equipment and pay for the programming on a monthly basis. Everything comes from one company. The new player (1996) is the DISH Network*. They generally sell the equipment directly to the customer, but they do have some dealers that also provide service. The last is AlphaStar. It is embarrassing, but I know almost nothing about them and don’t think I have ever seen their equipment for sale or any of their advertising.

With each provider, you can get all the service you can afford. I think one could easily go over $100 per month. Once you buy the equipment, you are stuck with the provider that serves your system. It appears that the only thing that is interchangeable is the antenna, and one should check this before cross connecting.

The service providers have a package of network stations. With Dish Network this includes an east coast and a west coast station for ABC, NBC, and CBS along with one each for Fox and PBS. To get the networks, federal law requires that three conditions must all be met;
(a) It must be for home use.
(b) Network stations must not be available in the area using a roof top antenna.
(c) You must not have had the networks in your home off a cable system within the last 90 days.

If you want the system to use in your second home (motor home) as you travel around the country, answer all questions based on use in the motor home, not your stationary home.

* - Trademark