Best satellite value?

Can I come watch the series when you get it?

 

http://www.winegard.com/

http://kingconnect.com/product/king-dome/

Do you have any family members with Dish/ Direct TV ? See if they'll let you add your satellite to their account. My brother has one and Dish said that if I got one it would only cost $7 extra a month to his bill. Drastically cuts down on your bill.

 

I'm not sure, but I assume DirecTV has something similar to Dish ...
With Dish, you can tell them you have a travel trailer and want to do a portable setup. they will then set you up on a special month-to-month plan that can be turned on or off for cheap and the equipment costs are reasonable. (No long-term commitment or contracts)

But one of the major satellite providers is now marketing heavily to the trucker market as we're seeing several large carriers offer this for their fleet drivers. And I would assume whoever it is also markets a plan to individual accounts.

 

Sunday ticket Max is the way to go. I'm a football junkie, and am proud to say in four seasons driving a truck haven't missed a Falcons game. I paid 380 last year, and watched every game on my phone or Macbook.

 

Here is some info: (please indulge that I am answering the satellite question, but also summarizing all NFL options too)

A. I wrote a long article about several ways to add satellite to a truck ---> HERE.

B. Live NFL games are broadcast 3 ways (not counting radio) - Online, On the Networks, ESPN, and NFL Channels, or on the DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket.

1. ONLINE: The "legal" version online for live games is called NFL Game Pass. Last year it was $129 for the regular season and $199 for regular plus playoffs. I haven't seen pricing for this year but rumor is that it will be a bit lower. There is also an online option called "Rewind" which is cheaper, but the game isn't live. PRO's: no equipment to install on the truck. You can get every game. CONS: same problem as always for truckers - you need a serious internet connection and data plan.
2. OVER THE AIR: Watch the "broadcast games" on the networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX.) PRO's: Free programming, and over-the-air antenna antennas are cheap. CONS: limited to only the games and channels in the area you find yourself in that day.
3. SATELLITE (Dish Network or DirecTV WITHOUT the Sunday Ticket) - You get the NFL Network, ESPN games too. Broadcast networks are spot-beamed, so sometimes you get the Networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) and sometimes you don't. Best used in conjunction with an over-the-air antenna like in point #2 above. PRO's: You get lots of other channels in addition to sports, plus the games on ESPN and NFL Network along with the Network games (limited to what networks and which games are being broadcast where you are stopped.) CON's: You need a satellite dish and a monthly plan with either Dish or Direct on the truck.
4. SATELLITE (DirecTV WITH NFL Sunday Ticket) - PRO's: every game, period no matter where you are. CON's: Naturally the most expensive because DirecTV equipment and the Sunday Ticket subscription cost more than a Dish Network setup, or a regular DirecTV setup. You need a subscription with DirecTV specifically.

Now, if you are going Satellite option, you said "less than $1K." That is easily doable if you install it. Even if you are going the deluxe method with DirecTV Sunday ticket, the hardware is $100 - $800 depending on what you get and what you already have at home. (not including whatever package you buy from the satellite provider.)
Why such a wide range? Well, if you put up a standard round DirecTV antenna on a pole and stop to align it manually on the signal, and you already have Dish or Direct at home = about $100 in parts and some self-engineering for a mount. PRO's - cheapest. CON's - painful to self-align the dish especially in bad weather. Assume's you already have service at home and just add one more receiver box to your account. Assumes you are mechanically-inclined to fabricate some kind of raising mount.
On the other side of the coin, $700 - $800 in hardware for a King or Winegard self-aligning unit and a bracket. PRO's: push a button and watch games when you stop. CON's: more expensive for the convenience. Must be allowed to install stuff on the truck. Must either already have service at home, or you need to start up a new monthly account with DISH or DIRECTV.
If you are not a mechanical type and hire a shop to install everything, then you are going to add their hourly labor rate to the hardware cost unless your company provides shop install services for free to you. For instance, it takes my shop 1 - 3 hours to install a King or a Winegard at $70/hour. But it is fair also to say that we are much faster than a shop who has never done it before.

SO, lots of variables (specific to satellite anyway) depending on the answers that only you can provide to all of these points. But here is another way for you (or lots of others that read this post) to think about it from CHEAPEST to MOST expensive order below:

CHEAPEST
a) I have Direct or Dish at home and I am going to self align a regular dish off Amazon or Ebay for $75.
b) I don't have Direct or Dish at home, so I'll get a new account and going to self align a regular dish off Amazon or Ebay for $75.
c) I have Direct or Dish at home, and am going to put a King or Winegard self-finding unit on my truck.
d) I don't have Direct or Dish at home, so I'll get a new account, and am going to put a King or Winegard self-finding unit on my truck.
e) I do have DirecTV at home WITH the Sunday Ticket, and I'm going to put a King or Winegard self-finding unit on my truck.
f) I don't have DirectTV at home, and am going to put a King or Winegard self-finding unit on my truck, and am going to sign up a new account with DirecTV, and am going to order their Sunday Ticket. And I'm pretty mechanical and will work it onto the truck myself.
g) I don't have DirectTV at home, and am going to put a King or Winegard self-finding unit on my truck, and am going to sign up a new account with DirecTV, and am going to order their Sunday Ticket. And I'm going to have a shop install it all.
MOST EXPENSIVE

So to get the most clarity, you need to look at which one is you (a thru g.) Hope that provides all of the food for thought to the original poster and anyone else interested in the topic. Also, advice and knowledge are free here. So you can also call me if you ever want to discuss any of this further in your specific situation.

- Don from DieselBoss

 

DISH has the mobile "pay-as-you-go" option and their hardware is about $100 - $150 cheaper. They do not have the Sunday Ticket (every game period) option.
DIRECTV does not have a "pay-as-you-go" option, requires a contract, gear is $100 - $150 more. They do have the Sunday Ticket option.

 

Don, you da man !

 

Tossing a bone here too, the King tailgater has had problems. Dish sells it but then you have to contact King for issues. Simple to work on yes but expensive. The control board is over $100 alone.
Winegard seems to have much less issues. I was given a Qube 2000 in another deal. I'm going to see about hooking it up

Dish charges for a mobile cube too. Like $7.00 a month extra.....dunno why, just do.

JMO