I run into the same issue all the time when talking to folks with RVs. Satellite equipment from DIRECTV or DISH just doesn’t know where it is and it doesn’t expect to move. That’s why often times your satellite receiver will show the wrong time zone. It expects you to be in one place, and you’re not.
It’s actually more impressive to me when your satellite equipment does know where it is and does set the time zone properly. For the most part it just sort of happens. For both DIRECTV and DISH, the time zone is set by the service address, in other words the address where they think you are. In most cases this is your home, or where your bill comes to. The exact time is set using signals from the satellite dish, but the choice of Daylight Saving and the time zone are set using information about your account. That information also comes through the satellite signal when you’re traveling. In some cases it comes over the internet if you’re connected to it.
First question: does it really matter?
Yes I know there are people who are really going to be bothered if the clock on the receiver is wrong. But think about it for a minute. Unless you’re in your local area, you’re only getting national channels anyway. (Yes, there are exceptions, I’ll get to that.) The guide doesn’t change just because the clock changes. The same program is on at 5 Eastern, 4 Central, 3 Mountain and 2 Pacific, because those are all happening at the same time.
It doesn’t really matter, in other words. As long as you can look at the guide and see what’s on, the time isn’t important. Keep in mind too that most people don’t record while the RV is moving, because in-motion dishes are expensive and not always practical. It may not be possible to record more than one thing at a time anyway, depending on your setup.
You mentioned exceptions?
Yes, there will be exceptions. If you’re right on the edge of a time zone it’s possible that you’re “in footprint,” in other words able to get local channels, even if it’s a different time zone. So it could happen. If it’s something that really bugs you, there are things you can do.
DIRECTV boxes
DIRECTV boxes do allow you to manually set the time zone and Daylight Saving Time options. This is great for areas like Laughlin CA/Bullhead City AZ. Because of the weirdness of that area, those two cities have the same time half the year and different times half the year. I’m not sure you would want to change time zones every time you crossed the river from one to the other, but you could.
All you need to do is follow the steps in this tutorial. Note that DIRECTV does let you change your service address, but you can’t do it more than about twice a year. It’s easier to just change the receiver.
DISH boxes
With DISH it’s a different pathway. Rather than doing something to the receiver, you need to get a DISH representative to change your service address. DISH lets you do this more frequently if you’re on an Outdoors plan. The DISH Outdoors plan lets you pay month-to-month and lets you change your local area much more easily.
If you’re a self-service kind of person, you can also get the DISH Outdoors app and change local service area from there. Note that because this change comes from the satellite, it can take a few minutes to become effective.
Need customer service? Let us help
Signal Connect is both a DIRECTV National Accounts dealer and a DISH Premier Local Retailer. We can help you with issues like changing your service address or anything else you need for your RV. No one does more satellite activations for RVs than we do, and we’ve been recognized by both DIRECTV and DISH for our efforts.
Find out what real customer service is all about. Let Signal Connect take care of you. Call us at 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours. Our staff does work extended hours but we prefer that the first contact be during business hours so we can get you to the right person. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you on your schedule.
