Satellite TV in your RV is a great value. A lot of used RVs have satellite dishes built in that will still work with today’s service. New RVs can add satellite TV for a lot less than it costs to add low earth orbit satellite internet (like Starlink.) The monthly cost is really low, especially if you can just extend your home satellite service to cover your RV. (Want to find out how? Call us at 888-233-7563.)
DVR service for your RV is a no-brainer
Here are the facts.
- RVs tend to be parked at night.
- A lot of RV satellite systems only work when you’re parked.
- TV antennas only work when you’re parked.
- Streaming can be unreliable if you’re driving in the middle of nowhere.
So let’s put those things together and understand what you get. You can provide a really good amount of available TV programming, no matter where you are, no matter what the cell service is. All it takes is a DVR. Set up recordings to start when you’re parked, and you’ll have a lot of stuff to watch, whenever you want it.
Both DIRECTV and DISH have DVRs, of course and they have had them for 15 years. DIRECTV’s offering for RVs is the HR24, while DISH has the Hopper Duo. There’s a lot more to know about each, but they are basically both 2-tuner DVRs that are a good fit for RV customers.
Here’s the thing about DVRs, though
DIRECTV’s Genie clients and DISH’s Joey clients are small, light, and use very little power. That also means they don’t put out a lot of waste heat. DVRs are larger and the fact that they have mechanical hard drives means bigger power supplies that put out more waste heat. And heat is the enemy of all electronics.
At home, most people have no problem putting a DVR out on top of a dresser or somewhere else with great airflow. Airflow is important to keep those devices working well over the long haul. Unfortunately though, RV space is at more of a premium. People tend to want to build their devices into wall units or put them in tight shelves.
So here’s the assignment
Look at your DVR. What can you do to improve airflow? If it’s in a cabinet with a door that closes, take the door off. If there’s enough room, make sure there’s good space at the left, right and back, because that’s where the fans are. I recommend that people go to their local home store and get some sort of rubber spacers to put under the feet of the DVR. This will directly cool the circuit boards inside the DVR and it will last a lot longer.
Another side effect of this is that the device will run quieter. DVRs are always going to have hard drive noise. There’s nothing you can do to stop that. However, you can cut down on fan noise by making sure that there’s enough air around the box. This is called “passive cooling” and it really helps the device last longer. The first thing to fail in a DVR is often the fan, and it happens because the fan is spending too much time without passive cooling.
Want to upgrade?
If you have a satellite receiver in your RV and you would rather have a DVR, we’re here for you! Fill out the form below or call Signal Connect! We have experts in our Novi, Michigan offices who specialize in helping RV customers like you. No one does more mobile and marine activations than Signal Connect. We have over 20 years experience with RVs and we’re ready to use all of it to help you make your dreams come true.
Call us at 888-233-7563, use the chat button at the lower right of this article, or fill out the form below.
