Satellite TV is a great option for the home, but it really shines on the road. Because the TV signals for satellite are beamed from space, they’re available anywhere with a clear view of the southern sky—no cables or other clunky infrastructure necessary. This makes satellite TV an ideal choice for when you need something portable and can’t plug into a standard cable outlet, such as when you’re tailgating, camping, or RVing.
Best satellite dishes and antennas
Satellite | Providers | Best |
---|---|---|
Winegard SK Series | DISH and DIRECTV | Overall satellite dish |
KING VQ Series | DISH and DIRECTV | RV satellite dish |
Satellite Oasis Satellite Tripod Kit | DISH and DIRECTV | Portable satellite dish |
Best overall satellite dish
Winegard SK-1000 TRAV’LER
Price: $1,258.17
Dimensions: 44″ x 34″ x 10″
Weight: 50 lbs.
# of receivers supported: 4
Winegard SK-SWM3 TRAV’LER
Price: $1,667.89
Dimensions: 44″ x 34″ x 10″
Weight: 50 lbs.
# of receivers supported: 4
The Winegard SK Series satellite dishes are designed for folks who want the best of the best—and they’re priced to match. These powerful dishes are loaded with features to provide you with a full range of channels, including automatic satellite tracking, support for multiple TVs and receivers, and the ability to receive signals from several satellites at once.
What’s its best feature of all? One-button operation. When you want to watch, just hit a button and the satellite dish will find and lock onto a satellite signal for the best possible picture. When you’re ready to hit the road, hit the button again and the dish automatically lowers and stows itself in a safe position for driving. It doesn’t get any easier than that.
Something to keep in mind is that this a big, heavy dish, so it’s not super portable—it’s meant to be installed on the roof of an RV and kept there. As with the other dishes on this list, there is a slight size and weight difference between the DISH and DIRECTV models, but they both offer the same features. Finally, this satellite dish is one of the best ways to get DIRECTV for RV owners because it supports DIRECTV’s HD signal—not all dishes do.
Best RV satellite dish
KING VQ4500 Tailgater
Price: $349.10
Dimensions: 18″ x 19″ x 13″
Weight: 10 lbs.
# of receivers supported: 2
KING VQ4100 Quest
Price: $399.80
Dimensions: 18″ x 19″ x 13″
Weight: 10 lbs.
# of receivers supported: 2
When it comes to satellite TV for RVs, the versatile VQ Series antennas from KING make great choices. These are domed antennas, which means the satellite receiver dish is protected by a rounded cover. This allows them to be used while driving, unlike the Winegard SK dishes.
The KING VQ antennas feature automatic satellite tracking for a crystal-clear picture, and they support up to two TVs if you just can’t decide on what to watch. Another key selling point of the KING VQ is portability. You can take them camping or tailgating with no problem—they’ll fit perfectly in the back of a pickup truck.
The domed design does come with a disadvantage: it prevents the dish from catching an HD signal with DIRECTV. HD still works with the DISH version, though, making this hands down the best DISH antenna for RV owners.
Best portable satellite dish
Satellite Oasis DISH Turbo HDTV Satellite Tripod Kit
Price: $164.95
Dimensions: 27″ x 22″ x 8″
Weight: 40 lbs.
# of Receivers Supported: 3
Satellite Oasis DIRECTV SWiM Mobile RV Portable Satellite Dish Tripod Kit
Price: $145.00
Dimensions: 36″ x 24″
Weight: 40 lbs.
# of receivers supported: 3
If all you need is a no-frills, portable satellite dish for RV that you can grab and go, the Satellite Oasis Tripod Kits are an excellent choice. These dishes come with a carrying case, tripod, and everything you need to hook them up. They won’t do any fancy automatic tracking, but they also won’t cost you several hundred dollars.
Whether the convenience of automatic tracking is worth the extra cash depends on how often you use the dish—if it’s only occasionally or always in the same location (so you can point the antenna in the same direction), then you should be fine with the Satellite Oasis Tripod Kits.
Best TVs for RVs, camping, and tailgating
It’s only natural that you’ll need a TV to pair up with that snazzy new satellite dish. Here are a couple of our favorite options for taking on the road.
When choosing a TV for an RV, the most important thing—apart from picture quality—is size. You need something small enough to fit in an RV comfortably but still large enough to provide a good viewing experience. The Samsung UN32N5300AFXZA (what a mouthful!) offers just that. At 32 inches, it strikes a perfect balance between portability and screen size, and the 1080p resolution is ideal for the size.
When you’re planning for tailgating, portability becomes even more important than picture quality—that 4K OLED monster isn’t much good if you can’t get it where you’re going. Another thing to consider with camping and tailgating is the likelihood that the TV will get damaged, either by the elements or by a rowdy football fan. For those reasons, we like the LG 24LJ4540: it’s a reliable, portable, and affordable 24-inch TV. The LED screen only has a resolution of 720p, but on a screen this small, you’re unlikely to notice much of a decrease in quality. Just throw in a tripod stand, and you’ll be set!
Best satellite TV providers
Without a satellite TV plan, the most powerful antenna in the world won’t do you any good. This is because the antenna just catches the signal, but you’ll need a compatible receiver from a satellite TV provider to decode the signal into something your TV can understand. The choice of satellite providers in the US is between DISH and DIRECTV.
Both DISH and DIRECTV have their pros and cons. Basically, the difference comes down to whether you want a better sports package (DIRECTV) or a better DVR (DISH). DIRECTV has a lot of sports channels and add-ons, even if it no longer has NFL SUNDAY TICKET. The DISH Hopper DVR, on the other hand, is one of the most powerful DVRs on the market, while the DIRECTV Genie falls a little short but is still good overall.
What to look for in a portable satellite dish
You’ll probably get a free satellite dish when you sign up for a plan with a satellite provider. However, these dishes are generally meant to sit on the roof or side of your house and not be messed with much. If you want to take your satellite TV on the road, you’ll want something more portable.
There are a few features that stand out in a portable dish: automatic tracking, support for multiple TVs, and a domed antenna.
Automatic satellite tracking
Automatic satellite tracking means the dish will locate and point itself at the satellite with the strongest signal—all without you lifting a finger. Dishes that lack automatic tracking have to be manually aimed at the satellite, which can be frustrating at best.
Support for multiple TVs
Most satellite dishes can split the signal out to more than one TV. Some can handle two, while others can power as many as four TVs. If you want to watch on more than one TV, you’ll need a dish with this feature.
Domed antennas or open antennas
- Domed antennas are satellite dishes with round covers over them. The advantage of a domed antenna is that it can be used while driving, since the cover protects it from wind and other interferences. The disadvantage is that they aren’t compatible with DIRECTV’s HD signal. HD signals from DISH Network still work, though. If you’re planning to use your dish on a moving RV, it might be worth choosing DISH as a provider for this reason.
- Open antennas: An open antenna is the traditional saucer-shaped satellite dish you’re probably used to seeing. These work with any type of signal, so DIRECTV fans can use them to watch in HD with no problem. They aren’t resistant to the elements, though, so you’ll have to stow them away before driving.
FAQ
Can I use my home DISH receiver in my RV?
You can use your home DISH receiver in your RV, but it’s gonna take some work. If your dish is roof-mounted, you’ll have to climb up there (safety risk), remove it, somehow mount it on your RV (or a portable stand), then call DISH and update your location—which is gonna be hard when you’re on the road.
So if you’re willing to put in the effort and you’re only moving your DISH for a special occasion, like a family reunion, you can pull it off. But if you’re hitting the road for an extended period, you’ll want to invest in a portable satellite dish for RV like the Tailgater.
Methodology
The staff at CableTV.com regularly researches and tests satellite TV dishes, TVs, and satellite TV services like DISH Network and DIRECTV, comparing pricing, features, and functionality so we can help inform your buying experience. For more on our process, read our How We Rank page.