Joe, Having used both Dish and Direct TV on our boat I can speak from experience. I found both worked. It is just that we much preferred the programming on Direct TV as well as the guide. If you have Dish, by all means take it. The same restrictions apply on use in a mobile status. It seems satellite TV was not invented for those of us that are mobile. Enough pressure was brought to bear that RVers got an exception. Too bad that doesn't apply to boaters. Bob Skipper Bob Publications Http://SkipperBob.home.att.net