gramie,
The advice you have gotten on these responses so far are right on. However, if you are very new to all of this as I have been over the recent weeks, you might just want to talk to someone about your questions on a more direct email exchange.
I am also an RV'er who sets up a DirecTv dish at each site and have been through very painful detail on these forums and others to try to work out a routine that is simple, quick, and works. The people on this forum have been very helpful and I believe I'm now fairly capable to get a good set of signals in 20 minutes or so, start to finish.
If you would like to have an off line email exchange you can contact me at jbbroue@usa.net. (I hope it's OK to put this kind of info out there but it seems like the quickest way to get through your questions.) Let me know. It really is a fairly straight forward process once you work your way through the terminology and fine points, especially with a non-HD setup.
Good luck.