SatalliteDirect TV?

[firegirl969]

I saw an add for SatalliteDirect TV on top of the page of this forum as I logged in this AM. Does anyone have experience with this? DH and I are moving off-grid, so we need to prepare for this. I wouldn't miss it that much, but DH HAS to watch Nascar! LOL. Please share your experience and ideas with me. Thanks, firegirl

[ktm rider]

As far a sat television goes Direct TV is head and shoulders above Dish TV. I had them both and there is really no comparison. You get more bang for your buck with Direct TV.
I'm not a big nascar fan but Direct TV is the only one out there with "Nascar Hot Pass"

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/contentPage.jsp?assetId=P5740145&_DARGS=/DTVAPP/global/component/cmpt_v.jsp&_requestid=2511450

[firegirl969]

This is different than DirectTV. Sorry I didn't make myself clear. Here is the link:


http://www.satellitedirect.com/?hop=dsesales#download

[LouKy]

I agree with KTM. I too have had both Dish and DirecTV and DirecTV is much better.

[randallhilton]

Will you have high speed internet when you're off grid? It looks like that will be a necessary part of the equation.

We had dish for a couple of years. There were a few decent shows on it but I finally realized we were paying a bunch of money for pablum and claptrap. These days, we watch much less but if I want to watch something, we get it from Netflix (instant and dvd for $10 a month.)

NASCAR could be a problem though. Perhaps it would be worth a trip into town. :yes2:

[yotetrapper]

Isn't Nascar generally on Network Tv? Have you considered using just an antenna? It's free, although if your tv is more than a year or two old you will need a converter box. We use antenna, and pick up 26 channels now on digital antenna. Not sure just how far off grid you'll be, but we live over 50 miles from the TV stations, and still get pretty good reception.

As to your original question, sorry I can't help, never heard of SatelliteDirect.

[firegirl969]

Isn't Nascar generally on Network Tv? Have you considered using just an antenna? It's free, although if your tv is more than a year or two old you will need a converter box. We use antenna, and pick up 26 channels now on digital antenna. Not sure just how far off grid you'll be, but we live over 50 miles from the TV stations, and still get pretty good reception.

As to your original question, sorry I can't help, never heard of SatelliteDirect.

1/2 of the year Nascar of on regular FOX channels. The other 1/2 is ESPN. I may be better to use an antenna and then go visit my mom on the Sunday afternoons that it is on ESPN.

[backlash]

There are over 50 pages of people complaining about satelite TV here.
Looks like a rip off.
http://direct-tv.pissedconsumer.com/satellite-direct-online-tv-is-a-scam-20090927158059.html

[firegirl969]

There are over 50 pages of people complaining about satelite TV here.
Looks like a rip off.
http://direct-tv.pissedconsumer.com/satellite-direct-online-tv-is-a-scam-20090927158059.html

Thanks! That is what I needed to know. I'm glad I posted this as it is advertised on this forum and I wouldn't want me or others to purchase it if it is a ripoff.

[krapgame]

We've had both, and also had a big dish prior to that. Fortunately, we never took our big dish down. On Ebay, you can still find Motorola 4dtv receivers for big dish and there is still a handful of providers selling programming for it. The cool things about big dish, you can buy much smaller packages, sometimes even single channels, and save a LOT of money. We were able to pick up a small package with 20 or so channels that we mainly watched on the small dishes for about $23/mo, instead of the $82/mo we were paying for the small dish. Big dish doesn't rain fade. Programming doesn't require you to make commitments for years, we typically subscribe during the winter months and go without during the rest of the year. If you look around, you can usually get a big dish given to you for hauling it off and they're not terribly hard to install. Receivers have been going for around $400, cabling generally <$100. So for about $500 and a couple of afternoons work, you can get access to digital pay channels on more flexible terms at better pricing, and possibly save more than enough to pay off the investment in well under 1 year.

If the small dish companies ever started offering a la carte programming on month to month terms, I'd consider them again. Until then, I'll keep my BUD or just do without.

[West_TX_Desert_Rat]

Check out free to air satellite. There are lots of channels both radio and TV. It is legal to receive these channels so it's not some hack of subscription service and doesn't cost a ton to setup.

Search FTA or free to air

PS Prolly won't find any NASCAR on FTA

[vegard]

We had Directv for about 10 years. I have to agree with Randallhilton, that it was all clap trap. We shut it off and haven't looked back. It seemed to me to be like a drug that sucks you in. I haven't missed it all, we watch our Dvd's.

[backlash]

Thanks! That is what I needed to know. I'm glad I posted this as it is advertised on this forum and I wouldn't want me or others to purchase it if it is a ripoff.

Most likely the ad you saw was directed to you because of your web cookies.
I don't see ads of any kind on this site.
I don't remember how I stopped them but I'm sure one of the smarter users can explain it.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Back in the early 80s we had the big dish at our place with the motor that moved it to receive different satellite signals. Then we had primestar, dish, angel fire, Direct TV...... Direct TV was the best of all those choices after they started scrambling in the 80s. Now we just have cable,internet and phone through the phone company. We like that best but it doesn't have as many channels as the satellite. Easier in winter though, since you don't have to sweep snow off a dish.

[woodchuck acres]

Everytime I get junkmail for a dish, I start to consider it then wake up and realize that even their lowest price of $25/mo is a good chunk of change.
I made an outdoor antenna from coathangers and a 2x4 and even though we are surrounded by trees (and over 40 miles from the nearest station) it sometimes works, especially when it's below freezing outside (can anyone explain that?).
Anyway, mostly if I want to watch "tv" I use Hulu on the computer; my hubby watches baseball on ESPN 360--maybe they carry nascar too?

[firegirl969]

I did dump Alltel today and changed over to Verizon as the service for Alltel here stinks. Everybody that has Verizon is happy with the service. They have several towers within 20 miles of my house. We also signed up for a mifi which will provide wireless internet for up to 5 computers. I can now drop my other internet and landline phone in anticipation of the upcoming move. Today I found a website where DH can watch the new Sons of Anarchy episode each week on the computer for free, so he is now in agreement for us to turn off the satallite and build up our video library with what we were paying them a month. We have a nice wish list already started on amazon.com

[patience]

30+ years ago I shot our TV and put it in the landfill. Haven't missed it.

[BigOBear]

Haven't ditched the tv yet, but did ditch the satellite subscription about six months ago. We've been doing what you're talking about Firegirl... increasing the dvd library with that recurring money and watching the things we wanted to see online.

[firegirl969]

Haven't ditched the tv yet, but did ditch the satellite subscription about six months ago. We've been doing what you're talking about Firegirl... increasing the dvd library with that recurring money and watching the things we wanted to see online.

Is that going good for you BigOBear?

[BigOBear]

So far it is. :yes4: We had a bit of withdrawal the first week without satellite but the kids don't even mention it anymore.

Haven't looked on hulu for the discovery kind of things yet. But they had my stargate so I'm good to go :) I heard rumor that hulu might start charging one day... has anyone else heard?

[patience]

When we moved to our first homestead, the TV reception was poor, and it got hit repeatedly with power surges from storms. The kids were underfoot, griping and whining because they could only get one snowy channel due to being in a deep hollow. Once I trashed the TV, the kids discovered the outdoors, the dog, several cats, a pony and a pair of work horses. They took off into the State Forestry at the least provocation for an outing. TV was forgotten. I had trouble finding a kid when I wanted one....

[firegirl969]

Yea, patience, that is how I grew up on the farm too. We really enjoyed the outdoors. I watch alot of TV now as I am disabled, but I have a tote of books that I want to read, so I plan to taking that back up when we move. I don't have room in this small SW trailer to keep my sewing machine up, so I plan to remedy that with the great room in the new cabin. I do enjoy sewing. I may even take it up some to pick up extra funds at craft shows in the area. I know a lady who makes coats for doggies and bags and carriers to carry them in and she does real well at craft shows. DH has started watching alot of TV lately as it has been too hot outside to do anything else. He will enjoy the video library we plan on building with the money we will save by discontinuing the satallite TV service. Friday night we did an Amazon search and found Hawaii Five-O DVD's so DH is happy to get these. We currently pay $104 for satallite service for 3 boxes, and we can't hardly find anything to watch that we haven't already seen. They play the same things over and over. With our own video library, we can make our own variety of shows to watch. I think when we turn off the satallite within no time we will not even miss it. We also plan on getting some board games and a portable radio for entertainment in the evenings. There is a woman on the radio at night that plans love music from 7 to 12 pm. Maybe her music can sing us to sleep at night. Dh jokes that we are going to be like his grandparents and go to bed with the chickens and get up with the chickens.

[BigOBear]

Dh jokes that we are going to be like his grandparents and go to bed with the chickens and get up with the chickens.
Lol yea... I WISH I could go to bed the same time as the chickens... they're lucky! :lol:

[Helmar]

Yea, patience, that is how I grew up on the farm too. We really enjoyed the outdoors. I watch alot of TV now as I am disabled, but I have a tote of books that I want to read, so I plan to taking that back up when we move. I don't have room in this small SW trailer to keep my sewing machine up, so I plan to remedy that with the great room in the new cabin. I do enjoy sewing. I may even take it up some to pick up extra funds at craft shows in the area. I know a lady who makes coats for doggies and bags and carriers to carry them in and she does real well at craft shows. DH has started watching alot of TV lately as it has been too hot outside to do anything else. He will enjoy the video library we plan on building with the money we will save by discontinuing the satallite TV service. Friday night we did an Amazon search and found Hawaii Five-O DVD's so DH is happy to get these. We currently pay $104 for satallite service for 3 boxes, and we can't hardly find anything to watch that we haven't already seen. They play the same things over and over. With our own video library, we can make our own variety of shows to watch. I think when we turn off the satallite within no time we will not even miss it. We also plan on getting some board games and a portable radio for entertainment in the evenings. There is a woman on the radio at night that plans love music from 7 to 12 pm. Maybe her music can sing us to sleep at night. Dh jokes that we are going to be like his grandparents and go to bed with the chickens and get up with the chickens.

Just wondering how your MiFi is doing ??
Reason I ask, we too are off the grid, been that way now for going on 5 years and NO way would we go back.
We run Solar and a Generator when we need it for laundry or dark days.

Not sure where you live but I was able to create an antenna that I did a double stack with it and we are able to score about 19 Seattle Channels which, are at least 75 miles away as the crow flies (up her, its Eagles ;-)

We had Dish network but due to being retired and disabled, had to let that go.
We do have Hughesnet Satellite for our Internet Service but due to the throttling back on speed and then the 475MB a month bandwidth, thought about trying the Verizon MiFi 2200.
So far, its Faster by more than Double but my problem is this.

Seems that Verizon and the MiFi 2200 have a Pinging or Sampling going on all the time. You see the light flicker and with the VZAccess program running, you can see it using unnecessary bandwidth it seems.

First thought was, ok, how about your computing doing updates and such.
Well, the boy at Verizon had me shut off All the Automatic updates first off.
Then I would also Compare with Hughesnet as I still have it.
Might be old but I am not a Old fool ;-) Seems as most of the telcos use deception as a normal every day mode of doing business.

It gets pretty much down to, Cost, Bandwidth (amount) and Speed.
So:
Hughesnet Satellite.
Cost, 91 bucks a month with insurance on equipment and all.
Bandwidth, only 475 MB (yes, less than Half a Gigabyte)
Speed, Just above Dial up, last test 78Mbps.

Verizon MiFi 2200.
Cost, 50$ a month (or 80$ for more bandwidth)
Bandwidth, 1 Gigabyte??
Speed, 1.68Mbps, (More than Double the speed)

So here I am only about 6 days into the comparison between the two and I notice that I am showing 435.134 MB of bandwidth used on the Mifi.

We can go a Month (for the most part on 475Mb from Hughesnet) but with me just sitting here, on a webpage that is Not refreshing or doing anything (Static!!) I see that light blinking on the Mifi.

Now I am not sure sure this is such a good deal.
I can go up to the 80$ month for 5 Gigs but now wonder, how much of that is waste.....
I hate waste......

Being totally off the grid, it does not leave a bunch of choices for Internet access.
Lots of my ideas and things done around here were learned from www.otherpower.com.
I have the 10 foot wing span wind generator as we are at about 570 feet and can look down on the Hood Canal in a cove.
The wind comes up trough that area some times pretty fast.
For the most part we always have a small breeze. The wind generator starts producing power back to the battery bank at only 5mph.

Still waiting for the the cost of Solar to get down to that elusive Buck a Watt.

Helmar

[firegirl969]

Just wondering how your MiFi is doing ??
Reason I ask, we too are off the grid, been that way now for going on 5 years and NO way would we go back.
We run Solar and a Generator when we need it for laundry or dark days.

Not sure where you live but I was able to create an antenna that I did a double stack with it and we are able to score about 19 Seattle Channels which, are at least 75 miles away as the crow flies (up her, its Eagles ;-)

We had Dish network but due to being retired and disabled, had to let that go.
We do have Hughesnet Satellite for our Internet Service but due to the throttling back on speed and then the 475MB a month bandwidth, thought about trying the Verizon MiFi 2200.
So far, its Faster by more than Double but my problem is this.

Seems that Verizon and the MiFi 2200 have a Pinging or Sampling going on all the time. You see the light flicker and with the VZAccess program running, you can see it using unnecessary bandwidth it seems.

First thought was, ok, how about your computing doing updates and such.
Well, the boy at Verizon had me shut off All the Automatic updates first off.
Then I would also Compare with Hughesnet as I still have it.
Might be old but I am not a Old fool ;-) Seems as most of the telcos use deception as a normal every day mode of doing business.

It gets pretty much down to, Cost, Bandwidth (amount) and Speed.
So:
Hughesnet Satellite.
Cost, 91 bucks a month with insurance on equipment and all.
Bandwidth, only 475 MB (yes, less than Half a Gigabyte)
Speed, Just above Dial up, last test 78Mbps.

Verizon MiFi 2200.
Cost, 50$ a month (or 80$ for more bandwidth)
Bandwidth, 1 Gigabyte??
Speed, 1.68Mbps, (More than Double the speed)

So here I am only about 6 days into the comparison between the two and I notice that I am showing 435.134 MB of bandwidth used on the Mifi.

We can go a Month (for the most part on 475Mb from Hughesnet) but with me just sitting here, on a webpage that is Not refreshing or doing anything (Static!!) I see that light blinking on the Mifi.

Now I am not sure sure this is such a good deal.
I can go up to the 80$ month for 5 Gigs but now wonder, how much of that is waste.....
I hate waste......

Being totally off the grid, it does not leave a bunch of choices for Internet access.
Lots of my ideas and things done around here were learned from www.otherpower.com.
I have the 10 foot wing span wind generator as we are at about 570 feet and can look down on the Hood Canal in a cove.
The wind comes up trough that area some times pretty fast.
For the most part we always have a small breeze. The wind generator starts producing power back to the battery bank at only 5mph.

Still waiting for the the cost of Solar to get down to that elusive Buck a Watt.

Helmar

Helmur,

We love the MiFi! It works much better for us than our modem hooked to the landline phone did. I have noticed some of that blinking you are talking about after dark, but for the most part, it works great. It stormed here all afternoon and I sat in front of the internet and never lost signal. That would never of happened with the phone company internet. I have the $50/ month plan and have never gone over on downloading. I would stick with it until you see yourself going over. I think it will be hard to do as I stay on the computer alot. Blessings, firegirl