HDTV, Cable Carriers, Sports Progs, and High Speed Internet

Dish Network would be your best bet.

RL

Hi Neil,

Don't laugh at me because I don't know much about this, but according to the NHL website the following "Versus" (whatever that means) channels are broadcasting the games:

Choice (a local cable provider) : Channel 81

Direct TV: Channel 608

Dish Network: Channel 151

The other major local cable provider, Innovative, does not have a channel designation for NHL games -- so I guess they don't carry it.

As far as Internet, I use a Mobile Broadband Card (with service through Sprint) and have been very pleased with it. I find it to be very convenient for traveling as well.

Hope this helps a little bit!

Best,
🙂 Mell

Neil,
Just wanted to say hi from one (former) Buckeye to another! I moved to St. John from Columbus in 2005. We have internet through Innovative Powernet, and surprisingly it's not too bad. Of course, as everyone will tell you, we do experience power outages now and then which could affect your business. Our internet seems to have slow periods, but generally recovers pretty quickly. Overall, I'm happy with the service. (Of course my answers pertain to my experience on St. John, and I couldn't comment about internet on the other islands).
I hope this helps a bit, and good luck getting answers to the rest of your questions.

We're on STT and use Ackley for our high speed Internet service. They charge $99/month, are pretty reliable, and 192 Kbps is "promised" but we frequently get 256 Kbps. Your residence has to have line of sight to one of their towers. Power is wholly unreliable, so we have a generator.

I'm not sure whether or not the local Cable TV providers (Innovative on STT and STX and Choice on STT) carry the NHL programming. What I can tell you is that I have Dish satellite and the NHL programming is available BUT!

Unlike in the States and although DISH sateliite works wonderfully here, the initial expense is large and if you're a property renter as opposed to an ownerr, the landlord may not agree to your buying dishes and installing them. In order to receive DISH networking to include the NHL channels you need TWO dishes and your total cost of installation is going to be $1K minimum.

I'm located in a basic "hole" on STT where high-speed internet is concerned and, as much as I crave and await high-speed wireless access at a reasonable price with the same fervour as newcomers miss Krispy Creme donuts, I've resigned myself to dial-up for now. If your business is internet-based then your research is going to be cut out.

The Virgin Islands phone book will point you in the right direction towards basic research. Cheers!

The local phone book is available online: www.viphonebook.com

Hi, ahelper. Old-timers miss Krispy Kreme too. 🙂

Thanks for the help folks and the link to the viphonebook...very helpful.

Dish $1000? They're giving away the installation and equipment up here if you sign up. Amazing.

Innovative is the worst!!!!
The cable is awful, it has all kinds of problems, and if you want the problems addressed, it will certainly take a couple of weeks to get a repairman out to deal with it....and you better be there when he gets there....when??? When he gets there!!
As far as Innovative DSL Internet......(insert sad face here).....its not to bad from sight to sight, but if you want to download something, you'd better pack a lunch, cuz its gonna take a while!!!!!!
Oh, the picture quality on Innovative cable is not that good compared to satellite either...
They claim thats because water gets into the lines and I say "FIX EM"!!!! Apparently its my problem not theirs...
The beaches are nice though:)

Oh.....sorry, got side tracked.....
If you just want to watch hockey abnd have an awesome burger, tey the Shipwreck Tavern across the street from Haven Sight Mall in Al Cohens Mall....Really cool sports bar......Go Gators!!

Neil the dish network is so expensive here because you have to buy the 4 ft dishes and up. So its no easy task to install them. Some people actually have to have two dishes because of their location on the island. I wouldnt really advice it if you are renting, especially if you rent a condo as many have rules against them just like stateside. You need the larger dishes because of our weather. Some part of the island is experienceing rain every day. In a bad storm, even with the larger dish you may loose your reception you may not. But it is also the same way with the local cable provider, If the storm last long enough, more then likely innovative will go out at least on a few areas on the island.

lol jay do you really live on the islands? You're going to have a heart attack at that rate. Breath...many things are done kind of half assed on the island. There are drawbacks to satellite service as well, you just have to find the one you like the best.

we had Dish on StX - no TV when it rained! The DSL from Innovative was , um, poor at best and as for dial up...! Someone did tell me once that the phone lines on stX at least were so antiquated (thanks to Prosser) that they couldn't cope with many of the features of the new telephone systems that businesses were installing!
jay, this is one of those situations where you have to take a deep breath and go outside and look at some scenery.

Neil, if that's all you find amazing, you'll be a first! Remember, in the immortal words of an oldtimer who is neither seen nor heard from much anymore - Not all pain is gain... 🙂

Betty and Jane...you are both right, it is the way it is and thank the lord above for my beautiful view.....very soothing...
Just a quick story of my awesome control.....
I was called by Innovative, told that my modem was in, to come pick it up.....Sounds ok so far, right????
Well I drove over to the Tutu office and said to the nice lady, I am here to pick up my modem. So and so called me and said it was ready.
Well, so and so stood and said I never called you and your modem isn't here. Being the calm and cool person I am, naturally I thanked the nice lady and asked that they call me when it gets there...
Never mentioning that the very cell phone in my hand contained the message in the voicemail...
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!
Ok.....2:18 PM....I need to go snorkling before my head explodes....
Good day to all...and what do you all think would have happened if I challenged those nice people at Innovative that day?????? I would love to hear all your ideas on that!! Ok...off to Bolongo!!

I'm sure it took tremendous fortitude to keep your cell phone pocketed. Sharing the message would probably not have gotten you your modem but had you shared the message with them, I would've paid to have been there to hear their explanation! 😀

"If you just want to watch hockey .........Go Gators!"

Jay: Why am I getting this mental image of an alligator with little ice skates on his little foot dem with a hockey stick in its jaw???

Go Red Wings!!!

Right Promoguy????

Oops I forgot. You live in LA, so you were probably rooting for the Ducks! So Sorry ....................

Went to Shipwreck Tavern for the first time this evening, per your recommendation Jay -- and you are right!!!!

Great place to watch the game and a FABULOUS burger too!!! Lots of TVs so you can watch just about anything you want!

So.... the cable is bad and the internet is IFFY. BE-YOU-T-FUL.

Tell me... is that everywhere on the islands? -or just some places and some carriers? -and some of you 😉

And what about internet service on your cell phone. They have that down there yet?

And Mell...I'm only a temporary Wings fan for the playoffs. Then its back to being a Blue Jacket.

I don't have all the problems with Innovative Cable that Jay has had (knock wood) so I guess it's a location thing or something to do with the wiring. I can't get Choice where I live.

I'm on dial-up & have no problems but used to until the phone lines were replaced. My neighbors have high-speed & say it's OK. I was going to sign up for it during a recent promotion but when I called about it, they said I had to come into the office. No thanks.

I use Innovative for everything -- land phone, TV and dial-up. We have had good service for the last 18 months-2years - knock wood. It does what I want it to do without much active participation on my part. I will say that when there is a problem, it can often take a while to fix -- at least it did the last time we had a problem, which was about 2 years ago.

It seems to me that the real difficulty is when people NEED a specific service because of their job. Much of what is available on the continent is not available here. If you use/need internet daily as part of your job, research carefully. Many folks come down assuming what they need is available and are suprised and disappointed.

Hey EE....sorry about the confusion, the Go Gators was a shot at all Buckeye fans...
Glad you tried the Shipwreck...And that burger is more than a meal!!!!
And Neil.....as far as Innovative internet....its not horrible, just slow for downloads....I was really spoiled by Broadband instant downloads and now waiting 4 or 5 minutes for a short video or audio download is just a little annoying....

Hi Neil,

Since you are a temporary Red Wings fan, I will forgive you temporarily for being a Buckeye and will temporarily answer your questions.

Ask away me son -- this offer WILL expire shortly :).

Neil: While things have changed quite a bit over the past 10 years, I still advise people that if they want stateside amenities, they should be careful about a move to the Caribbean. If you absolutely can't get along without (your desire here), you may be a candidate for a quick turn-around.

Remember that this is *my* very humble opinion and based on seeing lots of folks come and go over the years.

Thanks Jay, Mell, Linda, and East et al for the honesty and gator reminders... ..like I need reminded 😉
Dial up? What's dial up? LOL

You folks are scaring me on the internet speed thing. Doing business over the internet is one of the reasons why I'm able to move. Ok.... sounds like I need to put in a few phonecalls to the various services and get a map of their service areas. As always, appreciate the help.

Suggestion to the board/mods:
Signatures should be encouraged, ...and to include island location. That would help parse some of the comments.