Satellite TV

Hey,
I want to Thank You for your help with the Hughes net modem! We are glad you are servicing the area! (tu)

I've just completed my second month with Dish here on StX.
Works great, lots of interesting channels. one-year free promo of lots of movie channels.
Biggest drawback: NO PBS, FOX*, CBS, NBC or ABC.

Dish can't give you those network channels unless you apply for and are granted a "waiver" through their "Distant Network" process. And the waivers are like $2 a month per channel. I did call in and apply on my first day, and here two months later I only got ONE waiver: Fox*. Those channels are supposed to get turned on when the waiver comes through. I received Fox's waiver within 24 hours.

I was told that ABC usually doesn't grant a waiver.

This is being discussed in detail in the CHOICE thread.

Neil,
Did you buy the pkg thru a local dealer or on line?

QR

Neil,
I haven't followed the Choice thread. I'll go there next. But, I have all the networks through All America Direct. I posted the process on here a year ago, and someone came back and said I was wrong. I do have them. It took numerous phone calls, NUMEROUS phone calls! People kept saying no, and finally someone said yes. I had the networks within 10 minutes or so of that call. I don't remember now all the details, but just be persistent. I pay about $3-4 per network per month. No PBS though.:-(

Oh yeah, the networks come out of Atlanta and San Francisco, so some shows are very late.

No longer Atlanta, now they are from New York and SF.

Can satellite be used for Internet access?

What's cost of Dish service Vs cable in STX?

re. Satellite for internet: There are several companies offering satellite internet. There are portable, mobile and fixed services.
Hughesnet is the only company that offers a consumer oriented solution. It is available in the VI.

Dish Network is a satellite TV service. The offer "Wild Blue" internet service via satellite in the states, but it is not offered off the mainland .

The dish used for Dish Network could be used for satellite based internet with modifications.

Sloop Jones

PBS is available from Dish for $1.50 a month. Just ask for it.

Juanita, I did a search of this board and couldn't find your comments. Maybe they were lost in the switch to the new board.

WHO did you call specifically? Just All America Direct? or also the local stations who grant the waiver? Did you ask to speak with a supervisor at All America? Or are you saying that it's just a matter of making X number of phonecalls to their customer service number? When I called back, they said they had my info and it was still pending.

If anyone knows the exact step or words or some other way of getting this done, please post the specifics.

Neil,
Probably couldn't find it because it was about a year ago. We called All America Direct. They gave us the waiver spiel. Said they would apply for us. I gave them my credit card because there is a charge to apply for the waiver. My card was never charged. A few weeks later I called again. They did not ask for a credit card, just said no. It's been so long now....We kept calling and they would say not available or something like that. I knew other people who had the networks, so we just kept calling, and lo and behold one day, the lady said yes. I have no idea why or what was different. Maybe the waivers came through, but I doubt it, since I was never charged for the waivers. Maybe the networks just had a change in policy or something. But all we ever did was just keep calling. We would have the same conversation each time. We would just start out with something like "we would like to add the networks to our DishNetwork" They would start asking questions, etc. One day it just worked! Good luck.

Satellite just doesn't seem like its worth the risk of not seeing Lost and all my other favorite shows that are on the big 4. When they get that waiver thing sorted out I would be more interested. I first looked into it 5 years ago and the waiver still isn't sorted out.

I heard others complain about the quality of Innovative. True it's not in HD but the problem may also be with the wiring. Like everything else that gets old. We replaced 3 boxes before we figured that out. I've had innovative take a week or two to get out but I really can't remember anyone being rude to me. All that stuff is relative after you've lived here a while and you fit into the local culture better.

It is possible to run cable and satellite thru the same line. i have many customers who have local networks from Innovative and Dish for all
other programming.
Sloop Jones.

i don't understand the waiver situation i have ABC west and East the same for NBC,CBS and fox from new york i have dish network package with all channel at all times honestly i don't know what the waiver is i just got all those channels including the one's in the packages specially for Puerto rico and USVI if you go to dish network.com you will see the package is true those local channels do not appear but i got like i said abc form NYC and LA and the same for CBS and NBC and Fox from New York city.

GOOD NEWS !!
I took Juanita's advice and called All American Direct AGAIN, -and the third-time was a charm.

The gal said, "Well it was approved, I don't understand why it wasn't added to your channels." (I understand! It's how things work when you live in the VI, inspiteof the fact that All America is located in Indiana, go figure *-) )

She typed something in her computer, and 20 minutes later the networks, including ABC, magically appeared on my Dish receiver.

DVR is the best thing since color tv.

Way to go Neil! Glad it worked for you.

The waiver thing is really not a big deal, they go through, you just have to be patient and wait the few weeks and then be persistent. I wouldn't let this turn you off to Satellite TV...persuading the wife to let me put the dish up was a much bigger hassle 🙂

Sean

i did not have to wait one day!!! to get ABC and National channels

Rokipatel: when did you apply? most people wait 3 weeks. I have spoken to the local reps to see if they would give a blanket OK for ST.John requests. The signal level that reaches ST. John is not up to FCC standard so we should not be required to wait. But the formality of getting the signal level tested and registered has never been done. They are not going to do it. It has to come from a private citizen and requires bringing a tech from the mainland.

Sloop Jones