A sticky-out part is an LNB, low noise block converter.
Yes, we did. My SO knows more about this, but I remember it did require us to upgrade our dish. And we got a separate big antenna so we could get our local channels. LNB sounds familiar - I think we got a kit that we could add on to our two LNB set up (so we had a total of three LNBs).
But it is worth it IMHO, the picture is great. They have this special channel (HDTV Net) that has really neat programs with no commercials - sports and documentaries.
I tried to get waivers from the 5 local affiliates a while ago (before we had a UPN affiliate) - I never got a response from the NBC station, “no” from ABC, CBS & FOX, and a “yes” from PBS. I didn’t bother for the one network, and DirecTV added the PBS national feed to the programming package I had soon after that anyway. Since then they’ve started charging for that feed.
PBS is free on C-Band, y’all.
When we first switched to Direct TV, I loved it. It actually went out less frequently than our local cable company. We got the same package, for about $10 less, and Direct TV had channels that cable didn’t even offer.
Then I noticed that the Direct TV service in my area could now include the local channels, no more antenna, no more fuzzy channels. What a great thing! So I called up, paid the $150 to upgrade my dish to the new kind, get all new recievers (old one didn’t work anymore) and have 2 more recievers installed in the house.
It works great…unless it rains. Now even the lightest drizzle will cause me to lose the local channels. I’ve had them come out and re-adjust the disk, and on a clear day, the signal streangth is about 95 or so. But something about having to recieve a signal from 2 satelits causes it to be more suceptible to signal loss. So now when it rains, no local channels at all. The other programming comes in fine, but not my local channles.
So if you have direct tv, and are looking to upgrade, thing twice. Other than that, I love it.
I think the local stations are transmitted at a low power so that they can’t be seen in other areas. Or so that they can use the same frequencies to show other local stations in other areas without interference.
I was impressed with the quality of antenna signal for the crappy UHF channel and surprised at the crummy signal from one of the VHFs when I was refused all my waivers.
Ah. I’m not worried about local…our apartment building has a giant antenna dealie and so we simply plug our TV into the top cable jack and get local stuff for free.
OK…it’s decision time. I think that we are going to go for it if the apartment gives us permission to put the dish on the roof. If they don’t, I’m SOL. Cross your fingers…
[Sting/Dire Straits]
I want my…
I want my…
I want my Direct TV.
[/Dire Straits]
I’ve had my DirectTV system for a little over a year. I love it! I’ll never go back to cable.
I’ve had reception problems twice in that year. Once there was a wet, heavy snowfall which accumulated in the dish. I had to clear it to re-establish connection. The other instance was with a VERY heavy thunderstorm.
With “normal” rain or snow it’s never been a problem.
Oh, and I get local stations too with no problems.
Is there a way I could see how the reception, channel choice, etc. looks before I buy DirecTV?
Are there preview tvs set up at the sales locations?
I’d like to play with it before buying it to compare it to my current cable tv.
Or is it possible to use DirecTV for a week or so to see how I like it? Like a temporary setup that becomes permanent when I buy it?
I don’t know anyone that has DirecTV.
What effect does a good hail storm have on the dish?
I’ve been meaning to get DirecTV for months now, but haven’t gotten around to it. Reception should be great, based on what other posters said about the location of their satellites; I’m only an hour and a half away from Texas and my apartment has windows on three sides.
I was wondering if someone could tell me what the deal is with these local channels. Why can only a few big cities get them? Will the rest of us ever get them?
And really, why are things this way in the first place? The only argument I’ve ever heard for satellite companies not getting local channels was that it was unfair competition. But with the advent of digital cable, offering up to 1,000 channels, the two services seem to be on a level playing field. Giving cable companies what essentially amounts to a monopoly on signals that float freely through the air hardly seems fair.