Thread: Dumped cable today...YEA!!!!!!!!!!

Hello forum! I discovered this thing called fta tv several months ago. I read up on it and was intrigued. Just like the title says, I dumped cable today. I usually pay my bill annually and get a very meager discount for doing so, like 3% or something. Last year the annual bill was just under $1000 and there was absolutely nothing they would do for me as far as discounting it further. So I let them know if there was a rate hike this year (there always is, and this year was no different) they were GONE. Went to local office to pay the annual payment and of course there was a rate increase they never notified me about and the bill was $1000+. So I told 'em to make TV go bye-bye. Which of course caused my internet to double in price, but that was $450 less than both combined. So I paid up my internet for the year and come Monday...several TV's in my home will have pretty blue screens. Which brings me back to the fta tv. I have read on several message boards this is kinda like a hobby. I don't need any more hobbies. I just need a small variety of QUALITY channels. I have seen the channel list for N. America. There is some interesting stuff there, but there is a lot of stuff I would never tune into e.g. foreign language stuff, religious tv, etc. My son and I watch about a half dozen channels regularly. Discovery, NatGeo, Cartoon Network, Disney, sometimes Nickelodeon, sometimes Spike and 1 local channel for news and weather (yeah, I paid a boatload of money to watch 1/2 dozen channels, and one of them is OTA). I'm sure I could find another 1/2 dozen interesting channels using an fta setup, my main concern is I just want to "set it and forget it". Once it's installed I don't want to have to constantly fiddle with it. I know I have read stationary systems are recommended for newbies (as opposed to motorized dishes) and I am fine with locating a sat with a motorized dish but thats about all I want to do. I wanted to ask for recommendations on a system as well, likely I will be doing the instalation so I need something that is fairly easy to intall and can be upgraded in the future. I am fairly handy, I have tools, but pulling wires and attaching stuff to my homes exterior I'm not to keen on (I'm thinking dig hole, put pole in, put cement in, attach dish kinda thing). I have also read some stuff on systems becoming obsolete as technology moves forward. I'd rather have something that won't be yesterdays tech next month e.g. upgradeable. Also, a reputable online dealer would be a nice recommendation as I have read stuff about clones out there. I do most of my incidentials shopping on eBay, so if you have a user name or eBay store name I'd appreciate it. From what I have posted, does it sound like fta tv is for me, or should I look into other options because fta is a hassle and more work than it's worth? Oh yeah, also wanted to ask if an fta system can be "spliced" into the existing coax cable even if it has DSL through the cable co. Thank you in advance for any replies.

Originally Posted by bownze

My son and I watch about a half dozen channels regularly. Discovery, NatGeo, Cartoon Network, Disney, sometimes Nickelodeon, sometimes Spike and 1 local channel for news and weather.

To my knowledge none of these channels are FTA. So if you really want to watch these channels you're going to have to subscribe to some sort of service.

Maybe you should have checked the channel offerings before taking your dump.
Did you price equipment,cable,dishes,receivers(one for each tv) lnbs.
Do you think you can install a system yourself? Installer cost?
I'd hate to think you jumped off a boat that wasn't sinking.
I'm a subscriber to dishnetwork for my most watched channels -- since the history channel disappeared.

I considered all the things that southofi-10 mentioned, and as I said earlier, I have checked out the N. American channels. I am aware the channels I mentioned are not available on fta, at least English-speaking channels. I know what is available to N. America. I have been considering dumping cable since I paid almost $1000 last year for my annual subscription. Seriously, did you guys even read my post? I was asking for advice on a system that is low maintenance and easy to install, and a reputable dealer to buy from. I am aware this is not "for everybody". However, can it be set up to be user friendly?

I would wait for SatelliteAV's new Geosatpro micro HD receiver that is coming out, they can set you up with a complete system too.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-air...ming-soon.html

Originally Posted by bownze

... I don't need any more hobbies. I just need a small variety of QUALITY channels...

Your post is difficult to respond to. What sounds like a simple request is not so simple. I don't understand how you came to the conclusion that FTA is what you need based on what you have said. The only requirement that FTA seems to meet is that it's free. You want free, quality channels, no hassle, no foreign language, no religion, no hobby, it sounds like you want channels similar to pay TV for which you won't pay. I am familiar only with what you can get on Ku band; I'll leave others to comment on C-band which requires you to install an 8- to 10-foot diameter dish. For what you've said, you must have a motorized system for Ku. Here are the only FTA stations I think you would be interested in on Ku: Tuff, RTV, PBS (several), BYU, Ebru, NBC, ABC, Fox. There may be a few more on Galaxy 19 at 97W: there are so many (hundreds) on that one satellite.

Have you considered a very minimal pay TV package combined with OTA? For $324/year I have all networks in both Canada and USA in standard and high definition. Perhaps if you're near a large city, you could have all American networks for free via OTA. Would that work for you? I also have FTA since my requirements are different than yours.

A reputable dealer is the sponsor of this site. You will find few on here who are not waiting for their new receiver next month. That's the receiver you should consider: rich feature set for low expected price. Installing a motorized system by yourself takes time and effort: lots to learn. If you won't invest that, you should pay somebody to do it.

Added: I don't want to give you any ideas but, if you receive your Internet via cable (as I do), you might consider exploring what else is on that cable...you may be surprised what a modern HDTV can find on a cable even for a non-subscriber: I am referring to digital QAM TV channels.

I haven't kept track of my spending on fta, but I'd guess it is close to what I would be spending on subscriptions. The difference is that I don't have to spend the money if I don't have it and I don't have to budget every month for it. Last year's purchase of an AZBox receiver and HD TV more than equaled subscription costs. This year there is a new 6ft dish and mount with actuator. Before this year is out, I expect to have a larger dish and mount with actuator as well as acquire the GeoSat Pro micro HD receiver.

I subscribed to D!recTV until 2008. I spent about $65/mo or $780/yr. In the 20 years that I purchased from them, never once did they upgrade my receiver or equipment but they regularly increased their rates.

In my estimation, FTA is NOT more work than it is worth. I wouldn't even call it work since I enjoy it so much!

I don't think 'set it and forget it' is much of an option. These dishes are much bigger and subject to the whims of the wind and the weather as well as weaker signals all around. If you are not willing to do the time, you should reconsider taking the plunge.

It is nice that you want to go with the latest equipment that can be upgraded. Many of us started with basic low-cost equipment and have upgraded continuously. Others have donated their excess equipment to households that have no other means of obtaining television signals. You will find a host of knowledgeable and helpful people at SatelliteGuys.

I think you will have trouble 'splicing' into an existing DSL cable.

Best wishes!

Originally Posted by bownze

Seriously, did you guys even read my post?

Yes I read your post and I came away with the feeling that you wanted a very easy system that gave you a small variety of QUALITY channels. Then you listed a few of the channels you and your son enjoy watching. You also just want to "set it and forget it". All that you said you wanted does not describe a FTA system. Using a FTA system channels come and go, get moved, get scrambled, the settings get changed, etc.... And FTA is a hobby, not kinda like a hobby. We are constantly searching for new channels, tweeking our gear, on the hunt for better dishes, looking at new products, drooling over the new receivers, etc... That's why I advised a service provider. A service provider is exactly what you described that you wanted..... easy, quality channels, set it and forget it, and provides the channels you want to watch.

Yes,I read the post.That's why I responded.Hope I did come off too harsh.
I got to agree with the other responses.
But to answer your question directly,you can go to the top of this page and find sponsors who would be more than glad to help.
I'm also more than glad to help.Just don't want you to be disappointed when you find a channel you like and it suddenly disappears.That happens almost daily.Especially the english channels.Somethimes they just move,sometimes they disappear without a trace.
There is more than a ton of channels up there,most are encrypted.
I'd also entertain the idea of getting a fairly nice over the air antenna.I get somewhere around 20 channel,and there is absolutely nothing south of me since I live in south Louisiana,LOL
But you can get several movie channels free,like THIS TV,Bounce,MeTV and several others.
Good luck on whatever you decide.
And keep coming back.We are here to help.Sometimes we need answers before we can determine what to suggest.
1000.00 is way to much for any TV service.Have you considered some of the cheaper dishnetwork packages?I think I pay about 30.00 a month and I also have the Encore movie package.
It's alway good to have back up TV