Ethical Question

[bpalone]

OK, we all know that we are not to EVER contact an uplinker. So.. here is my question. What if you feel moved to donate/pledge to a non local PBS? (You know, one that your watch via satellite.)

Thanks for your time and replies.

 

[Titanium]

The donor telephone lines usually aren't staffed by an engineer taken away from his duties to answer an individual's signal quality, dish size alignment or programming question.

By all means, support the channels that you watch if they solicit viewer funding. In the case of PBS channels, they only need to know that you view an OTA signal.

Ethics???

 

[Pepper]

I think the question has to do with whether or not somebody would notice a donation coming from much farther away than their OTA or cable signal reaches, and whether having noticed that donation, if they would determine a need to encrypt that signal. We hope they would not but you never know.

 

[DJdish]

I know some PBS channels are well worth making a donation, because of different reasons, some viewers watch those channels from far away.
I pay a sub and as part of my subbed channels I watch 2 PBS channels that are about 1,800 miles away and the other one more than 2.200 miles away from where I live.

 

[T134]

I know a guy who is a "member" or whatever for PBS Montana and he lives out east. I don't see any problem unless someone makes a "donation" and then thinks he/she is entitled to harass the station and the engineers.

 

[FTA4PA]

Since non-local PBS stations have a lot of their own local programming available online via streaming, one would think it would not be out of line to support them because of this alone - just don't mention that you watch anything via satellite FTA reception. To support a station you can go here: http://www.pbs.org/about/faq/station-finder/ Once you click through to the station's website, you can click their Donate link. Just don't mention FTA reception.

To support National PBS & your local station here is the link (PayPal option is available there): https://pbs.secure.force.com/forms/donate

 

[danristheman]

Lpb even says on their site what satellite they are broadcasting on 87w ku. But its toss up but when it doubt don't let them know don't ask don't tell.

 

[Mr Tony]

I was a member of Montana PBS a few years ago. They don't care. They wondered about the address and I said "thats where the bills are paid"

 

[Mr Tony]

What about the C-Band feed on 103 that is designed "for backyard dish users"

 

[ynnedibanez]

aren't all pbs stations intentionally unencrypted?
you know they are viewer supported
more viewers = more money

 

[primestar31]

aren't all pbs stations intentionally unencrypted?
you know they are viewer supported
more viewers = more money

You'd think that would be the case, especially with public tv, but as fta'ers we've discovered over the years that what we think isn't always what the providers think. The last thing we want is for them to pay any attention to us at all, unless they've made known that they are wanting backyards fta'ers to watch. That's rare nowadays.

 

[goaliebob99]

You could be a "snow bird" as far as they know. Many snow birds travel down to warmer weather during the winter and up to the northern states during the summer. If they ask tell them you own a summer home in their market if its that big of a deal.

 

[navychop]

You could be a "snow bird" as far as they know. Many snow birds travel down to warmer weather during the winter and up to the northern states during the summer. If they ask tell them you own a summer home in their market if its that big of a deal.

Just tell them you RV in the area, in the EXTREMELY unlikely event they ask.

 

[beavs2112]

OK, we all know that we are not to EVER contact an uplinker. So.. here is my question. What if you feel moved to donate/pledge to a non local PBS? (You know, one that your watch via satellite.)

Thanks for your time and replies.

bpalone thank you for asking before doing anything. in the cases of contacting the uplinkers ..... sadly not everyone asks before doing so.

 

[N6BY]

I think they would be happy to have your donation, regardless of how far away you are.

If they ask, tell them you point your OTA TV antenna at the moon and it bounces the signal back to you.

Seriously, some hams have done EME (Earth-Moon-Earth). Its one of the things on my bucket list too.

 

[Kraven]

In 2005, CBC held a "Canada for Asia" benefit benefit concert after that Tsunami hit. Bell Expressvu's Montreal centre was linked up to take in caller donations. People were calling in from all over the US but nobody really cared because they were donating to a good cause.

Here's a conversation I'll never forget.
Caller: Am calling from California.
K: Nice... but how are you getting CBC out there?
Caller: am hacking Expressvu...
K (laughin)
Caller: What;s so funny?
K: You're calling Expressvu...how much for the donation?

Good times!



Point is, as long as your money is good..they dont care were you call in from.

 

[DJdish]

Good points, I don´t think they would care much about where are you calling from as long as you make a hefty donation.
Have some fun, tell them you´re calling from Area 51, or you watch them from a secret base in Mars...

 

[gpflepsen]

Just tell them you like to read their website! Tell 'em "Please keep the great web content coming!"

 

[Stargazer]

Tell them you are visiting or have visited a relative a ways from you.

 

[Mr Tony]

Point is, as long as your money is good..they dont care were you call in from.

exactly. Just like most of the religious stations on FTA if they are asking for donations do you tell them how you're watching? Nope