Possibly switching from AT&T U-Verse, some concerns and questions

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I hardly ever lose channels/feeds.

Even in Bad Rain, and recently the snow storm in east coast, we didnt lose it once, and it snowed like crazy here.
 
Unfortunately, I do not have LOS at my apartment, so it looks like I won't be able to join the satellite crowd at this time. I will be looking for other options for television, as I almost broke the television from having to look at blocky, compressed HD during football and Grimm last night. Thanks again for all of the information!

;) Give it some time, and if you really want satellite you will probably get it.
 
;) Give it some time, and if you really want satellite you will probably get it.

Quote them the FCC's Satellite Home Viewer Act.

Is there LOS where the cable TV enters the building? If so, they could install the dish on a pole in that area and using SWM technology use your existing wiring.

You're in Alabama? There should easily be LOS over the building across from your top floor balcony. The birds are pretty high in the sky in the southern states.

Edit: just looked at your DishPointer image, the problem is your balcony isn't facing south so it would need to go on the roof just above your balcony.

So if they won't allow a roof install, it needs to be put on a pole near where the local cable enters the building.

Try this:

attachment.php


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Quote them the FCC's Satellite Home Viewer Act.

Is there LOS where the cable TV enters the building? If so, they could install the dish on a pole in that area and using SWM technology use your existing wiring.

You're in Alabama? There should easily be LOS over the building across from your top floor balcony. The birds are pretty high in the sky in the southern states.

Edit: just looked at your DishPointer image, the problem is your balcony isn't facing south so it would need to go on the roof just above your balcony.

So if they won't allow a roof install, it needs to be put on a pole near where the local cable enters the building.

Try this:

attachment.php


View attachment 70897

You might need to pm him because he might not be following this thread anymore.
 
I asked about alternate placement of the dish, but unfortunately they will not allow it unless it is on the balcony or directly next to the building where my apartment is located. The landlords, while great people, are very particular about satellite television. She almost turned up her nose when I carried the renter's document for her to sign. The good thing is, it is an apartment and I do not plan on making it my permanent dwelling. So hopefully, once we move out and get a house, I'll be able to sway the wife for one with an exellent view of the southern sky :)
 
I asked about alternate placement of the dish, but unfortunately they will not allow it unless it is on the balcony or directly next to the building where my apartment is located. The landlords, while great people, are very particular about satellite television. She almost turned up her nose when I carried the renter's document for her to sign. The good thing is, it is an apartment and I do not plan on making it my permanent dwelling. So hopefully, once we move out and get a house, I'll be able to sway the wife for one with an exellent view of the southern sky :)

If it were me I would resort to something like this.

DTV4NONSOUTHAPT.png

Drawing not to scale. For concept purposes only. Could possibly add a non penetrating clamp at railing and roof line for stability.
 
I wouldn't give up. Ask for a second opinion. It took me three visits from installers to get a signal. I have nearly the exact same issue as you. I face ENE. We are bottom floor, but my neighbor upstairs let us use his balcony for the dish. They were eventually able to get a sweet spot just over the roof line. I can't get LOS for the 119, but the others are fine. The dish is on the outside of the balcony; it looks like it's pointing at the building but I have 98-100 signal strength. Even though Time Warner Cable has about 40 more HD channels than Directv, the PQ is bad and they don't have NFL Network - not worth it. Who watches E! anyway, let alone in HD?
 
I wouldn't give up. Ask for a second opinion. It took me three visits from installers to get a signal. I have nearly the exact same issue as you. I face ENE. We are bottom floor, but my neighbor upstairs let us use his balcony for the dish. They were eventually able to get a sweet spot just over the roof line. I can't get LOS for the 119, but the others are fine. The dish is on the outside of the balcony; it looks like it's pointing at the building but I have 98-100 signal strength. Even though Time Warner Cable has about 40 more HD channels than Directv, the PQ is bad and they don't have NFL Network - not worth it. Who watches E! anyway, let alone in HD?

Well, I went ahead and grabbed Comcast - they had a good deal running, and considering we have just renewed our lease for another year at this complex, this will be the best bet. The money/price is right, and they have all of the HD channels I'd want (BTN, ESPNs, FSN, FX, locals) in much better quality than U-Verse. It's settling, I know, but hopefully in the next two years I'll be making my way into a house of some sort.
 
I asked about alternate placement of the dish, but unfortunately they will not allow it unless it is on the balcony or directly next to the building where my apartment is located. The landlords, while great people, are very particular about satellite television. She almost turned up her nose when I carried the renter's document for her to sign. The good thing is, it is an apartment and I do not plan on making it my permanent dwelling. So hopefully, once we move out and get a house, I'll be able to sway the wife for one with an exellent view of the southern sky :)

You want DirecTV? I hope you get it. I have had it since the late-1990s, and it isn't as great as it used to be. People want it for NFL Sunday Ticket. But there are people who don't give a damn about its specialty -- sports -- and go for DirecTV (or Dish Network) because they're tired and dissatisfied with a cable company.
 
DS0816 said:
But there are people who don't give a damn about its specialty -- sports -- and go for DirecTV (or Dish Network) because they're tired and dissatisfied with a cable company.

And there is a problem with that? I guess I'm one of them. I couldn't care less about all the sports offerings. I am fortunate to live in a large market. I get all my favorite teams on the locals and usually even the big games that are carried on ESPN (like Monday Night Football) are also carried on one of the independents when a local team is playing. I get all the news, commentary and analysis I want from the Internet.

It seems to be the sports networks that continue to drive up the carrier costs. I've heard (no hard proof though) that ESPN is one if the most expensive networks carried. If I ever get the chance for ala carte, it would be among the first I drop.

Remember my dollars are helping subsidize your sports networks so don't complain about those of us who subscribe to Dish or DirecTV out of dissatisfaction with the local cable company.
 
IMHO the only land based TV service that is better than DirecTV is Verizon FIOS.

Every cable co I've looked at has hardly any HD channels in comparison.
 
Originally Posted by DS0816

But there are people who don't give a damn about its specialty -- sports -- and go for DirecTV (or Dish Network) because they're tired and dissatisfied with a cable company.


And there is a problem with that? I guess I'm one of them.

I thought I was clear, but I'll get more specific.

I'm saying that the specialty of sports isn't the only reason for a consumer to sign up for DirecTV. That consumers go from a cable to a satellite company (DirecTV or Dish Network) "because they're tired and dissatisfied with a cable company." I recognize that DirecTV's specialty in sports can turn out to be no factor in a cable subscriber making the move to DirecTV. (This is also true with Dish Network's specialty in foreign-language channels: it can be no factor with a consumer opting to leave cable and go for Dish Network.)
 
Sorry, I had misinterpretted your statement and thought it was a slam on those switching for reasons other than getting all the sports networks. With the latest D* vs Fox fiasco that seemed to focus primarily on the RSNs, I was probably a little oversensitive.


Thanks for the clarification.
 
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