Alternatives to Locals Pulled in Palm Springs Area

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xwiseguyx

SatelliteGuys Family
Original poster
Mar 14, 2008
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Chi-Town
Hello,

I'm posting this for a friend who has Direct TV and is frustrated with the recent Local removal in this area. I tried to find answers already in this forum but could not so apologies if this is has been answered somewhere.

With CBS and ABC now pulled from our area, wanted to know alternatives. Does Direct TV easily support an antenna hookup (he claimed his box didn't have a coax for it) and does Direct TV allow one to record off of OTA like Dish does?

Also, can one just change their service address to Los Angeles and receive their locals as an option?
 
Hi. "Moving" is an option. You can also get an AM21 OTA module and integrate an antenna into it. Yes, you would be able to record and it integrates into the service just like any other channel. You can still find them on ebay, but I think they are discontinued through normal retail channels.
 
yep, the am21 are no longer in production, and are not supported. but they still work

i think there are some for sale in the classifieds on this site
 
Hi. "Moving" is an option. .

Just be advised that "moving" would be against your friend's "Terms of Service" and actually involve lying to DIRECTV with a fake account address inside the market you are trying to get locals from.

But if your friend wants to take the risk and has no ethical qualms about it then have at it.



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Just be advised that "moving" would be against your friend's "Terms of Service" and actually involve lying to DIRECTV with a fake account address inside the market you are trying to get locals from.

But if your friend wants to take the risk and has no ethical qualms about it then have at it.



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Is it weird that I am "moved" to place that I get the same locals - just in addition almost 20 additional ones. I "moved" to the county Boston market that gets my home locals, Burlington, VT with significantly viewed. Burlington is not a complete market (Big 4 + PBSx3) but it is HD-only so the rare HD SV takes effect. Boston has all the major English and Spanish Broadcast networks (except Azteca) in HD (except ion, but we have ch 305). Merging the two is great. Add the few subchannels we have and the Upstate New York PBS with the AM21 and it works out pretty well. I realize that most people will not have this luck, but at least I am not completely shutting out my home locals.

If you change your service address to LA, you will get ABC CBS NBC and FOX in the 390's but nothing else. The rest of the many LA locals are on the spotbeam like 99.99% of locals. You would also get LA sports RSNs (ch 691-694) and their respective blackouts. You (or your friend) can change your address over the phone to a semi-local zip code/county that gets a complete set of locals, or locals you're interested in, that isn't too far away from your actual dish. Let them change your billing address, but be sure to change it back to your real house online. On a clear day, I have low 80s for signal on the Boston locals at over 100 miles. My friend is 25 miles north and his is 73-77 so we're not sure if it would be worth the risk there. I would bet that any of the other Florida markets would probably all work for your friend. Keep in mind that the spotbeams are not circular in shape, but all should be good in Florida on a clear day. The closer the better for reliability.

An AM21 is an option, if you can get one. You will also get select subchannels from OTA in your Directv guide, but not all subchannels will be there. Long story. I would (and have done) both. I "moved" to a portion of my old home market Greensboro NC with 3 Virginia channels on SV. With the AM21, I added the Raleigh market primary channels and select subchannels from Raleigh and Greensboro with the AM21. Best locals selection ever. I don't like paying for locals that I can get for free while people in larger markets and big cities get more channels for the same price. That is why I "move" but always keep my home locals in some way. I like to watch the weather from different cities to see how the same events are covered. Your friend could "move" to a neighboring market and get a AM21 and have your home locals no matter the weather and dispute situation. You also have second affiliates that might have better picture/audio quality that might help you avoid annoying weather tickers (which is ironic, I know, but there's a time and place for weather - never on a ticker during a major show or game!)

By the way, where does your friend live (city or market)? That would help a lot. EDIT: Palm Springs, in the title. I suggest your friend "move" to Miami (perhaps a friend/family member's address) and try to get an AM21 to get the major locals from West Palm Beach on your guide, fully recordable and everything.
 
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... If you change your service address to LA, you will get ABC CBS NBC and FOX in the 390's but nothing else. The rest of the many LA locals are on the spotbeam like 99.99% of locals. You would also get LA sports RSNs (ch 691-694) and their respective blackouts. ...

If the TS' friend is in the Palm Springs area, I think our LA Market's local Ka spotbeams "A1BB" and "A4BB" from D12 at 103W and Ku spotbeams "BB11" (from D9S) or "S11" (from D4S) at 101W reach that far east from the coast, so he should get our full LiL package there.

He can check the coverage areas here of the spotbeam footprints of the named satellites above.

http://iamanedgecutter.com/showthre...ootprint-Library?p=22049&viewfull=1#post22049


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I don't know much about spotbeams, but I highly doubt the LA one reaches Florida. One time, I found maps of spotbeams that showed them with much smaller areas, but I have not been able to find them again. It wasn't those - those from the CE site don't open on my computer.
 
The only way the ones for LA would work would be for the stuff that's for national DNS in the 390's. He would get the Big 4 plus PBS and CW in SD I think. Everything else would be searching for satellite signal as he would be out of the spotbeam.
 
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The only way the ones for LA would work would be for the stuff that's for national DNS in the 390's. He would get the Big 4 plus PBS and CW in SD I think. Everything else would be searching for satellite signal as he would be out of the spotbeam.

I already posted what you'll get. PBS and CW aren't part of it. LA has several PBS affiliates therefore doesn't get the pass for PBS. LA has its own CW affiliate so the San Diego CWw won't be allowed. You'll just get the big 4. By "living" in the LA market, Directv will assume you're getting the local PBS and CW (and you'll see them in the guide, with "searching for signal" when tuned there) so you can't get the others.
 
I don't know much about spotbeams, but I highly doubt the LA one reaches Florida. One time, I found maps of spotbeams that showed them with much smaller areas, but I have not been able to find them again. It wasn't those - those from the CE site don't open on my computer.
Wait, didn't the TS title this thread "Alternatives to Locals in the Palm Springs area" That is as in "Palm Springs CA?"

Not Palm Beach, FL. or something.

Several local channels were recently pulled in the Palm Springs, CA market due to a contract dispute with their parent company the News-Press & Gazette Co.

http://www.desertsun.com/story/mone...ctv-coachella-valley-local-stations/96368738/

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OK, if we are talking about Palm Springs CA...which I'm pretty sure the OP WAS...there will be NO problem with the LA spots easily hitting there. Why - because if you look at a DMA coverage map of the LA DMA, you would find that it actually SURROUNDS the PS DMA on the E, W & N sides of it...including to the east of it, up to the NV & AZ boarders! (yet another PERFECT example of just how screwed up this whole DMA system is..but I digress... :coco )

Anyway, I'm quite sure D* engineered those LA spots to cover ALL of the LA DMA area with some room to spare...hence no problem with easily receiving them in ANY part of the PS area.

http://bl.ocks.org/simzou/6459889

And quite honestly, comparing the quality & quantity between LA & PS locals - site unseen, I would have ALREADY "moved" to LA locals & stuck up an antenna for local PS news...total no-brainer.
 
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Oh, I didn't know of Palm Springs CA, my first thought was FL. My bad. That explains why you guys were thinking the spotbeam would reach!
 
Another option, get a Roku, sign up for CBS All Access ( I believe the first month is free ), the ABC app has its shows on the following week without a sign in or on paid Hulu the next day.

I am always amazed that when a local channel goes down that people do not know that there so many other options to watch that networks shows.

For example, for those without the CW Network or just in SD, there is a CW APP on the Roku in HD and you do not even need a log in, just have to wait until the next day.


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I already posted what you'll get. PBS and CW aren't part of it. LA has several PBS affiliates therefore doesn't get the pass for PBS. LA has its own CW affiliate so the San Diego CWw won't be allowed. You'll just get the big 4. By "living" in the LA market, Directv will assume you're getting the local PBS and CW (and you'll see them in the guide, with "searching for signal" when tuned there) so you can't get the others.
Thanks, I just assumed they were out of LA as that's where the DNS Channels are.
 
Oh, I didn't know of Palm Springs CA, my first thought was FL. My bad. That explains why you guys were thinking the spotbeam would reach!

I was going off of what people previously posted, thinking that the OP was in FL as well. But yes, if he's in Palm Springs, CA then he/she should have no issue getting LA locals. At least it isn't as bad as the sliver of people who get Denver's DMA in between Reno and Salt Lake (DickShooter, ID). I'm scratching my head on that one.
 
Thanks all for your input. And yes, Palm Springs, CA.. not FL lol... Glad to know LA would work. (I do the above with Dish so glad to know DirectTV offers the same options...)
 
Thanks all for your input. And yes, Palm Springs, CA.. not FL lol... Glad to know LA would work. (I do the above with Dish so glad to know DirectTV offers the same options...)
Academic right now though as NPG reached a carriage deal with DIRECTV a few days ago. So your Palm Springs locals should have been back on for a while now already.

Unless you just want the LA locals anyway.

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