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penguinmike87

Last reply Aug 17, 2007 · posted in DIRECTV General Forum

My DirecTV installation horror story

A couple weeks back, I made an appointment for yesterday for the installation of the new slimline dish. The appointment was for a crew to be there between 12 and 4. Let's just say it didn't quite work out that way.

At about 3 PM, not having heard a word on it, I checked online at D* to make sure of the appointment. Oddly enough, it showed it as a morning appointment. I figured I better call them to see what was up. The CSR told me it was indeed an afternoon appointment, and they had conformed it with a phone call the previous evening. This was a lie that was proven by my callerid records that showed zero phone calls that evening. And nobody had been on the phone either. But he said a tech should still be coming.

I little while later, I get a call from some outfit called Pemier Communications asking if I had heard from the technician. Nope. The guy said he would try to contact the tech and gave me a number to call if I didn't.

Come 4PM, I still hadn't heard anything, so I called. Their idiot switchboard operator put me into oblivion. I tired again and the same thing happened.

Next, I called D* back. They had no answers, but did give me a $100 credit for the late appointment. That placated me only slightly, as I was now steamed at the total confusion.

At about 6 PM, nobody had yet showed up. At this point, I called D* back again and told them it was too late. I wasn't about to have a tech out there at 9 PM putting a dish in. They connected me with Premier, who then contacted their "team leader." He was apologetic, asking what he could do to make it right. I told him there wasn't much he could do. He offered to send a guy out first thing this morning, but I said I can't do that due to work. So they have now rescheduled for exactly at 4 PM today. We'll see.

Sad thing is, this all could have been avoided. The reason for the problem was that their tech apparently broke his hand in the morning, and they called in a backup. The tech was supposed to call me and let me know he might be a little late, but he never did. No communication whatsoever. Had they called and explained the situation, or even told me when I first called in, I would have understood. Accidents happen. But not once until the very end was anything explained, and by that point I was too upset to really give a crap why it happened.

Lousy, lousy service by D* and Premier Communications.

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troqua

Aug 16, 2007

Stuff happens

I switched to Directtv from that other place, for several reasons, all having to do with that other's places ala carte charges that are included with Directtv, plus no local HD in Austin with the other place. What could have been a horrid installation turned out ok because I stuck to my guns. I had the proverbial 8:30-12:30pm install window. The guy showed up at 11:30pm that night and wanted me to agree to another install date, which he said would be a week or so. I already waited 4 weeks, took a day off work, so I had to say no. After all, they didn't wait to charge me for the equipment order a month ago. He got it done, and I certainly made him dinner. I know he had a rough day, and it wasn't his fault.

The only thing now is I can't get HD activated, despite 4 phone calls and "the system is down and it will be activated in 30 minutes." Fine, I'll just keep calling.

Now, if I could just get my DVR on the standard tv to record while I watch another program, everything will be hunky dory.

I do have to add that I didn't like it that when the technician phoned in to activate they insisted on talking to me to get me to upgrade the package I'd already agreed to with the original salesman. At this point, I'm just confused about the pricing so will have to wait for my first bill and see how it shakes out.

dave29

Aug 16, 2007

Shhhhhh.... this is a secret, don't tell anyone. I am an installer and I can rebuild a work order for anything. Even if it means cancelling the old one and creating a new one over the phone. But that takes forever and I don't have that kind of time and nobody pays us to stand there and talk to an idiot csr for 2 hours. The only reason you should be charged for a pole is if you tell them it has to go on a pole even though there is los on your house. OTA is your problem not mine, if you had an "installer" out there who didn't know you can't diplex through the KAKU system, throw him the F off your property, that is like sat. 101 and he is an idiot. You want seperate lines for your off air welcome to custom charges. We don't carry tons of HDDVR's around because they are expensive and I don't want the liability if they get lifted out of the van. Plus we hate installing dvrs of any type because we don't get paid to run the second line and the hr20 is a pain in the arse to activate. If we are late to your appointment it is because we had 4 other knuckleheads just like you to install that day and they probably all wanted special pretty custom can you route my living room to the bedroom or I want four recievers but only have one tv right now can you just lug it around the house for me issues all day long. You can also blame th HSP's because they have to route whatever d* gives them and if that means 8 jobs in one day for a tech they don't care because the last thing they are going to do is call d* and tell them they don't have the manpower to cover their area. That is the honest truth from one who knows. I try to show up on time and do a good job, I don't want to come back to you house and fix it. I don't cancell jobs unless it is legit or if I can tell that the customer is going to be a royal pain. Then I will look for a reason to cancell it like I don't have that pole or the work order is wrong. So be nice and don't tell anyone.

troqua

Aug 17, 2007

dave29 said:
Shhhhhh.... this is a secret, don't tell anyone. I am an installer and I can rebuild a work order for anything. Even if it means cancelling the old one and creating a new one over the phone. But that takes forever and I don't have that kind of time and nobody pays us to stand there and talk to an idiot csr for 2 hours. The only reason you should be charged for a pole is if you tell them it has to go on a pole even though there is los on your house. OTA is your problem not mine, if you had an "installer" out there who didn't know you can't diplex through the KAKU system, throw him the F off your property, that is like sat. 101 and he is an idiot. You want seperate lines for your off air welcome to custom charges. We don't carry tons of HDDVR's around because they are expensive and I don't want the liability if they get lifted out of the van. Plus we hate installing dvrs of any type because we don't get paid to run the second line and the hr20 is a pain in the arse to activate. If we are late to your appointment it is because we had 4 other knuckleheads just like you to install that day and they probably all wanted special pretty custom can you route my living room to the bedroom or I want four recievers but only have one tv right now can you just lug it around the house for me issues all day long. You can also blame th HSP's because they have to route whatever d* gives them and if that means 8 jobs in one day for a tech they don't care because the last thing they are going to do is call d* and tell them they don't have the manpower to cover their area. That is the honest truth from one who knows. I try to show up on time and do a good job, I don't want to come back to you house and fix it. I don't cancell jobs unless it is legit or if I can tell that the customer is going to be a royal pain. Then I will look for a reason to cancell it like I don't have that pole or the work order is wrong. So be nice and don't tell anyone.

Well, first off, I'm not a knucklehead. I think I was pretty patient, and as I said, I even cooked dinner for the guy because I could see he had a rough day.

As to not properly setting up the DVR, if you don't get paid to run the second line so you don't feel like doing it, at least tell the customer what has to be done so the customer doesn't spend hours trying to figure out why the DVR isn't working as advertised.

Now that I understand that you need a line to both tuners on the DVR, I'll just pay to have some local guy come do it for me. I talked to tech support and got another install date for 6 weeks from now to get that second line run. That's just crazy.

Anyway, sorry you hate your job. Maybe with a little communication with the customer you could avoid the knuckleheads. That's all I needed.

iwc5893

Aug 17, 2007

The HSP I work for does pay us to run the second line on an upgrade, does pay us extra to install a DVR on a SD install, and pays higher if we are doing a HD install. We don't get the extra pay to install a HD DVR, but we're paid for an extra half hour of work on those jobs.

If you're not getting paid correctly for the work you do, maybe you should seek out another company to work for.

JAG72

Aug 17, 2007

troqua said:
As to not properly setting up the DVR, if you don't get paid to run the second line so you don't feel like doing it, at least tell the customer what has to be done so the customer doesn't spend hours trying to figure out why the DVR isn't working as advertised.

I don't buy his answer to the problem. The installer should have run you a second line to the DVR during the installation. They get paid to install the DVR and install it properly. If that means to run a second line so be it. I would call D* and raise some hell with them because you should not have to pay to have the second line run.

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KAB

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply 15 minutes ago · posted in TV Shows

Slow Horses - Apple TV

Just finished S2. Watching Gary Oldman as deshvilved, dejected MI-6 agent, Jackson Lamb, is one of the best things streaming right now. Already 2 more seasons in the works. HIGHLY recommended. And yes, Mick Jagger sings the theme.

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Foxbat

Oct 8, 2026

Mrs. Foxbat and I are enjoying another great season so far. We only had to turn on the captions a few times.

KAB

Oct 9, 2026

Foxbat said:
Mrs. Foxbat and I are enjoying another great season so far. We only had to turn on the captions a few times.

I think this new season is a little too slow of a burn (as of ep #4, probably due to new show runner. However, I can't wait to find out what's up with Taverner!

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KAB

Yesterday at 4:31 PM

Well, the season finale went balls to the wall. Non stop action and several twisted twists. Gary Oldman at his best. Very well written and executed. Tavener owes Jackson big time. Only "if" was Jack Lowden's (River) cliffhanger, especially admin-st the buzz that he is the next James Bond in waiting.

klang

Yesterday at 5:35 PM

Planning to start the new season tonight.

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KAB

15 minutes ago

I missed somewhere that it was renewed for season 8. That's quite something!

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dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply 28 minutes ago · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Country singer John Anderson died today

He was 71 yrs old. One of my favorite songs is Seminole Wind....the violin is killer.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8sh9P3X33w

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mikew

Yesterday at 11:01 PM

I Wish I Could Have Been There is an amazing song. Rest in peace Mr Anderson.

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Bobby

Yesterday at 11:03 PM

Rest in peace.

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comfortably_numb

Yesterday at 11:04 PM

Hope you're out there Swingin', John.

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dishstaller

Today at 12:02 AM

mikew said:
I Wish I Could Have Been There is an amazing song.

That's one of those songs that hits a little too close to home for me. I like the song but just can't listen to it. It's kinda like that song "Daddy never was the Cadillac kind".....reminds me too much of my Grandfather who died Feb 18, 1995.

dfergie

28 minutes ago

R.I.P. I thought he was older…

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dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply 28 minutes ago · posted in The Chit Chat Club

You can't even trust the cost per ounce info in grocery stores anymore

I'm surprised Walmart hasn't banned this guy from all of their stores. He has been on their CASE the past few months.

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/f3zr37ekgKM?feature=share

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Juan

Yesterday at 11:17 AM

dishstaller said:
I'm surprised Walmart hasn't banned this guy from all of their stores. He has been on their CASE the past few months.

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/f3zr37ekgKM?feature=share

When walmart set a price...they weigh the container and the product...the product label only shows the weight of the product...I am sure if you brought your own plastic baggies to bring the product home you could get the cheaper price

dishstaller

Yesterday at 11:47 AM

Juan said:
When walmart set a price...they weigh the container and the product...

Then they are stupid. Everyone knows that the price per ounce should be the price per ounce of actual product.

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Juan

Yesterday at 1:38 PM

dishstaller said:
Then they are stupid. Everyone knows that the price per ounce should be the price per ounce of actual product.

You are paying for the whole thing

telstar_1

Yesterday at 2:22 PM

Juan said:
You are paying for the whole thing

Well, the bag can't weigh that much, right? But by law food product packaging must display the actual net weight of the product, i.e., the contents of the container, so by any logic, if not law, a store's stated per-ounce cost should reflect that figure. But since there's not any law regulating shelf statements, a store can say whatever it wants without violating any rules. So I guess the answer is more consumer legislation. Or simply caveat emptor.

Juan

Yesterday at 3:07 PM

telstar_1 said:
Well, the bag can't weigh that much, right? But by law food product packaging must display the actual net weight of the product, i.e., the contents of the container, so by any logic, if not law, a store's stated per-ounce cost should reflect that figure. But since there's not any law regulating shelf statements, a store can say whatever it wants without violating any rules. So I guess the answer is more consumer legislation. Or simply caveat emptor.

But a box can weigh more than an ounce..maybe 2...a can might weigh 5 ounces..a bag...not much

dishstaller

Yesterday at 3:13 PM

Juan said:
.a bag...not much

Well, according to the price per ounce on that first bag of coffee he mentions, that would mean the bag weighed over 6 ounces. That bag does NOT weigh 6 ounces. According to Google, an empty bag weighs half an ounce.

Jimbo

Yesterday at 6:23 PM

Juan said:
You are paying for the whole thing

When you go to a Deli, the weight of the container is removed, so you only pay for the weight of the product .... at least where I shop.

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Jimbo

Yesterday at 6:26 PM

telstar_1 said:
Well, the bag can't weigh that much, right? But by law food product packaging must display the actual net weight of the product, i.e., the contents of the container, so by any logic, if not law, a store's stated per-ounce cost should reflect that figure. But since there's not any law regulating shelf statements, a store can say whatever it wants without violating any rules. So I guess the answer is more consumer legislation. Or simply caveat emptor.

I would think that the Vendor/Maker of the product would have a say in it, showing the Correct weight ...
You would think it would be in the contract.

I do look at the ounces of items, but unless its way off, I don't check the math, may have to start now.

Remember when you use to get a 13.5 oz bag of Chips .... Thats a PARTY Size now.

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TRG

Yesterday at 6:41 PM

Jimbo said:
I would think that the Vendor/Maker of the product would have a say in it, showing the Correct weight ...
You would think it would be in the contract.

I do look at the ounces of items, but unless its way off, I don't check the math, may have to start now.

Remember when you use to get a 13.5 oz bag of Chips .... Thats a PARTY Size now.

I remember when a pound of coffee was 16oz. Now its 12oz, they don't call it a pound anymore and its three times the cost of the 16oz pound.

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dishstaller

Yesterday at 10:09 PM

TRG said:
I remember when a pound of coffee was 16oz. Now its 12oz, they don't call it a pound anymore and its three times the cost of the 16oz pound.

All through high school I worked at the local home-owned grocery store. I never cease to be amazed at how packing has shrunk through the years. I worked 1978-end of school 1982 so I worked right through all the inflation that was taking place then. Taught me life-lessons that still are with me. My primary job on Saturdays was doing all the price changes....back then you used a price gun, so I had a front row seat. Sugar REALLY went through the roof which is why we now have high fructose corn syrup in just about everything we eat nowadays .

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Juan

Today at 7:06 AM

Jimbo said:
When you go to a Deli, the weight of the container is removed, so you only pay for the weight of the product .... at least where I shop.

It's a plastic bag at the deli....at the end of the day..the only thing that will happen is that walmart will increase there cost per ounce price...there is no way..no how they will reduce prices

Juan

Today at 7:09 AM

dishstaller said:
All through high school I worked at the local home-owned grocery store. I never cease to be amazed at how packing has shrunk through the years. I worked 1978-end of school 1982 so I worked right through all the inflation that was taking place then. Taught me life-lessons that still are with me. My primary job on Saturdays was doing all the price changes....back then you used a price gun, so I had a front row seat. Sugar REALLY went through the roof which is why we now have high fructose corn syrup in just about everything we eat nowadays .

Sugar went from 5 pound bags to 4 pound bags

Juan

59 minutes ago

dishstaller said:
Well, according to the price per ounce on that first bag of coffee he mentions, that would mean the bag weighed over 6 ounces. That bag does NOT weigh 6 ounces. According to Google, an empty bag weighs half an ounce.

You need to weigh the actual bag...a deli bag weighs less than that but a thick coffee bag is gonna weigh around an ounce...an empty tin can has some weight

NYDutch

28 minutes ago

Juan said:
You need to weigh the actual bag...a deli bag weighs less than that but a thick coffee bag is gonna weigh around an ounce...an empty tin can has some weight

Products sold by the ounce, pound, etc, should always be priced for the product only. Only the shipping weight should include the packaging.

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MartyDe

Last reply 29 minutes ago · posted in Over the Air Television By RabbitEars.Info

ATSC 3 converter boxes

Interesting article about the work being done to develope an ATSC 3 converter box. Yes it does mention affordable.

Pearl TV Issues Progress Report on Low-Cost 3.0 Converters in Advance of NAB Show New York

Group has secured lower pricing from key tech players to make less costly boxes available

www.tvtechnology.com

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navychop

Tuesday at 12:03 PM

DEATH TO NEXGEN!

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TRG

Tuesday at 12:12 PM

17 years ago the US turned off analog OTA signals in favor of digital broadcasting. Now the push is ATSC 3 "Nextgen TV". But nobody seems to be able to agree on DRM implementation protocols. People don't want to hook their TV up to the internet in order to watch over the air TV. At least I don't. With all the data they collect about your viewing habits the box should be given away at no cost.

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navychop

Tuesday at 12:27 PM

Comb your hair.

primestar31

Yesterday at 7:29 PM

navychop said:
DEATH TO NEXGEN!

It's dead, they just don't know it yet. They killed it by forcing DRM on it, and that TOTALLY botched implementing it.

There is absolutely NO compelling reason for anybody to switch to ATSC3.0. They only want it as a total and complete money grab.

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navychop

Yesterday at 10:37 PM

I truly hope you are right.

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Mister B

29 minutes ago

What bothers me is the total waste of broadcasting spectrum in this very crowded market. It has been almost three years now since KFOX converted their broadcast tower to ATSC 3.0 and moved all of their channels to other towers causing noticeable degradation of the picture quality.
I have a Sony TV with 3.0 capabilities but still use the 1.0 version of locals due to the fact that one or all of the 3.0 channels are often missing or unwatchable. In this city of 800K I doubt that more than a few hundred even know about ATSC 3.0.
The only thing that could motivate me to be interested in 3.0 would be if all of the minor networks (diginets) could be in at least 720P rather than blurry ultra-compressed 480i.
Three years is long enough to waste one of the few available RF frequencies in the area for this trial.
It is time to either move on with this experiment or call it quits.

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TFLEV

50 minutes ago · posted in TFLEV

I Drive the MOST POPULAR Chinese Car in the World: You Won't Believe What the Geely E2 Costs!

Time for another AWESOME video from TFL Electric Vehicles!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lIepOAbUWs

Direct YouTube Link - I Drive the MOST POPULAR Chinese Car in the World: You Won't Believe What the Geely E2 Costs!

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Scott Greczkowski

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge

Last reply Today at 7:00 AM · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Song Name Game Part 3!

Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne

Get it?

An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....

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RaiderPower

Yesterday at 1:24 PM

Little Miss Can't Be Wrong - Spin Doctors

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sdfntx

Yesterday at 3:01 PM

Jump Down, Spin Around - Harry Belafonte

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long_time_Dish

Yesterday at 4:27 PM

Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks

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hwkn

Today at 2:45 AM

This Old HEART Of Mine(Is Weak For You)-The Isley Brothers

ClarkGable

Today at 7:00 AM

Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John & Kiki Dee

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SuperDish_Fan23

Last reply Today at 6:51 AM · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

Its crazy how the ViP922 is so rare for no reason.

Why are ViP922s So rare? like its crazy how ebay has none, i checked everywhere, also, i got a ViP222k now, which is actually activated!

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Strega

Yesterday at 2:34 PM

That's not really unusual. Cable companies like to the provide the box too. The phone company provided the phones in until the government forced them to allow third-party phones.

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Almighty1

Yesterday at 7:02 PM

Strega said:
That's not really unusual. Cable companies like to the provide the box too. The phone company provided the phones in until the government forced them to allow third-party phones.

Yes, the Western Electric phones that says "Bell System Property, NOT FOR SALE, Western Electric".

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Bobby

Yesterday at 8:30 PM

Almighty1 said:
Yes, the Western Electric phones that says "Bell System Property, NOT FOR SALE, Western Electric".

In my very early work life I installed and repaired those phones.

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AZ.

Yesterday at 9:10 PM

Almighty1 said:
Yes, the Western Electric phones that says "Bell System Property, NOT FOR SALE, Western Electric".

someone is showing their age

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Almighty1

Yesterday at 9:38 PM

AZ. said:
someone is showing their age

LOL. It depends if the person saw it during the years when they were actually still available which is 1968 to 1983 meaning the person could be 43-58 years old or they can even be a few years old if they learned to read and write at a young age and actually saw a telephone with that label somewhere recently just like even here in San Francisco, payphone still exist physically in public places but whether they can be used or not is a different issue. It still looks like this even today:

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dishstaller

Yesterday at 10:03 PM

I opened my Radio Shack in Sept 1984 and right about that time they did the whole deregulation thing with the phone companies. I bought TONS of those phones that had been refurbished with a new outer shell. You could throw one of those out of a 3 story high window and it would still work.
That was an interesting time in history. I would have older customers come in and ask about phones.....they were terrified that they were going to get into trouble hooking up a second phone without the phone company knowing about it. One of the funniest episodes of WKRP was the one where Johnny thought the cops were showing up because they had an unregistered phone. I guess younger folks can't conceive of a time when you were limited to the number of phones you could have in your house....and limited to the length of the cord

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navychop

Yesterday at 11:01 PM

AZ. said:
someone is showing their age

You should hear his stories about when rocks were soft and pterodactyls were the new kid on the block!

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dishstaller

Today at 12:04 AM

dishstaller said:
One of the funniest episodes of WKRP was the one where Johnny thought the cops were showing up because they had an unregistered phone.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA0yZ1nrm6M&pp=ygUPd2tycCBwaG9uZSBjb3Bz

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llokey

Today at 6:51 AM

Bobby said:
In my very early work life I installed and repaired those phones.

And I kept them working through the ESS offices.

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reubenray

Last reply Today at 5:34 AM · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

Dish vs Streaming Apps?

Every time my Dish contract comes up I weigh the options of keeping Dish or switch to streaming. Right now I can watch/record the OTA channels vis my HDHomerun. I also can stream CBS and NBC via the Paramount+ and Peacock apps. What I would need to find is how to watch the Food Network, HGTV, Syfy, USA, Hallmark channels, Great American Family, Lifetime channels plus a few more with an app or two. My current Dish bill is $118, so I should be able to get a few apps for a lot less.

Any suggestions? I would want the best picture quality and audio quality I could get.

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Bruce

Yesterday at 1:17 PM

reubenray said:
Every time my Dish contract comes up I weigh the options of keeping Dish or switch to streaming. Right now I can watch/record the OTA channels vis my HDHomerun. I also can stream CBS and NBC via the Paramount+ and Peacock apps. What I would need to find is how to watch the Food Network, HGTV, Syfy, USA, Hallmark channels, Great American Family, Lifetime channels plus a few more with an app or two. My current Dish bill is $118, so I should be able to get a few apps for a lot less.

Any suggestions? I would want the best picture quality and audio quality I could get.

USA and SyFy content is on Peacock, you can receive the rest of those channels via Philo, only $25 a month.

Philo - Stream Live and On-Demand TV

Why pay more for TV? Start your Philo free trial and enjoy live TV plus on-demand content starting at just $25/month. Stream hit shows, movies, and more.

www.philo.com

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Almighty1

Yesterday at 6:55 PM

reubenray said:
Every time my Dish contract comes up I weigh the options of keeping Dish or switch to streaming. Right now I can watch/record the OTA channels vis my HDHomerun. I also can stream CBS and NBC via the Paramount+ and Peacock apps. What I would need to find is how to watch the Food Network, HGTV, Syfy, USA, Hallmark channels, Great American Family, Lifetime channels plus a few more with an app or two. My current Dish bill is $118, so I should be able to get a few apps for a lot less.

Any suggestions? I would want the best picture quality and audio quality I could get.

This is what Google Search AI says, let's see how good AI can really solve problems.

To perfectly cover your specific channel checklist while saving significantly on your $118 Dish Network bill, you can leverage your existing HDHomerun setup alongside a live TV streaming service or app combination.
Since you require USA and Syfy, budget entertainment-only streaming apps like Philo ($28/mo) or Frndly TV ($7–$11/mo) will not work as standalone solutions because they exclude NBCUniversal networks. [1, 2]
Here are the best ways to get all your channels, optimized for high picture and audio quality:

Option 1: Hulu + Live TV (The All-In-One Match)
Hulu + Live TV ($89.99–$99.99/mo) is the most seamless replacement because its base tier natively carries every single channel on your list: [1, 2, 3]

Channel Checklist: Food Network, HGTV, Syfy, USA, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, Great American Family, Lifetime, and Lifetime Movies. [1]
Quality & Audio: Hulu + Live TV is widely praised by cord-cutters for its excellent high-bitrate 1080p video quality at 60 frames per second (fps) on compatible streaming hardware. It supports 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound on most live channels and compatible home theater systems.
Bonus Value: The price automatically bundles the entire on-demand libraries of Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+, which gives you a massive amount of additional content. [1, 2]

Option 2: YouTube TV (The Premium Interface Alternative)
YouTube TV ($82.99/mo) is highly regarded for its robust streaming stability, unlimited DVR, and highly polished user interface. [1, 2, 3]

Channel Checklist: It includes Food Network, HGTV, Syfy, USA, Hallmark channels, and Lifetime.
The Catch: Great American Family is not in the base lineup and requires the Sports Plus or Entertainment Plus add-on package, which increases the monthly cost.
Quality & Audio: It streams in 1080p/60fps with an advanced compression codec that minimizes buffering. It features native 5.1 surround sound audio across major streaming hardware platforms.

Option 3: The Maximum Savings "App Stack" Combination
If you want to maximize your financial savings by skipping a massive live TV guide, you can split your checklist across a few dedicated streaming apps. Because you already pay for Peacock, you can cross USA and Syfy content off your list, as Peacock hosts most of those networks' premium shows next-day or live.
By adding the following, you can build a highly customized tier:

Frndly TV ($6.99–$10.99/mo): This affordable live app brings you all 3 Hallmark channels, Great American Family, and the Lifetime networks with a classic cloud DVR.
Discovery+ ($4.99–$8.99/mo): This gives you the full, deep on-demand libraries and live feeds for Food Network and HGTV. [1]

Total Estimated Stack Cost: Around $12 to $20/mo combined on top of what you already pay.

Quality Note: Frndly TV maxes out at 720p/1080p high-definition with stereo audio, while Discovery+ supports highly optimized crisp 1080p and selective 4K video playback with strong digital audio depth on high-end streaming sticks. [1]

Cord-Cutting Tips for Peak Quality

Streaming Hardware Matters: To get the best possible image processing and audio passthrough, use dedicated streaming hardware like an Apple TV 4K or a high-end Roku Ultra rather than relying on the built-in smart TV operating systems.
Check Your Bandwidth: Ensure your home network has a stable downstream speed of at least 25–50 Mbps dedicated to your main television device to ensure the streaming apps auto-negotiate to their highest available bitrate and frame rates without dropping down to lower resolutions.

Reactions: dishstaller and charlesrshell

reubenray

Yesterday at 7:54 PM

Almighty1 said:
This is what Google Search AI says, let's see how good AI can really solve problems.

To perfectly cover your specific channel checklist while saving significantly on your $118 Dish Network bill, you can leverage your existing HDHomerun setup alongside a live TV streaming service or app combination.
Since you require USA and Syfy, budget entertainment-only streaming apps like Philo ($28/mo) or Frndly TV ($7–$11/mo) will not work as standalone solutions because they exclude NBCUniversal networks. [1, 2]
Here are the best ways to get all your channels, optimized for high picture and audio quality:

Option 1: Hulu + Live TV (The All-In-One Match)
Hulu + Live TV ($89.99–$99.99/mo) is the most seamless replacement because its base tier natively carries every single channel on your list: [1, 2, 3]

Channel Checklist: Food Network, HGTV, Syfy, USA, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, Great American Family, Lifetime, and Lifetime Movies. [1]

Quality & Audio: Hulu + Live TV is widely praised by cord-cutters for its excellent high-bitrate 1080p video quality at 60 frames per second (fps) on compatible streaming hardware. It supports 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound on most live channels and compatible home theater systems.

Bonus Value: The price automatically bundles the entire on-demand libraries of Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+, which gives you a massive amount of additional content. [1, 2]

Option 2: YouTube TV (The Premium Interface Alternative)
YouTube TV ($82.99/mo) is highly regarded for its robust streaming stability, unlimited DVR, and highly polished user interface. [1, 2, 3]

Channel Checklist: It includes Food Network, HGTV, Syfy, USA, Hallmark channels, and Lifetime.

The Catch: Great American Family is not in the base lineup and requires the Sports Plus or Entertainment Plus add-on package, which increases the monthly cost.

Quality & Audio: It streams in 1080p/60fps with an advanced compression codec that minimizes buffering. It features native 5.1 surround sound audio across major streaming hardware platforms.

Option 3: The Maximum Savings "App Stack" Combination
If you want to maximize your financial savings by skipping a massive live TV guide, you can split your checklist across a few dedicated streaming apps. Because you already pay for Peacock, you can cross USA and Syfy content off your list, as Peacock hosts most of those networks' premium shows next-day or live.
By adding the following, you can build a highly customized tier:

Frndly TV ($6.99–$10.99/mo): This affordable live app brings you all 3 Hallmark channels, Great American Family, and the Lifetime networks with a classic cloud DVR.

Discovery+ ($4.99–$8.99/mo): This gives you the full, deep on-demand libraries and live feeds for Food Network and HGTV. [1]

Total Estimated Stack Cost: Around $12 to $20/mo combined on top of what you already pay.

Quality Note: Frndly TV maxes out at 720p/1080p high-definition with stereo audio, while Discovery+ supports highly optimized crisp 1080p and selective 4K video playback with strong digital audio depth on high-end streaming sticks. [1]

Cord-Cutting Tips for Peak Quality

Streaming Hardware Matters: To get the best possible image processing and audio passthrough, use dedicated streaming hardware like an Apple TV 4K or a high-end Roku Ultra rather than relying on the built-in smart TV operating systems.

Check Your Bandwidth: Ensure your home network has a stable downstream speed of at least 25–50 Mbps dedicated to your main television device to ensure the streaming apps auto-negotiate to their highest available bitrate and frame rates without dropping down to lower resolutions.

WOW! Thanks for this info. I have Roku Ultra and I have a 300mbps internet plan.

Reactions: Foxbat, Almighty1 and charlesrshell

dishstaller

Yesterday at 10:13 PM

reubenray said:
WOW! Thanks for this info. I have Roku Ultra and I have a 300mbps internet plan.

You'll see the Friendly TV app on your Roku....it's preloaded. If you pay by the year it is under $100 for the entire year. Nice mix of channels.

Reactions: charlesrshell

HipKat

Today at 5:34 AM

Almighty1 said:
This is what Google Search AI says, let's see how good AI can really solve problems.

To perfectly cover your specific channel checklist while saving significantly on your $118 Dish Network bill, you can leverage your existing HDHomerun setup alongside a live TV streaming service or app combination.
Since you require USA and Syfy, budget entertainment-only streaming apps like Philo ($28/mo) or Frndly TV ($7–$11/mo) will not work as standalone solutions because they exclude NBCUniversal networks. [1, 2]
Here are the best ways to get all your channels, optimized for high picture and audio quality:

Option 1: Hulu + Live TV (The All-In-One Match)
Hulu + Live TV ($89.99–$99.99/mo) is the most seamless replacement because its base tier natively carries every single channel on your list: [1, 2, 3]

Channel Checklist: Food Network, HGTV, Syfy, USA, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, Great American Family, Lifetime, and Lifetime Movies. [1]

Quality & Audio: Hulu + Live TV is widely praised by cord-cutters for its excellent high-bitrate 1080p video quality at 60 frames per second (fps) on compatible streaming hardware. It supports 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound on most live channels and compatible home theater systems.

Bonus Value: The price automatically bundles the entire on-demand libraries of Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+, which gives you a massive amount of additional content. [1, 2]

Option 2: YouTube TV (The Premium Interface Alternative)
YouTube TV ($82.99/mo) is highly regarded for its robust streaming stability, unlimited DVR, and highly polished user interface. [1, 2, 3]

Channel Checklist: It includes Food Network, HGTV, Syfy, USA, Hallmark channels, and Lifetime.

The Catch: Great American Family is not in the base lineup and requires the Sports Plus or Entertainment Plus add-on package, which increases the monthly cost.

Quality & Audio: It streams in 1080p/60fps with an advanced compression codec that minimizes buffering. It features native 5.1 surround sound audio across major streaming hardware platforms.

Option 3: The Maximum Savings "App Stack" Combination
If you want to maximize your financial savings by skipping a massive live TV guide, you can split your checklist across a few dedicated streaming apps. Because you already pay for Peacock, you can cross USA and Syfy content off your list, as Peacock hosts most of those networks' premium shows next-day or live.
By adding the following, you can build a highly customized tier:

Frndly TV ($6.99–$10.99/mo): This affordable live app brings you all 3 Hallmark channels, Great American Family, and the Lifetime networks with a classic cloud DVR.

Discovery+ ($4.99–$8.99/mo): This gives you the full, deep on-demand libraries and live feeds for Food Network and HGTV. [1]

Total Estimated Stack Cost: Around $12 to $20/mo combined on top of what you already pay.

Quality Note: Frndly TV maxes out at 720p/1080p high-definition with stereo audio, while Discovery+ supports highly optimized crisp 1080p and selective 4K video playback with strong digital audio depth on high-end streaming sticks. [1]

Cord-Cutting Tips for Peak Quality

Streaming Hardware Matters: To get the best possible image processing and audio passthrough, use dedicated streaming hardware like an Apple TV 4K or a high-end Roku Ultra rather than relying on the built-in smart TV operating systems.

Check Your Bandwidth: Ensure your home network has a stable downstream speed of at least 25–50 Mbps dedicated to your main television device to ensure the streaming apps auto-negotiate to their highest available bitrate and frame rates without dropping down to lower resolutions.

I ran it by Chat, out of curiosity

There are actually some pretty good options here, especially since this person already has an HDHomeRun handling OTA channels and DVR recording. That eliminates one of the biggest reasons people pay for expensive live-TV streaming packages.

I'd narrow it down to three options: Philo, Sling Blue + Frndly TV, or DIRECTV MyEntertainment + Frndly TV.

The best options as of October 2026

Service	Monthly price	What's covered
Philo Essential	$25	Food Network, HGTV, all three Hallmark channels, Great American Family, Lifetime and LMN. Missing USA and Syfy.
Sling TV Blue	From $45.99	Food Network, HGTV, USA, Syfy and Lifetime. Missing some of the family/movie channels without add-ons.
Frndly TV Classic	$10.99	Hallmark channels, Great American Family, Lifetime, LMN and other family-oriented channels. HD and unlimited cloud DVR included.
DIRECTV MyEntertainment	$42.99	Food Network, HGTV, Syfy, Lifetime and many entertainment channels. Includes Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max ad-supported access.

Prices may vary by location and applicable taxes.

Notice that Philo covers almost everything for just $25, but USA and Syfy are the problem. Naturally, two channels manage to complicate an otherwise beautiful budget.

My recommendation

For the absolute lowest cost, Philo Essential at $25/month is hard to beat, provided they can live without live USA and Syfy. It even includes unlimited cloud DVR with recordings retained for one year.

If every channel matters, I'd compare these two combinations:

Sling Blue + Frndly Classic: Approximately $57–$66/month depending on Sling's local pricing, before taxes. Covers the entire requested channel list.
DIRECTV MyEntertainment + Frndly Classic: Approximately $54/month at the $42.99 DIRECTV price. Covers everything except USA, which is not on the currently published MyEntertainment lineup.

Picture and audio quality

This is where I'd offer one caution. Streaming isn't automatically better than DISH.

Sling generally delivers live TV in 720p, often with stereo audio, although some on-demand programming supports Dolby 5.1. Frndly's Classic plan offers HD, but not necessarily 1080p on every channel.

If picture and sound are major priorities, compare the actual services on the same television and streaming device during their trial periods. A dedicated on-demand app may deliver a better encode or surround soundtrack than the corresponding live channel, but availability varies by show and device.

The bottom line: I'd recommend trying Philo first. Their current $25 Essential package covers nearly the entire wish list and saves $93/month, or $1,116/year, compared with the $118 DISH bill. If USA and Syfy are must-haves as live channels, Sling Blue plus Frndly would be my next choice.

And one final distinction worth making on that message board: HDHomeRun recordings won't replace the cloud DVR for subscription channels. Those recordings stay within the streaming services' respective apps.

Reactions: reubenray and charlesrshell

TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Today at 3:12 AM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network