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B
Last reply · posted in DIRECTV General Forum
I have been a TWC customer since they have been here in houston (over 10 years) and have always liked them. But things have changed here in Houston and now comcast is running the show and I am not happy. Their internet is great but their TV is for the birds. I am trying to find out my alternatives as i am fed up with their "don't care" attitude and their high prices for inferior service.

So, I am very interested in "upgrade" to direct tv hd dvr but don't want a contract and want the best equipment availible, I have learned over the past couple of hours about lnb's, hr21's, etc... Now my question is ....

What is currently the best HD DVR and sat dish?
I called direct tv and they said hr21 and 2lnb but i see people refrencing 5lnb here and it bothers me that i will end up with drop outs due to weather.

So what I am looking to do is get on ebay and buy a hr21 outright this makes more sense to be than signing a 24mo contract along with 100-20 bucks just to rent the same dvr.

Now if i did that they said their wouldn't be any installation charge to come out and set me up, but i am still worried about the lack of lnb's on the csr's quote, can anyone comment on that?

Has anyone else just outright bought the hr20/21 from ebay and then just had direct tv come out and hook it up?
15 Replies · 2235 views
B
Man that is messed up, I just got off the phone with one of their reps and he said that if i already had one of the boxes that they wouldn't charge any startup and it would just be the monthly charges. And no contract. This completly contradicts what you just said.

I am going to call them again and confirm what i was told the first time.
harshness
Man that is messed up, I just got off the phone with one of their reps and he said that if i already had one of the boxes that they wouldn't charge any startup and it would just be the monthly charges. And no contract. This completly contradicts what you just said.
There would be no setup charge, but there will be a commitment.

If you want the best HD DVR and no commitment, you need to look into the other company.

Bear in mind that if you're someone who uses customer service a lot, you're not going to be happy with any of the distributors.
B
There would be no setup charge, but there will be a commitment.

If you want the best HD DVR and no commitment, you need to look into the other company.

Bear in mind that if you're someone who uses customer service a lot, you're not going to be happy with any of the distributors.

Actually i had dish for about 6 months and canceled due to their soft hd picture, but their CS was top notch and never had any issues dealing with their policies or customer service reps.

Now the experience from comcast and direct tv (haven't owned them yet and i guess i never will since i find out now there is no way out of a 2 year commitment).

There is no excuse for a contract these days, they are the only ones that do it and you don't own any of the equipment anyways so what inital cost are they trying to cover with the contract?
harshness
There is no excuse for a contract these days, they are the only ones that do it and you don't own any of the equipment anyways so what inital cost are they trying to cover with the contract?
Satellite has a substantial installation cost that cable doesn't usually have to front. They have most of the same routing issues, but must route multiple cables.

Add to this the cost of the dish and its installation and DIRECTV figures that their acquisition cost is almost $700. Given the number of options that most people have, that's a pretty hefty sum to expend without a great deal of certainty that they aren't going to walk away before you recover the costs.
B
Satellite has a substantial installation cost that cable doesn't usually have to front. They have most of the same routing issues, but must route multiple cables.

Add to this the cost of the dish and its installation and DIRECTV figures that their acquisition cost is almost $700. Given the number of options that most people have, that's a pretty hefty sum to expend without a great deal of certainty that they aren't going to walk away before you recover the costs.

Well like i said i had dish only about a month ago and already have the mounting holes and cable runs through my house, any equipment they provide will be sent back to them when i am done.

Also why the commitment and 200 up front charge, do either one or the other not both. If i could get one or the other i would sign up today but since i have to do both it makes it not worth it, i mean who wants to spend damn near 500 bucks to try something out?
harshness
If i could get one or the other i would sign up today but since i have to do both it makes it not worth it, i mean who wants to spend damn near 500 bucks to try something out?
Did you miss the part about you costing them an average of $700 to acquire?

They don't make assumptions about how easy the install will be nor do they force the people who write up orders to make thoughtful adjustments to the standard terms and conditions.
J
Well like i said i had dish only about a month ago and already have the mounting holes and cable runs through my house, any equipment they provide will be sent back to them when i am done.

Also why the commitment and 200 up front charge, do either one or the other not both. If i could get one or the other i would sign up today but since i have to do both it makes it not worth it, i mean who wants to spend damn near 500 bucks to try something out?

Complaining to us won't change anything. If you don't want a commitment then go with Dish or stay with cable.
B
Did you miss the part about you costing them an average of $700 to acquire?

They don't make assumptions about how easy the install will be nor do they force the people who write up orders to make thoughtful adjustments to the standard terms and conditions.

You would have an argument if i owned the equipment but they are getting back everything so i don't see how they are loosing 700$ it's still their capital.
B
Complaining to us won't change anything. If you don't want a commitment then go with Dish or stay with cable.

exactly what i plan to do, until they drop either the install charge or the commitment.
lastscreenname
Give DishNetwork a call they will set you up with the the Best HD DVR out there with no up front cost. If you get the right person they might drop the 18 month contract.
A
Or you can pay $50 to Dish and there's no contract.
ONUOsFan
You would have an argument if i owned the equipment but they are getting back everything so i don't see how they are loosing 700$ it's still their capital.

There are plenty of other expenses involved in getting you installed besides just the equipment. Besides, as Harshness said, other people will be more work than you, and they have to average it out. Their accountants would go crazy if they charged different amounts for every install. Like it or not, that's the way it is.

Personally, the two years doesn't bother me at all. I did my research ahead of time and made the right decision for me. There's also a lot of hassle in switching companies, so I wouldn't want to jump around all the time like that.

Give DishNetwork a call they will set you up with the the Best HD DVR out there with no up front cost. If you get the right person they might drop the 18 month contract.

Or you can pay $50 to Dish and there's no contract.

Did you guys read the part where he said he already tried Dish and didn't like it?
A
Apparently not. ;)
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
· posted in The Chit Chat Club
Love this guy's channel. Looks like Walmart has thrown in the towel when it comes to conventional car batteries.

I bought a new AGM battery from Walmart about a year ago, it is already needing replacing. I thought about just buying a regular battery but from what I've read, that might not be a smart move. Might check my Forscan program and see if I can change the battery type from AGM.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awe7kY5nvdU
0 Replies · 2 views
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
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
75 Replies · 727 views
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Juan
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
T
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.
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Jimbo
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
TRG
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.
Jimbo
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.
Well, they don't call it a pound anymore ....

Ice cream is that way too, use to be a half gallon, now its 1.5 quart or some say 48 oz
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meStevo
The larger discrepancies are likely from a data or sync issue. Digital tags don't cause the error, but they can spread one bad entry across a whole store or region instantly. The small cent differences are probably just rounding in the weight, the price data, or both.
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(((Garyd)))
Well, they don't call it a pound anymore ....

Ice cream is that way too, use to be a half gallon, now its 1.5 quart or some say 48 oz
Is it real Ice-cream?
Jimbo
Is it real Ice-cream?
Is it Real Ice cream ???
Depends on what your talking about.
(((Garyd)))
Is it Real Ice cream ???
Depends on what your talking about.
Most don't have any milk in them
dishstaller
The larger discrepancies are likely from a data or sync issue. Digital tags don't cause the error, but they can spread one bad entry across a whole store or region instantly. The small cent differences are probably just rounding in the weight, the price data, or both.
It's simple math. You take the price and divide by the number of ounces and come up with the price per ounce. I find it hard to believe that Walmart's computers can't carry out simple division.
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meStevo
It's simple math. You take the price and divide by the number of ounces and come up with the price per ounce. I find it hard to believe that Walmart's computers can't carry out simple division.
The division isn't the problem, the inputs are. On the Starbucks pods, $9.22 @ $3.35/oz works out to 2.75 oz, but the box is 1.94 oz. So either the system has the wrong weight on file, or the unit price is left over from an older price of about $6.50 that never got updated. Garbage in, garbage out. Walmart's had unit-pricing data problems before, too - in 2024 they paid $1.64M to settle with New Jersey after inspectors found 2,000+ instances of unit prices using the wrong unit of measure.
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dishstaller
Garbage in, garbage out.
THAT is most likely the culprit.
in 2024 they paid $1.64M to settle with New Jersey after inspectors found 2,000+ instances of unit prices using the wrong unit of measure.
So....its intentional. The new fine needs to be a billion $...that would cause someone to fix the issue.
Y
Most don't have any milk in them
*nit pick* You want cream or more precisely FAT to make ice cream. Milk isn't heavy enough. When making my own, I use half and half.
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Y
The division isn't the problem, the inputs are. On the Starbucks pods, $9.22 @ $3.35/oz works out to 2.75 oz, but the box is 1.94 oz. So either the system has the wrong weight on file, or the unit price is left over from an older price of about $6.50 that never got updated. Garbage in, garbage out. Walmart's had unit-pricing data problems before, too - in 2024 they paid $1.64M to settle with New Jersey after inspectors found 2,000+ instances of unit prices using the wrong unit of measure.
Wrong unit of measure? Having a hard time believing that or were they conflating solid and fluid ounces (stupid US measuring system).

The first two coffees aren't off on the same amount, so likely the unit price is linked to some previous price. Now I have to *bleeping* double check more math? Does anyone check anything anymore? Bad enough in the professional world having to QA/QC a third party's work. Don't want to have to do that in the grocery store now too! Not with the absurd measures that are used in the US. Is that unit price for blueberries in ounces or pints...

First world problems, but man... argh!!!
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
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....
68597 Replies · 2677344 views
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gms49ers
Just Get Through This Night - Styx
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long_time_Dish
Help Me Make It Through The Night - Sammi Smith
gms49ers
Make Me Smile/Now More Than Ever - Chicago
long_time_Dish
Sara Smile - Hall and Oates
dishstaller
When I See You Smile - Bad English
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Can't help but wonder if a worker overlooked checking the harness. I rarely ride a roller coaster anymore but when I do I check the harness myself pretty aggressively.
Can't imagine what the son is going through.

27 Replies · 377 views
Jimbo
dishstaller
Had no idea there were that many redundancies built into those restraints.
Jimbo
Had no idea there were that many redundancies built into those restraints.
It makes sense, however, I would want more types of restraints, so if one doesn't work, the other does ... the restraints coming over the shoulder I would have expected ... with a Seat belt as last resort.

Fwiw, I inquired with what they use on Coasters at Cedar Point, various Coasters, different restraints according to what the car and track requires ...

NONE of the Coasters at CP use THAT particular system :)
I'm glad to see ...
dishstaller
with a Seat belt as last resort.
According to the article, when you see a seat belt on a ride like this, it is basically used as a way of making sure the rider isn't too large/fat to safely ride the ride.
Jimbo
According to the article, when you see a seat belt on a ride like this, it is basically used as a way of making sure the rider isn't too large/fat to safely ride the ride.
Well, the over the shoulder support is better, but would require reconfiguring the cars.
Jimbo
Heres an article from the Akron Beacon ... seeing Six Flags has bought Cedar Point and Kings Island, they are included ...
I said earlier that Cedar Point doesn't use this type of seat restraint ... well, it does use it, But the difference is, the ones up here ALSO have the Over the shoulder restraint as well ... like I was suggesting that they should have used with the Goliath.

One of the new(er) one at Cedar point the Gate Keeper, uses the Clam shell .. I have rode it many times and have Mostly felt secure, that ride will stop you part way on the ride and you just hang, till the ride is ready to continue ... I typically ride the Front Car ... when its getting ready, you ARE hanging, in the car, looking down .... it would require 2 separate restraint systems to unlock at the same time to possibly get out of it.

dishstaller
UPDATE: Six Flags is adding seatbelts to all 9 rollercoasters

Jimbo
UPDATE: Six Flags is adding seatbelts to all 9 rollercoasters

Finally ....
dishstaller
Finally ....
It DOES kinda seem like a simple safety feature.
T
Last reply · posted in Free To Air (FTA) Discussion
IS Amiko MIRA 3 any good ???
Can you recommend the best to cover all bases. NO BEEPS on certain channels 101w (NEWSMAX ,NEWS NATION), a clock that keeps working STEADY for timed recording ,solid unit with good lifespan. My Amiko died AND my Linkbox has NO Favorites Button and BEEPS on many channels. Picking up 105 west with a NEW SHED IN THE Way with 6 foot Cband ..95 percent quality ...unbelievable.
3 Replies · 74 views
primestar31
IS Amiko MIRA 3 any good ???
Can you recommend the best to cover all bases. NO BEEPS on certain channels 101w (NEWSMAX ,NEWS NATION), a clock that keeps working STEADY for timed recording ,solid unit with good lifespan. My Amiko died AND my Linkbox has NO Favorites Button and BEEPS on many channels. Picking up 105 west with a NEW SHED IN THE Way with 6 foot Cband ..95 percent quality ...unbelievable.
Have you tried a new power brick on your Amiko? It's slim pickings out there anymore. The FTA market in the US has pretty much been abandoned.

This would likely be your best bet, and Rick is a good seller. I've never had any issues with him:

T
Have you tried a new power brick on your Amiko? It's slim pickings out there anymore. The FTA market in the US has pretty much been abandoned.

This would likely be your best bet, and Rick is a good seller. I've never had any issues with him:

Thanks
T
Have you tried a new power brick on your Amiko?

YOU WERE RIGHT. IT IS WORKING NOW WITH 2X AMPS !!

DAN
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dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Didn't see a thread like this so I figured why not start one. This is about natural supplements. If you aren't into supplements, fine, but please let those of us who do want to discuss this discuss it.

The first one I wanted to mention has been a real life changer. I'm 62 and still do all of my own install work at my business....also do all the yard work at the house. A few years ago I started noticing that I was losing my range of movement, it was even getting hard to bend over and lace up my boots. Almost got stuck in an attic because I couldn't get turned around once the work was done. Didn't think much of it and figured with age comes stiffness that was only going to get worse as time went on.
It was then that I stumbled across a video which was discussing rotator cuff tears and why they were to prevalent these days. Turns out, the culprit is a simple deficiency in MANGANESE which is key in keeping your tendons flexible. Most anti-biotics strip your body of any manganese it might have had which is why certain anti-biotics, especially those in the Cipro family. I actually knew a man who had two tendons tear while on that stuff.
Went to Amazon and ordered some manganese. Now it took a while, it wasn't instant, but gradually I have regained all of my flexibility. I can bend over and touch my toes while standing with no pain and putting on my boots is no longer a chore.
Pretty cheap too. The bottle I ordered was a 200 ct for under $13. They said to take double the normal dose for the first month because most people are severely lacking, then go to one a day.
4 Replies · 47 views
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dishstaller
Not sure if this would qualify as a supplement but here goes: When I meet someone who is in their 90s and doing very well healthwise I always ask what they attribute their longevity to. Out of all the people I questioned, there was only ONE thing that they ALL did. They all drank some apple cider vinegar daily....usually before bed. You can water it down all you want. Who knows why, but I do it. You want to buy the organic type with the mother.
(((Garyd)))
Didn't see a thread like this so I figured why not start one. This is about natural supplements. If you aren't into supplements, fine, but please let those of us who do want to discuss this discuss it.

The first one I wanted to mention has been a real life changer. I'm 62 and still do all of my own install work at my business....also do all the yard work at the house. A few years ago I started noticing that I was losing my range of movement, it was even getting hard to bend over and lace up my boots. Almost got stuck in an attic because I couldn't get turned around once the work was done. Didn't think much of it and figured with age comes stiffness that was only going to get worse as time went on.
It was then that I stumbled across a video which was discussing rotator cuff tears and why they were to prevalent these days. Turns out, the culprit is a simple deficiency in MANGANESE which is key in keeping your tendons flexible. Most anti-biotics strip your body of any manganese it might have had which is why certain anti-biotics, especially those in the Cipro family. I actually knew a man who had two tendons tear while on that stuff.
Went to Amazon and ordered some manganese. Now it took a while, it wasn't instant, but gradually I have regained all of my flexibility. I can bend over and touch my toes while standing with no pain and putting on my boots is no longer a chore.
Pretty cheap too. The bottle I ordered was a 200 ct for under $13. They said to take double the normal dose for the first month because most people are severely lacking, then go to one a day.
Chia Seeds
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dishstaller
Chia Seeds
Kinda the whole idea is to mention something and explain WHY it is something we might want to add to our daily routine.
This is what I got from google. Looks like I'm going to be adding them, thanks

Key Health Benefits
    • Digestive Health: One ounce (28 grams) of chia seeds provides nearly 10 grams of fiber, which promotes regular bowel movements, feeds beneficial gut bacteria, and helps prevent constipation. [1, 2]
    • Heart and Cardiovascular Support: Rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)—an essential plant-based omega-3 fatty acid—chia seeds can help lower blood pressure, reduce triglycerides, and improve cholesterol profiles. [1, 2, 3]
    • Blood Sugar Regulation: The combination of soluble fiber and protein slows down carbohydrate digestion, preventing sharp blood sugar spikes after meals. [1, 2]
    • Weight Management: When soaked in liquid, chia seeds absorb up to 10 to 12 times their weight in water. The resulting gel expands in the stomach, increasing feelings of fullness and curbing appetite. [1, 2, 3]
    • Bone Strength: They contain high levels of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which are vital for maintaining bone density. [1, 2, 3]
    • Antioxidant Protection: Compounds like chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid help fight cellular damage from free radicals and reduce chronic inflammation. [1, 2, 3]
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
I've always been super interested in things space related so this is a pretty cool event coming up. Nov 18, 2026 early in the morning, Voyager 1 will reach the distance of one full light day from Earth. Took almost 50 yrs. I was 13 when it launched.


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gjHK3clOwIw?feature=share
6 Replies · 130 views
Foxbat
So, 1/1596th the way to Alpha Centauri (if it were headed that way). 79,800 years to go…
Bruce
So, 1/1596th the way to Alpha Centauri (if it were headed that way). 79,800 years to go…
IMG_2175.webp
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b4pjoe
So, 1/1596th the way to Alpha Centauri (if it were headed that way). 79,800 years to go…
Thanks for that info. I will mark it on my calendar! 🤣
Jimbo
Will the Jupiter 2 make it in time ....
Stay tuned ...
dishstaller
So, 1/1596th the way to Alpha Centauri (if it were headed that way). 79,800 years to go…
Isn't that insane!!!
To reach the nearest galaxy to ours, at its present speed, will take another 44 billion years.
Jimbo
Isn't that insane!!!
To reach the nearest galaxy to ours, at its present speed, will take another 44 billion years.
Turn the Lights out when you get there.
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TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 6 views