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R
Last reply · posted in Cable Television and Fiber Providers
Can some one, with experience in this subject, please comment on a good compression (NOT CRIMP) tool to buy for DIY & hobby use. I'm looking for one that is reasonable in price (don't want - nor can I afford the best) and capable of installing more than just it's own band of connectors.

I'm currently considering the Paladin "SealTite" PAL901024 tool. Can any one comment on this one - especially from personal experience with it? Can it install other brands of quality connectors like Digicon, Thomas & Betts Snap N Seal, PPC EXXL, etc. that are available for less than $0.75/each? With a little shopping around, this tool is available for $31.00.

There is also a DIY "Zenith brand" compression tool; model ZDS5061, available at Lowes & other stores for about $12.00. Drawback is that they claim it MUST be used (yea sure! - or maybe?) with their connectors; model ZDS5062, which sell for $4.00/pack of two. Has anyone used this tool with other brands of connectors? If so, which ones? By the way, don't confuse this brand new Zenith tool with its predecessor (?ZDS4041 - I think?) which fell apart after the second use. They were recalled a few months ago.

Any & all help will be much appreciated.
43 Replies · 30234 views
red hazard
DS6UT is the new ARRIS "T" Series not old "S" Series

Carl B said:
Hey rckowal, got the Digicon connectors from CENCOM, but something looks wrong. While they are GREEN, they are marked DS6UT rather than DS6Q. I ordered the connectors for quad-shielded RG-6. Is this normal? I emailed CENCOM, but haven't heard back. I don't want to use the connectors if they are the wrong item. Comment?

I was concerned about the same thing when I got 5 bags off Ebay for $20 + $10 S&H and they were the UT vice Q. After doing a bit of research I came across the following link of the manufacturer: http://www.arrisistore.com/cgi-bin/...roduct_Code=713351&Category_Code=DIGICONDCRG6

I tested the DS6UT with tri shield Belden 7915A (.275'' OD) and it seemed to make a very good seal. With quad I had a little trouble getting the cable in but it still worked. I would however be a little reluctant to use if on dual with 60% braid. However, on Belden 1694A (.274'' OD & 95% braid) it should be fine.
ciaraco
Take the plunge and buy a Ripley Ripley Universal RG59/6/7/11 Compression Crimp Tool


The CAT-AS is an all-series compression crimp tool for series 59, 6, 7, or 11 connectors. High-quality and easy to use.

Telewire - Digicon-S™ Series 59/6
Gilbert - ULTRASEAL™ Series 59/6 & 7/11
PPC - EX XL Series 59/6 & 7/11
T & B - Snap-N-Seal® Series 59/6 & 7/11
PCT - DRS Series 59/6 & 7/11
Holland - SLC Series 59/6 & 11

Peace...
mbarnes
I use mostly the Thomas & Betts SnapNSeal connectors. Available for the various cable types, I get them for under 50 cents at http://www.mjsales.net. Good folks, fast service. I originally got the plastic IT1000 tool. Combined stripper and crimper. It works great, but I do a lot of RG-11 work, too. (I use RG-11 for anything over 100 feet.) I needed a tool to do both, so I got the Sargent 9000US tool. Heavy duty, and should last forever.

The one thing I have not tried it with yet is the compression connectors built into a Leviton wall plate insert. I hope they fit.
X
red hazard said:
I would use to 901024 for Sealtites, SNS & AIM only as recommended at various sites selling them. With this type of ratchet tool you must complete the compression cycle before removing the connector. If you cannot complete the cycle because the connector is too long, you won't be able to remove the connector from the tool. If you try to force it, you could damage the tool. So far I have not had the guts to try a digicon in a 901024 and use the T&B tool that has the built in stripper. However, it looks like it would work IF in the uncompressed state the Digicon fit OK in the 901024 as once compressed it sure looks like the same size as the SNS connector.

The 901024 has a release switch on it so you don't need to finish the compression cycle. Just press it and it releases...

Brendin
red hazard
Thanks!!

Xnaron said:
The 901024 has a release switch on it so you don't need to finish the compression cycle. Just press it and it releases...

Brendin

THANK YOU. I feel stupid not realizing that.
:o
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in DIRECTV General Forum
The following is from Reddit. -
View: https://www.reddit.com/r/DirectvStream/s/orzHBkmqQW


gemini.webp

There appears to be a new DIRECTV Gemini OTT box, the C81KW-650.

The FCC listing is partially available, and a Geekbench entry confirms it uses an Amlogic S905X5, a solid SoC for a set-top box.

I also see 4GB of RAM, and the manufacturer is SEI Robotics.

DIRECTV C81KW OTT Box - Android TV Guide

Ok found a picture of the Box too on Reddit:


View: https://www.reddit.com/r/DirectvStream/comments/1twlex0/comment/opzeqi1/
24 Replies · 1369 views
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Scott Greczkowski
I know a few people who have gotten one and I am told like most modern streaming boxes this one also has HDR on all the time.
b4pjoe
I know a few people who have gotten one and I am told like most modern streaming boxes this one also has HDR on all the time.
My guess it is like the 2 previous boxes where you can turn it off/on but requires a reboot once you make the change for the change to take effect. Not sure if there is some limitation in the hardware that won't allow it to change automatically to what is in the content like other devices do. Even DIRECTV satellites own C61K changes on the fly.
Tom Speer
I know a few people who have gotten one and I am told like most modern streaming boxes this one also has HDR on all the time.
I only noticed that as a problem on TVs that handle HDR poorly. They don't have enough peak brightness or enough dimming zones. For instance, TCL makes three lines of TV, sort of like the old Sears model of Good, Better, Best. On my 4 or 5 year end low price model, HDR looked awful (My neighbor likes the TV now). The midrange model from the next model year ithat I have at my Lake home now looks pretty good in HDR all the time. The midrange TCL QM7 model from last year at my other home looks spectacular, as I remember. I haven't seen it for 6 months.

If I had a TV that does HDR poorly, I would configure the Gemini to disable all HDR.
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b4pjoe
I only noticed that as a problem on TVs that handle HDR poorly. They don't have enough peak brightness or enough dimming zones. For instance, TCL makes three lines of TV, sort of like the old Sears model of Good, Better, Best. On my 4 or 5 year end low price mode, HDR looked awful (My neighbor likes the TV now). The midrannge model from the next model year ithat I have at my Lake home now looks pretty good in HDR all the time. The midrange TCL QM7 model from last year at my other home looks spectacular, as I remember. I haven't seen it for 6 months.

If I had a TV that does HDR poorly, I would configure the Gemini to disble all HDR.
I agree with that. The 2 LGs that we have Gemini's on looks far better with HDR enabled then it does with HDR off.
R
I know a few people who have gotten one and I am told like most modern streaming boxes this one also has HDR on all the time.
That would be a deal-breaker for me. The Rokus default to having it on all the time but it's easy enough to change that to native. If the content is HDR it goes on. Otherwise, no.
R
I don't mind HDR being on as long as its adaptive. I don't need HDR on non-HDR content

Also, God only knows how much it'll cost to get this per month. 10 bucks a month for 3 TVs in my apartment is not worth it if I can just use my android boxes and appletv to watch
Gary Toma
Staff member Pub Member / Supporter Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in DIRECTV Technical Resources Forum
The TPN Map Excel Presents all DIRECTV Channels:
​
National (50-States or wide/NAT+PR beams)
Local (Local-Into-Local or narrow/Spot beams)
​
Additional tabs provide:​
OTA the (Over-The-Air) Database
VOD (Video On_Demand) Records
Offline Records
Engr Records
Net Decoder a graphic presentation of all satellites and transponders
​
Domestic Satellites
@99W...... D11, D14
@101W.... D16
@103W.... D12, D15
@110W.... D5
@119W.... D8​

Understanding the TPN Map

Making Sense of the TPN Map Display Conventions
2178 Replies · 952679 views
jamieh1
Now in the Hornets and Hurricanes markets we just get the TV promise screen. But Directv still charges sports fee I am assuming.
Luckily my DTV stream package doesn't have a rsn fee. Figure DTV that always says is the leader in sports would have come to an agreement by now.
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K
Now in the Hornets and Hurricanes markets we just get the TV promise screen. But Directv still charges sports fee I am assuming.
Greenville-New Bern is $11.99 for MASN (Orioles) and Nationals
Raleigh is $11.99 for MASN and Nationals
Charlotte is $12.99 for BravesVision, MASN, Nationals and Reds

The fee in NC also includes the higher in state rate they have to pay for ACCN. Down in SC the fee is $15.99 as they are also a SEC state.
I'm not sure if they're doing it with those teams, but in some markets they also use the fee to cover the additional cost they have to pay for independents and MyNet stations that picked up full season NHL and NBA rights.

If you go to the TVPromise site, you'll likely be able to get a credit for not getting the Hurricanes and additional Hornets games that air on WITN-D2

Figure DTV that always says is the leader in sports would have come to an agreement by now.
Part of the hold out might be the packaging and price for outer areas like how the Thunder needs sports pack for other states. Hopefully they are also pushing for a guarantee from the teams that they would require whoever wins their local broadcasting rights in 2028 to negotiate with MVPDs. Commercial distribution rights are probably a factor too.

I'm guessing they got a deep discount for the Clippers based on how long it took them to officially announce ClipperVision and their KTLA simulcasts after they were basically handed a multi-year draft death penalty.

The Predators and Pistons channels are using feeds supplied by Scripps Sports

The Heat likely depends on whoever they sign for the Fort Myers DMA, as there's no point in paying a high price for the Heat just for that DMA when WPLG is streaming it for free on their app and website for viewers in the Miami DMA, and they already carry the West Palm Beach station.
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K
The Heat likely depends on whoever they sign for the Fort Myers DMA, as there's no point in paying a high price for the Heat just for that DMA when WPLG is streaming it for free on their app and website for viewers in the Miami DMA, and they already carry the West Palm Beach station.
WINK-D3 (Weather) for Fort Myers

https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-...st-partnership-with-wink-in-southwest-florida
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D
DirecTV Satellite Transponder Updates for Nov 04 2026

Comparison of Transponder Data for Nov 04 2026 vs Oct 28 2026:


No changes in system tables for any transponder tuning parameters.

Changes to the use of defined transponders:


2 Previously unused Transponders with current APG records::
Net 15 TID 12 Beam NAT is a National Transponder on D12@103ca, TPN 13
Net 15 TID 17 Beam NAT + PR is a National Transponder on D15@103ca, TPN 18

Stream (PID) counts:

LIVE Streams​
National​
Spot Beams​
Count​
Change​
Count​
Change​
4K​
4​
​
​
​
HD​
266​
2​
1449​
​
SD mpeg4​
144​
​
194​
​
SD mpeg2​
433​
-1​
​
​
RB​
​
​
​
​
Audio​
89​
​
​
​
Push​
26​
​
​
​
Slate​
19​
​
1​
​
​
TEST Streams​
National​
Spot Beams​
Count​
Change​
Count​
Change​
4K​
​
​
​
​
HD​
​
​
1​
​
SD mpeg4​
​
​
​
​
SD mpeg2​
​
​
​
​
RB​
​
​
​
​
Engr Work​
56​
18​
​
​
​


The PID count Excel workbook provides much more count detail.

Newly updated tables of Streams on each transponder are available in the DataDigesters TPN Grids

More details of changes in individual channels will follow in the Weekly Analysis
and Gary Toma's Domestic TPN Map Excel files
Reshuffle setup ?
Weekly Analysis soon
Enjoy
DataDigesters
D
Weekly Analysis for 11/04/2026:
K
Prep for More TPN swaps

NewsMix -> ElectionHQ

MLBEI -> NBALP in the 740s

No sign of the additional CW affiliates that were added to stream a few weeks ago
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K
WINK-D3 (Weather) for Fort Myers
WINK-D3 Fort Myers is testing on the stream server
R
WINK-D3 Fort Myers is testing on the stream server
Could be for the Heat since they have the rights to that.

Its always a surprise to see DTV carry subchannels...
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 7 views
osu1991
Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
11 Replies · 234 views
Foxbat
James Spader gets the best lines so far. I'm enjoying this series.
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osu1991
Finished the 2nd episode tonight. I'm really liking it so far.

Still hate weekly releases though, especially the way Disney and HBO do it waiting until 8pm to premiere it.
Foxbat
Apparently I'm not a big enough nerd🤓 since I did not read every Marvel Comic Book ever published. If I had, I might be comparing the comics' version of events compared to what's transpiring in "Visionquest". So, I am enjoying the series a lot, not weighed down by previous expectations, knowing only the Avengers MCU movies and the "Wandavision" / "Agatha All Along" TV series.

I found the Mr Know-it-All channel from his discussion about "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" and he's been gleefully picking these episodes apart, referencing the Marvel comics from the 1939 on. Turns out A.I. has been around since before World War II, at least in the comics. (Robots before that, yes, yes.) This show is going back into the archives.
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Foxbat
I'm expecting the finale to basically bring Vision into play for the Doomsday movie next month.
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osu1991
annoying they went with single episodes for the last two after releasing two a week for the first 3 weeks
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....
68754 Replies · 2684809 views
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gms49ers
The Rain Song - Led Zeppelin
Bobby
Wait (The Whisper Song) - Ying Yang Twins
harshness
I Can't Wait - Nu Shooz
gms49ers
Shooz - Styx
dishstaller
Too Much Time on My Hands - Styx
ewindowman
Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
Looks like dish is Bankrupt. Filling tomorrow Tuesday June 30th
451 Replies · 15460 views
nelson61
Washington Post

SpaceX has held talks with Boost's parent company EchoStar in recent months about launching its own signature wireless service through a deal with the company, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
Musk, the SpaceX CEO, has discussed the deal personally, meeting with EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen last month, according to the people. The potential deal may result in SpaceX acquiring Boost Mobile or SpaceX gaining access to its network, which it leases from AT&T and T-Mobile US, the people said.
Access to those lease agreements would be a coup for SpaceX. The back door would allow Musk to make a play for a U.S. wireless market that equity research firm MoffettNathanson estimates is worth $235 billion. But the proposed service may need consent from those carriers for the service to actually launch, the people said.
Scott Greczkowski
Washington Post

SpaceX has held talks with Boost's parent company EchoStar in recent months about launching its own signature wireless service through a deal with the company, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
Musk, the SpaceX CEO, has discussed the deal personally, meeting with EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen last month, according to the people. The potential deal may result in SpaceX acquiring Boost Mobile or SpaceX gaining access to its network, which it leases from AT&T and T-Mobile US, the people said.
Access to those lease agreements would be a coup for SpaceX. The back door would allow Musk to make a play for a U.S. wireless market that equity research firm MoffettNathanson estimates is worth $235 billion. But the proposed service may need consent from those carriers for the service to actually launch, the people said.
Can't remember where or who I saw predict this. :D

It wouldn't surprise me to see Elon soon own all of DISH / Echostar in the future.
Bruce
It wouldn't surprise me to see Elon soon own all of DISH / Echostar in the future.
Again, why would Musk want a TV Service, specially one that is losing over a million subscribers a year.

Phone service…maybe, but not TV.
Scott Greczkowski
Again, why would Musk want a TV Service, specially one that is losing over a million subscribers a year.

Phone service…maybe, but not TV.
I know he wants TV. He wants to deliver EVERYTHING to EVERYWHERE.
Bruce
I know he wants TV. He wants to deliver EVERYTHING to EVERYWHERE.
Again, if so, why would he want Dish/Sling of all the providers?

He could deliver anything without actually owning, for example, watching the Lions game in my Tesla Y on it's screen via the YT app, while on the way to my future in-laws on Sunday.
Nebugeater
Again, if so, why would he want Dish/Sling of all the providers?

He could deliver anything without actually owning, for example, watching the Lions game in my Tesla Y on it's screen via the YT app, while on the way to my future in-laws on Sunday.


Just a guess on my part but there may be some value to aquring to get all the retransmision agreements that are in place even though at some point they need to be renewed
Bruce
Bruce
Washington Post

SpaceX has held talks with Boost's parent company EchoStar in recent months about launching its own signature wireless service through a deal with the company, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
Musk, the SpaceX CEO, has discussed the deal personally, meeting with EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen last month, according to the people. The potential deal may result in SpaceX acquiring Boost Mobile or SpaceX gaining access to its network, which it leases from AT&T and T-Mobile US, the people said.
Access to those lease agreements would be a coup for SpaceX. The back door would allow Musk to make a play for a U.S. wireless market that equity research firm MoffettNathanson estimates is worth $235 billion. But the proposed service may need consent from those carriers for the service to actually launch, the people said.
If Musk really wants to buy Boost, he might get a great price once Dish Wireless is out of Chapter 11.

Boost just lost 182,000 subs in the 3rd quarter-

M
Is Dish like Iran in one way...they both will totally collapse by end of week :)
Foxbat
Other than the price, my experience with Boost is not that different than what I experienced with my years with Cricket. I will be curious to see what happens if SpaceX takes the reins.
dfergie
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
10 Replies · 175 views
teachsac
Dang. That had to hurt. I would have not handled it that well. Surprised it wasn't brought up by Heff at the challenge.
dfergie
First rule - if you get a clue follow it immediately, 2nd - keep your stuff with you in a strange place, 3rd - pay attention to your ride... (pre first - don't go if you think you might not want to stay Rob)
teachsac
Loved the tribal🤣
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dfergie
Happy with the outcome, he was annoying...