Social Feed
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
This past weekend 20+ SatelliteGuys members were lucky enough to spend two hours with Dish Network CEO Charlie Ergen and Senior Vice President of Programming Eric Sahl. Those folks lucky enough to attend got to hear from these executives totally unscripted, totally honest, 100% uncensored and totally open to our questions.
Why did these guys open up to us? Because they trusted us not to post details of this private meeting on the Internet. TRUST COUNTS.
As you might have seen recently we gave our readers another SatelliteGuys First Look with our "Premiere Review: The DirecTV SWM LNB." SatelliteGuys staff member Jason Crandall known as "Masterdeals" wrote this review. The review was based on his own findings in testing out the LNB for over 3 months.
The decision to release our review was made after we received word that DirecTV HSP's now were getting inventories of this amazing LNB. In posting this review we did so without violating any of the rules of the testing program.
It seems as though another website was very upset at us posting our review before they posted theirs and these folks filed a complaint with DirecTV about our review. Here is a portion of this complaint to DirecTV for your review.
Third and most concerning to me is the fact that DirecTV is not only approving DBSTalk's draft reviews of the product but DirecTV has also requested that edits be made to their review before they would approve it! (And in case your wondering I have this in writing, I am not just talking out my butt here.)
My question to the entire satellite community is how can the folks at DBSTalk call their review a review is it is essentially a review written by DirecTV? From where I sit all of DBSTalks credibility has been shot out the window as it appears they are nothing more then corporate puppets for DirecTV!
Jason's review for SatelliteGuys was his own heart felt review, which I felt was really well done. Yes it did contain a mistake where Jason noted that the first SWM switch was a 5 port switch when it was actually an 8 port switch.
I have also seen that a number of folks over there are upset that Jason mentioned that you can diplex with the SWM LNB. While you can indeed diplex with the SWM LNB it is NOT recommended or supported by DirecTV. What I find funny about the folks upset about Jason mentioning that it does work with diplexing is that these same folks who are complaining are also the same people who have posted in the private field test forum at DBStalk that they too are diplexing using the SWM LNB.
Jason's review also contained a few small spelling mistakes, but you know what I liked it. That review was Jasons true feelings about what he feels is an excellent product.
It also appears that that a number of folks are saying that I was the one who wrote the review. This is not the case at all; I unfortunately do not have a SWM LNB. Nor not until recently did I know that Jason was one of the lucky folks selected to test this LNB.
Since CES SatelliteGuys has started building a great relationship with DirecTV, and I have been in contact with DirecTV yesterday and I can see this relationship growing.
I have asked DirecTV for equal access to everything that DBSTalk has access to, and it is something they are working on making a reality for us.
Our philosophy here is we just want to provide our readers and members the satellite industry information they want. I understand that not everyone wants to read SatelliteGuys and would rather get their information from another site and I have no problem with that, but I also understand that folks would rather get their satellite information from one place, and that place is SatelliteGuys.US. And because of that I will take any action that I must to insure that the information is made available to our members.
I am sure a number of folks will say that my words and actions could cause an end to the CE program; I personally don't see that happening. Sure DirecTV can take their ball and go home but that wouldn't help anyone. The CE program is an excellent program and for the most part has been well run, Earl did a great job in getting things running. SatelliteGuys has been happy that we have been getting into the CE program and we will continue working to expand our role to make the CE program better for all.
Now I should note that I am working on a few exciting things and honestly I would like this work to include DBSTalk and their members on some of the things I am working on. Honestly the folks at DBSTalk are not bad guys, in fact I have enjoyed working with the DBSTalk guys at places like CES. We just have a different way of doing things, and ultimately that may not be a bad thing. We need to start working together. I fully understand this and have no problem with this. But for to work then both sites need to cut the crap (and I will be the first to admit we are not innocent either.)
To do this it is going to take work and most importantly trust.
I will do what I can to make this happen, but this is a two way street. I can see some exciting things happening for both of our sites if we work together.
I know that some folks will say how can you want to work with these guys after what I posted earlier in this message. If you know me, you know I always tell it like I see it. I felt I needed to show our members what's really going on behind the scenes. Yes what happened might not be pretty, however the way I look at things I am the kind of person who would rather look ahead then look back at the past.
The way I am looking is forward and I can see some amazing things coming down the line and that should be exciting for all satellite technology lovers out there. So today I offer the olive branch, lets both move on forward and ahead together. All the parties involved know how to reach me, lets see where we go together.
Now in closing let me make a promise to all the SatelliteGuys member, no matter what happens SatelliteGuys will continue to tell you the latest satellite news, rumors, talk and information. We will continue to call it as we see it, and when we review things the review we post will always be our own words. You have our word on that.
Trust us… Trust Counts!
Why did these guys open up to us? Because they trusted us not to post details of this private meeting on the Internet. TRUST COUNTS.
As you might have seen recently we gave our readers another SatelliteGuys First Look with our "Premiere Review: The DirecTV SWM LNB." SatelliteGuys staff member Jason Crandall known as "Masterdeals" wrote this review. The review was based on his own findings in testing out the LNB for over 3 months.
The decision to release our review was made after we received word that DirecTV HSP's now were getting inventories of this amazing LNB. In posting this review we did so without violating any of the rules of the testing program.
It seems as though another website was very upset at us posting our review before they posted theirs and these folks filed a complaint with DirecTV about our review. Here is a portion of this complaint to DirecTV for your review.
I have a few problems with the statements made in this complaint to DirecTV, first I am told that there was no non disclosure agreement required by anyone in these tests, thus there was no violation there. Secondly again we waited until the product was released before posting our review.
Third and most concerning to me is the fact that DirecTV is not only approving DBSTalk's draft reviews of the product but DirecTV has also requested that edits be made to their review before they would approve it! (And in case your wondering I have this in writing, I am not just talking out my butt here.)
My question to the entire satellite community is how can the folks at DBSTalk call their review a review is it is essentially a review written by DirecTV? From where I sit all of DBSTalks credibility has been shot out the window as it appears they are nothing more then corporate puppets for DirecTV!
Jason's review for SatelliteGuys was his own heart felt review, which I felt was really well done. Yes it did contain a mistake where Jason noted that the first SWM switch was a 5 port switch when it was actually an 8 port switch.
I have also seen that a number of folks over there are upset that Jason mentioned that you can diplex with the SWM LNB. While you can indeed diplex with the SWM LNB it is NOT recommended or supported by DirecTV. What I find funny about the folks upset about Jason mentioning that it does work with diplexing is that these same folks who are complaining are also the same people who have posted in the private field test forum at DBStalk that they too are diplexing using the SWM LNB.
Jason's review also contained a few small spelling mistakes, but you know what I liked it. That review was Jasons true feelings about what he feels is an excellent product.
It also appears that that a number of folks are saying that I was the one who wrote the review. This is not the case at all; I unfortunately do not have a SWM LNB. Nor not until recently did I know that Jason was one of the lucky folks selected to test this LNB.
Since CES SatelliteGuys has started building a great relationship with DirecTV, and I have been in contact with DirecTV yesterday and I can see this relationship growing.
I have asked DirecTV for equal access to everything that DBSTalk has access to, and it is something they are working on making a reality for us.
Our philosophy here is we just want to provide our readers and members the satellite industry information they want. I understand that not everyone wants to read SatelliteGuys and would rather get their information from another site and I have no problem with that, but I also understand that folks would rather get their satellite information from one place, and that place is SatelliteGuys.US. And because of that I will take any action that I must to insure that the information is made available to our members.
I am sure a number of folks will say that my words and actions could cause an end to the CE program; I personally don't see that happening. Sure DirecTV can take their ball and go home but that wouldn't help anyone. The CE program is an excellent program and for the most part has been well run, Earl did a great job in getting things running. SatelliteGuys has been happy that we have been getting into the CE program and we will continue working to expand our role to make the CE program better for all.
Now I should note that I am working on a few exciting things and honestly I would like this work to include DBSTalk and their members on some of the things I am working on. Honestly the folks at DBSTalk are not bad guys, in fact I have enjoyed working with the DBSTalk guys at places like CES. We just have a different way of doing things, and ultimately that may not be a bad thing. We need to start working together. I fully understand this and have no problem with this. But for to work then both sites need to cut the crap (and I will be the first to admit we are not innocent either.)
To do this it is going to take work and most importantly trust.
I will do what I can to make this happen, but this is a two way street. I can see some exciting things happening for both of our sites if we work together.
I know that some folks will say how can you want to work with these guys after what I posted earlier in this message. If you know me, you know I always tell it like I see it. I felt I needed to show our members what's really going on behind the scenes. Yes what happened might not be pretty, however the way I look at things I am the kind of person who would rather look ahead then look back at the past.
The way I am looking is forward and I can see some amazing things coming down the line and that should be exciting for all satellite technology lovers out there. So today I offer the olive branch, lets both move on forward and ahead together. All the parties involved know how to reach me, lets see where we go together.
Now in closing let me make a promise to all the SatelliteGuys member, no matter what happens SatelliteGuys will continue to tell you the latest satellite news, rumors, talk and information. We will continue to call it as we see it, and when we review things the review we post will always be our own words. You have our word on that.
Trust us… Trust Counts!
238 Replies
·
28920 views
Slow down for a minute Mike. It is clear why you are at our site right now and you are way beyond over reacting.
The post said "Satelliteguys.US Exclusive..."
.US is part of our site address, simple enough
I've removed the word Exclusive, I agree that it should not be there. I actually removed it a few days ago.
The document and the frontpage post did not use the word exclusive.
Can we stop putting so much thought into the precison of the words I typed ... Believe me - I didn't put near as much thought into typing them as you have trying to interpet them.
Slow down for a minute Mike. It is clear why you are at our site right now and you are way beyond over reacting.
The post said "Satelliteguys.US Exclusive..."
.US is part of our site address, simple enough
I've removed the word Exclusive, I agree that it should not be there. I actually removed it a few days ago.
The document and the frontpage post did not use the word exclusive.
Can we stop putting so much thought into the precison of the words I typed ... Believe me - I didn't put near as much thought into typing them as you have trying to interpet them.
I'm honestly over the wording. AAMOF, After I brought it up Scott appologized for not realizing how your post was worded and that was good enough for me.
My problem is with the personal attacks. Not just this particular case(not just about me either) but it's on going. This just happened to be the straw.
Although I admit I did over react and I appolgize to Derwin0 for that. It wasn't necessarily his post but the whole thing so some of my comments were uncalled for. However, I really think this thread should be closed as it doesn't have much to contribute and will only foster animosity.
I don't do personal attacks. Go through my posts at DBSTalk and any other forum you can find my ID in any you find <5 (out of about 1600) where I had anything to say about another member. That isn't what informational forums are all about. There is a difference between allow free thought and opinion and letting trash talking run rampant.
Not sure what you mean by "It is clear why you are at our site right now" but if you check my posts you'll see I've limited my discussion on the subject to this thread. My other posts have been informational in the DirecTV forum. I was trying to contribute to those looking for information (within my level of knowledge such as it may be).
Again, it's true I over reacted and for that I appologize.
Mike
I belive there was a lot to be learned from this thread - this week. I know I sure have.
I think it's kind of funny that you are expecting / wanting this thread to be closed. It shows where you spend the majority of your satelite forum time
I think it's kind of funny that you are expecting / wanting this thread to be closed. It shows where you spend the majority of your satelite forum time
S
This is just so full of crap... Do you spend any time at all at DBSTalk? I see over and over again posts of "you can't disagree over there or you'll get banned or posts deleted". Again, do you actually read anything over there? I'd guess not if anyone really believes this junk. One only has to look at the DLB threads, the error 13 threads and heck pretty much every CE issues thread to see otherwise. There are *plenty* of negative things said and posted at DBSTalk. Plenty. Lots of disagreements and it's all out there in the open for any of you to see.
Please.
And then you try to take the high road by touting your own site and all you guys do is take cheap shot after cheap shot. I think most people see thru it except those that feel wronged by the other site in some way. Whatever.
Besides, I know of a couple people who have had their posts deleted here in the past for disagreeing or calling an issue to the floor and proof of it with screenshots. When brought to the mods all they say is that it doesn't happen here and we'd see it in the logs. Yea, keep telling yourself that. Even with proof it seems to just get washed under the rug.
Oh well...
I think it's kind of funny that you are expecting / wanting this thread to be closed. It shows where you spend the majority of your satelite forum time
This is just so full of crap... Do you spend any time at all at DBSTalk? I see over and over again posts of "you can't disagree over there or you'll get banned or posts deleted". Again, do you actually read anything over there? I'd guess not if anyone really believes this junk. One only has to look at the DLB threads, the error 13 threads and heck pretty much every CE issues thread to see otherwise. There are *plenty* of negative things said and posted at DBSTalk. Plenty. Lots of disagreements and it's all out there in the open for any of you to see.
Please.
And then you try to take the high road by touting your own site and all you guys do is take cheap shot after cheap shot. I think most people see thru it except those that feel wronged by the other site in some way. Whatever.
Besides, I know of a couple people who have had their posts deleted here in the past for disagreeing or calling an issue to the floor and proof of it with screenshots. When brought to the mods all they say is that it doesn't happen here and we'd see it in the logs. Yea, keep telling yourself that. Even with proof it seems to just get washed under the rug.
Oh well...
Shibby I have talked with DirecTV about this at length and they agreed with us for putting up our review
You will be seeing more reviews from us in the future.
Stay Tuned
Folks if you haven't noticed I have closed this thread, it served its purpose and have opened the doors we needed open.
It was great to work with Tom from DBSTalk last night, and we had a bunch of SatelliteGuys members and DBStalk members in the same room working for the same goal (and no one killed anyone)
Now I notice a few folks have come over here and signed and have done nothing but talked trash, to these folks I say if you want to be here and learn and help other users then welcome, but continue posting your crap and you will find your accounts closed. I have authorized SatelliteGuys staff members to ban accounts which are just trying to cause trouble. By folks just signing up here just to cause trouble you are not doing anything for your own cause and are making the other sites look bad. DirecTV is watching and has taken notice of this.
Enough is enough, its time for all of us to work together. Its time to stop looking back and its time to start looking forward. There are lots of great things coming. STAY TUNED.
It was great to work with Tom from DBSTalk last night, and we had a bunch of SatelliteGuys members and DBStalk members in the same room working for the same goal (and no one killed anyone)
Now I notice a few folks have come over here and signed and have done nothing but talked trash, to these folks I say if you want to be here and learn and help other users then welcome, but continue posting your crap and you will find your accounts closed. I have authorized SatelliteGuys staff members to ban accounts which are just trying to cause trouble. By folks just signing up here just to cause trouble you are not doing anything for your own cause and are making the other sites look bad. DirecTV is watching and has taken notice of this.
Enough is enough, its time for all of us to work together. Its time to stop looking back and its time to start looking forward. There are lots of great things coming. STAY TUNED.
Lifetime Supporter
I know HipKat said that they were working on conversions but we got the official news yesterday right from Dish that starting next month all DMA's will be on the western arc, and all customers will be assigned to that. That's gonna mean a lot of customers around here aren't gonna get Dish unless there are exceptions. Too many mountains and trees.
156 Replies
·
4323 views
Unfortunately, I don't think my social proximity to Charle Ergen provides any special perks. Maybe if Foxbat, Jr. were to marry his daughter…have charlie buy you a new house
S
.
that would be one hell of a convoUnfortunately, I don't think my social proximity to Charle Ergen provides any special perks. Maybe if Foxbat, Jr. were to marry his daughter…
.
The title was to catch everyone's eye lol! But it is a thought I've been having as I dev a Roku app for a client. You see many MAAANY years ago I got really interested in cable TV channels and even chatted with a regional carrier, Insight about what it took to get a channel number. It was surprisingly easy although prohibitively expensive.
You could petition, reserve a high channel number, they monitored performance and if they liked you, you'd get lower channel number overtime and cut into ad overlays.
Roku has a similar setup. Make an app, if it has a strong, original linear component you could get channel assignment on The Roku Channel.
As mixed as my feelings are on the current media landscape, I can't help but feel a little excited interest when I scope out the apps in the Roku store.
You could petition, reserve a high channel number, they monitored performance and if they liked you, you'd get lower channel number overtime and cut into ad overlays.
Roku has a similar setup. Make an app, if it has a strong, original linear component you could get channel assignment on The Roku Channel.
As mixed as my feelings are on the current media landscape, I can't help but feel a little excited interest when I scope out the apps in the Roku store.
2 Replies
·
44 views
Season 2 order already in hand:
'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Renewed for Season 2, Tatiana Maslany to Guest Star in Season 1
I've not been optimistic about this show based on what I've read so far. Seems to be aimed at a younger audience. Interesting though that Tatiana Maslany will have some sort of role.
'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Renewed for Season 2, Tatiana Maslany to Guest Star in Season 1
I've not been optimistic about this show based on what I've read so far. Seems to be aimed at a younger audience. Interesting though that Tatiana Maslany will have some sort of role.
94 Replies
·
3715 views
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!
35 Replies
·
1105 views
I remember this in the news too...
www.nbcnews.com
$14,000 spent on rented rotary phone
A widow rented a rotary dial telephone for 42 years, paying what her family calculates as more than $14,000 for a now- outdated phone.
www.nbcnews.com
That is a misnomer. In the old days you subscribed to telephone service. That included the telephone line and one telephone. An extension cost $1 a month extra. So that $14,000 over 42 years was for the service not the leased telephone. There is no way they paid $28 a month for 42 years for a leased telephone.I remember this in the news too...
$14,000 spent on rented rotary phone
A widow rented a rotary dial telephone for 42 years, paying what her family calculates as more than $14,000 for a now- outdated phone.
S
me either. sometimes it seems like things disappear when they start changing sh*t around
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
So...DirecTV advertises the Choice package with 95+ bonus channels for Satellite customers. You don't want 90+ of the 95...
Excluding PPV, premium networks, infomercial, shopping, religion, and non-English programming, there are 7 channels on satellite that are not on streaming:
NFL Network, MavTV, FE TV, Free Speech, NASA, INSP, and Pursuit. I'm pretty sure a couple of those are public interest that they have to carry to meet an FCC quota on satellite.
I hope they get called out for this advertising because that is ridiculous. One big network, NFL, will probably get added to streaming when their next agreement comes up, and the rest are likely very low viewership.
What about streaming, what do you get extra with the Choice package that isn't on Satellite:
Two stations - one of which is an internet TV - Fox Weather, and Heros & Icons (a diginet). Nothing special here to look at either.
If they cleaned up a couple of their agreements, added a few public interest stations to streaming, they could probably have their lineups match. It's close now, if you take out all the garbage on satellite that they earn money on. If they can sell infomercials on satellite, why can't they on streaming, seems like a miss. A bigger miss, including those stations in the "bonus channels just for satellite customers." Pretty sad marketing right there.
Attached is a comparison sheet of satellite vs streaming for the three main packages if anyone is interested.
MOD EDIT: See Post #3 for an up to date list of what channels are available on sat but not on streaming/internet, see Post #21 for an up to date list of what's available in the app for streaming customers, but not for sat customers.
Excluding PPV, premium networks, infomercial, shopping, religion, and non-English programming, there are 7 channels on satellite that are not on streaming:
NFL Network, MavTV, FE TV, Free Speech, NASA, INSP, and Pursuit. I'm pretty sure a couple of those are public interest that they have to carry to meet an FCC quota on satellite.
I hope they get called out for this advertising because that is ridiculous. One big network, NFL, will probably get added to streaming when their next agreement comes up, and the rest are likely very low viewership.
What about streaming, what do you get extra with the Choice package that isn't on Satellite:
Two stations - one of which is an internet TV - Fox Weather, and Heros & Icons (a diginet). Nothing special here to look at either.
If they cleaned up a couple of their agreements, added a few public interest stations to streaming, they could probably have their lineups match. It's close now, if you take out all the garbage on satellite that they earn money on. If they can sell infomercials on satellite, why can't they on streaming, seems like a miss. A bigger miss, including those stations in the "bonus channels just for satellite customers." Pretty sad marketing right there.
Attached is a comparison sheet of satellite vs streaming for the three main packages if anyone is interested.
MOD EDIT: See Post #3 for an up to date list of what channels are available on sat but not on streaming/internet, see Post #21 for an up to date list of what's available in the app for streaming customers, but not for sat customers.
243 Replies
·
31874 views
Supporting Founder
Pub Member / Supporter
Apple Fall Hardware Event takes place today, September 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET. It marks the debut of new CEO John Ternus and the expected reveal of Apple's first foldable phone.
132 Replies
·
1464 views
. can we say over priced garbage!!!
Lifetime Supporter
Schedule drops tomorrow. Mandatory mini camps in June. Hall of Fame game August 6th.
127 Replies
·
2319 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHoCBzfrdmQ
Direct YouTube Link - This Week in Tech 1107
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHoCBzfrdmQ
Direct YouTube Link - This Week in Tech 1107
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
·
10 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYRNrj5MQzw
Direct YouTube Link - This Week in Tech 1107
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYRNrj5MQzw
Direct YouTube Link - This Week in Tech 1107
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
·
17 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41qc5p2NdN4
Direct YouTube Link - This Week in Tech 1107
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41qc5p2NdN4
Direct YouTube Link - This Week in Tech 1107
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
·
4 views