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L
Last reply · posted in C-BAND Satellite Discussion
There is so much written about the old glory days of c-band. They remind us that everything was available via BUD. Although I'm old enough to have been in on the glory days of old. I'm actually kind of recent in the hobby. So I only get to experience the good new days.

With my newly installed Birdview dish, I am getting most of the free programming on everything from 55.5 west to 137 west.

Granted for true FTA, without any subscriptions, nowadays you don't get much in the way of commercial free movies. But there is sports galore and a lot in HD! . There are networks on 99 west, 2 in HD. There is NASCAR in HD, There are some channels considered premium being broadcast in HD ( I don't want to be real specific because the provider might yank the programming if he thought the news was spreading)

There is a hunting channel on a satellite in the 130's, and another on 121 Standard def but still cool.

Fanz TV for the adrenaline types. Tons of religious programming. I could go on.

But right now, the use of the c-band for hidef is growing. about three months ago I had one hidef station on C - ABC on 99 west.
Today I have about fifteen.

I can appreciate the talk about the old days. That's when we drank the most, laughed the hardest and kissed the prettiest girls.

But all of that said, It feels like I am, today, very very well positioned for the new golden age of c-band
17 Replies · 2636 views
T
I have found many feeds that look better than analog, some feeds come in past good dvd quality if you have the right equipment.
Radioguy41
I have found many feeds that look better than analog, some feeds come in past good dvd quality if you have the right equipment.

You're right about the right equipment but I'm talking about ordinary C-band on 4DTV, not HD and not FTA. My comparison is analog C-band versus DigicipherII C-band. In my opinion the quality of the analog picture was superior to DII. The same comparison can be made for OTA. Sure HD looks great on my SONY but non-HD digital suffers when compared to analog and is absurdly unstable to boot (as is all OTA digital). Just my opinion based on my experiences. :)
T
You're right about the right equipment but I'm talking about ordinary C-band on 4DTV, not HD and not FTA. My comparison is analog C-band versus DigicipherII C-band. In my opinion the quality of the analog picture was superior to DII. The same comparison can be made for OTA. Sure HD looks great on my SONY but non-HD digital suffers when compared to analog and is absurdly unstable to boot (as is all OTA digital). Just my opinion based on my experiences. :)


Analog C band IMO is the best. Although the masters in DC II for HBO, Food Network (Scripps mux) and the Discovery muxes which we can subscribe to. Also masters such as ABC Family, Disney and the USA mux on G1 with Sci Fi, USA and Sleuth which we can't subscribe to are very good for DC II. (non megapipe 4DTV compatible)

The HITS muxes on W5 are okay for the most part. The NPS muxes on G3 are pretty bad in PQ, the flip side of the bad picture is at least NPS is allowing us to have these channels if it wasn't for them they wouldn't be there.
Radioguy41
Also masters such as ABC Family, Disney and the USA mux on G1 with Sci Fi, USA and Sleuth which we can't subscribe

I'm not sure what you mean about "can't subscribe". Maybe I'm not reading it right but USA, Sci Fi and Sleuth are in the NPS Absolute Digital package. I get all of them.

Larry
turbosat
Larry I think he means there are sep signals for other customers, like cable co's, that are on satellite digital>but either they aren't marketed to the 4DTV customers, or the 4DTV equipment won't decode the exact transmission format they are in (something called megapipe, I'm not familiar with that as I never bought a 4DTV. Or at least not yet lol)
Some of the channels that NPS is uplinking are apparently of lesser signal quality compared to those other "master" feeds, but are available to home-dish owners.
T
I'm not sure what you mean about "can't subscribe". Maybe I'm not reading it right but USA, Sci Fi and Sleuth are in the NPS Absolute Digital package. I get all of them.

Larry

USA is being reuplinked from the master on G1 by NPS on G3. Sci-Fi & Sleuth are being reuplinked by HITS on W5. The original first generation signals are 4DTV compatible although NBC Universal will not allow us access. Every once in a while they are ITC. If you ever saw the original masters picture quality you would be blown away. The same goes for ABC Family & Disney on G5. ABC/ESPN/Disney will not let us have access to those signals. Once again those masters look fantastic. They go ITC once in a while also.

There are also megapipe (combo mode) DC II masters up there. The 4DTV will not decode them. You need a DSR 4800 commercial receiver and a commercial subscription to receive them.
Radioguy41
I knew I was missing something. :)
Corrado
I've been with C band for 20+ years now myself, 4DTV since 2002 and FTA since early 2005. I had a friend in the cable company that was their dish maintenance guy. He had a side business in the 80s putting in C band systems. He had a dish on a trailer to let potential clients test things out before buying.

That got me hooked after putting a few in and getting to see how it all worked. My hard work putting in those 48" holes and 200' trenches paid off.

Back in my area in the 80s we had only OTA, cable didn't reach out here until the late 90s.
L
I enjoy all of the descriptions of the different programming out there, even if I don't understand the lingo.

For me, the fun is in finding the free stuff. I don't feel deprived at all when I look at my friends' guides for Dish Network or Directv. Sure, it'd be nice to have comercial free movies, but I have a good supply of dvds and old videotapes for my movie fixes.

I like finding stuff from Alaska or the Virgin Islands or Newfoundland. I love finding high definition programming.

For now, at least, I'm not interested in subscribing to anything. My FTA receivers get the free stuff from both bands, (C-band unscrambled is far more and better than Ku) and I enjoy finding something new to watch nearly every other day.

It's a fun hobby. There are helpful people in it. With all of the misguided folks out there who want to get rid of their big dishes, right now is a great time for people to jump in for next to nothing, cancel their subscriptions and watch good tv

Peace.



Birdview 8.5 foot dish, hh mount modified for pulse positioning. BSC 621-2 universal lnb. Winegard 1 meter dish. Invacom lnb. Sonicview hd8000 receiver - all feeding into a home theater system (Onkyo, Sony) projecting onto a ten foot diagonal screen.
N5XZS
Last reply · posted in Over the Air Television By RabbitEars.Info
New low power station has been granted by the FCC and the new call leter is K33OB-D on RF ch. 33.

Will run at 15 KW ERP, this one runs from the Westside same location as KWPL-LD a HC2 owned station.

It's going to be aimed at eastern part of Albuquerque, so it's tightly focused beam pattern.

This new station is owned by Digital Network and what kind of programmings is unkown at this time.😎
8 Replies · 56 views
M
This new station is owned by Digital Network and what kind of programmings is unkown at this time
probably the same programming they have been putting on their other owned stations.
The 'get after it media' stations
Like Heartland, Retro, rev'n, Action etc
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N5XZS
Hope they got good subchannels encoder going there...😎👍🤞
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comfortably_numb
probably the same programming they have been putting on their other owned stations.
The 'get after it media' stations
Like Heartland, Retro, rev'n, Action etc

We already have those diginets here.
N5XZS
Yeah, there are some diginets like Heartland, Retro, The Family Channel diginetworks that we already have here in this market and we don't need duplicates, but bring the new diginets on like the Rev'n, Karate Acton movies, different kind of music videos on the new station. :hatsoff2
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comfortably_numb
Yeah, there are some diginets like Heartland, Retro, The Family Channel diginetworks that we already have here in this market and we don't need duplicates, but bring the new diginets like Revn, Karate Acton movies, different kind of music videos on the new station. :hatsoff2

I watch MovieSphere Gold channel a lot. Many recent movies on that digitnet :)
N5XZS
Yes that's a good channel MovieSphere, only thing is the missing CC on it. :rolleyes: :hatsoff2
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TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 1 views
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....
67097 Replies · 2662028 views
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FTA4PA
Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett
gms49ers
Top Jimmy - Van Halen
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sdfntx
You're the Top - Allan Sherman
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long_time_DNC
Top Of The World - The Carpenters
gms49ers
Top of the World - Van Halen
dfergie
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!
Last reply · posted in What's Cooking?
We have a Breakfast and Dinner thread so... :)
Continuing from the Breakfast thread, found Cornbread mix so ...
Yellow Cornbread Mix
2 Hatch Green Chiles -diced
1 Egg
2/3 cup of milk
add to greased pan
Bake for 400f 20-25 minutes(From instructions)
now to put together and try... this to go with pinto beans...
5387 Replies · 334543 views
dfergie
Green turkey enchilada casserole, ate one bowl, had pinto beans & taco meat side… Tea
Like this recipe with ground turkey & Herdez guacamole medium salsa…
TRG
TRG
Pork shoulder, refried beans, cheddar and chopped green chile burrito with a pint of pale ale.

Its nice being able to have a pint with lunch during the week or whenever. I've been enjoying the retired life. 🍺

20260503_145250.webp
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dfergie
Pork shoulder, refried beans, cheddar and chopped green chile burrito with a pint of pale ale.

Its nice being able to have a pint with lunch during the week or whenever. I've been enjoying the retired life. 🍺

View attachment 191651
Congrats! I love retirement, no wake ups, no e-mails...
Leftovers for lunch, bacon wrapped salmon fillet from Saturday and a KFC thigh from Friday, Tea.
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TRG
TRG
Congrats! I love retirement, no wake ups, no e-mails...
Leftovers for lunch, bacon wrapped salmon fillet from Saturday and a KFC thigh from Friday, Tea.
I've been retired since October. It was very strange at first. But I'm loving it now.
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TRG
TRG
Creamy flat enchiladas with green chile, beans and rice.

enc.webp
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nelson61
Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
EchoStar has filed with FCC for license and launch of the EchoStar 25 satellite at the nominal 110W slot.

------"At the nominal 110° W.L. orbital location, EchoStar is licensed to operate over 29 of the available 32 DBS channels (specifically channels 1-27, 29,and 31).3 Currently, EchoStar provides service over these channels from the 110° W.L. cluster utilizing the EchoStar 10, EchoStar 11 (in inclined orbit), and EchoStar 23 satellites; and from the 119° W.L. cluster utilizing the EchoStar 14 and EchoStar 15 satellites. EchoStar anticipates that EchoStar 25 will be ready for launch as early as the first quarter of 2026. EchoStar anticipates that EchoStar 25, a spot-beam satellite, will take over delivery of certain programming services from EchoStar 10 and 14. After launch and in-orbit testing ("IOT"),4EchoStar 25 will proceed directly to 110.0° ± 0.05° W.L. Once EchoStar 25 is placed into operation, EchoStar 10 will initially remain at 110.2° W.L. serving as an in-orbit spare and may ultimately be relocated subject to all appropriate Commission authorizations. EchoStar 14 will remain at the nominal 119° W.L. orbital location and serve as an in-orbit spare once EchoStar 25 begins service." -----
80 Replies · 7777 views
zippyfrog
I can tell the new satellite is active... When I go to the point dish menu, here in Chicago, 110 TP 27, which is a Spotbeam, for me with the old satellite was in the signal strength 50's-60's, is now just fluttering between 16-18.
D
When I go to the point dish menu, here in Chicago, 110 TP 27, which is a Spotbeam, for me with the old satellite was in the signal strength 50's-60's, is now just fluttering between 16-18.
Any chance you (or somebody else w/Chicago locals) could check & see where all the Chicago locals moved to, please...
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zippyfrog
Actually, I can't seem to add the locals back to my account to check right now - when I go to add it and I submit the changes, it shows that I have added 1802 local channels (the whole country) and nothing happens. Something must be wrong with their website. :)
R
Any chance you (or somebody else w/Chicago locals) could check & see where all the Chicago locals moved to, please...

Any chance you (or somebody else w/Chicago locals) could check & see where all the Chicago locals moved to, please...
I just happened to find out that I won White Sox tickets for tomorrow nights game June 10th. Yahoo! I just picked up my tickets around 8 P.M. local time and it is kind of late planning I know but I am leaving here in just a few and heading up to Peotone to stay the night tonight in a hotel and be there for tomorrow night as well. Its 9:21 P.M. Central Time now. I am hoping to beat the possible thunderstorms and fog early this morning up there and the weather there tomorrow as well. I oh so hope they play and no severe weather! Anyways, I just unhooked my Wally receiver and my DISH Playmaker and I am taking it with me. Peotone is in the Chicago Locals market and with me having a DISH Outdoors account I can change it when I get up there. I will have a check when I get there and I can post and let you know. I can put the antenna on top of the roof of the vehicle and run a 12 ft. coaxial cable running through the trunk into the vehicle. I have a DC to AC converter in the vehicle and can bring my Cloner Alliance ViewPRO to use as a the screen. I may even watch a little TV throughout the evening as well and maybe a little WGN as well. I miss WGN. I use to watch the Cubs, White Sox, and Bulls games on WGN and listen to the news and Tom Skilling a bunch. I hated it in December of 2014 when it became a standard cable network only. This will be only my 2nd time since they became a standard cable network and now defunct and rebranded as NewsNation that I actually get to see WGN again. The only other time was in 2016 up in Chicago as well and they were a standard cable network here then and not available locally. I now need to get going. I will let you know later.

RJ T.
From Illinois
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R
I just happened to find out that I won White Sox tickets for tomorrow nights game June 10th. Yahoo! I just picked up my tickets around 8 P.M. local time and it is kind of late planning I know but I am leaving here in just a few and heading up to Peotone to stay the night tonight in a hotel and be there for tomorrow night as well. Its 9:21 P.M. Central Time now. I am hoping to beat the possible thunderstorms and fog early this morning up there and the weather there tomorrow as well. I oh so hope they play and no severe weather! Anyways, I just unhooked my Wally receiver and my DISH Playmaker and I am taking it with me. Peotone is in the Chicago Locals market and with me having a DISH Outdoors account I can change it when I get up there. I will have a check when I get there and I can post and let you know. I can put the antenna on top of the roof of the vehicle and run a 12 ft. coaxial cable running through the trunk into the vehicle. I have a DC to AC converter in the vehicle and can bring my Cloner Alliance ViewPRO to use as a the screen. I may even watch a little TV throughout the evening as well and maybe a little WGN as well. I miss WGN. I use to watch the Cubs, White Sox, and Bulls games on WGN and listen to the news and Tom Skilling a bunch. I hated it in December of 2014 when it became a standard cable network only. This will be only my 2nd time since they became a standard cable network and now defunct and rebranded as NewsNation that I actually get to see WGN again. The only other time was in 2016 up in Chicago as well and they were a standard cable network here then and not available locally. I now need to get going. I will let you know later.

RJ T.
From Illinois
Update Wednesday June 10, 2026 @ 1:07 A.M. CDT.

Well I made it safely to Peotone, IL and got checked in. Sitting in the vehicle right now and everything is hooked up and ran and locals changed through the App.

I only have 2 words. "Very Interesting"

This is going to take awhile to post all of this and get all of this right so I am going to be looking up some info as I type.

Chicago has tons of channels! 18! To be exact all in HD.

So let's start.

002-00 WBBM (CBS) SAT: 110 SB: 12
Now playing: (Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen)

005-00 WMAQ (NBC) SAT: 110 SB: 12
Now playing: (NBC Nightly News With Tom Llamas)

007-00 WLS (ABC) SAT: 110 SB: 12
Now playing: (Live with Kelly and Mark)

009-00 WGN (CW) SAT: 110 SB: 12
Now playing: (The Goldbergs)

011-00 WTTW (PBS) SAT: 110 SB: 26
Now Playing: (Nature)

023-00 WWME (METV) SAT: 110 SB: 26
Now Playing: (Mannix)

026-00 WCIU (IND) SAT: 110 SB: 26
Shows The U - Now playing: (The Perfect Line)

Time change to 1:30 AM

032-00 WFLD (FOX) SAT: 110 SB: 12
Now Playing: (Sherri)

038-00 WCPX (ION) SAT: 110 SB: 26
Now Playing: (Chicago Fire)

044-00 WSNS (TELM) SAT: 110 SB: 26
Telemundo Channel speaking Spanish.
Now Playing: (Programa pagado)

048-00 WMEU (IND) SAT: 110 SB: 26
Now Playing: (Comedy Classics)

050-00 WPWR (IND) SAT: 110 SB: 26
Infomercial right now playing: (Ideal Prostrate+ Provides Safe)

056-00 WYIN (PBS). SAT: 110 SB: 26
Shows Lakeshore PBS - Now Playing: (Amanapour and Company)

059-00 WTVK (SHOP LC) SAT: 110 SB: 26
It is the Shop Liquidation Channel. All I get is a black background but was able to obtain satellite and spotbeam information - Shows playing in guide (which isn't) Spectacular Night Owl Jewelry Deals

060-00 WXFT (UNIMAS) SAT: 110 SB: 26
UNIMAS Channel speaking Spanish - Now Playing: (El Chavo)

061-00 WPVN (IND) SAT: 110 SB: 26
Shows WiN TV on the screen with Korean people and Korean Language - Now Playing: (WIN BNC)

062-00 WJXS (IND) SAT: 110 SB: 12
Shows wjys The Way - Now Playing; (Paid Proograming) but a church service is showing instead.


And finally…

And a time change to 2:00 AM

066-00 WGBO (UNIV) SAT: 110 SB: 26
Univision Channel speaking Spanish - Now Playing: (Programa pagado)

Now done!

Wow! About an hour's worth!

So it appears they changed as well to the 110 Satellite and using 2 Spotbeams 12 & 26.

Got to head up to my room and get some sleep. I will be here until late afternoon tomorrow before I head up to the game and will be back here after the game tommorow night and head back home Thursday morning.

Take care everyone and have a good night and a good Wednesday and Thursday. Probably won't be back on until Thursday.

RJ T.
From Illinois
zippyfrog
This is really interesting. Thanks for posting the Chicago locals - I still can't add them to my account for some reason.

But what I find even more interesting is that you are reporting that some of the Chicago locals are on 110, TP 12. However, right now some of the national sports channels for the out of market sports channels are on 110, TP 12 as well. MLB Network Alternate, for example, is currently on 110, TP 12. And to my knowledge, the same transponder cannot be both a national ConUS transponder as well as a local spotbeam. I wonder if having both satellites active at the same time is causing some coding issue or something like that - for my receiver, it is as if it is checking one satellite, times out, then checks the second satellite for the signal strength.
R
This is really interesting. Thanks for posting the Chicago locals - I still can't add them to my account for some reason.

But what I find even more interesting is that you are reporting that some of the Chicago locals are on 110, TP 12. However, right now some of the national sports channels for the out of market sports channels are on 110, TP 12 as well. MLB Network Alternate, for example, is currently on 110, TP 12. And to my knowledge, the same transponder cannot be both a national ConUS transponder as well as a local spotbeam. I wonder if having both satellites active at the same time is causing some coding issue or something like that - for my receiver, it is as if it is checking one satellite, times out, then checks the second satellite for the signal strength.
No Problem! Glad I went and could help out but however I chickened out from the game tonight and I am back home. Didn't like the weather report I was seeing. Everyone in the hotel was talking about the severe storms. 75+ mph winds, golf ball size hail, and tornadoes done it in for me. You stay safe! I guess it isn't going to be very good and its suppose to hit between 3 and 6 PM. I gave away my tickets as I don't need damage to the vehicle plus with the weather like that not going and driving in Chicago that often it probably wouldn't be good driving when it is storming. I do think I made the wise choice.

I however am thinking about going somewhere over the weekend because this hot and humid air that were having will bring in relief after the cold front Thursday night and good weather is expected through the weekend. I don't know where I will head I am thinking State Park wise somewhere camping in a tent and brining my AC battery supply backup that works 36 hours on a single charge and can be charged in the vehicle and bringing the Wally, the antenna, and my Cloner Alliance ViewPro to use as a screen. Just to see what I can all get and to get away awhile. Where ever I go It will be out of market so I could get you their locals and Satellites and Spotbeams if you would like.

Just hoping we avoid the severe weather at my location tomorrow. It doesn't look good on that part but once it goes through excellent and more pleasant weather ahead.

And on what you said. Yes that could be an issue getting the locals activated that you are having problems with. 2 Transponders causing trouble one national and one spotbeam. Your receiver may not know how to handle it. Seems as if they likely will move those other sports channels to another satellite and/or spotbeam. More than likely the issue with my MLB Extra Innings as well. All these changes coming at once and they are trying to figure where to put everything and probably don't know where to put it all. I am sure it has the tech advanced people at DISH working overtime. Just wish they would hurry up and get it done.

Do you have an estimated date of completion by any chance?

RJ T.
From Illinois
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zippyfrog
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
Is ESPN News changing packages? I see on the lineup card that ESPN News is only available in Top 200 and above now. Is this accurate? Did anyone with Top 120 or 120+ lose ESPN News?

12 Replies · 418 views
Willh699
maybe but i still have it for now, most likely this will take effect in June.
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Cold Irons
...and on the "Science" channel you can learn all about ghosts & monsters.
ClarkGable
I think ESPN News shows "The Ocho" on weekends. Slippery Stairs, Pop-A-Shot, Dodge Ball, Roof Ball, Wisconsin Auctioneers Championship, and even competitive Microsoft Excel spreadsheet races are among the offerings.
Y
...and on the "Science" channel you can learn all about ghosts & monsters.
Watch Lethal Weapon on Sundance!
America's dumbest and richest Housewives on Bravo! (funny, I never watched Bravo! WAAAAAAAY back in the day because I didn't like watching ballet. Then I never watched it because I didn't like trash television.)
See My Seven Ox Wives on The Learning Channel.
Watch The Fakumentury on Mermaids on The Science Channel.

It really is too bad this didn't happen to channels like TBN.
Up next on TBN at 8 PM, Speaking with the Lord Satan.

Cartoon Network and TCM are the only niche channels that survived the dumbening of niche channels. Of course, there are probably people that are old enough to drive, vote, drink (?) that were never alive when TLC was The Learning Channel.
T
But even the cartoon ch. has been struggling of late
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zippyfrog
maybe but i still have it for now, most likely this will take effect in June.
Curious if you still have ESPN News on 142 right now with AT120 or AT120+. As of today, the Dish website no longer lists it on the public website for that package.

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Willh699
it's gone from that package,i no longer get the channel.
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 5 views