Social Feed

sxmfl

Last reply Dec 22, 2009 · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

Question about Prepaid service/FlexTV

Hi, all this is our first time posting, we haved looked a lot for an answer to our question, but haven't found an answer so here it goes

We are americans living in St Maarten/St Martin in the caribbean, we have been using an FTA box with a 4ft dish pointed at 119 to recieve american TV(we can get a dual LNB to point to 110 as well if needed, please say this if you think we may need it) We've been getting every channel, including New York, Denver, and California locals.

As some of you may know, we've been experiancing some problems......LOL
We need to find a better solution to have reliable TV that doesn't cut because it's not legal. We are willing to pay and there is a company that sells DishNet boxes and will set you up with a New York based address so we would recieve those channels but for a wonderful fee of $425 for the box and activation and $55 a month for the service. I found this to be a little outrageous.

Now, my question is, if we buy a DishNet box, say the 508 or 322 for instance, and we register this with flextv and just enter in a New York zip code as I've seen this is all that is needed to get your "locals", will this setup work out of the country? Will that get me the NY locals, even if I'm not really there?

Like I said before we are pointed at 119 an can be setup to point at 110 if needed with a 4ft dish. If anyone has tried this, or can say it'll work we'd love to hear your input

We found a reseller on Ebay selling the 322 with Flexpay service, can we call DishNet and set up this box and pay monthly with an american credit card??

Thanks for all your help in advance

12 Replies · 3887 views

Load Replies (12) Reply Legacy View

dishratz

Dec 18, 2009

Direclinks in Sint Maarten is your best bet. If you think they are thieves, good luck.

Amiga

Dec 18, 2009

After more thought, if you are going legit, make sure you have a physical address (not billing) in the Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico. I think the Virgin Islands would be the best because you might qualify for the English distant networks, but I'm not sure. Programming packages for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands can be found here. I don't know if the $10 Welcome Pack is offered in Alaska, Hawaii, or PR. The spotbeam footprints you need to see for the Caribbean, towards the bottom, is at this link.

As I stated before, if DISH' auditing Nazis ever contact you, you will be screwed if the right spotbeams aren't part of the equation / formula that makes up your location ID displayed on your receiver(s). If you have separate / multiple boxes (with only one dual tuner receiver you'll be safe), let the receivers call the mothership through VoIP from the same phone number / DID. Oh, VoIP.ms bills by the second (read their reviews) and the calls into the DISH mothership are toll-free I believe, so you won't be charged for them. You can set the outgoing Caller ID / Caller Display (make sure it relates to your physical address) through the VoIP.ms web portal to anything you want, saving yourself a few bucks if you don't want a monthly DID charge.

The problem with using Direclinks is they are a middle man and you are at their mercy, much like you've been with the FTA hobby you are getting out of. I'm assuming you are sick of problems and want a final solution. If you cover yourself with the right physical address for the proper locals and VoIP to call into the mothership, you should have several worry free years of television. Expats in Canada have to go through the same motions.

sxmfl

Dec 21, 2009

Amiga said:
After more thought, if you are going legit, make sure you have a physical address (not billing) in the Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico. I think the Virgin Islands would be the best because you might qualify for the English distant networks, but I'm not sure. Programming packages for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands can be found here. I don't know if the $10 Welcome Pack is offered in Alaska, Hawaii, or PR. The spotbeam footprints you need to see for the Caribbean, towards the bottom, is at this link.

As I stated before, if DISH' auditing Nazis ever contact you, you will be screwed if the right spotbeams aren't part of the equation / formula that makes up your location ID displayed on your receiver(s). If you have separate / multiple boxes (with only one dual tuner receiver you'll be safe), let the receivers call the mothership through VoIP from the same phone number / DID. Oh, VoIP.ms bills by the second (read their reviews) and the calls into the DISH mothership are toll-free I believe, so you won't be charged for them. You can set the outgoing Caller ID / Caller Display (make sure it relates to your physical address) through the VoIP.ms web portal to anything you want, saving yourself a few bucks if you don't want a monthly DID charge.

The problem with using Direclinks is they are a middle man and you are at their mercy, much like you've been with the FTA hobby you are getting out of. I'm assuming you are sick of problems and want a final solution. If you cover yourself with the right physical address for the proper locals and VoIP to call into the mothership, you should have several worry free years of television. Expats in Canada have to go through the same motions.

We have a physical address we can use in Washington DC and Miami, but the only locals we get on 119 are New York, Denver and LA. I think if we hooked up 110, we would have some miami channels but I'm not sure. If anynes know if we'd need to be pointed at 110 also please let us know

We were looking at the prepaid because we were looking and saw that it was possible to set up the service with just a zip code and other small information, can anyone confirm this? Also I'm assuming the prepaid is less controlled.
Amiga, we've added you to skype so if you can help us out it might be easier to find a solution that way. Unfortunately don't know anyone in the USVI or PR :/

The company here that wil set you up with a box is actually Caribtech, and they wanted $400 for an FTA box that we ended up paying $180. So in my opinion, they are theives

As for dishnetwork, they are asking 425 for the box and 50/mo. !

Thanks for all your help "Amiga"!!!

dishratz

Dec 22, 2009

DIRECLINKS

Amiga said:
The problem with using Direclinks is they are a middle man and you are at their mercy, much like you've been with the FTA hobby you are getting out of.

What the hell do you know about Direclinks? When you know then talk. You know what is a middleman? You know what is a proper account with Dish Network?

Scott Greczkowski

Dec 22, 2009

Just beware, I am hearing that Dish is investigating Direclinks, dishnetwork-canada and other companies. What works today might not work tomorrow.

Just to be on the safe side of the DMCA I am going to close this one.

View all replies (12)

Ramy

Supporting Founder

Last reply 19 minutes ago · posted in The Sports Section

2026-27 NCAA College Football

Really excited for this season with Kentucky having a new coach and some really exciting recruits. Probably won't last long, but here's hoping this season is great.

169 Replies · 2413 views

Load Replies (169) Reply Legacy View

Reactions: Mike0616

Yespage

Yesterday at 3:04 PM

You mean other than Miami being in the final last year... and Indiana being the only bye team to win a game?

Jimbo

Yesterday at 9:19 PM

Yespage said:
You mean other than Miami being in the final last year... and Indiana being the only bye team to win a game?

No, I was actually referring to outside of the Top 8, but should have been Top 12 ...

I guess I should have looked at the bracket from last year first ...

I'm more thinking about them trying to expect a 15 to beat a 5 seed or there abouts .

AZ.

Yesterday at 9:38 PM

And no teams deserve a bye! Injuries are the largest part of the game that you cant practice for them. Any team can suffer the worst injury at any position on any play. No favorites.

Jimbo

Yesterday at 9:49 PM

AZ. said:
And no teams deserve a bye! Injuries are the largest part of the game that you cant practice for them. Any team can suffer the worst injury at any position on any play. No favorites.

I think they are actually discussing the Top 8 get a Bye this time, if they go to 24.
Then again, I heard something about Play in games for the 16-24 teams ...

Nothing is official yet, so lots of moving parts ...

Can't wait, lets do 24, 3 years later they will want 32 :sick

Yespage

Yesterday at 9:59 PM

AZ. said:
And no teams deserve a bye! Injuries are the largest part of the game that you cant practice for them. Any team can suffer the worst injury at any position on any play. No favorites.

While the bye can help the top four teams and those the Cartels would like to protect in the playoff, I think the bye is also about making the Cartel championships mean something. One problem with a playoff is it does diminish the conference title a bit.

Jimbo

Yesterday at 11:12 PM

Yespage said:
While the bye can help the top four teams and those the Cartels would like to protect in the playoff, I think the bye is also about making the Cartel championships mean something. One problem with a playoff is it does diminish the conference title a bit.

Once the 24 gets here, there won't be anymore Conference Championships .... or so they say.

Oh what the hell, we really don't need Conferences anymore either ... :coco

Reactions: meStevo

Ronnie-

19 minutes ago

Jimbo said:
I'm more thinking about them trying to expect a 15 to beat a 5 seed or there abouts .

I mean you get upsets all the time.

Just a couple of weeks ago. Unranked Florida knocked off number 7 texas. Unranked Auburn beat number 1 Georgia.

This week unranked Cincinnati beat number 8 texas Tech. Unranked UCF beat number 2 BYU.

No reason to think similar upsets wont happen in the playoffs where a low seed can upset a higher one.

View all replies (169)

Scott Greczkowski

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge

Last reply Today at 6:01 AM · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Song Name Game Part 3!

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

So let the game continue!

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

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

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

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

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

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne

Get it?

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

68625 Replies · 2678651 views

Load Replies (68625) Reply Legacy View

Reactions: c-spand

long_time_Dish

Today at 12:40 AM

Lonely Street - Kansas

dishstaller

Today at 12:46 AM

Lonely is the Night - Billy Squier

long_time_Dish

Today at 1:41 AM

Lonely People - America

Reactions: ClarkGable

hwkn

Today at 2:50 AM

PEOPLE Are Strange-The Doors

Reactions: ClarkGable

ClarkGable

Today at 6:01 AM

You're Still A Young Man - Tower Of Power

View all replies (68625)

TWiT Tech Podcast Network

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

Whiskey Pick: Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

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

Direct YouTube Link - Whiskey Pick: Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

0 Replies · 14 views

Replies Reply Legacy View

JSheridan

Lifetime Supporter

Last reply Today at 2:09 AM · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

All DMA's now Western Arc

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.

171 Replies · 4793 views

Load Replies (171) Reply Legacy View

Reactions: That American Girl, MikeD-C05, AkaDoubleG and 6 others

MikeD-C05

Sep 26, 2026

I don't know why DISH doesn't just start a streaming version of DISH and then if you can't see the western arc you go with streaming versions and then they could keep customers if they had good internet speeds. I mean Sling TV could be changed to Streaming DISH TV if they wanted since both companies are under Echostar. Then you would still be able to use your ota antenna with Air TV devices like I do with Air TV Anywhere with 4 ota tuners.

Reactions: That American Girl, Foxbat, dishdude and 2 others

Scott Greczkowski

Sep 26, 2026

MikeD-C05 said:
I don't know why DISH doesn't just start a streaming version of DISH

I have the same wish.

Reactions: JSheridan, MikeD-C05, dweber and 6 others

Strega

Friday at 10:01 PM

Even if you are broadcasting old SD-only shows, I would think advertisers would still want their commercials to look good.

Reactions: charlesrshell

Jimbo

Friday at 11:17 PM

Strega said:
Even if you are broadcasting old SD-only shows, I would think advertisers would still want their commercials to look good.

Advertisers on SD channels are probably Far and Few, very hard to find, they have very few viewers to watch them.

Reactions: charlesrshell

Mister B

Saturday at 7:35 AM

Jimbo said:
Advertisers on SD channels are probably Far and Few, very hard to find, they have very few viewers to watch them.

I watch mostly SD channels (H&I, Start and ION, etc.). There are plenty of advertisers, this time of the year it is mostly Medicare Advantage plans, auto extended warranties and the occasional walk-in-tub. They know who is watching.

Reactions: Almighty1, savarese04 and charlesrshell

slow_poke_pete

Yesterday at 10:40 AM

Mister B said:
I watch mostly SD channels (H&I, Start and ION, etc.). There are plenty of advertisers, this time of the year it is mostly Medicare Advantage plans, auto extended warranties and the occasional walk-in-tub. They know who is watching.

can't forget the little blue m&m's

Reactions: Almighty1, charlesrshell and telstar_1

charlesrshell

Yesterday at 11:23 AM

slow_poke_pete said:
can't forget the little blue m&m's

That's what my wife calls my Viagra!!

Reactions: Almighty1, slow_poke_pete, MikeD-C05 and 2 others

bnewt

Yesterday at 3:30 PM

Scott Greczkowski said:
I have the same wish.

Why?
A lot of people do not have fast internet.
That is why they use satellite

Reactions: HipKat, telstar_1 and charlesrshell

NYDutch

Yesterday at 7:40 PM

bnewt said:
Why?
A lot of people do not have fast internet.
That is why they use satellite

DISH will happily sell them a Starlink system and service.

Reactions: Foxbat and charlesrshell

telstar_1

Yesterday at 8:12 PM

Why didn't Charlie end up launching starlink

Reactions: charlesrshell

Foxbat

Yesterday at 9:01 PM

telstar_1 said:
Why didn't Charlie end up launching starlink

Because he didn't have a fleet of reusable rockets. Starlink works because SpaceX is able to launch hundreds (thousands?) of their Starlink satellites for what a single geostationary Internet satellite costs to build and launch on a disposable launcher.

Reactions: HipKat, charlesrshell and NYDutch

telstar_1

Today at 12:08 AM

But how is it reusable if it's disposable

slow_poke_pete

Today at 2:09 AM

charlesrshell said:
That's what my wife calls my Viagra!!

My gf is 29 years younger than me :shh

Reactions: HipKat

View all replies (171)

dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply Today at 1:03 AM · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Well crap....Donnie Iris died today

RIP dude. Always liked his music. He was 83

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH5Arbm47IQ

1 Replies · 27 views

Load Replies (1) Reply Legacy View

dishstaller

Today at 1:03 AM

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

dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Today at 12:39 AM · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Yosemite HD

This video was put up shortly after I was able to take my family out to Yosemite in 2011. No AI.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6-2fVsFV8E

0 Replies · 16 views

Replies Reply Legacy View

dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply Yesterday at 11:41 PM · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Might want to watch this before you buy a new vehicle battery

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

18 Replies · 202 views

Load Replies (18) Reply Legacy View

harshness

Sunday at 11:33 AM

When you need a battery, you need a battery.

If you can wait, new technologies are on the not-too-distant horizon.

You're probably doing something wrong if you're only getting a year out of an AGM battery. Heat and infrequent charging both significantly reduce lifetime.

dishstaller

Sunday at 12:53 PM

harshness said:
You're probably doing something wrong if you're only getting a year out of an AGM battery. Heat and infrequent charging both significantly reduce lifetime.

Huh? How can I be doing something wrong.....I took out the original battery, that was 6 yrs old and put in a new one.....kinda hard to screw that up. I figure it was just a bad battery....it happens.

The biggest takeaway I got from this video was the Walmart batteries only had something like 85% of battery life left even though they were brand NEW. The ones from O'Reilly all tested 100% of life left.

Jimbo

Sunday at 1:01 PM

dishstaller said:
Huh? How can I be doing something wrong.....I took out the original battery, that was 6 yrs old and put in a new one.....kinda hard to screw that up. I figure it was just a bad battery....it happens.

The biggest takeaway I got from this video was the Walmart batteries only had something like 85% of battery life left even though they were brand NEW. The ones from O'Reilly all tested 100% of life left.

And the Walmart ones mostly had very little warranty.

My last AGM (using now) I got from O Rielly's, its the Super Start ... I got the Platnium, they had several to choose from.

telstar_1

Sunday at 1:14 PM

He sounds like he's trying to sell me a pocket hose.

I just had to replace a car battery this week and thought I'd look into LiFePo4. Amazon has plenty of them, but all have top posts and only one 'also' has side connections (Group 75).Then I read that they're really lousy in the cold. So, an AGM, but again, almost nothing with side terminals instead of top. In researching that, I read that most mfrs in recent years have dropped side terminals and gone back to the old top posts, which is surprising to me since those are more corrosion-prone, cause the battery to need more space and are generally more hazardous. Finally I just threw up my hands and bought a regular lead-acid at Sam's Club. They had a Group 75 "Duracell" with side terminals only. It was virtually the only such battery with side posts on their shelves

arlo

Sunday at 2:20 PM

Had a Die Hard in my folks cellar for over 6 years. Pulled it out, slapped it on a charger for a day. Put it in my 'Cuda and drove it around for a week of my vacation. Next year, the same. But my dad kept it topped off for me.It was a mid 80's battery in early 1990.

Flooded acid batteries like a float voltage of around 13.5-13.8 voltage.
AGM needs a float of 14.2 volts. So if you slap an AGM in where a flooded was. It never gets a full charge.
"Why do they die so fast?" Question answered. There are folks who sell voltage regulators for alternators that are designed to boost float voltage for AGM batteries.
The other way around? Flooded will gas-off a little at 14.2 volts. But seems to tolerate it pretty good.

Lithium car/bike/atv batteries. After 3 batteries in my Harley. The OEM flooded and two AGM's (before the 14.2 volt float requirement to let them live was learned). I bought a lithium for it. 4 year, no gripe warranty after having it tested by an approved store.
The thing started like Thor himself sent a bolt from the sky. Except......try to start it around freezing? Nope. Needed a heating pad.
And I usually like to park it around events in the evening with the parking light on. Looks cool like that.
We could traipse around for a few hours no worries. Hop on, fire it up, and go putt around.
Lithium? A Dakota Lithium at least. The BMS shuts it right down if it discharges below <something>.
Come back. Parking lights off. Won't start. And you know the rest. But it lasted 6 years. A lot better than 'new every two'. And the fact that powersports batteries are warranted for six, maybe nine months. Ludicrous.

I called Noco. Asked all of the right questions. Great warranty. Save some bucks ordering directly, faster service that the wally world alternative.
They addressed (or claimed over the phone) that the shut down was addressed. Sure. The BMS keeps it form being damaged. But if it is shut down because it does become low. Shut down any load (key on, parking or headlights left on) for 10-15 minutes and you get a second try to start your rig. Not a bad thing if it really works. Right?!

Exide, Interstate? Be very afraid. They ain't what they used to be. In Florida my '70 Cutlass had an Interstate (early 90') that lasted 6 years until it dropped its plates at an intersection and boiled over. In Florida, mind you. The last Interstate.....done in 2. Guys down there would suck out the acid and put water in shortly before the warranty ran out. Make it to the auto parts, get them tested. And get a new one pro rated. No more pro rating.
You can't beat an Odyssey. Napa, AC Deco (the better ones). Yup.
The mom and pop Car Quest only sells Die Hard. For a reason, the old man says. So they convinced that a Die HArd Platinum was the hot ticket for me. l will see. Stand by!

You can't cut Mr. Project Farm down. He does great tests of all sorts of things. Not sponsored and pressured to slap a little sugar on his comparisons and reviews. Compared to the Brits and Aussies with their constant overzealous and same sounding (Dave from EEVblog) rant. I like P-Farm a lot. Of course I like AvE (Boltr) too.
Reminds me to beware when wearing shorts around the garage vice.

Opinions may vary.

harshness

Yesterday at 9:17 AM

Jimbo said:
And the Walmart ones mostly had very little warranty.

The days of the 84-month warranty appear long gone, regardless of brand or where you acquired it. Warranties tend to be shorter, with much greater dependence on quick prorating.

The big problem for lead-acid batteries (whether flooded or AGM) is that the US no longer produces lead (the last smelter closed in 2013) and must import it.

Recycling covers a good chunk of the need (~70%), but it isn't free.

EarDemon

Yesterday at 11:32 PM

I've always got regular OEM Ford Motorcraft batteries from the dealership and have never really had an issue. On my old Lincoln Aviator (the SUV from the early 00s, not the CUV of today), I had some phantom drain and went though a few batteries, but that was an anomaly and with the standard warranty I got free replacements. Taking the Aviator out of the picture, I've bought two batteries in my 24 years of driving. One battery replacement in my Mountaineer, one in my Navigator. But I probably would have had another one had I kept it around longer. Didn't have the Bronco long enough, and so far still on the factory battery for my Expedition.

I run more than the average bear. Dash cam, two radar detectors (yes, I'm aware that can be problematic when using simultaneously), laser jammers and a police scanner. I'm in Buffalo, 90 degree summers and 0 degree winters. Once in a while in the dead of winter I'll get an alert from the Ford app saying remote features have been disabled to conserve battery, but it starts right up.

dishstaller

Yesterday at 11:41 PM

EarDemon said:
I run more than the average bear. Dash cam, two radar detectors (yes, I'm aware that can be problematic when using simultaneously), laser jammers and a police scanner.