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PeterT149

Last reply May 25, 2010 · posted in DIRECTV General Forum

I cancelled after 10 years and they still want disconnection fees.

This is what they are doing to me. A year ago in April of 2009 I upgraded to HD as many people were doing at the time, we had Direct TV for 10 years already and any committment was exceeded tenfold, they even thanked us for being a 10 year customer by giving us $5.00 off a month for 12 months, then the next month they gave me $5.00 off but raised our Choice package charges by $10.00 the second month, this had othi9ng to do with the upgraded HD charges this was the regular package price increase of $10.00. I called and cancelled. The lady told me that I was going to be charged $438.00 early diconnection fee? I said no way I have been a customer for 10 years, never even late on a bill. She said that unles I wanted to keep the service I would be charged. Needless to say this did not go over well and I disconnected as I already had DISH Network installing my new system, she even said she would have someone come out and re install the dish for free if I wanted to keep the service plus another $5.00 off for 6 moonths. I laughed and said no thank you not after you are telling me you want to rip me off after ten years of being a faithful customer. I wrote them a letter after the first bill asking me for thiis absurd amount of money. No resonse no bills even. Now a year later I get a letter from RPM, a collection agency, a year and a month later telling me that I owe $448.00, I called them and they assured me I am under contract no matter how long I have had the service. I said excuse me? I had a contract for 12 months in 1999 and cancelled in 2009, thats ten years, he said it does not matter that if you cancel anytime with them you get charged for disconnection, I said how do you even know my case when you do not even know who you are talking to, I never was asked for an acct number or anything, not even my name, so this is the response they give everyone. I'll be calling my Attorney.

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stonecold

May 19, 2010

Just some points

1. its not 500 but 480 ( 20 x 24 months )
2. If you order online is it listed on the site and it something you have to click pass to continue with the order.
3. New customer rebates at the end also state again that you are agreeing to the contract by accepting the 12 months of credits
4. when ordering equipment ( existing customr ) ACE agents are required to disclosed it will cause a 24 month contract ext , and then Ace or Tech will state it a 2nd time when they go to activate. Failure to do either of these is considered a red flag 2 red flags and you fired. So it is something we take seriously most customers do not open there ears and listen.

cfb

May 20, 2010

stonecold said:
Just some points

1. its not 500 but 480 ( 20 x 24 months )

I specifically said $500 to see someone jump pointlessly on the $20 difference.

2. If you order online is it listed on the site and it something you have to click pass to continue with the order.

You might give this a whirl because it does no such thing. In one of about 8 screens theres a list of products and services and next to the service plan line item theres a place you can click to 'see my agreement'. There is much trumpeting of free stuff, free installs and great prices. I have to notice and click on something specific and scroll through a long agreement to see that there is a commitment and an early termination fee, and how much it is. On the very first, very busy page full of offers there is a sub note under the price that says "with agreement". Plenty of room there for "with 24 month agreement and early termination fee".

Further, I note that if you dont give it your social security number for a credit check, you get dinged for $300 up front with a $5/mo 60 month credit, but you cant get the credit unless you agree to give your email address to directv for spamming purposes. Thats not very nice.

3. New customer rebates at the end also state again that you are agreeing to the contract by accepting the 12 months of credits

Nothing I did involved a rebate, so I cant comment on that, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that its something I have to see and click on, not something in 24 point font that flashes and tells me about the agreement and what the implications are.

4. when ordering equipment ( existing customr ) ACE agents are required to disclosed it will cause a 24 month contract ext , and then Ace or Tech will state it a 2nd time when they go to activate. Failure to do either of these is considered a red flag 2 red flags and you fired. So it is something we take seriously most customers do not open there ears and listen.

Or its not being said. What is the system to assure its been said? Do you have the customer enter into an acknowledged recording of the tech telling them and them saying "I agree"? Is it in big red letters on the top of the front page of the agreement and are they told its an agreement they might sign before the install proceeds?

I agree there may be many people who go by this verbally without recollection, but I also believe that it just doesnt get said sometimes. How do you red mark someone twice and fire them? Presume that when a customer says it wasnt ever discussed that the customer is right and the directv agent is lying?

Sounds like you think a lot of this stuff is well disclosed, but from my personal experience and from investigating what you've claimed, its not. Its still tucked away where someone who would have no expectations that would drive looking for such a thing isnt likely to find it.

So I'm still of the same opinion. You're putting the onus on the prospective customer to find and examine the agreement thats unlike how the cable company does business and how the satellite companies did business until a few years ago and you're leaving it to the human element to make sure its understood.

Thats why there are so many failures and so many angry customers. Sadly, while ten years ago every angry customer told ten friends, now they tell 10,000.

stonecold

May 21, 2010

cfb said:
I specifically said $500 to see someone jump pointlessly on the $20 difference.

You might give this a whirl because it does no such thing. In one of about 8 screens theres a list of products and services and next to the service plan line item theres a place you can click to 'see my agreement'. There is much trumpeting of free stuff, free installs and great prices. I have to notice and click on something specific and scroll through a long agreement to see that there is a commitment and an early termination fee, and how much it is. On the very first, very busy page full of offers there is a sub note under the price that says "with agreement". Plenty of room there for "with 24 month agreement and early termination fee".

Further, I note that if you dont give it your social security number for a credit check, you get dinged for $300 up front with a $5/mo 60 month credit, but you cant get the credit unless you agree to give your email address to directv for spamming purposes. Thats not very nice.

Nothing I did involved a rebate, so I cant comment on that, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that its something I have to see and click on, not something in 24 point font that flashes and tells me about the agreement and what the implications are.

Or its not being said. What is the system to assure its been said? Do you have the customer enter into an acknowledged recording of the tech telling them and them saying "I agree"? Is it in big red letters on the top of the front page of the agreement and are they told its an agreement they might sign before the install proceeds?

I agree there may be many people who go by this verbally without recollection, but I also believe that it just doesnt get said sometimes. How do you red mark someone twice and fire them? Presume that when a customer says it wasnt ever discussed that the customer is right and the directv agent is lying?

Sounds like you think a lot of this stuff is well disclosed, but from my personal experience and from investigating what you've claimed, its not. Its still tucked away where someone who would have no expectations that would drive looking for such a thing isnt likely to find it.

So I'm still of the same opinion. You're putting the onus on the prospective customer to find and examine the agreement thats unlike how the cable company does business and how the satellite companies did business until a few years ago and you're leaving it to the human element to make sure its understood.

Thats why there are so many failures and so many angry customers. Sadly, while ten years ago every angry customer told ten friends, now they tell 10,000.

I mention the 20 dollar difference as I feel the facts need to be stated not your exagerations. People need to know how we get 480 and that each month is valued at 20 dollars at 24 months. I am sorry you feel I am being petty about it. But my goal here is to help people understand the system and help them out the best way I can which is pumping there heads full of knowledge.

I also recently placed a mock order for service using a fake name we use in the company for testing the systems. Again you have you click past the agreement to finish your order, we can not force the customer to read the contract. If they would read it they would see all the terms . I can lead you to water but I cant make you drink

I am not here to debate policy only to state it so you understand how it works. To answer your toher question we record all calls . they are held for 2 to 3 weeks. QC goes thoughs a percentage of them for billing is like 1/3 of the calls for ACE ( who orders and activates equipment ) over 1/2 the calls are quality controled. This is not including the calls supervisors like my self have to listen to grade and coach the agent on. So like I said if they fail to disclose it is strike 1 of a 2 strikes and your out system . Directv is serious about this kind of stuff and I am sorry the op got caught up in another contract but knowing what my agens in bill and others go through, it hard for me to belive that 2 separate agents failed to disclose the contract ext information .

But sir, you go ahead and believe what everyou want as I believe that your god given right.

cfb

May 21, 2010

stonecold said:
I mention the 20 dollar difference as I feel the facts need to be stated not your exagerations.

Its a 4% difference. Yes, thats petty.

I can lead you to water but I cant make you drink

I did the same thing. I went up to where I put in my credit card and there was a "submit your order" button. I never had to click through anything that presented me with a contract. But if somewhere after I've gone through the whole process of selecting my system and entering all my info and my payment is where directv thinks the right place to tell me about my commitment, then I'd still suggest thats the wrong place to do it.

they are held for 2 to 3 weeks. QC goes thoughs a percentage of them for billing is like 1/3 of the calls for ACE ( who orders and activates equipment ) over 1/2 the calls are quality controled.

Sounds like a good effort, but still plenty of room for human error and not enough proof kept long enough. We're not talking about a $20 fee here. It also sounds like a humongous waste of resources to screen that many calls. Wouldnt it be a lot easier to train the people better and give them a more foolproof system to use?

Directv is serious about this kind of stuff and I am sorry the op got caught up in another contract but knowing what my agens in bill and others go through, it hard for me to belive that 2 separate agents failed to disclose the contract ext information .

But sir, you go ahead and believe what everyou want as I believe that your god given right.

I'm sure directv wants to get this right. Its just that the evidence in plain sight is that the contract information is insufficiently available/explained as part of the sales process. There are hundreds of thousands of complaints by people who say they never got the info. I can back that up, because I wasnt given the info to examine before the equipment was installed.

So it has very little to do with what I believe, and once again constructive criticism is met by defensiveness.

The bottom line is that Directv should not be charging me a big up front fee for a box AND putting me on a contract. If they are, I should have to sign something to agree to that at retail POS or have my agreement recorded and kept for the term of the contract. An existing customer who has been with the company since before the contract/lease situation existed or who has already passed the 24 month term shouldnt be hit with another contract extension just because they upgrade or add a receiver.

Directv is double and triple dipping and putting the onus on the customer to realize what they're getting into. Thats fine, but its going to result in a lot of angry customers. And thats what you're getting.

It'd be way better to just figure out what sort of problems the customer is having that makes them want to disconnect the service prematurely and fix those problems.

raoul5788

May 21, 2010

cfb said:
Its a 4% difference. Yes, thats petty.

I would say it's accurate. In this case, I think it matters.

cfb

May 21, 2010

raoul5788 said:
I would say it's accurate. In this case, I think it matters.

I dont think it does. I think it was more important to find and point out small things than to address the primary issues.

But I guess when you see something thats $99 you dont think "so, its about a hundred"?

Stonecold, I understand your perspective and you're here to tell us the company line and you have to adhere to it. But this is a discussion forum. We discuss. We share different points of view, talk about them, maybe come away with some different ideas and perspectives.

My perspective is that directv had a problem and fixed it the wrong way, in a manner that will produce a large number of angry and dissatisfied customers. The benefits directv garners - a few ETF's from some twitchy customers who wanted to try something else out - are in my opinion well outweighed by the detriments - lots of people who didnt understand the implications of the contract and ended up out of pocket in a situation where they may not have had a lot of choice.

Your perspective is that its fine if it works 98% of the time and all y'all are trying real hard to eliminate the 2%. I get it. I just hope it doesnt come back to bite directv in the ass when people decide they'd rather buy something without a contract (which seems to be a trend) and existing customers avoid upgrades to the newer and better products in an effort to avoid being locked in.

Its telling when you google "directv early termination complaints and get 74,000 hits.

Its also telling when the companies BBB rating is an "F", with the BBB's explanation:
"Complainants generally allege problems relating to contract terms, billing disputes, descrepencies concerning pre-paid programming. Many of the complaints relate that the company's promotional offers fail to include all of the limitations, conditions and penalties that may apply. In almost all cases, the advertised promotional pricing is dependent on conditions that are not readily apparent from the advertising. Complainants consider the advertising to be deceptive. Some complain the company fails to send statements in a timely fashion resulting in late fees, or that unauthorized amounts of money are charged or debited to customer accounts. Others complain of inadequate customer service and the inability to contact the company to change programming or resolve billing issues. The company responds to most complaints by relying on the terms of the contract. In some cases, they apply necessary credits, adjust programming, or otherwise resolve the problems. In many cases, the company disputes the complainants allegations, and refuses adjustments."

Yeah, I know: stupid customers.

talos4

May 24, 2010

cfb said:
Its telling when you google "directv early termination complaints and get 74,000 hits.

Its also telling when the companies BBB rating is an "F", with the BBB's explanation:
"Complainants generally allege problems relating to contract terms, billing disputes, descrepencies concerning pre-paid programming. Many of the complaints relate that the company's promotional offers fail to include all of the limitations, conditions and penalties that may apply. In almost all cases, the advertised promotional pricing is dependent on conditions that are not readily apparent from the advertising. Complainants consider the advertising to be deceptive. Some complain the company fails to send statements in a timely fashion resulting in late fees, or that unauthorized amounts of money are charged or debited to customer accounts. Others complain of inadequate customer service and the inability to contact the company to change programming or resolve billing issues. The company responds to most complaints by relying on the terms of the contract. In some cases, they apply necessary credits, adjust programming, or otherwise resolve the problems. In many cases, the company disputes the complainants allegations, and refuses adjustments."

Yeah, I know: stupid customers.

That's really not an indication of a problem, Consider:

Google:

Verizon ETF Complaints 49,300
T-Mobile ETF Complaints 175,000
AT&T Wireless ETF Complaints 77,400

Ford Motor Co. Complaints 7,920,000
Sears Complaints 1,120,000
Denon Complaints 1,700,000
HP Complaints 2,930,000 (I thought everyone loves HP Printers)
Apple Complaints 4,990,000 (I thought everyone loves Apple)

I even Googled my place of employment and came up with 2,100. (really?!)

Everyone loves to complain, I guarantee that any business has more complaints than compliments filed anywhere.

How many positive threads about either sat provider are there on this forum? In comparison, How many threads with complaints?

Is Directv perfect? No, far from it. I've been with them since 1997 and have no complaints. Do I go out of my way and file a compliment with the BBB? Nope. Should I? You can't, if you look at the BBB website there is no link to file a compliment. Only one to file a complaint.

marquitos306

May 24, 2010

I'm not been an smart pants my friend, but you were under contract regards of how many years you were a good customer.

cfb

May 24, 2010

talos4 said:
That's really not an indication of a problem

The "F" grade is certainly an indication of a problem since its how the BBB feels that directv handles the complaints. The number of complaints isnt really relevant. But there were certainly plenty of those as well.

Consider that Comcast has a "C" rating and Dish network has a "B-" rating, the "F" really sticks out.

Heres what the BBB takes into consideration in determining the grade, as you'll see the number of complaints is only one of more than a dozen characteristics:

BBB | What are BBB Ratings?

Specifically:

"BBB assigns grades from A to F with pluses and minuses. A+ is the highest grade and F is the lowest. The grade represents BBB's degree of confidence that the business is operating in a trustworthy manner and will make a good faith effort to resolve any customer concerns filled with BBB."

So in issuing the grade of "F", the BBB feels that the business is not operating in a trustworthy manner, nor do they make a good faith effort to resolve customer concerns.

By way of comparison, while directv has about 28-30% more subscribers than dish, dish has only about 1/3 of the number of complaints to the BBB than directv and the vast majority of those were marked by the BBB as successfully resolved.

Tom Bombadil

May 25, 2010

Speaking of cell phone provider ETFs, I recently discovered this one.

Verizon offers the LG Accolade phone for $20 with 2 year contract and ETF of $175. Activation fee of $35.

However I found the exact same phone at Walmart for $20 as a prepaid. No contract. With $10 of free airtime and no activation fee.

So Verizon is really giving you no discount on the phone, charging an extra $35 to activate, and then sticking you with a 2 year contract with $175 ETF. Wow, what a deal!

By comparison, D* seems customer-friendly.

cfb

May 25, 2010

Yeah some of the cell phone providers are jacking up their ETF's. Guess they're going to make the same mistake of making the stick longer rather than fixing the bad customer service or weaker features vs competitive offerings.

You're figuring out why people are moving to the prepaid cell phones en masse.

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techristian

Last reply 8 minutes ago · posted in Free To Air (FTA) Discussion

NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW FTA BOX

IS Amiko MIRA 3 any good ???
Can you recommend the best to cover all bases. NO BEEPS on certain channels 101w (NEWSMAX ,NEWS NATION), a clock that keeps working STEADY for timed recording ,solid unit with good lifespan. My Amiko died AND my Linkbox has NO Favorites Button and BEEPS on many channels. Picking up 105 west with a NEW SHED IN THE Way with 6 foot Cband ..95 percent quality ...unbelievable.

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techristian

Today at 8:49 PM

Have you tried a new power brick on your Amiko?

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

DAN

Reactions: primestar31, cyberham and SDA_FL_USA

cyberham

Today at 10:07 PM

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

Give us a summary of what you receive with a 6-footer. I'm very curious.

primestar31

39 minutes ago

techristian said:
Have you tried a new power brick on your Amiko?

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

DAN

That's great!

Many people have all sorts of power bricks laying around. Provided the plug fits, and it's the right polarity and same voltage and the same OR higher amps, why not try another one IF the device you want to try it on doesn't seem to work right.

Reactions: cyberham

JFOK

31 minutes ago

primestar31 said:
That's great!

Many people have all sorts of power bricks laying around. Provided the plug fits, and it's the right polarity and same voltage and the same OR higher amps, why not try another one IF the device you want to try it on doesn't seem to work right.

primestar31,

Could you explain to me what a power brick is ?
Thanks,

John

primestar31

27 minutes ago

JFOK said:
primestar31,

Could you explain to me what a power brick is ?
Thanks,

John

Some people just call them power supplies (which really isn't a good fit in this case), some call them "wall adapters" but it's an external power supply or AC adapter that converts (AC) from a wall outlet into low-voltage (DC) that an electronic device needs to run.

techristian

8 minutes ago

[Give us a summary of what you receive with a 6-footer. I'm very curious.]

Right now on C band getting 105w, a Mexican channel with 95% quality and I am near Detroit! I'm recording a TECHNO MUSIC FESTIVAL today from Mexico ..if you can believe it.....and yes that SHED is partly in the path so I'm puzzled. There are also christian channels on 105w.

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dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply 16 minutes ago · posted in The Chit Chat Club

What supplements have you found that really helped your overall health

Didn't see a thread like this so I figured why not start one. This is about natural supplements. If you aren't into supplements, fine, but please let those of us who do want to discuss this discuss it.

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

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dishstaller

Today at 7:25 PM

Not sure if this would qualify as a supplement but here goes: When I meet someone who is in their 90s and doing very well healthwise I always ask what they attribute their longevity to. Out of all the people I questioned, there was only ONE thing that they ALL did. They all drank some apple cider vinegar daily....usually before bed. You can water it down all you want. Who knows why, but I do it. You want to buy the organic type with the mother.

(((Garyd)))

Today at 8:15 PM

dishstaller said:
Didn't see a thread like this so I figured why not start one. This is about natural supplements. If you aren't into supplements, fine, but please let those of us who do want to discuss this discuss it.

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

Chia Seeds

Reactions: dishstaller

dishstaller

Today at 8:42 PM

(((Garyd))) said:
Chia Seeds

Kinda the whole idea is to mention something and explain WHY it is something we might want to add to our daily routine.
This is what I got from google. Looks like I'm going to be adding them, thanks

Key Health Benefits

- Digestive Health: One ounce (28 grams) of chia seeds provides nearly 10 grams of fiber, which promotes regular bowel movements, feeds beneficial gut bacteria, and helps prevent constipation. [1, 2]
- Heart and Cardiovascular Support: Rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)—an essential plant-based omega-3 fatty acid—chia seeds can help lower blood pressure, reduce triglycerides, and improve cholesterol profiles. [1, 2, 3]
- Blood Sugar Regulation: The combination of soluble fiber and protein slows down carbohydrate digestion, preventing sharp blood sugar spikes after meals. [1, 2]
- Weight Management: When soaked in liquid, chia seeds absorb up to 10 to 12 times their weight in water. The resulting gel expands in the stomach, increasing feelings of fullness and curbing appetite. [1, 2, 3]
- Bone Strength: They contain high levels of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which are vital for maintaining bone density. [1, 2, 3]
- Antioxidant Protection: Compounds like chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid help fight cellular damage from free radicals and reduce chronic inflammation. [1, 2, 3]

dishstaller

Today at 8:48 PM

Just ordered this. The gelatin for the capsules is bovine.

https://www.amazon.com/Better-Place-Supplements-Chia-500mg/dp/B0F6VD9T9G/ref=sxin_11_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.6a5e085a-22d9-47c6-888f-471c53bdae71%3Aamzn1.sym.6a5e085a-22d9-47c6-888f-471c53bdae71&crid=15DK3ARH90NFP&cv_ct_cx=chia+seeds+organic+pills&keywords=chia+seeds+organic+pills&pd_rd_i=B0F6VD9T9G&pd_rd_r=33bec8f0-c5c0-464a-aeca-e4bd41cf1524&pd_rd_w=2VWJ0&pd_rd_wg=Fni7I&pf_rd_p=6a5e085a-22d9-47c6-888f-471c53bdae71&pf_rd_r=JQ49TRX4HK38A362MFN8&qid=1792888997&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=chia+seeds+organic+pills%2Caps%2C412&sr=1-4-a93c1691-9e8e-4af3-8c72-b74ae113a4b0-spons&aref=A6urp4Qsl7&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1

(((Garyd)))

16 minutes ago

dishstaller said:
Kinda the whole idea is to mention something and explain WHY it is something we might want to add to our daily routine.
This is what I got from google. Looks like I'm going to be adding them, thanks

Key Health Benefits

Digestive Health: One ounce (28 grams) of chia seeds provides nearly 10 grams of fiber, which promotes regular bowel movements, feeds beneficial gut bacteria, and helps prevent constipation. [1, 2]

Heart and Cardiovascular Support: Rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)—an essential plant-based omega-3 fatty acid—chia seeds can help lower blood pressure, reduce triglycerides, and improve cholesterol profiles. [1, 2, 3]

Blood Sugar Regulation: The combination of soluble fiber and protein slows down carbohydrate digestion, preventing sharp blood sugar spikes after meals. [1, 2]

Weight Management: When soaked in liquid, chia seeds absorb up to 10 to 12 times their weight in water. The resulting gel expands in the stomach, increasing feelings of fullness and curbing appetite. [1, 2, 3]

Bone Strength: They contain high levels of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which are vital for maintaining bone density. [1, 2, 3]

Antioxidant Protection: Compounds like chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid help fight cellular damage from free radicals and reduce chronic inflammation. [1, 2, 3]

Andy it builds your bones if I had used it in my food all my life I would not have the joint issues I have there is 3 types of calcium only the one from real foods build better bones

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/YjZfw6WPvGs?si=TPlK6UZxxKa3a3na

TRG

Pub Member / Supporter

Last reply 19 minutes ago · posted in Computers and Gadgets

Starlink Router question

I set up a music server for my brother a few years ago. It's basically a small headless computer but it needs to have a DHCP IP address reserved for it in the router settings. This was easy to do in his DSL router. He's switching to Starlink now and I was wondering if these setting are easily accessible in the Starlink router. I'm pretty sure he will be getting the latest V5 router.

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b4pjoe

Today at 2:12 PM

TRG said:
I set up a music server for my brother a few years ago. It's basically a small headless computer but it needs to have a DHCP IP address reserved for it in the router settings. This was easy to do in his DSL router. He's switching to Starlink now and I was wondering if these setting are easily accessible in the Starlink router. I'm pretty sure he will be getting the latest V5 router.

If you can't get into the router to reserve an IP address just don't use DHCP on the device that needs connected and assign it to a specific IP address in the network settings.

HipKat

19 minutes ago

TRG said:
I set up a music server for my brother a few years ago. It's basically a small headless computer but it needs to have a DHCP IP address reserved for it in the router settings. This was easy to do in his DSL router. He's switching to Starlink now and I was wondering if these setting are easily accessible in the Starlink router. I'm pretty sure he will be getting the latest V5 router.

They are not. Your best bet is to set up a third-party router, attached to the Starlink for your server, that you can get into, like a Linksys, etc

klang

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply 25 minutes ago · posted in TV Shows

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy - Paramount+

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.

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klang

Jul 28, 2025

I'm sure I will watch at least the first episode but I am not optimistic.

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klang

Oct 11, 2026

klang said:
I'm sure I will watch at least the first episode but I am not optimistic.

Here i am over a year later and just finished season 1. Not great but not as bad as I was expecting. Did not care for the barefoot captain stuff but overall ok. Actually looking forward to see what they did for season 2.

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MikeD-C05

Oct 11, 2026

klang said:
Here i am over a year later and just finished season 1. Not great but not as bad as I was expecting. Did not care for the barefoot captain stuff but overall ok. Actually looking forward to see what they did for season 2.

Yeah, the foot stuff was just nasty. I kept thinking of how dirty her feet would get traipsing around shoe-less. Funny, I love being shoe less at home and never wear shoes indoors in my home for long, but seeing her laying on all her furniture with her bare feet hanging out just kind of grossed me out.

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harshness

Oct 13, 2026

MikeD-C05 said:
I kept thinking of how dirty her feet would get traipsing around shoe-less.

Where would this "dirt" come from? Dead skin and dandruff?

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MikeD-C05

Sunday at 12:51 PM

harshness said:
Where would this "dirt" come from? Dead skin and dandruff?

There would still be dirt ,dust in the future I am sure. So walking around the station like she did she would get stuff on her feet. I am sure the robot vacuum is still going to miss stuff, with all those different alien species running around there.

Reactions: Howard Simmons and long_time_Dish

harshness

Sunday at 2:00 PM

MikeD-C05 said:
There would still be dirt ,dust in the future I am sure.

Where is it going to come from -- specifically?

Why do you think cleaning technology won't improve in the next few hundred years? HEPA filtration was invented as part of the Manhattan Project.

MikeD-C05

Monday at 1:35 PM

harshness said:
Where is it going to come from -- specifically?

Why do you think cleaning technology won't improve in the next few hundred years? HEPA filtration was invented as part of the Manhattan Project.

I don't know, but I still don't like her walking through the station or the academy with out her shoes. It looks unprofessional and very "hippy like" for someone of her status and I personally don't get off to feet, so there is that.

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osu1991

Monday at 1:59 PM

MikeD-C05 said:
I don't know, but I still don't like her walking through the station or the academy with out her shoes. It looks unprofessional and very "hippy like" for someone of her status and I personally don't get off to feet, so there is that.

Stay out of my office. I rarely have shoes or socks on in the office. My office and business is at home though :clapping

harshness

Tuesday at 5:36 PM

MikeD-C05 said:
I don't know, but I still don't like her walking through the station or the academy with out her shoes.

That is your right.

I couldn't buy hiding behind the dirty-feet argument.

Reactions: MikeD-C05

MikeD-C05

Today at 12:25 PM

osu1991 said:
Stay out of my office. I rarely have shoes or socks on in the office. My office and business is at home though

Say, I don't wear socks or shoes in my house either. But for a captain in Star Fleet it looks bad to be walking around the academy with no shoes. Gives off 1960 Hippie vibes.

Reactions: long_time_Dish

Jimbo

Today at 4:30 PM

MikeD-C05 said:
Gives off 1960 Hippie vibes.

You say that like it's a Bad thing or something ... :biggrin

long_time_Dish

Today at 4:38 PM

Well, look at the way she sat in the Captain's Chair. I didn't say the show should have been called "Captain Chair-Whore" for nothing...

primestar31

25 minutes ago

MikeD-C05 said:
Say, I don't wear socks or shoes in my house either. But for a captain in Star Fleet it looks bad to be walking around the academy with no shoes. Gives off 1960 Hippie vibes.

Just sayin...

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dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

36 minutes ago · posted in The Chit Chat Club

It's amazing how fast a standard traffic stop can turn into a shootout

This went from 0 to 60 in a second.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_gDzN2BYvY

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dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply 55 minutes ago · posted in The Chit Chat Club

You can't even trust the cost per ounce info in grocery stores anymore

I'm surprised Walmart hasn't banned this guy from all of their stores. He has been on their CASE the past few months.

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/f3zr37ekgKM?feature=share

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Juan

Wednesday at 1:38 PM

dishstaller said:
Then they are stupid. Everyone knows that the price per ounce should be the price per ounce of actual product.

You are paying for the whole thing

telstar_1

Wednesday at 2:22 PM

Juan said:
You are paying for the whole thing

Well, the bag can't weigh that much, right? But by law food product packaging must display the actual net weight of the product, i.e., the contents of the container, so by any logic, if not law, a store's stated per-ounce cost should reflect that figure. But since there's not any law regulating shelf statements, a store can say whatever it wants without violating any rules. So I guess the answer is more consumer legislation. Or simply caveat emptor.

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Jimbo

Wednesday at 6:26 PM

telstar_1 said:
Well, the bag can't weigh that much, right? But by law food product packaging must display the actual net weight of the product, i.e., the contents of the container, so by any logic, if not law, a store's stated per-ounce cost should reflect that figure. But since there's not any law regulating shelf statements, a store can say whatever it wants without violating any rules. So I guess the answer is more consumer legislation. Or simply caveat emptor.

I would think that the Vendor/Maker of the product would have a say in it, showing the Correct weight ...
You would think it would be in the contract.

I do look at the ounces of items, but unless its way off, I don't check the math, may have to start now.

Remember when you use to get a 13.5 oz bag of Chips .... Thats a PARTY Size now.

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TRG

Wednesday at 6:41 PM

Jimbo said:
I would think that the Vendor/Maker of the product would have a say in it, showing the Correct weight ...
You would think it would be in the contract.

I do look at the ounces of items, but unless its way off, I don't check the math, may have to start now.

Remember when you use to get a 13.5 oz bag of Chips .... Thats a PARTY Size now.

I remember when a pound of coffee was 16oz. Now its 12oz, they don't call it a pound anymore and its three times the cost of the 16oz pound.

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Jimbo

Wednesday at 7:05 PM

TRG said:
I remember when a pound of coffee was 16oz. Now its 12oz, they don't call it a pound anymore and its three times the cost of the 16oz pound.

Well, they don't call it a pound anymore ....

Ice cream is that way too, use to be a half gallon, now its 1.5 quart or some say 48 oz

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meStevo

Yesterday at 5:40 PM

The larger discrepancies are likely from a data or sync issue. Digital tags don't cause the error, but they can spread one bad entry across a whole store or region instantly. The small cent differences are probably just rounding in the weight, the price data, or both.

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(((Garyd)))

Today at 4:06 PM

Jimbo said:
Well, they don't call it a pound anymore ....

Ice cream is that way too, use to be a half gallon, now its 1.5 quart or some say 48 oz

Is it real Ice-cream?

Jimbo

Today at 4:07 PM

(((Garyd))) said:
Is it real Ice-cream?

Is it Real Ice cream ???
Depends on what your talking about.

(((Garyd)))

Today at 4:09 PM

Jimbo said:
Is it Real Ice cream ???
Depends on what your talking about.

Most don't have any milk in them

dishstaller

Today at 7:09 PM

meStevo said:
The larger discrepancies are likely from a data or sync issue. Digital tags don't cause the error, but they can spread one bad entry across a whole store or region instantly. The small cent differences are probably just rounding in the weight, the price data, or both.

It's simple math. You take the price and divide by the number of ounces and come up with the price per ounce. I find it hard to believe that Walmart's computers can't carry out simple division.

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meStevo

Today at 7:51 PM

dishstaller said:
It's simple math. You take the price and divide by the number of ounces and come up with the price per ounce. I find it hard to believe that Walmart's computers can't carry out simple division.

The division isn't the problem, the inputs are. On the Starbucks pods, $9.22 @ $3.35/oz works out to 2.75 oz, but the box is 1.94 oz. So either the system has the wrong weight on file, or the unit price is left over from an older price of about $6.50 that never got updated. Garbage in, garbage out. Walmart's had unit-pricing data problems before, too - in 2024 they paid $1.64M to settle with New Jersey after inspectors found 2,000+ instances of unit prices using the wrong unit of measure.

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dishstaller

Today at 8:59 PM

meStevo said:
Garbage in, garbage out.

THAT is most likely the culprit.

meStevo said:
in 2024 they paid $1.64M to settle with New Jersey after inspectors found 2,000+ instances of unit prices using the wrong unit of measure.

So....its intentional. The new fine needs to be a billion $...that would cause someone to fix the issue.

Yespage

Today at 9:19 PM

(((Garyd))) said:
Most don't have any milk in them

*nit pick* You want cream or more precisely FAT to make ice cream. Milk isn't heavy enough. When making my own, I use half and half.

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Yespage

Today at 9:28 PM

meStevo said:
The division isn't the problem, the inputs are. On the Starbucks pods, $9.22 @ $3.35/oz works out to 2.75 oz, but the box is 1.94 oz. So either the system has the wrong weight on file, or the unit price is left over from an older price of about $6.50 that never got updated. Garbage in, garbage out. Walmart's had unit-pricing data problems before, too - in 2024 they paid $1.64M to settle with New Jersey after inspectors found 2,000+ instances of unit prices using the wrong unit of measure.

Wrong unit of measure? Having a hard time believing that or were they conflating solid and fluid ounces (stupid US measuring system).

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

First world problems, but man... argh!!!

TRG

Today at 9:53 PM

Yespage said:
Wrong unit of measure? Having a hard time believing that or were they conflating solid and fluid ounces (stupid US measuring system).

Not with the absurd measures that are used in the US. Is that unit price for blueberries in ounces or pints...

You always have the option of moving to a country that uses a unit of measurement that better suits your needs.

dishstaller

55 minutes ago

Thought this might be a nice diversion, this same guy audited Publix's package weight....yes, I know this is different from the original post on this thread.....and it was accurate.

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RT62clPswEA?feature=share

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dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Today at 9:39 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

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Scott Greczkowski

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge

Last reply Today at 8:55 PM · 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....

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gms49ers

Today at 1:51 PM

Just Get Through This Night - Styx

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long_time_Dish

Today at 4:30 PM

Help Me Make It Through The Night - Sammi Smith

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gms49ers

Today at 5:43 PM

Make Me Smile/Now More Than Ever - Chicago

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long_time_Dish

Today at 7:55 PM

Sara Smile - Hall and Oates

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dishstaller

Today at 8:55 PM

When I See You Smile - Bad English

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dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply Today at 8:54 PM · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Man falls to his death on roller coaster at 6 Flags in GA

Can't help but wonder if a worker overlooked checking the harness. I rarely ride a roller coaster anymore but when I do I check the harness myself pretty aggressively.
Can't imagine what the son is going through.

Dad levitated and bled then fell to his death from coaster

Eyewitnesses have shared fresh details of the horrific accident that happened at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday afternoon.

www.dailymail.com

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Jimbo

Oct 14, 2026

Could B&M’s Patent on the “Clamshell” Ride Restraint Design Offer Clues as to What Happened on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia?

Incredibly sad news out of Six Flags Over Georgia as it’s being reported one man was killed after being ejected from Goliath, the B&M hyper coaster. Many news outlets have posted pictures of pe…

bgtsafari.com

dishstaller

Oct 15, 2026

Jimbo said:
Could B&M’s Patent on the “Clamshell” Ride Restraint Design Offer Clues as to What Happened on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia?

Incredibly sad news out of Six Flags Over Georgia as it’s being reported one man was killed after being ejected from Goliath, the B&M hyper coaster. Many news outlets have posted pictures of pe…

bgtsafari.com

Had no idea there were that many redundancies built into those restraints.

Jimbo

Oct 15, 2026

dishstaller said:
Had no idea there were that many redundancies built into those restraints.

It makes sense, however, I would want more types of restraints, so if one doesn't work, the other does ... the restraints coming over the shoulder I would have expected ... with a Seat belt as last resort.

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

NONE of the Coasters at CP use THAT particular system

I'm glad to see ...

dishstaller

Oct 15, 2026

Jimbo said:
with a Seat belt as last resort.

According to the article, when you see a seat belt on a ride like this, it is basically used as a way of making sure the rider isn't too large/fat to safely ride the ride.

Jimbo

Oct 15, 2026

dishstaller said:
According to the article, when you see a seat belt on a ride like this, it is basically used as a way of making sure the rider isn't too large/fat to safely ride the ride.

Well, the over the shoulder support is better, but would require reconfiguring the cars.

Jimbo

Oct 15, 2026

Heres an article from the Akron Beacon ... seeing Six Flags has bought Cedar Point and Kings Island, they are included ...
I said earlier that Cedar Point doesn't use this type of seat restraint ... well, it does use it, But the difference is, the ones up here ALSO have the Over the shoulder restraint as well ... like I was suggesting that they should have used with the Goliath.

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

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2026/10/12/fatal-accident-on-six-flags-coaster-raises-concerns/92225822007/

dishstaller

Today at 7:27 PM

UPDATE: Six Flags is adding seatbelts to all 9 rollercoasters

Six Flags adds important safety feature after teacher died

Hassan Kariem, 42, was killed at the theme park in Austell earlier this month, after he was thrown from his seat on the Goliath rollercoaster. Four others were injured.

www.dailymail.com

Jimbo

Today at 7:56 PM

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

Six Flags adds important safety feature after teacher died

Hassan Kariem, 42, was killed at the theme park in Austell earlier this month, after he was thrown from his seat on the Goliath rollercoaster. Four others were injured.

www.dailymail.com

Finally ....

dishstaller

Today at 8:54 PM

Jimbo said:
Finally ....

It DOES kinda seem like a simple safety feature.

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TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Today at 8:02 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Larry Ellison’s Debt-Fueled Media Bet: Could It Spark a Crash? #shorts

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5-kh3ZIy2yc

Direct YouTube Link - Larry Ellison's Debt-Fueled Media Bet: Could It Spark a Crash? #shorts
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Star Trek: Starfleet Academy - Paramount+

It's amazing how fast a standard traffic stop can turn into a shootout

You can't even trust the cost per ounce info in grocery stores anymore

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

Song Name Game Part 3!

Man falls to his death on roller coaster at 6 Flags in GA

Dad levitated and bled then fell to his death from coaster

Could B&M’s Patent on the “Clamshell” Ride Restraint Design Offer Clues as to What Happened on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia?

Could B&M’s Patent on the “Clamshell” Ride Restraint Design Offer Clues as to What Happened on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia?

Six Flags adds important safety feature after teacher died

Six Flags adds important safety feature after teacher died

Larry Ellison’s Debt-Fueled Media Bet: Could It Spark a Crash? #shorts