Rented an apartment near the Eiffel Tower that advertised satellite TV, but they recently "updated" to IPTV Freebox. Was looking forward to surfing Astra and Hotbird, but will have to wait until next week.
Spending a few days in London and will be my first time surfing the Freeview service. Returning to Paris next week to another apartment with a fixed FTA system, so will get some FTA time logged!
The Freebox is quite a nice IPTV STB and service. Definitely need to brush up on my French!
Visited DD Electronics in Paris France. The store mostly promoted subscription systems and had very little FTA equipment. The Sky receivers are a FTA STB before activation, but once the receiver is mapped, the FreeSat channels disappear. Watched a CSR struggling to assist a customer who was using their SKY (UK) STB in Paris and had lost all Free channels when the receiver was mapped. The CX wanted the FTA channels for his wife during the week, but he wanted his UK sports on weekends.... Once he inserted the SKY card the wife lost her favorite FTA channels. He ended up buying a basic FTA receiver to run in parallel with the SKY STB. Sound familiar? LOL!
The cost of equipment is quite high in the retail shops. A 1M dish $139E ($205US), basic MPEG 2/4 receiver with USB DVR $239E ($353US), Alps single universal LNBF $18E ($26US), four degree monoblock $35E ($51US).
The CSR indicated that satellite sales are very low for French channels as IP delivered TV offers many more channels and is widely available in most areas. Satellite sales remain strong in rural areas with poor broadband internet connections and for international channels. Most viewers without IP prefer a terrestrial delivery of programming as it is readily available throughout the country.
Visited another shop that advertised satellite equipment, but found that that it was more of a repair shop that distributed inexpensive SD MPEG2 equipment for international viewing. The photos are on my iPhone and will post in another thread. Overall, not much FTA equipment is sold through electronic stores in France. If satellite gear is available, it is a limited selection in more rural areas through a local electrician and mostly for reception of Canal+ programming.
Headquarters for Eutelsat
Headquarters for Sagem
Here are some more dish shots. Universal (adjustable angle / tripod style) mast mounts seem to not exist. Makes me wonder how North America got so fixated on using them!
Snapped this photo in a suburb of Paris as a caravan ( trailer RV) drove by with a permanently affixed dish. Talk about wind load!
Dish on trailer -- The wind load might be OK roof loading from wind would be worst problem. But can you imagine the challenge of lining up azimuth and elevation as well as skew on that transportable mount? not only have to find a site with good LOS but the right slopes and parking angles to keep both the satellite and refrigerator working!
If you are not an RVer, you may not understand this picture. But my first thought - the RV is the mount, the ground is the non-penetrating mount - or tripod. Please GRIN BIG!
Apple Fall Hardware Event takes place today, September 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET. It marks the debut of new CEO John Ternus and the expected reveal of Apple's first foldable phone.
If you ponied up for an iPhone Duo, keep it away from anything other than your soft, fleshy fingertips. No fingernails, no dust, sand, dirt, or other particulate matter. And don't bend it more than it needs to. Zack has destroyed $2,000 of Apple hardware to get those views, which should cover his expenses.
IFixIt has published their Teardown and they had some positive things to say about the iPhone Duo. It still showed some dust ingress into the hinge assembly but seemed otherwise well-sealed.
But with a considerable number of reports of the main screen dying with similar failures, AppleCare+ should be a no-brainer for this phone.
IFixIt has published their Teardown and they had some positive things to say about the iPhone Duo. It still showed some dust ingress into the hinge assembly but seemed otherwise well-sealed.
But with a considerable number of reports of the main screen dying with similar failures, AppleCare+ should be a no-brainer for this phone.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dish Anywhere has gotten a lot better but still has no Pause/Play/Skip Trick Play controls on the national channels that stream from Dish and that don't come from you Hopper. DirecTV Stream doesn't have that limitation.
If they are requiring all clients on a new HS17 install to be wireless, that is not a technical requirement. It saves their techs from having to pull coax all over the house. It makes installations cheaper.
I think Dish might be the only service that still wires houses. The cable company has gone wireless, Verizon is switching all their copper line customers to wireless, DirecTV Stream, even most surveillance and alarm systems are going wireless.
I think Dish might be the only service that still wires houses. The cable company has gone wireless, Verizon is switching all their copper line customers to wireless, DirecTV Stream, even most surveillance and alarm systems are going wireless.
And I'm guessing they've been that way for quite a while. The future of DirecTV is no wires. Actually, the future of DirecTV is probably a merger with Dish, and IMHO if Charlie is smart he'll use the DirecTV brand.
And I'm guessing they've been that way for quite a while. The future of DirecTV is no wires. Actually, the future of DirecTV is probably a merger with Dish, and IMHO if Charlie is smart he'll use the DirecTV brand.
And I'm guessing they've been that way for quite a while. The future of DirecTV is no wires. Actually, the future of DirecTV is probably a merger with Dish, and IMHO if Charlie is smart he'll use the DirecTV brand.
Yes mine was wired years ago. However you can still order satellite service with wired receivers on the DIRECTV website. I guess you cannot if you call to order the service.
I would take an HR54 over a HS17 ANY day of the week ... The HR54 Looks like a recvr, works in your set up fine ...
The HS17 is a large triangle that looks stupid in your equipment, often they try to Hie in behind something ... just a poor design over all.
If you got an HS17 they Forced you to give up you Stand alone Recvrs ... just a poor idea ...
I had my HR54 to the end, along with my HR24's ...
At least I could still enjoy D* when traveling in the Motor home when I kept the HR54 set up at home, as well as at the lake.
I would take an HR54 over a HS17 ANY day of the week ... The HR54 Looks like a recvr, works inn tour set up fine ...
The HS17 is a large triangle that looks stupid in your equipment, often they try to Hie in behind something ... just a poor design over all.
Yes mine was wired years ago. However you can still order satellite service with wired receivers on the DIRECTV website. I guess you cannot if you call to order the service.
We're a DirecTV retailer and there is no where in the order entry flow to have wired clients with an HS17. I heard that when it's ordered on the website the installer shows up with only HS17's and wireless clients. I don't know how reliable that info is as it came from a dubious source but it makes sense.
We're a DirecTV retailer and there is no where in the order entry flow to have wired clients with an HS17. I heard that when it's ordered on the website the installer shows up with only HS17's and wireless clients. I don't know how reliable that info is as it came from a dubious source but it makes sense.
Yeah that would not surprise me but they do have the option on the website for wired installs. I would guess when they show up with wireless clients most people won't object. I would but a lot of people probably would not.
agree to a certain point!!! is charlies pockets gonna get tight and will he cancel channels because he don't want to pay for them??? a hopper 3 on dtv channel lineup would be amazing and every mans dream come true lol
I would take an HR54 over a HS17 ANY day of the week ... The HR54 Looks like a recvr, works in your set up fine ...
The HS17 is a large triangle that looks stupid in your equipment, often they try to Hie in behind something ... just a poor design over all.
If you got an HS17 they Forced you to give up you Stand alone Recvrs ... just a poor idea ...
I had my HR54 to the end, along with my HR24's ...
At least I could still enjoy D* when traveling in the Motor home when I kept the HR54 set up at home, as well as at the lake.
Well, different strokes and all that. I've had that HS17 sitting quietly doing its job for almost a decade. As I mentioned earlier, at one point I had two wired and two wireless receivers. Now, just one C61K.
Even before that I had a HR44 with an HR24 and two wireless minis. Back then, which was years ago, I would have agreed with the need for individual receivers, but at this point, I stream almost everything, including shows I used to record.
It'll be moot soon enough anyway. Wired receivers/DVRs are going the way of the POTS landline. You can't stop progress.
If they are requiring all clients on a new HS17 install to be wireless, that is not a technical requirement. It saves their techs from having to pull coax all over the house. It makes installations cheaper.
Squirrels have eaten my antenna wire on my home unit that is a car radio running of the 12 volt side of my solar system. I need a new antenna and would like to add something to one of my existing masts. The reason I am looking at this that I am also covered in trees which has not been a problem, but something mast mounted would future proof me. Thanks in advance.
The Pixel Radio Pro-500 and Pro-600 are the best home antennas for that type of setup. I sent you a PM, as I actually have one I was planning to list in the Classifieds when this heat wave subsides in the South.
The Pixel Radio Pro-500 and Pro-600 are the best home antennas for that type of setup. I sent you a PM, as I actually have one I was planning to list in the Classifieds when this heat wave subsides in the South.
I am a animal lover, but this year I gave up gardening. Even moved it to potted plants on the second story deck last year. Can't tell you how much use my Ruger 10-22 got, but it was a losing battle for me. Never got any food. So now they eat coax instead! 20 acres of dense woods behind me and my stuff tastes better, either veggies or wires!
Last year they ate through my times microwave LMR400 for my CB! had to cut it back and put male and female connectors on it. So much for having a pristine run of LMR400.
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.
The playoff told us rankings are pointless. Lesser ranked teams were winning playoff games. Ranking the top 24? Rank it the same way as normal. It'll consist of at least four or five of each cartel's teams, other conference winners. The field will be fine, the sorting will be problematic and arbitrary, but in the end does it matter?
It'll matter when OSU or Alabama have to face a decent upstart squad due to being ranked midway in the listing, or goodness help us, each other. But thanks to arbitrary rankings, that should be easily avoided by design. Then the cartels will need to fix the rankings a bit so the top dogs can have a bye or three to help prevent those untimely eliminations from the playoff.
For better or worse, NIL and the transfer portal have evened the field. NCAA will be pretty much like the NFL with records being kind of meaningless and anyone can make a run and win it all.
The playoff told us rankings are pointless. Lesser ranked teams were winning playoff games. Ranking the top 24? Rank it the same way as normal. It'll consist of at least four or five of each cartel's teams, other conference winners. The field will be fine, the sorting will be problematic and arbitrary, but in the end does it matter?
It'll matter when OSU or Alabama have to face a decent upstart squad due to being ranked midway in the listing, or goodness help us, each other. But thanks to arbitrary rankings, that should be easily avoided by design. Then the cartels will need to fix the rankings a bit so the top dogs can have a bye or three to help prevent those untimely eliminations from the playoff.
As for meeting each other, you say they automatically avoid ... not really, if I recall, when Ohio State won in 2 years ago, they had the toughest route to win it all .... they played Tennessee, then it was the #1 team Oregon, in round 2 then Texas in round 3 then Notre Dame in the Finals .... thats hardly avoiding the tough match ups.
Personally, I don't want to see 42- 10 blowouts in the first 2 rounds ....
Not sure where you found lesser teams beating higher ranked teams ... (outside of the Top teams, which any could beat each other (1-8).
Which in my opinion is where the Playoffs should be teams 1-8 .
Team number 64 has ZERO chance to win 4-5 games against top teams.
Btw, whens the last time a (in basketball) 32-64 ranked team WON it all, or even got to the Final 2 ?????
For better or worse, NIL and the transfer portal have evened the field. NCAA will be pretty much like the NFL with records being kind of meaningless and anyone can make a run and win it all.
The NIL and tranfer portal definitely need some work, or guidelines, but it has evened stuff out somewhat.
Even the expanded playoff. While it does make a single regular season game less relevant in the overall picture, its added a different level of interest imo. Losing a game, or two even, doesnt mean your season is over. The teams still have ALOT to play for.
I am not as against this (as a whole that still needs tweaking) as I thought I would be. More competitive football, I think that is a good thing.
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....
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...