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hanlonmi

Last reply Aug 29, 2011 · posted in Free To Air (FTA) Discussion

New to hobby; FTA questions

Hello,

Just signed up tonight! I have technical and non technical questions about FTA possibilities. A couple of summers ago i was given 4 receivers of various brands and an old prime star dish. Non technically speaking i love to tinker and would love to see if i can breath some life into this equipment.

Can someone provide some good info to get started on perhaps the basics of satellite, and perhaps point me in the right direction for where to discuss more technical details about the equipment i have?

I'm not looking to expect free satellite HD and all kinds of crazy channels, if i could get one unit working and receive 1 channel, id be pretty excited. I've searched around in Google a few times but perhaps i'm not searching the right catch words as what Ive seen so far was either pretty irrelevant, or topics of new equipment.

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hanlonmi

May 15, 2011

OK, so, im sure many of you can appreciate how busy things can get and how it cuts into your hobby time, well that sure has happened. Add to the fact that the one day i purposely sat down to get a back log of computer work done my internet was down. After a call in to an automated system i got a range 3 days it would take to get things fixed, how annoying.

As you can see, this is some pretty old looking stuff. and i totally forgot to get pics of the receivers...

rv1pop

May 16, 2011

OH Yes.... That is a dish you can not use. You must immediately package it up and send it to me,

freight prepaid..!!!! In other words,

That is one of the best KU setups you can find!!!

Now what was the question ..If you check out my signature, you will see that I do use that dish set up. As far as the receivers go, I know very little about any of them. but others may be able to tell you more.

Anole

May 16, 2011

From the sticker, that's what we call a 75e (for elliptical) dish.
You might check the back end of the LNB, where the cables attach to it, to see if it has an H and a V stamped into the soup-can bottom, one by each connector.
If so, it's a pretty old one, but should still work fine.
Just that it may put out H on one connector and V on the other.
If so, we can help you with that, too.

AcWxRadar

May 16, 2011

hanlonmi said:
View attachment 65708 View attachment 65707 View attachment 65709 View attachment 65710
OK, so, im sure many of you can appreciate how busy things can get and how it cuts into your hobby time, well that sure has happened. Add to the fact that the one day i purposely sat down to get a back log of computer work done my internet was down. After a call in to an automated system i got a range 3 days it would take to get things fixed, how annoying.

As you can see, this is some pretty old looking stuff. and i totally forgot to get pics of the receivers...

Hanlonmi,

Busy, busy! Certainly understandable, especially this time of the year and getting everything going for summer: i.e. mowing, gardening, farming, etc.

That 75e dish is quite acceptable, but you MAY not get everything with it. That is simply just due to the overall size of the reflector panel.

I have one (actually two) myself and I judge it with a positive rating. The one I acquired (for $5) had a different LNBF attached than the "silver bullet" LNBF that you have. The LNBF on mine was what I call "The EGG". I modified the bracket on the end of the arm to accept an LNBF with a larger diameter "neck" and used an Invacom QPH-031 LNBF. Worked very well for a single fixed point dish. I keep it set up, but I don't use it currently as I purchased a 1.2 M GeoSatPro dish from SatelliteAV and motorized it.

I hope that the 75e that you got there still has the elevation adjuster on the backside of the dish (with the elevation jacking bolt). That is one of the BEST assemblies ever in my opinion, albeit quite heavy (which is a plus in itself, but difficult to modify to a motorized system for the same reason - weight). With that, aligning this dish is a breeze and a pleasure! Maintaining it and tweaking is no question as a fixed point single dish. I was actually able to modify it to accept two LNBFs to get 97W + 99W or 99w +101W. I think I can get 123W + 125W with it but I never actually tested it for those two.

It doesn't have a means to "skew" the dish for multiple satellites, but I manufactured a homemade "ring" to insert in between the dish and the mount that allowed me to do so. It looks very professional and works very well, but I did not provide for any skew angle markings so setting it up was just by trial and error. It worked, but it was a project in itself just to align with that modification.

Yep, that is a keeper for all sorts of projects.

RADAR

hanlonmi

Aug 29, 2011

Thank you to all that replied to this thread. i apologize for dropping the ball but the summer just got away in a serious way- but the wife was out of town a week and i got the dish put up!! i did get the... "what is that thing!?" question but its sometimes easier to ask for forgiveness.

So my next step is to politely ask for direction towards some threads or resources or heck, straight up model numbers that can get me some digital FTA stuff going. It seems that the receivers i had listed are all analog models.

sorry for it being a cell phone shot, but there it is up in the air. i have to run coax and as mentioned, see about a receiver, so hopefully we can get the ball rolling again on this!

oh, and yes, it still had the jack screw hardware on the bracket, so it shouldn't be to hard to tilt but the tube i mounted it too was a tad large so might be a bit to rotate it, but we'll see.

icu1954

Aug 29, 2011

once you get started ,it's hard to stop...keep on fta--ing

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telebiker

Last reply 4 minutes ago · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

Dish Hopper and Dish Hopper Plus No Alexa in settings

I have Dish Hopper and Hopper Plus and also have Alexa Echo. I link the Alex skill to Dish and it asks me to enter the pairing code shown on the TV. I go into Dish Settings and there is no Alexa shown. Not sure what to do.

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HipKat

Mar 15, 2026

Guys,
Android is Google. Google is Android. Android OS and Google TV are the same thing.
The Hopper+ and Joey 4's run Android TV, which is Google's television version of Android.
That means under the hood, you have:

Linux kernel
Android framework
Google TV / Android TV interface
Google Play Store for TV apps

Alexa is the competition. Google is not going to host their competition.
The old Hopper Carbon UI is NOT Google so that's why Alexa was on there.

Reactions: KAB, tanman, Cold Irons and 2 others

Harryhaggle

Mar 18, 2026

Understood. But here's the rub - Google Assistant setup is ALSO missing from the Hopper Plus setup. I'm a paraplegic.and need to use voice controls as much as possible but I can't press a button on the remote to activate Google Assistant. I prefer ALEXA (or ALEXA+) but I have one older google device and will go that route IF they make it available. BTW calling Dish Customer Service is no help- they just say they have no info on if/when there will be an update.

Reactions: navychop and charlesrshell

navychop

Mar 18, 2026

Ungood.

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reubenray

Today at 10:17 AM

What is the purpose of connecting Alexa and the H3?

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navychop

4 minutes ago

Tell Alexa verbally what to do.

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klang

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply 7 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.

Reactions: MikeD-C05, Keith Brannen, long_time_Dish and 1 other person

Foxbat

Apr 3, 2026

Paramount lost a number of the Star Trek creative crew to other projects, like Ron Moore going on to BSG and "For All Mankind". I see Denise and Michael Okuda are also involved with FAM.

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.

Reactions: MikeD-C05

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

Tuesday at 11:28 AM

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?

MikeD-C05

7 minutes ago

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.

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Ham Radio 2.0

16 minutes ago · posted in Ham Radio 2.0

Does a SATCOM Antenna Work for GMRS? | RigExpert Test

Time for another AWESOME video from Ham Radio 2.0!

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6jvyve8sFr4

Direct YouTube Link - Does a SATCOM Antenna Work for GMRS? | RigExpert Test
Ham Radio 2.0 Website
Ham Radio 2.0 on Facebook

0 Replies · 1 views

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iJustine

16 minutes ago · posted in iJustine

Will Microsoft Surface Ultra's replace MacBooks?

Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03evrI39YH8

Direct YouTube Link - Will Microsoft Surface Ultra's replace MacBooks?
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!

0 Replies · 1 views

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meStevo

Lifetime Supporter

Last reply 19 minutes ago · posted in The Chit Chat Club

AI thread

A continuation of a thread from the pub, just general discussion of AI.

Brief 60 minute clip about next gem autonomous fighters - not remote controlled, but rather collaborating with controllers and aircraft in the theater.

View: https://youtu.be/DRm0mbp_n1k

We've literally got a movie already about this

View: https://youtu.be/a2PW7a9ViDc

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meStevo

Oct 9, 2026

Agreed, it mostly regurgitates known solutions. That's the point. Nobody needs an innovative fix for a driver error or a creative way to format a report. Let it handle the solved problems so people can spend their time on the ones that aren't.

harshness

Oct 9, 2026

meStevo said:
Agreed, it mostly regurgitates known solutions. That's the point.

That's the point at which innovation ends, and there's no longer any point to software engineering other than swatting bugs that result from misapplication.

meStevo

Oct 9, 2026

harshness said:
That's the point at which innovation ends, and there's no longer any point to software engineering other than swatting bugs that result from misapplication.

Addressed by what you didn't quote. This cycle is as old as computing: compilers, libraries, frameworks each automated the tedious part, and the human work moved up a level. Innovation didn't end; it shifted. And people still make new compilers, libraries or frameworks.

Nobody's forced to hand anything off. Anyone who wants to keep doing it by hand still can, and people who couldn't do it at all now can.

harshness

Oct 9, 2026

meStevo said:
... and people who couldn't do it at all now can.

Misapplication isn't something that the casual coder can identify. They can only discover, the hard way, that it doesn't work at some point.

meStevo

Oct 9, 2026

harshness said:
Misapplication isn't something that the casual coder can identify. They can only discover, the hard way, that it doesn't work at some point.

You're not wrong, but that's part of learning. Whether from others or our own mistakes, we've all learned that lesson one way or another.

harshness

Oct 9, 2026

meStevo said:
Whether from others or our own mistakes, we've all learned that lesson one way or another.

I'm not sure that the school of hard knocks is the quickest or surest education to find your way.

There are many examples in the headlines of people getting burned multiple times and not wavering in their pursuit of stupidity.

meStevo

Oct 9, 2026

harshness said:
I'm not sure that the school of hard knocks is the quickest or surest education to find your way.

Good thing not everyone will have to learn the hard way then. The same tools can explain why something broke.

harshness said:
There are many examples in the headlines of people getting burned multiple times and not wavering in their pursuit of stupidity.

This is true of literally anything, though.

Happy to agree to disagree, but I'm already enjoying the dividends personally and helping others at work and at home do the same.

Reactions: telstar_1

harshness

Oct 9, 2026

meStevo said:
This is true of literally anything, though.

Do you think that means we ought to be supporting it as the long-term solution?

Foxbat

Monday at 11:01 PM

Foxbat

Yesterday at 9:36 PM

Oops.

AI Agent Blamed for Deleting Entire Upcoming Season of TV Show

An AI agent reportedly deleted the entire final cut of the upcoming season of a Swedish reality competition show.

futurism.com

dishstaller

Today at 10:05 AM

Been reading this thread but not commenting much, primarily because there is so much "news" out there on this topic and it is hard to tell what is real and what is theater.
My biggest problem with AI is that these agents are taught...not necessarily programmed but taught. Well, there's an old saying "garbage in/garbage out". I remember a Joe Rogan show a while back when he had Elon Musk on and they talked about AI and Elon said one of the AIs (can't remember which one, sorry) was asked which was worse, Thermonuclear War or mis-gendering Kaitlyn Jenner and it came back with the answer that mis-gendering was worse. Now forget the politics involved with all the gender stuff we have been subjected to the past few years.....to say that mis-gendering is worse than the killing of hundreds of millions, perhaps billions of human beings.....Kaitlyn Jenner included.....is simply insane not to mention incredibly dangerous.

dishstaller

19 minutes ago

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SIWG5-jHFC8?feature=share

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Scott Greczkowski

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge

Last reply 25 minutes ago · 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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FTA4PA

Today at 9:19 AM

Down On The Corner - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Reactions: dishstaller

dishstaller

Today at 9:56 AM

Mississippi Squirrel Revival - Ray Stevens

Reactions: FTA4PA

Bobby

Today at 10:25 AM

Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town - Charley Pride

Reactions: dishstaller and FTA4PA

harshness

Today at 11:29 AM

Delta Dawn - Tanya Tucker

Reactions: dishstaller and FTA4PA

dishstaller

25 minutes ago

Can't You See - Marshall Tucker Band

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dfergie

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!

Last reply 26 minutes ago · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Gas Price Info With National Gas Temperature Map

Stumbled across this ... http://www.gaspricewatch.com/USGas_ZipSearch.asp
I found no local prices, although it did show stations at my location...
Added these to this post...
USA National Gas Temperature Map
State By State Gasoline Taxes
Gas Buddy

Ethanol Free Stations

5549 Replies · 460498 views

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WhiteBeard

Wednesday at 8:19 PM

Today.

Reactions: meStevo

Bobby

Thursday at 11:20 AM

Regular$6.099
Premium$6.599
Diesel$7.999
at Costco, Rohnert Park.

Bobby

Today at 10:27 AM

Regular$5.999
Premium$6.399
Diesel$7.999
at Costco, Rohnert Park.

Reactions: harshness

harshness

Today at 11:30 AM

I wonder if California is getting into the Winter formula.

dishstaller

26 minutes ago

Bobby said:
Regular$5.999
Premium$6.399

Odd that out there, Prem is only 40 cents higher. Here it's a full dollar more.

Last night it was about $4.17 gas, $6,19 diesel.

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Former member 208119

Last reply 49 minutes ago · posted in SiriusXM Satellite Radio

SXM still giving discounts

My year was almost up and we got the new bill for a year of service for $ 360.00 insane sat radio is becoming like cable!!! i logged into my acct and hopped onto chat and told the rep that i wanted to cancel. she understood my concern and went quiet for a few minutes. i figured that she was canceling my service. she comes back and said that she seen that i have been a sub since 07 and then offers me the same package for a year for 120.00 with taxes and fee's!!! i grabbed it. after almost having a stroke :biggrin

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Bruno

Oct 4, 2026

What i noticed with my last renewal XM is now billing me $4.99 monthly instead of one time yearly payment.

Jimbo

Oct 4, 2026

Bruno said:
What i noticed with my last renewal XM is now billing me $.99 monthly instead of one time yearly payment.

Did you accidentally get on the wrong plan ?
I still do the once a year plans.

EarDemon

Tuesday at 9:24 PM

I know a few people who have plug and play receivers with boomboxes that use them at work due to lack of cell phone service, especially in factory environments surrounded by steal. Someone I used to work with is a FedEx driver now and uses a plug and play receiver in his work truck. In the off-chance when he's in a Sprinter van, he'll use the app via Bluetooth, but his normal truck its a plug and play with a vehicle kit. So while there is a limited market for them, it still exists.

Reactions: Howard Simmons, comfortably_numb and Jimbo

Jimbo

Tuesday at 9:35 PM

EarDemon said:
I know a few people who have plug and play receivers with boomboxes that use them at work due to lack of cell phone service, especially in factory environments surrounded by steal. Someone I used to work with is a FedEx driver now and uses a plug and play receiver in his work truck. In the off-chance when he's in a Sprinter van, he'll use the app via Bluetooth, but his normal truck its a plug and play with a vehicle kit. So while there is a limited market for them, it still exists.

I did that as well, putting one in my Work truck with the antenna kit, trying to do it so WORK didn't see it.

Reactions: Howard Simmons, Foxbat and EarDemon

EarDemon

Tuesday at 9:52 PM

I tried to do that, when I did delivery driver work (2010- 2013), we had a fleet of Freightliners. The newer trucks had headunits that were satellite compatible (XM only I think), but lacked the antenna and guts. I got a car kt for my old Roady XT and tried to use it, but at the volume levels I needed have it at to hear it over the diesel engine it sounded like crap, so I used my phone with an aux cable. When I was in the middle of nowhere with no cell service it didn't do me any good though.

At my current job, one of our new cars has the free trial of SXM active, I frequently have to go off site to a location 75 miles away in a rural area and it's nice being able to use the service off of the satellites versus using the app. There are many places on this journey where all three providers lack service.

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Bruno

Today at 11:16 AM

Jimbo said:
Did you accidentally get on the wrong plan ?
I still do the once a year plans.

I have to think maybe more people dont keep track of the monthly XM bill. Every time i renew i put a reminder on my calendar week before its time to renew. My wife told me the other day not to renew her and then i told her you are not going to be able to listen to XM at home. Then she changed her mind...!!

TRG

Today at 11:55 AM

Bruno said:
I have to think maybe more people dont keep track of the monthly XM bill. Every time i renew i put a reminder on my calendar week before its time to renew. My wife told me the other day not to renew her and then i told her you are not going to be able to listen to XM at home. Then she changed her mind...!!

I get an e-mail every month reminding me that X amount will be charged to my credit card. If I see it go up I get on chat or pick up the phone. But I also remember that my year is up in December.

Reactions: comfortably_numb and Bruno

Bruno

49 minutes ago

TRG said:
I get an e-mail every month reminding me that X amount will be charged to my credit card. If I see it go up I get on chat or pick up the phone. But I also remember that my year is up in December.

yea i don't understand WHY, like you I get a notice each month. Mine is also up in December.

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Peter Parker

Supporting Founder Lifetime Supporter

Last reply Today at 10:32 AM · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

DISH Hopper 3 Software Version 713 Is Out

No idea what improvements might be involved.

15 Replies · 682 views

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bookworm370

Yesterday at 3:17 PM

Has anyone noticed an FF stutter with 713? I used to be able to hit FF a few times and skip smoothly. After 713 (maybe 712), when I skip forward, there is a definite stutter for as many times as I have pressed FF.

Can anyone check on this and report back? Recorded programs and then press skip forward a few times to see if it's smooth? Normally, it just jumps to the right place after the skips.

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reubenray

Yesterday at 6:40 PM

I got the 713 update yesterday.

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naptime

Today at 1:05 AM

I'm getting fabulous picture on Ch. 148 4k, but zero audio with H713. This is with a recorded show (Notre Dame game). Anyone else have this? Audio is fine on every other channel.

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reubenray

Today at 6:14 AM

bookworm370 said:
Has anyone noticed an FF stutter with 713? I used to be able to hit FF a few times and skip smoothly. After 713 (maybe 712), when I skip forward, there is a definite stutter for as many times as I have pressed FF.

Can anyone check on this and report back? Recorded programs and then press skip forward a few times to see if it's smooth? Normally, it just jumps to the right place after the skips.

My wife mentioned that her remote is acting strange this morning. She hit FF and it went to 15x FF.

Reactions: charlesrshell

Bobby

Today at 10:32 AM

naptime said:
I'm getting fabulous picture on Ch. 148 4k, but zero audio with H713. This is with a recorded show (Notre Dame game). Anyone else have this? Audio is fine on every other channel.

This has been an ongoing issue. A fix is coming, probably in the next software version.

Reactions: charlesrshell

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cpdretired

Supporting Founder

Last reply Today at 10:12 AM · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

Dish Offers

Several Dish offers showed up today in my account. Once you choose one the rest are removed. Offers were Showtime, Starz, AMC and others.

41 Replies · 1914 views

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Darrell S

Yesterday at 3:21 PM

I tried on Hopper last night. Many more offers than the website has. I even got 3 free months of Gallery. Only offered 1 month on website

Reactions: ewindowman and charlesrshell

long_time_Dish

Yesterday at 4:35 PM

I got Starz/Encore again for 50% off for 3 months yesterday.

Reactions: ewindowman and charlesrshell

reubenray

Today at 9:28 AM

Darrell S said:
I tried on Hopper last night. Many more offers than the website has. I even got 3 free months of Gallery. Only offered 1 month on website

How do I check for offers on my H3? My contract runs out in January.

OH - how about them Tigers!!

Reactions: charlesrshell

Darrell S

Today at 9:52 AM

reubenray said:
How do I check for offers on my H3? My contract runs out in January.

OH - how about them Tigers!!

You have to find my account in the settings. Only works if you're connected to internet.

Reactions: charlesrshell

reubenray

Today at 10:12 AM

Darrell S said:
You have to find my account in the settings. Only works if you're connected to internet.

Thanks, I found it. I have no offers.

Reactions: charlesrshell

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