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M
Last reply · posted in Cable Television and Fiber Providers
I've had my Roku for several months now and had planned on ditching cable and tried leaving it off for a couple weeks, but the Roku just doesn't seem to cut it for watching current episodes of certain shows that keep starting up about the time I think about cancelling. I recently lost my 2nd job and Time Warner keeps raising the rates so I have to do something. Every time I call and try to cancel they give me a "deal" like 10 or 15 bucks off a month, but lately the deals haven't been as good and the price is now up to an all time high of about $155 for internet, digital phone and basic cable. I'm not sure how much it would be if I cancelled the cable part because the prices aren't broken down and they won't give me a direct answer.

?I'm in the process of buying a new computer and somehow signed up for amazon prime so it looks like I can watch a lot of the programming I like on that (I usually only watch A&E, AMC, USA, TNT, HIST and only watch the local channels occasionally for some NFL). But I was also thinking of getting Dish or Direct since its only supposed to be $20-30 a month. The only thing that's holding me back is you have to lock in for 2 years and I know it goes up the second year, but I'm not sure exactly how much. I've had Dish in the past and it looks like it is a little cheaper than Direct, but I think I have to get the top 120 package to get all the channels I like so its a toss up I think. One advantage to Direct is they are offering a $200 prepaid card which would come in handy right now, but I think they are a little more expensive the 2nd year. Another option would be to drop the cable and then see if they try to give me a deal to come back, but I'm not sure how long you have to be off of it to get something like that. Any advice what I should do?
4 Replies · 1247 views
jayn_j
There is always pain in initially cutting the cable. I really missed the USA shows for awhile. However, if you are patient it all shows up for download sooner or later. All the USA network stuff is now showing up on netflix or amazon. I am a year behind everyone else, but since I haven't seen them, they are fresh to me. Basically, if you can wait, it becomes less painful after a year, and there is a sense of Christmas eve anticipating the new stuff.

All of the providers will tell you they have the lowest cost, but the costs are all driven by the program licensing fees, which in turn are being driven by sports. We end up talking about $5 differences on a $100 monthly cable bill.
M
Yea, I'm estimating the cable part of my bill is around $80 or so and that is crazy for the small amount of channels and time I watch tv. I was looking into the Century link triple play and it doesn't make sense since it says the internet is about $20, direct tv about $35 and phone about $40 and yet the total comes out to about $110 for some reason and you have to pay a bunch up front to set everything up. I guess the double play ($60) for internet and tv would be a decent choice. But I believe their download speed is around 10Mpbs max and TWC is about 15Mpbs. Although I just did a speed test and it said it was only about 2.5 now (I wonder if my slow failing computer has anything to do with that)? Also seems silly to stick with TW for phone as that's what century link is supposed to specialize in. I just hate the hassle of switching though as I keep putting it off and already have two dishes in the back yard I don't use and don't know how to get rid of (don't really want another one back there). I guess I'll have to bite the bullet at some point and at least cancel the TWC and maybe they will give me a deal to sign back up-but do I have to get rid of the phone and internet too to do that I wonder?
. Raine
In my household we got rid of cable five or six months ago, I set things up and unhooked the cable for a month before having it shut off to make sure we'd all be happy with the change. Like Jayn_j said, if you don't mind waiting a bit everything shows up on Netflix, Amazon or somewhere sooner or later. We put up an OTA antenna, a Ku dish and C-band dish and have Amazon Prime and Netflix, a couple of Roku 3's, Plenty to watch.

One thing that may be an option for you to save money if you have the money to spend on it upfront is Ooma phone. It cost us a hundred and twenty or so dollars for the Ooma and forty dollars to port our phone number to it but now our phone bill is only $3.71 a month, the Ooma has already paid for itself in what we've saved and works great for us.

We had cable, phone and internet through our cable company and it was costing us $156.00 a month, we cancelled the cable and phone, kept the internet, now our bill is $42.00 a month. We did this because the quality and content of our cable TV was lousy, not so much as to save money, but Ooma phone may be a way for you to save a bit and maybe an OTA antenna for local stations, you could look on Tvfool.com or some site like that and get an idea of what local stations you might be able to get.

Ooma phone is a VOIP phone, so you would need high speed internet to use it.
M
Thanks for the input. I actually have a nettalk duo which is similar to ooma. It was about $50 and a waste of money because they misled you into believing you could port your phone number and they say they can't transfer mine for some reason. It was partly my fault though as I didn't check into it for awhile after I purchased it and it was too late to return it. I guess I could use it if I get hard-up enough. I would have to use the new number and I don't really use my phone that much anyway. I mostly just call my parents once in awhile and maybe work. I was keeping my old number because I had a few resumes out with it, but it looks like I'm not not going to get any calls so I could switch any time to save some money. Now that I think about it, If I was to drop the digital phone and cable and went with dish or direct, I could save around $80 a month and maybe $100 or so if I try to get by without any type of cable and use Netflix and Amazon.
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 2 views
N5XZS
Last reply · posted in Over the Air Television By RabbitEars.Info
New low power station has been granted by the FCC and the new call leter is K33OB-D on RF ch. 33.

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

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

This new station is owned by Digital Network and what kind of programmings is unkown at this time.😎
8 Replies · 64 views
M
This new station is owned by Digital Network and what kind of programmings is unkown at this time
probably the same programming they have been putting on their other owned stations.
The 'get after it media' stations
Like Heartland, Retro, rev'n, Action etc
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N5XZS
Hope they got good subchannels encoder going there...😎👍🤞
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comfortably_numb
probably the same programming they have been putting on their other owned stations.
The 'get after it media' stations
Like Heartland, Retro, rev'n, Action etc

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

I watch MovieSphere Gold channel a lot. Many recent movies on that digitnet :)
N5XZS
Yes that's a good channel MovieSphere, only thing is the missing CC on it. :rolleyes: :hatsoff2
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TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 3 views
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

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

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

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

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

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

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne


Get it?


An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
67097 Replies · 2662034 views
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FTA4PA
Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett
gms49ers
Top Jimmy - Van Halen
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sdfntx
You're the Top - Allan Sherman
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long_time_DNC
Top Of The World - The Carpenters
gms49ers
Top of the World - Van Halen
dfergie
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!
Last reply · posted in What's Cooking?
We have a Breakfast and Dinner thread so... :)
Continuing from the Breakfast thread, found Cornbread mix so ...
Yellow Cornbread Mix
2 Hatch Green Chiles -diced
1 Egg
2/3 cup of milk
add to greased pan
Bake for 400f 20-25 minutes(From instructions)
now to put together and try... this to go with pinto beans...
5387 Replies · 334548 views
dfergie
Green turkey enchilada casserole, ate one bowl, had pinto beans & taco meat side… Tea
Like this recipe with ground turkey & Herdez guacamole medium salsa…
TRG
TRG
Pork shoulder, refried beans, cheddar and chopped green chile burrito with a pint of pale ale.

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

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

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

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

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

------"At the nominal 110° W.L. orbital location, EchoStar is licensed to operate over 29 of the available 32 DBS channels (specifically channels 1-27, 29,and 31).3 Currently, EchoStar provides service over these channels from the 110° W.L. cluster utilizing the EchoStar 10, EchoStar 11 (in inclined orbit), and EchoStar 23 satellites; and from the 119° W.L. cluster utilizing the EchoStar 14 and EchoStar 15 satellites. EchoStar anticipates that EchoStar 25 will be ready for launch as early as the first quarter of 2026. EchoStar anticipates that EchoStar 25, a spot-beam satellite, will take over delivery of certain programming services from EchoStar 10 and 14. After launch and in-orbit testing ("IOT"),4EchoStar 25 will proceed directly to 110.0° ± 0.05° W.L. Once EchoStar 25 is placed into operation, EchoStar 10 will initially remain at 110.2° W.L. serving as an in-orbit spare and may ultimately be relocated subject to all appropriate Commission authorizations. EchoStar 14 will remain at the nominal 119° W.L. orbital location and serve as an in-orbit spare once EchoStar 25 begins service." -----
80 Replies · 7794 views
zippyfrog
I can tell the new satellite is active... When I go to the point dish menu, here in Chicago, 110 TP 27, which is a Spotbeam, for me with the old satellite was in the signal strength 50's-60's, is now just fluttering between 16-18.
D
When I go to the point dish menu, here in Chicago, 110 TP 27, which is a Spotbeam, for me with the old satellite was in the signal strength 50's-60's, is now just fluttering between 16-18.
Any chance you (or somebody else w/Chicago locals) could check & see where all the Chicago locals moved to, please...
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zippyfrog
Actually, I can't seem to add the locals back to my account to check right now - when I go to add it and I submit the changes, it shows that I have added 1802 local channels (the whole country) and nothing happens. Something must be wrong with their website. :)
R
Any chance you (or somebody else w/Chicago locals) could check & see where all the Chicago locals moved to, please...

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

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

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

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

I only have 2 words. "Very Interesting"

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

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

So let's start.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Time change to 1:30 AM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


And finally…

And a time change to 2:00 AM

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

Now done!

Wow! About an hour's worth!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 Replies · 423 views
Willh699
maybe but i still have it for now, most likely this will take effect in June.
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Cold Irons
...and on the "Science" channel you can learn all about ghosts & monsters.
ClarkGable
I think ESPN News shows "The Ocho" on weekends. Slippery Stairs, Pop-A-Shot, Dodge Ball, Roof Ball, Wisconsin Auctioneers Championship, and even competitive Microsoft Excel spreadsheet races are among the offerings.
Y
...and on the "Science" channel you can learn all about ghosts & monsters.
Watch Lethal Weapon on Sundance!
America's dumbest and richest Housewives on Bravo! (funny, I never watched Bravo! WAAAAAAAY back in the day because I didn't like watching ballet. Then I never watched it because I didn't like trash television.)
See My Seven Ox Wives on The Learning Channel.
Watch The Fakumentury on Mermaids on The Science Channel.

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

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

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