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When you need a battery, you need a battery.

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

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

harshness said:

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

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


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

dishstaller said:

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


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

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And the Walmart ones mostly had very little warranty.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Opinions may vary.

Jimbo said:

And the Walmart ones mostly had very little warranty.

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

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

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

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

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

EarDemon said:

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

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Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) - The Hollies

Cool Jerk - The Mindbenders

Cool Change - Little River Band

Change Of The Guard - Steely Dan

Owner Of a Lonely Heart - Yes

AI Overview



The 2025–26 College Football Playoff concluded with the Indiana Hoosiers winning the national championship by defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27–21. [1, 2, 3]

Playoff Results Summary
The 12-team playoff bracket featured the following key results across each round: [1]

• • First Round: Alabama defeated Oklahoma (34–24), Miami (Fla.) beat Texas A&M (10–3), Ole Miss topped Tulane (41–10), and Oregon defeated James Madison (51–34) at higher-seeded campus sites.
  • Quarterfinals: Miami (Fla.) upset Ohio State (24–14), Oregon shut out Texas Tech (23–0), top-ranked Indiana rolled past Alabama (38–3), and Ole Miss edged Georgia (39–34) across the New Year's Six bowls.
  • Semifinals: Miami (Fla.) advanced past Ole Miss (31–27) in the Peach Bowl, while Indiana dominant-defeated Oregon (56–22) in the Fiesta Bowl.
  • National Championship: Indiana secured the title with a 27–21 victory over Miami (Fla.) at Hard Rock Stadium. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Unfortunately, there was not rankings listed in this summary

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

AZ. said:

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

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

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

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

AZ. said:

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

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

Yespage said:

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

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

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

Rest in peace. Together again with Spock, Doc, Uhura, and Scotty...

Rest in peace, Checkov, and Bester too...

Rest In Peace

Rest in Peace…

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.

MikeD-C05 said:

I don't know why DISH doesn't just start a streaming version of DISH

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I have the same wish.

Scott Greczkowski said:

I have the same wish.

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

bnewt said:

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

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They keep the satellite service too. But have. Full streaming version of dish. As sling tv sucks eggs.

bnewt said:

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

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And the same reason why DISH removing satellite 118 for international channels is a bad idea as at least in my case, TVB Jade World costs $29.99/month and depends on a internet connection for the signal transport to the DISH Hopper 3 + Hopper Plus to stream the channel which makes it unavailable on DISH Anywhere and also I am providing the transport pipe at my own expense when it was supposed to be a dedicated connection via satellite between DISH and the DISH equipment.

Scott Greczkowski said:

As sling tv sucks eggs.

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PHONE CALL FOR MISTER SCOTT G! PHONE CALL FOR MISTER SCOTT G! FROM A MISTER C ERGEN!……

bnewt said:

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

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DISH will happily sell them a Starlink system and service.

Why didn't Charlie end up launching starlink

telstar_1 said:

Why didn't Charlie end up launching starlink

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

MLB, Rays at Brewers, Friday 10-23, 5PM PDT, Channel 148-01.

MLB, Rays at Brewers, Saturday 10-24, 5PM PDT, Channel 148-01.

MLB, Brewers at Rays, Monday 10-26, 5PM PDT, Channel 148-01.

MLB, Brewers at Rays, Tuesday 10-27, 5PM PDT, Channel 148-01.

CFB, Florida vs Georgia, Saturday 10-31, 12:30PM PDT, Channel 148-03.

Can't remember if I've posted this yet..


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfL5seXJyWU

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.

Foxbat said:

No fingernails, no dust, sand, dirt, or other particulate matter

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And definitely no medieval chain armor!

comfortably_numb said:

medieval chain armor

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Aka "mail" or "maille".

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.

comfortably_numb said:

Can't remember if I've posted this yet..


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfL5seXJyWU

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most carriers do. that's why they send updates that slow phones down!! i buy unlocked phones no effect to me

Foxbat said:

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.

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hope you have apple care a screen job is 1000.00 . can we say over priced garbage!!!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv0BssMerjA

I'm having trouble with the posit that StarLink is not available. You do not appear to be in an oversubscribed area

Why do you think you can't get StarLink?

navychop said:

I'm having trouble with the posit that StarLink is not available. You do not appear to be in an oversubscribed area

Why do you think you can't get StarLink?

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I never said that Starlink is not available. The Starlink app shows obstructions for every category, so I have not researched it further.

vlad_ said:

I never said that Starlink is not available. The Starlink app shows obstructions for every category, so I have not researched it further.

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The HR-54 is the hardwired genie 5 tuners 1TB HDD the HS--17 the 7 tuner 2TB hdd is only a wireless setup now. dtv csr's are crap also

slow_poke_pete said:

The HR-54 is the hardwired genie 5 tuners 1TB HDD the HS--17 the 7 tuner 2TB hdd is only a wireless setup now. dtv csr's are crap also

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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.

JSheridan said:

The DirecTV order entry work flow doesn't allow wired clients with an HS17. Does that clear it up for you?

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Yet the C61k (4k unit) was wired only ?
That was the only unit available for the HS17 if you wanted 4K

How does that work ?

Or do I havwe that flip flopped ?
It's been awhile for me now.

Jimbo said:

Yet the C61k (4k unit) was wired only ?
That was the only unit available for the HS17 if you wanted 4K

How does that work ?

Or do I havwe that flip flopped ?
It's been awhile for me now.

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the hs 17 only gets the wireless geminis no more hardwiring.. i think dtv is trying to ween people offf of the teat satellite

slow_poke_pete said:

the hs 17 only gets the wireless geminis no more hardwiring.. i think dtv is trying to ween people offf of the teat satellite

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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.

JSheridan said:

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.

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our hopper and joey 4's are all hard wired

slow_poke_pete said:

our hopper and joey 4's are all hard wired

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So is my 2 Gemini's and my 4 HR24's.

b4pjoe said:

So is my 2 Gemini's and my 4 HR24's.

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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.

JSheridan said:

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.

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why not just do a rebranding of the two

slow_poke_pete said:

why not just do a rebranding of the two

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As they pivot away from using dishes and more toward streaming, the DirecTV brand would make much more sense.

JSheridan said:

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.

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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.

Jimbo said:

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.

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It's not a poor design when you factor in that it has a Wireless Video Bridge built-in. It's shaped like a router or gateway for a reason.

b4pjoe said:

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.

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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.

JSheridan said:

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.

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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.

Nominal said:

It's not a poor design when you factor in that it has a Wireless Video Bridge built-in. It's shaped like a router or gateway for a reason.

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i do agree with jimbo on wanting to hide the HS-17 been there

JSheridan said:

As they pivot away from using dishes and more toward streaming, the DirecTV brand would make much more sense.

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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

Jimbo said:

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.

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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.

Tom Speer said:

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.

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they still won't do it if there's coax from dish in the home!!