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drcc
Last reply · posted in Free To Air (FTA) Discussion

new to this

hey everyone. just stopping in and saying hi.
been doing some reading and u guys know ur stuff. i will be recieving a coolsat 5000 by the end of the week. so i may have some questions to ask.
im from canada so it should be fun and exciting. EH!

thanks drcc
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L
lilyarbie
Maybe they'll go down, but only for a short time I expect. The key is that this will not destroy the will of people who want to get subscription programming for free. There's hackers out there that are willing to get into anything that is supposed to be a totally secure system. They also know that people are willing to pay them big bucks and they also know that there's a big black market for stuff that can get stuff that isn't free for free. I hope you guys are right, but right now I'm kind of doubtful. Note: This post in no way supports those who hack FTA receivers. This was just a thought that crossed my mind and nothing more.
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D
dzinkin
Scott Greczkowski said:
Hahaha. Another hacker gone!
So if you purchased a CoolSat to watch Dish Network or ExpressVu, looks like you will be selling it soon on Ebay which is great for us folks who want to watch REAL FTA. There will be a wave of excellent FTA equipment available at dirt cheap prices. :)
Click to expand...
Does that mean that hacked FTA receivers actually can have the hacks reversed, so they don't have the altered channel mappings and other "features" used only to steal programming? The only dish I have right now is for DirecTV (and getting THAT installed involved some dealing with the homeowner's association), so I'm asking more out of curiosity than anything else. I confess that a small part of me would like the hacks to be irreversible, so the thieves can't get even a small part of their "investment" back on eBay... but the bigger part wants to see cheap equipment available for hobbyists.

(Forget I said anything if even this question isn't allowed -- I pay for my DirecTV subscription, don't have room for a second dish for legal OR illegal use even if I could get permission, and enjoy just reading about the extent to which people will go to avoid paying for programming. :-)
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lilyarbie
I've never been that tempted to do something like change the software. Of course, it would probably be like changing your operating system with a different one. (Converting your system from WIN XP to LINUX)
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drhydro
drhydro
As far as I know, you can reset recievers to factory software with no problems. Of course a lot of these thieves will lose money, because you cannot sell a used anything for the price of new. Plus, there will be a glut of recievers on the market, so they might literally get just a few dollars on what they spent. All the better for us :D
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Scott Greczkowski
Scott Greczkowski
Folks this is not a place to discuss hacks or how they work, we just know that that hacked FTA receivers will be going down soon, and from what I am told most FTA boxes will never get the Dish or Bell stuff again due to changes which require more power from the receiver.

Let's keep it like that and watch the FTA prices fall on EBAY together. :D
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Linus Tech Tips
· posted in Linus Tech Tips

Guessing Costco Tech Prices

Time for another AWESOME video from Linus Tech Tips!


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FtjH_HHTpeg


Direct YouTube Link - Guessing Costco Tech Prices
Linus on Facebook
The LTT Store
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TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

This Week in Space 233

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP8521ndPdA


Direct YouTube Link - This Week in Space 233
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

How It Feels Holding an iPhone Duo in Hand

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iFQxaEwwh2k


Direct YouTube Link - How It Feels Holding an iPhone Duo in Hand
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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Scott Greczkowski
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in DIRECTV General Forum

New Gemini Box

The following is from Reddit. -
View: https://www.reddit.com/r/DirectvStream/s/orzHBkmqQW


gemini.webp

There appears to be a new DIRECTV Gemini OTT box, the C81KW-650.

The FCC listing is partially available, and a Geekbench entry confirms it uses an Amlogic S905X5, a solid SoC for a set-top box.

I also see 4GB of RAM, and the manufacturer is SEI Robotics.

DIRECTV C81KW OTT Box - Android TV Guide

Ok found a picture of the Box too on Reddit:


View: https://www.reddit.com/r/DirectvStream/comments/1twlex0/comment/opzeqi1/
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GRB1959
GRB1959
A new Gemini box for DirecTV streaming possibly becoming available in January of 2027? That would be welcome news.

I have been exploring leaving Dish DBS ever since a software update around Aug. 10, version H711 and now H712, is causing problems with IR signals and the Dish Hopper 3. As a result my Sofabaton X2 universal remote no longer works perfectly as it did prior to the H711 and H712 Dish Hopper 3 firmware updates.

I have been a little leary of the current hardware available for DirecTV streaming as the Gemini Ospry box fits my needs, however they are getting a little long in the tooth and finding the 4GB RAM (SKU: 60233) Osprey box complete with remote and power cable is somewhat challenging. I see that the 2GB RAM Osprey boxes (SKU: 60164) can be found on Ebay and at Walmart online used, however a 4GB Osprey box is preferred.

Now I wonder if I should just wait it out until the new Gemini box for DirecTV streaming becomes available. I want a box with an Ethernet port and the Gemini Air is WiFi only. If the new Gemini box does become available in January of 2027 will it be lease only via DirecTV or will we be allowed to purchase them?
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S
slow_poke_pete
GRB1959 said:
A new Gemini box for DirecTV streaming possibly becoming available in January of 2027? That would be welcome news.

I have been exploring leaving Dish DBS ever since a software update around Aug. 10, version H711 and now H712, is causing problems with IR signals and the Dish Hopper 3. As a result my Sofabaton X2 universal remote no longer works perfectly as it did prior to the H711 and H712 Dish Hopper 3 firmware updates.

I have been a little leary of the current hardware available for DirecTV streaming as the Gemini Ospry box fits my needs, however they are getting a little long in the tooth and finding the 4GB RAM (SKU: 60233) Osprey box complete with remote and power cable is somewhat challenging. I see that the 2GB RAM Osprey boxes (SKU: 60164) can be found on Ebay and at Walmart online used, however a 4GB Osprey box is preferred.

Now I wonder if I should just wait it out until the new Gemini box for DirecTV streaming becomes available. I want a box with an Ethernet port and the Gemini Air is WiFi only. If the new Gemini box does become available in January of 2027 will it be lease only via DirecTV or will we be allowed to purchase them?
Click to expand...
there leased at 10.00 per box. unless you can find em at ebay or wally world where people have gotten em before. or you could get a roku apple tv firestick if you don't need the channel numbers
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GRB1959
GRB1959
slow_poke_pete said:
there leased at 10.00 per box. unless you can find em at ebay or wally world where people have gotten em before. or you could get a roku apple tv firestick if you don't need the channel numbers
Click to expand...

I appreciate the reply. My wife will be using this as well so a numeric keypad to change channels that actually works is a must and I want it to have a hardwired Ethernet port so that leaves the Gemini box as my only real choice.
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dishstaller
dishstaller
GRB1959 said:
I want it to have a hardwired Ethernet port so that leaves the Gemini box as my only real choice.
Click to expand...
The Roku Ultra series (the larger square box models that attach via hdmi) have ethernet ports
roku back.webp
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b4pjoe
b4pjoe
dishstaller said:
The Roku Ultra series (the larger square box models that attach via hdmi) have ethernet portsView attachment 194992
Click to expand...
This thread is about the new box for the DIRECTV Stream service. And yes it has an Ethernet port also.
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dishstaller
dishstaller
b4pjoe said:
This thread is about the new box for the DIRECTV Stream service. And yes it has an Ethernet port also.
Click to expand...
I didn't just mention this for no reason.....see posts #10 and 11 where Roku was clearly brought into the discussion. I'm NOT trying to hijack a thread but ADD information to it.
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Scott Greczkowski
Scott Greczkowski
I know a few people who have gotten one and I am told like most modern streaming boxes this one also has HDR on all the time.
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b4pjoe
b4pjoe
Scott Greczkowski said:
I know a few people who have gotten one and I am told like most modern streaming boxes this one also has HDR on all the time.
Click to expand...
My guess it is like the 2 previous boxes where you can turn it off/on but requires a reboot once you make the change for the change to take effect. Not sure if there is some limitation in the hardware that won't allow it to change automatically to what is in the content like other devices do. Even DIRECTV satellites own C61K changes on the fly.
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Tom Speer
Tom Speer
Scott Greczkowski said:
I know a few people who have gotten one and I am told like most modern streaming boxes this one also has HDR on all the time.
Click to expand...
I only noticed that as a problem on TVs that handle HDR poorly. They don't have enough peak brightness or enough dimming zones. For instance, TCL makes three lines of TV, sort of like the old Sears model of Good, Better, Best. On my 4 or 5 year end low price model, HDR looked awful (My neighbor likes the TV now). The midrange model from the next model year ithat I have at my Lake home now looks pretty good in HDR all the time. The midrange TCL QM7 model from last year at my other home looks spectacular, as I remember. I haven't seen it for 6 months.

If I had a TV that does HDR poorly, I would configure the Gemini to disable all HDR.
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b4pjoe
b4pjoe
Tom Speer said:
I only noticed that as a problem on TVs that handle HDR poorly. They don't have enough peak brightness or enough dimming zones. For instance, TCL makes three lines of TV, sort of like the old Sears model of Good, Better, Best. On my 4 or 5 year end low price mode, HDR looked awful (My neighbor likes the TV now). The midrannge model from the next model year ithat I have at my Lake home now looks pretty good in HDR all the time. The midrange TCL QM7 model from last year at my other home looks spectacular, as I remember. I haven't seen it for 6 months.

If I had a TV that does HDR poorly, I would configure the Gemini to disble all HDR.
Click to expand...
I agree with that. The 2 LGs that we have Gemini's on looks far better with HDR enabled then it does with HDR off.
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dishstaller
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
· posted in The Chit Chat Club

What supplements have you found that really helped your overall health

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

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

Advanced Shader Delivery for Starting AAA Games #shorts

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6UdT8b2s_Lc


Direct YouTube Link - Advanced Shader Delivery for Starting AAA Games #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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Bruce
Bruce
Supporting Founder Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in Internet Television (IPTV) Discussion Forum

How things have changed

I was reading this article

thehill.com

Cable TV ‘cord-cutters’ became the majority in 2022

The steady decline of cable and broadcast television, and the rise of streaming services, reached a sort of inflection point over the past year. Last summer, for the first time, streaming ser…
thehill.com thehill.com

That said this-
Last summer, for the first time, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime claimed the largest share of the television viewing audience, surpassing both cable and broadcast TV. Streaming captured 34.8 percent of July viewers, according to Nielsen data, compared to 34.4 percent for cable and 21.6 percent for broadcast.

And then, sometime in the second half of 2022, cord-cutters became the majority. The share of cable and satellite television subscribers dipped to 48 percent, according to a report from Samba TV, a television technology company.

Now I do not consider those with YTTV and the likes, Cord Cutters, but they still do not have Traditional Cable/Satellite delivered Live TV, so I decided to do the math.

There are, now, 129 Million Households in the United States.

In 2015, there were 100 Million Cable/Sat Subscribers , no streaming Live TV Service.

Today, there are 66 Million Live TV subscribers, including Cable, Satellite and Streaming.

Roughly, Streaming Live TV has 14 Million subs including all of them.

So that means, Cable/Satellite now has, roughly, 51 Million Households

So in just 8 years, lost 49% of their subscribers and by the end of this year, expected sub count to be, roughly, 45 million households.

That means a total loss of 55% since 2015 at the end of 2023.

But out of 129 Million households, 45 million will mean only 35% will get Cable/Satellite Delivered Live TV by the end of 2023.

Imagine what 2024 will be like.
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Bruce
Bruce
And again, 15 months in a row, streaming wins-

Cable and Broadcast added together-36.4%

Streaming with a massive 49.6%, 13.2% higher than Broadcast/Streaming.

IMG_2172.webp
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Jimbo
Jimbo
Bruce said:
And again, 15 months in a row, streaming wins-

Cable and Broadcast added together-36.4%

Streaming with a massive 49.6%, 13.2% higher than Broadcast/Streaming.

View attachment 194983
Click to expand...
Your Still Thrilled about all this ?

These numbers will Never be accurate as many people use Both still ...

You have services like Hulu Live and You Tube TV that do, what you call Cable, but they ARE Streaming, so Which is is ?

Does it get counted 2x as both Streaming and Cable ?
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b4pjoe
b4pjoe
Jimbo said:
Your Still Thrilled about all this ?

These numbers will Never be accurate as many people use Both still ...

You have services like Hulu Live and You Tube TV that do, what you call Cable, but they ARE Streaming, so Which is is ?

Does it get counted 2x as both Streaming and Cable ?
Click to expand...
I think Hulu Live, YTTV, Fubo, and DIRECTV stream among others like my Internet provider has a TV service like Broadcast/Cable but it streams like the four services I mentioned and would be listed under Broadcast/Cable. Imagine how bad the numbers would be if they were listed under streaming and not Broadcast/Cable. I'm sure someone will correct me if that is wrong though.
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Jimbo
Jimbo
b4pjoe said:
I think Hulu Live, YTTV, Fubo, and DIRECTV stream among others like my Internet provider has a TV service like Broadcast/Cable but it streams like the four services I mentioned and would be listed under Broadcast/Cable. Imagine how bad the numbers would be if they were listed under streaming and not Broadcast/Cable. I'm sure someone will correct me if that is wrong though.
Click to expand...
Well, your showing the same as I am, its impossible to get those that use both, as well as those that ARE both.
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b4pjoe
b4pjoe
Jimbo said:
Well, your showing the same as I am, its impossible to get those that use both, as well as those that ARE both.
Click to expand...
Well they are both but I think they are only counted as Broadcast/Cable/Other.
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Jimbo
Jimbo
b4pjoe said:
Well they are both but I think they are only counted as Broadcast/Cable/Other.
Click to expand...
But, Originally they were Streaming ...
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Bruce
Bruce
b4pjoe said:
Well they are both but I think they are only counted as Broadcast/Cable/Other.
Click to expand...
Jimbo said:
But, Originally they were Streaming ...
Click to expand...
be4joe is correct, YTTV and the likes are not included in streaming, from Nielsen's FAQ-

What about live streaming on Hulu and YouTube?
  • Linear streaming via vMVPD apps (e.g., Hulu Live, YouTube TV) are excluded from the streaming category.
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Jimbo
Jimbo
But they ARE Streaming as well, so they Should be counted as both, which would make the Streaming numbers even More prominate.

Q.
Who does the Counting for Streaming ?

Neilson does the Broadcast/Cable ...
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b4pjoe
b4pjoe
Jimbo said:
But they ARE Streaming as well, so they Should be counted as both, which would make the Streaming numbers even More prominate.

Q.
Who does the Counting for Streaming ?

Neilson does the Broadcast/Cable ...
Click to expand...
But they are basically airing a number of live channels just like Broadcast, Cable, and Others so that is why they are counted that way.
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Bruce
Bruce
Jimbo said:
But they ARE Streaming as well, so they Should be counted as both, which would make the Streaming numbers even More prominate.

Q.
Who does the Counting for Streaming ?

Neilson does the Broadcast/Cable ...
Click to expand...
Same.

Ratings for streaming content is extremely accurate, since the service knows who is watching what and when, when we hit ok on our remotes.

Ratings for Broadcast/Cable shows has always been a estimate.
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TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

AI Agents Breached an Enterprise Network in Under 10 Hours #shorts

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gnVnW1U46g0


Direct YouTube Link - AI Agents Breached an Enterprise Network in Under 10 Hours #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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TRG
TRG
Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Prescription drug costs

Now that I'm retired, obviously I have different health care insurance. I take 2 prescriptions. With my old insurance I didn't have to pay for either of them, now I do. It's not a huge amount but it led me to dig a little into the cost of prescription medications. I have been using Walgreens for the longest time. But what I found was that Walgreens price is 4.8 times more for one of my prescriptions and the other is 2.3 percent more compared to the lowest price pharmacy. If you pay for prescription medications you might want to have a look at trumprx and see if you can get a lower price.


Screenshot from 2026-10-22 15-43-53.webp
Screenshot from 2026-10-22 15-23-34.webp
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comfortably_numb
comfortably_numb
I run them through several different providers to see who has the lowest cost

Usually it's Walmart or Sam's + GoodRx

Also...

Homepage of Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs

Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug homepage. Provides safe, affordable medicine or medication with transparent low prices.
www.costplusdrugs.com

You can also price them through the CareCard and WellRx apps.

Sometimes Amazon Pharmacy is cheapest.
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dishstaller
dishstaller
comfortably_numb said:
Usually it's Walmart or Sam's + GoodRx
Click to expand...
I'm fortunate and don't take any medications. A couple years ago I had to take some antibiotics and used the GoodRx app. Went to Walmart and the person behind the desk knew me and told me to just buy them outright....the GoodRx price was a LOT higher. She said they aren't supposed to tell customers when they see they are being screwed.
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navychop
navychop
That's ok. I probably take enough for the two of us.

God knows what Bobby takes. Maybe so much they count as a meal?
:D
:devilish
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Bobby
Bobby
navychop said:
That's ok. I probably take enough for the two of us.

God knows what Bobby takes. Maybe so much they count as a meal?
:D
:devilish
Click to expand...
Actually I take just 2 prescriptions, Atorvastatin and Lisinopril. They cost me $6 each for 100 pills. Next year that will be nothing.
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K
klang
Bobby said:
Actually I take just 2 prescriptions, Atorvastatin and Lisinopril. They cost me $6 each for 100 pills. Next year that will be nothing.
Click to expand...
Those are two of the three I take.
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comfortably_numb
comfortably_numb
dishstaller said:
Went to Walmart and the person behind the desk knew me and told me to just buy them outright....the GoodRx price was a LOT higher
Click to expand...

Walmart and Sam's pharmacies have "zero rated" prescriptions lists where generics are $4 (or less). If yours are on that list, then of course GoodRx isn't going to help. Also, GoodRx isn't always the cheapest discount program. For me, the cheapest is usually Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs.
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R
reubenray
My wife and I both take Gabapentin for nerve pain. With our Medicare Plan D plan it use to be free. Now we have to pay for it. Yesterday my wife got her prescription at CVS and the pharmacist dug around and got the cost cut in half with what he said was RX. I am guessing this was GoodRX.
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dishstaller
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
· posted in TV Shows

Brutal review of Netflix's series Below

Don't know if any of you have watched this series yet, it would be interesting to see if you feel this review was accurate. It was very humorous to listen to however.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tsDO3y8I2c
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