Any Old C-Band Folks Here?

[bobvick]

I was wondering how many of you here are old C-Band folks? I was a C-Band dish owner since 1983 to 2002.
It seems that the Dish Network forum here is much more active than DirecTV forum and the the DirecTV forum at dbstalk. I know that back in the day C-Band folks used to be quite active on the BBS and Usenet in the late 80's and early 90's before the internet became "cool." So I thought that perhaps some of you here used to be into C-Band.
I went through scrambling with VCII starting in 1986 and then with the VCII-RS in the early 90's and finally 4DTV with the GI 922.
In 1993 I moved and got a new mesh SAMI dish, I kept it until 2002 when the actuator arm finally went out, and I did not have as much time to keep the dish up due to work and other factors, so I switched to DirecTV.
I was with them until June of 2006 when I got an HDTV and switched to Dish for VOOM. Then in January of 2008, DirecTV called and made me a real good offer to switch back and since I found out that Voom had an excellent picture and programming but limited content, I switched back to DirecTV.
I had previoulsy had a DirecTV Tivo when I was with them before, then I got introduced to the HR series, HR21 to be exact, it was S L O W, and a pain to live with.
Finally I had had enough of the HR series and the lack of HBO in HD along with other premiums in HD and as of May 31 I moved back to Dish again. I am VERY pleased with the 722K receivers that I have and I am looking forward to the 922.

 

[Kb Cool]

Do you still have that "big useful dish"?

 

[bobvick]

Unfortunately I do not, I wish that I did but my wife made me disassemble it and take it down, and I gave it to a guy that was roofing my house about three years ago to get it out of the way.
I wish that I had kept that old SAMI now, I keep thinking that I will get a new one some day, but with my job I commute 75 miles each way, so I never seem to have the time.

 

[Kb Cool]

Thats okay,
You're only missing out on some true High Quality 1080I HD content that Directv and Dishnet can't seem to deliver due to bandwitdth constraints.
Personally i have 4DTV, FTA and Dishnet. I guess more is better for me.

 

[Kb Cool]

Oh yeah,
Forgot to mention that my wife would kill me if i got rid of the big dish as she loves having all those HBO's that 4dtv offers. Seems like you were missing them too?

 

[bruin95]

Oh yeah,
Forgot to mention that my wife would kill me if i got rid of the big dish as she loves having all those HBO's that 4dtv offers. Seems like you were missing them too?

WOW! Most wives wouldn't even allow a BUD anywhere near their property and yours won't let you get rid of it. You're a lucky man.

 

[tempVAdish]

I was one until about 2002 also when a power outtage caused my 4DTV to loose its address... it's a shame it didn't have an indicator that the battery was going bad Anywho, jumped on to Dish back then because of some of the multi channels I used to get on the 4dtv that direct didn't carry, then about 6mos after that, Dish picked up my locals & I was happy... never looked back, started w/ 3 311's, still have all 3, but only using 2 now. Had a 921, then went with the 622 & a wing dish... The old Wineguard 10' is still in the yard, but in 4 petals & not on the pole... as for the pole... I fear it will outlast me 'cause along w/ the concrete base, I filled the pole to the top w/ concrete as well

 

[whatchel1]

4 sure

I had C-band before there was even all the premium up and running. I had it before there was a Sci-Fi net and watched the kaleidoscope test pattern they ran for a month or two. I installed C-band for many years and even installed a very few of the Directv when it 1st came out. I miss the home C-bands somewhat but really understand why it has fallen by the wayside. I still work w/ the C/Ku dishes at work. But have had Dish HD ever since The demise of Voom when it was it's own service. I'm a legacy of the company and still have the receivers and use them for OTA. I will be taking 1 of mine in today to hook up to the TV at work to convert from analog to DTV.

 

[dfergie]

I've had mine since 83 or so... haven't fired up in a year or so on analog or hooked to FTA...

 

[AKGolf]

From 1988 - 2002. Had 4DTV and a 12 foot Paraclipse when I switched to DISH.

 

[goaliebob99]

2009 here.... Once you go big you never go back .... There are some INCREDABLE backhauls up there in HD. I was watching a 60 Mbps Feed the other day... I about had to change my shorts as the PQ was Simply AMAZING!!!! That is putting it lightly.

 

[jansan]

I still have my BUD and Dish. My 4DTV still works and I really want to get a FTA receiver.

 

[starman345]

There are lots of old c-band folks here. I've been playing satellite since the 80's. Also ran a bbs for six years.

 

[odbrv]

I liked everything about c-band except the pricing policy. I use to subscribe to about everything via NPS( still use them for distant networks now). Still subscibe to everything with Dish. The difference is Dish is more like cable with a 5$ to $7 monthly charge for extra receivers with programming. C-band never saw the light and charged full programming suscription for each receiver. I believe that poor business model more than dish size killed c-band. Also,there was no lease possibility for receivers. I quickly found that buying receivers that had a short technology life span is dumb. My current 622s have been upgraded 3 times via 722,722k, and now 922. Just waiting for a free or low cost exchange deal to upgrade.

 

[MexicoPete]

I first installed my original C band antenna with a hand crank to move it from satellite to satellite back in the winter of 1980-1 in Seattle. Yes I remember on Jan 15th 1986 when HBO began scrambling. Today in Seattle, all I have is Comcast and a couple of Ku band dishes that I point at 110-119 and 129 and a 60 E that my Canadian wife uses to pick up her favorite programming on.


In Mexico, we just moved and haven't moved the C band dish yet, but will do so this year. I now have the 922- 4DTV, HD converter, and an old FTA that was used for the truly free stuff. I also have an old SSB receiver that I used to use to listen to audio programming.

We're up North in the summer and in central MX in the winter. When we head south for the winter, I bring my 211 HD receiver with me to point at the same birds mentioned above and the wife brings a *Choice receiver with her so that she can continue to watch her favorite Canadian programs. We are lucky enough to have a real address in Canada where we share a primitive cottage with relatives and where we pay the *Choice bill

So yes the house in Mexico looks like an antenna farm. Oversized satellite Dishes for 110, 119, 129, and C band and one 75 E *Choice dish for the birds at 107.3 and 111.1 W

I also remember listening to such big dish DJs as Keith Lamonica, Gary Bouswa (spelling), and a great guy whose name I forget from SE Saskatchewan (I'm having a senior moment darn it)

 

[bobvick]

Do any of you remember Shaun Kenny and Boresight, Greensheets, and Yellow Rain?

 

[starman345]

Do any of you remember Shaun Kenny and Boresight, Greensheets, and Yellow Rain?

I watched it nearly every week. Lolita was with him a lot and a guy who went by captain Bob. I think he really was a commercial pilot. I bought of lot of stuff from Sean over the years. You can watch some of the old shows in the link below, quality is pretty bad.

Boresight News Videos

 

[whatchel1]

100%

Do any of you remember Shaun Kenny and Boresight, Greensheets, and Yellow Rain?

Of course I remember Sean used to watch his show talk to him sometime. And yes I listened to Gary B. and occasionally Keith.

 

[dfergie]

Do any of you remember Shaun Kenny and Boresight, Greensheets, and Yellow Rain?

Oh yeah... I started out with a hand crank (which I foolishly left outside and let freeze up after I upgraded) and a Tenna Rotor to switch polaritys...

 

[skyviewmark]

Used to sell and install them.. I miss those good ole days when people actually knew that a service call meant that they had to pay, and no one expected everything for free.