Shaw satellite in Mesa, an update

[FernyD]

Thought I would update everyone as to my experience with Shaw satellite installation in Mesa, AZ. I shipped all my equipment to Mesa, after getting it installed and working in North Vancouver, at home. So I knew going in, everything worked and I had all the proper hardware and a large dish. The latest and greatest, up to date everything.

I found a local contractor in Arizona who was great and knows Shaw and every other satellite company down there. I have his info for those in need, just contact me. He installed all the hardware and made sure the signal was perfect and I had great reception.

The service works great and no, the Anik F1 satellite does not reach down there. Let me vent right now about that.

I am sure there are thousands of Shaw satellite customers using the Shaw service in the southern US and Mexico. If they do replace the existing satellite working down here with one which won't reach the southern US, they will lose money and these customers. So I do not know why, if they replace the existing satellite, they wouldn't make sure it does send the signal south. Sure it may be technically illegal for Shaw to sell the service for use outside Canada, but let's be serious, it is happening and they will lose customers if we stop receiving the signal.

I am one of the hundreds of thousands of snowbirds who want to watch my local programming, sports, news, and shows. It isn't hurting anyone except Shaw's bottom line if they stop the signal down here.

It is nice to get up in the morning, tune in to the local news, then watch the Canucks or Lions when those games are on. Stuff I do at home. I just leave my satellite at my vacation place as I have TELUS fibre at home, so I don't need the Shaw satellite at home on the North Shore.

If Shaw does cancel the satellite is there any other satellite service, like Bell or others we could use? It is a pain in the ass that half the channels aren't available due to F1. Be nice if they repositioned that signal to come down here as well.

Ferny

 

[stecle]

I agree with most of what you say. I am sure ShawDirect would like the revenue but there are existing territorial rights for the programming. For example that Canuck hockey game you watch in Arizona on Shawdirect via TSN. The local broadcast rights will be owned by ESPN or some other USA carrier. ShawDirect would not be too happy if people in Canada started cancelling their service and installing DirecTV.

 

[harshness]

Shaw has contracts with the various programming companies that are exclusive to Canada. If they were actively offering service to customers outside of Canada, they would be in breach of those contracts.

The satellites orbits that Shaw is using can be shared with Central and South America if Shaw isn't sending their signals that way so there are neighborly reasons to limit their coverage area as well.

 

[joshuals]

Anik F1 (actually, Anik F1R) has reached end-of-life, has been decommissioned, and is no longer broadcasting Shaw signals. The satellite mentioned by the OP that does not reach the southern US is actually Anik G1. Any signals that the OP is receiving in AZ are coming from Anik F2 which, itself, is approaching end-of-life and will go away in the not-too-distant future. At that point it is likely that Canadian programming will no longer be available in the southern three-quarters of the US.

The only hockey that is broadcast in AZ are the Coyotes games (home and away) and a few out-of-market hockey games that can be seen occasionally via cable/US satellite on ABC, TNT, or NHL Network. All other out-of-market games can be seen by subscribing to ESPN+ streaming service which, this season, has replaced NHL.TV.COM. The French-language hockey broadcasts (RDS & TVA Sports) that were available on NHL.TV.COM are not offered on ESPN+. I sympathize with the QC Snowbirds.....

As an aside, ESPN+ is only available in the US and will be blacked out if a user attempts to use it from a non-US IP address.

Those of us who enjoyed Shaw programming in AZ for nearly 20 years did so with the knowledge that Shaw had no obligation to provide signals to the US for the reasons set forth by other posters above, and that receiving Shaw signals was only a temporary thing. (The ability to receive Bell ExpressVu signals in AZ disappeared nearly 15 years ago, so we were thankful that Shaw lasted as long as it did.)

While the loss of Shaw in the southern US may represent a small loss in their revenue, I believe Shaw's motivation to limit their satellite coverage, at least in part, was to come into closer compliance with Canadian law with regard to the "rights of broadcasters" to determine who can watch what and where. I don't like that concept, but i guess that's just the way it is.

 

[harshness]

Shaw allows you to suspend your account for up to 180 days.

 

[mellaby]

Shaw allows you to suspend your account for up to 180 days.

I've been suspending my account 180 days for 13 years. It's free and saves a lot of money in the summer.

 

[stecle]

I do find it interesting however that Dish Network and DirecTv do not take any steps to limit their footprint into Canada.

 

[harshness]

I do find it interesting however that Dish Network and DirecTv do not take any steps to limit their footprint into Canada.

There's always a fringe. At the shallower angles we're talking about, that fringe covers much of the populated areas of Canada.

There's also the issue of Alaska.

 

[modefan63]

i am in los angeles and a former bell watcher it went into signal lost jully 5th 2012 here in la got shaw in 2013 had all the stations. now about half it will be verry sad the day they all go bye i guess washington staste is safe for a full signal anybody their getting all the stations

 

[FernyD]

Anik F1 (actually, Anik F1R) has reached end-of-life, has been decommissioned, and is no longer broadcasting Shaw signals. The satellite mentioned by the OP that does not reach the southern US is actually Anik G1. Any signals that the OP is receiving in AZ are coming from Anik F2 which, itself, is approaching end-of-life and will go away in the not-too-distant future. At that point it is likely that Canadian programming will no longer be available in the southern three-quarters of the US.

The only hockey that is broadcast in AZ are the Coyotes games (home and away) and a few out-of-market hockey games that can be seen occasionally via cable/US satellite on ABC, TNT, or NHL Network. All other out-of-market games can be seen by subscribing to ESPN+ streaming service which, this season, has replaced NHL.TV.COM. The French-language hockey broadcasts (RDS & TVA Sports) that were available on NHL.TV.COM are not offered on ESPN+. I sympathize with the QC Snowbirds.....

As an aside, ESPN+ is only available in the US and will be blacked out if a user attempts to use it from a non-US IP address.

Those of us who enjoyed Shaw programming in AZ for nearly 20 years did so with the knowledge that Shaw had no obligation to provide signals to the US for the reasons set forth by other posters above, and that receiving Shaw signals was only a temporary thing. (The ability to receive Bell ExpressVu signals in AZ disappeared nearly 15 years ago, so we were thankful that Shaw lasted as long as it did.)

While the loss of Shaw in the southern US may represent a small loss in their revenue, I believe Shaw's motivation to limit their satellite coverage, at least in part, was to come into closer compliance with Canadian law with regard to the "rights of broadcasters" to determine who can watch what and where. I don't like that concept, but i guess that's just the way it is.

Hey Joshuals

Thanks for the expanded reply and explanations. I am new to this but am technology savvy.

I do wonder how much of Shaw's revenue is from customers like us who use their service in the US while vacationing. I hardly use it in Canada as I have TELUS at home. It is so nice to watch home-grown TV. The DirecTV and Dish Network services are not great. I've tried them both. And with those services, you can't even get some of the large national networks like NBC, because they can't agree on a cost to broadcast their signal on Dish Network. DirecTV is similar with other channels being lost.

You would think in this day and age a person should be able to access any service they like. I am very happy to pay for these services and do pay for them. We can only hope Anik G1 continues for a few years yet. Maybe by then, something else will have come up?

 

[harshness]

You would think in this day and age a person should be able to access any service they like.

As distribution contracts rule everything, your ideal is not possible. Country boundaries (in North America) are a very handy boundary to determine service areas.

You would think Canada wouldn't mandate that a significant percentage of the TV programming offered in Canada be substantially Canadian produced, but thems is the rulez.

 

[catamount]

Does everyone remember the reason why shaw had to direct their signals north for the G1 satellite? It was because they had to use the lower KU band . There was 300 plus canadian and 500 or so American businesses that had to get new equipment to change their frequencies so they could stay in business. It was impossible to go any farther south because of this extreme cost. I have never read anything about this decision being based on pressure about overlap into the US.

Catamount

 

[harshness]

It was impossible to go any farther south because of this extreme cost.

Extreme cost of what? Most TWTAs are tunable and don't care what frequency you're using as long as it is in the Ku band.

 

[joshuals]

@ Harshness

My understanding on that question is that Shaw is using the EXTENDED Ku Band portion of G1 for its signals (hence the name xKu given to the LNB) and that the Extended Ku Band is not authorized for use in the US.

I don't have any references to back that up, but I know such references exist, either on this forum or on Digital Home.

 

[harshness]

According to Lyngsat, Anik G1 is using frequencies from 11092 to 11683 so it is definitely below the usual frequencies.

I'm more than a little surprised that Canada is allowed to go there given that the Americas (North, Central and South) are all in one region (ITU Region 2).

 

[pacificrim]

Directv does have a footprint that certainly favours the US, but like most Canadians, you live along the US border and could receive their services if you really wanted to. Geographically, most of Canada is not covered by US sats.

Some have tried really hard to get G1 in the southern US.

Someone posted from LA a couple years ago who was part of the broadcast or media industry and needed to get G1 to watch their content or something- they had a giant dish set up to receive G1 but even with a (or because they had such a large and precise) dish, the satellite drift within "the box" would cause regular outages throughout the day.

 

[ronvogel]

Thought I would update everyone as to my experience with Shaw satellite installation in Mesa, AZ. I shipped all my equipment to Mesa, after getting it installed and working in North Vancouver, at home. So I knew going in, everything worked and I had all the proper hardware and a large dish. The latest and greatest, up to date everything.

I found a local contractor in Arizona who was great and knows Shaw and every other satellite company down there. I have his info for those in need, just contact me. He installed all the hardware and made sure the signal was perfect and I had great reception.

The service works great and no, the Anik F1 satellite does not reach down there. Let me vent right now about that.

I am sure there are thousands of Shaw satellite customers using the Shaw service in the southern US and Mexico. If they do replace the existing satellite working down here with one which won't reach the southern US, they will lose money and these customers. So I do not know why, if they replace the existing satellite, they wouldn't make sure it does send the signal south. Sure it may be technically illegal for Shaw to sell the service for use outside Canada, but let's be serious, it is happening and they will lose customers if we stop receiving the signal.

I am one of the hundreds of thousands of snowbirds who want to watch my local programming, sports, news, and shows. It isn't hurting anyone except Shaw's bottom line if they stop the signal down here.

It is nice to get up in the morning, tune in to the local news, then watch the Canucks or Lions when those games are on. Stuff I do at home. I just leave my satellite at my vacation place as I have TELUS fibre at home, so I don't need the Shaw satellite at home on the North Shore.

If Shaw does cancel the satellite is there any other satellite service, like Bell or others we could use? It is a pain in the ass that half the channels aren't available due to F1. Be nice if they repositioned that signal to come down here as well.

Ferny

what satellite are you aligned to?

 

[ronvogel]

Thought I would update everyone as to my experience with Shaw satellite installation in Mesa, AZ. I shipped all my equipment to Mesa, after getting it installed and working in North Vancouver, at home. So I knew going in, everything worked and I had all the proper hardware and a large dish. The latest and greatest, up to date everything.

I found a local contractor in Arizona who was great and knows Shaw and every other satellite company down there. I have his info for those in need, just contact me. He installed all the hardware and made sure the signal was perfect and I had great reception.

The service works great and no, the Anik F1 satellite does not reach down there. Let me vent right now about that.

I am sure there are thousands of Shaw satellite customers using the Shaw service in the southern US and Mexico. If they do replace the existing satellite working down here with one which won't reach the southern US, they will lose money and these customers. So I do not know why, if they replace the existing satellite, they wouldn't make sure it does send the signal south. Sure it may be technically illegal for Shaw to sell the service for use outside Canada, but let's be serious, it is happening and they will lose customers if we stop receiving the signal.

I am one of the hundreds of thousands of snowbirds who want to watch my local programming, sports, news, and shows. It isn't hurting anyone except Shaw's bottom line if they stop the signal down here.

It is nice to get up in the morning, tune in to the local news, then watch the Canucks or Lions when those games are on. Stuff I do at home. I just leave my satellite at my vacation place as I have TELUS fibre at home, so I don't need the Shaw satellite at home on the North Shore.

If Shaw does cancel the satellite is there any other satellite service, like Bell or others we could use? It is a pain in the ass that half the channels aren't available due to F1. Be nice if they repositioned that signal to come down here as well.

Ferny

i am just heading down to Phoenix for the winter. Does your Shaw still work? What satellite are you aligned to?

 

[harshness]

i am just heading down to Phoenix for the winter. Does your Shaw still work? What satellite are you aligned to?

I'd imagine that not much has changed in 30 days.

You set the dish up as you always have (I recommend using DishPointer - Align your satellite dish for aiming data). Dishpointer has an entry near the bottom of the satellite list for "Starchoice 107W & 111W".

The difference is that you won't actually see Anik G1 even though you're pointed directly at it.

 

[mellaby]

i am just heading down to Phoenix for the winter. Does your Shaw still work? What satellite are you aligned to?

All my programming is working just fine. Like harshness said go to DishPointer to set up.