Truth on Direct TV

[mawyatt]

Anyone have the true skinny on Direct TV regarding the move to Ka band and future channels available on the present band. Questions I'm trying to ask myself are should we go ahead with the KVH M3 Direct TV purchase if we are intrested in standard TV channels and can forgo the HD for now. Anyone know if/when Direct TV moves to Ka band will they still offer the present channels on the present band?

I'm trying not to make a bad (read $) decision regarding the KVH M3 purchase as I'm already broke!!

Thanks,

Mike

 

[CJ Martin]

Try looking/asking here:

www.dbstalk.com

-CJ

 

[mawyatt]

Try looking/asking here:

www.dbstalk.com

-CJ

Thanks CJ.

Mike

 

[Pirate]

DirecTV will continue with standard def on the Ku band for a long time. There's simply too much equipment out there for them to abandon their subscribers and/or upgrade all of them. I foresee all of their HD programming going to Ka soon. So, no HD for the gyroscopically stabilized antenna market for now.

 

[fc3]

How large of a dish for Ka?

 

[Walz]

Here is the reply I just got from Sea Tel:

Thank you for your e-mail. DirecTV is making it very challenging for the marine
industry at this time. The Coastal 14 can receive the HD channels that are on
110W and 119W. The signals coming down from those satellites are at Ku-Band. The
HD channels that are coming down from 103W and 99W are at Ka-Band. At this time,
you will not be able to receive the Ka-Band signals on the Coastal 14 and I
cannot promise you that you will be able to in the future, although we are
working on a solution for Ka-Band.
Another option is Dish Network. They broadcast all of their signals (HD
included) at Ku-Band. The problem with Dish Network, is that you have to change
between 3 different satellites, but you are able to view all of their HD content
with the Coastal 14.
We are working on new solutions for DirecTV and Dish Network. If you have any
other question, please let me know.


Best regards,
Bobby Johns
TVRO Product Manager
-------------------------------------------
Sea-Tel Inc.
4030 Nelson Ave.
Concord, CA 94520
Tel: 925-798-2399 Ext. 264
Fax: 925-674-0871
Toll Free: 888-798-7979
email: bjohns@seatel.com
www.seatel.com

 

[promocop]

Will this have an effect on the change over to Digital next Feb>? And if so do i need a converter box even if I have DTV now? Confused.

 

[Walz]

Will this have an effect on the change over to Digital next Feb>? And if so do i need a converter box even if I have DTV now? Confused.

No. The change in February of 2009 only applies if you use an outside antenna and receive signals directly "over-the-air." If you have cable or satellite there will be no effect on your service.

 

[DragonAnchor]

Currently, I have no need of HD on my boat, but wouldnt mind getting what ever is available on Ku band.

Pricepoint is the issue for me, I am hoping the cost comes down on the M3's so that I can have decent channels at a reasonable price for the size boat I have

 

[Pirate]

Here is the reply I just got from Sea Tel:

Thank you for your e-mail. DirecTV is making it very challenging for the marine
industry at this time. The Coastal 14 can receive the HD channels that are on
110W and 119W. The signals coming down from those satellites are at Ku-Band. The
HD channels that are coming down from 103W and 99W are at Ka-Band. At this time,
you will not be able to receive the Ka-Band signals on the Coastal 14 and I
cannot promise you that you will be able to in the future, although we are
working on a solution for Ka-Band.
Another option is Dish Network. They broadcast all of their signals (HD
included) at Ku-Band. The problem with Dish Network, is that you have to change
between 3 different satellites, but you are able to view all of their HD content
with the Coastal 14.
We are working on new solutions for DirecTV and Dish Network. If you have any
other question, please let me know.


Best regards,
Bobby Johns
TVRO Product Manager
-------------------------------------------
Sea-Tel Inc.
4030 Nelson Ave.
Concord, CA 94520
Tel: 925-798-2399 Ext. 264
Fax: 925-674-0871
Toll Free: 888-798-7979
email: bjohns@seatel.com
www.seatel.com

Seems he didn't bother telling you that DISH just launched a new Ka satellite. DISH is much harder to track for some reason than DirecTV. I have 2 customers using DISH and LOTS using DirecTV. DirecTV is a lot easier.