Cafeteria Subscriptions

[windowseat]

I've recently dropped Dish Network due to the high cost/poor customer service, and am now living with DTV. Which, in general, is OK.

But I miss CNN and HBO. Is it possible to subscribe to them directly without getting a Dish Network or DirectTV service? Which satellites are they on? What kind of dish/receiver would I need?

 

[dashaund]

Hey and welcome to our forum! Great place to start is Lyngsat.com...tells you practically where everything is at on every satellite. For CNN and HBO both, you'll need to get a 4DTV receiver, either the Motorola DSR-920 or DSR-922. You'll also need a C-band dish, at least 8ft, and the larger the better. You'll also need a subscription. Check out NPS - Your One Call Solution - CBAND Satellite Programming C-band for more information on subscriptions. There are a couple other subscription services out there, but, the one I'm most familiar with is NPS. The great thing is is there's SO much more out there than just subscription based services...which is what this forum is all about!

 

[windowseat]

Thanks for the quick reply! I'll check out your suggestions.

The key issue, though, is: How do I convince my wife to allow an 8 ft dish in the back yard?

 

[penguinsix]

Tell her you are with the CIA.

My neighbors all think that when they see my dishes and other antennas sticking out of my house.

 

[windowseat]

... For CNN and HBO both, you'll need to get a 4DTV receiver, either the Motorola DSR-920 or DSR-922.

But, according to Wikipedia, (Search DVB-S2)

"As DVB technology gradually replaces older, proprietary MPEG transmission systems globally, it is likely that 4DTV will become obsolete by about 2010. There is no industry-wide timetable in North America for the conversion from 4DTV to DVB"

What will a DSR be good for in 2010?

 

[dashaund]

I honestly can't answer that myself. Regardless, you'll still need the 8ft+ dish. I haven't heard anything personally about 4DTV being phased out. I have heard a lot about DVB-S2. Personally I hope that 4DTV does get phased out because it is proprietary whereas as DVB isn't. But we'll see how that goes. You can usually get some good deals on 4DTV receivers on eBay.

 

[Anole]

... Personally I hope that 4DTV does get phased out because it is proprietary whereas as DVB isn't. ...

While true, I've not seen any talk about replacing the 4DTV subscription service with anything based on DVB nor DVB-S2.
So, if 4DTV goes away, then you'll have nothing in that category (end-user subscriptions on BUDs).

Not that something couldn't appear in the future, but there is no handwriting on the wall (that I'm aware of).
If anyone knows different, please share. - :up


Also, as feeds and Equity Broadcasting satellite distribution move to S2, with it's higher technical requirements to decode, that will further limit reception to the die-hards.
Today, any idiot can put up a 1- or 2-LNB 30"..36" dish and get something.
The smart ones get motorized, but are still on 36"...40" dishes
As I read it, S2 C-band takes a really good 8' dish 'n LNB, or for many a 10'..12' dish, . . . plus a $400 receiver.
Those specs may be out of my reach.

 

[windowseat]

Probably mine too. While I love to collect equipment (if you could only see my collection of computers) my whole direction is to decrease cost (thus dropping Dish Network). I do look at the long-term implications. I can justify a $400 expense if I only have to pay $20/mo for the programming I want on NPS vs $90 on Dish Network. It pays for itself in 7 months.

But look at the NPS digital options. That can't sell their some of digital channels a la carte, because some of the providers (e.g., Fox) will only let them sell the package. I've run into similar situations before on the cable side. A company bought the rights to the Big 10 Networks (which the Big 10 gladly accepted, since it was a phenomenally high bid), but wouldn't sell to the local home town cable network unless it was included in the free channel lineup -- that is, unless all of the subscribers paid for it. The cable co. wanted to do it as a subscription. After about 5 years they came to an agreement, but since the FTA market is significantly smaller than the cable market (and subscription satellite) and there isn't the economic or political strength to force content providers to be more reasonable.

And you're right, I haven't seen anything (although I don't have as many places to look as you do) that NPS will be transitioning to DVB-S2 any time soon, there's no reason to think that there won't be changes over time, as the march from analog to digital is inevitable.

You did answer one question, though. It appears that the antenna piece of the configuration will work regardless of the receiver attached to it, and can be upgraded independently of the receiver. It follows that the key to planning for future installations is flexibility.

Who is out there providing a la carte programming besides NPS. Even they have some package requirements for certain programming. If I'm going to have to spend that much, it makes more sense to stay with Dish Network. It would probably be worth $20/month not to have to keep track of the changing feeds, rehits and resets.