Dish approved to merge with EchoStar.

[TheForce]

Those may not have mattered to you,

Partly. I did care about picture quality and since I had, (back then) a projection Home Theater with a VAR 120" screen I would have seen a difference but only VOOM was superior in PQ. I do recognize that sports was a big deal for many and DirecTV did have the NFL contract as I recall. I believe it was extra$$$. I also had an engineer friend who worked for DirecTV. We spoke a few times about issues he had with the company as an employer. His father and I were partners in a TV show.

 

[TheForce]

Starlink isn't that bad, it does everything I want it to, and places miles from anywhere.

What have you experienced with rain fade / blackouts?

 

[Juan]

Let's be clear, he said "DSL" and you are responding with the capabilities of "VDSL", a very different thing. DSL averages about 6Mbps while VDSL can reach 100Mbps. Not the same animal.

DSL is a family of technologies..VDSL is part of that family...VDSL still uses copper but it comes from a fiber fed node instead of a central office..the distance is much shorter over copper so the speed is much faster