Local Stores vs WWW

[CharredPC]

Every purchase I have ever made for FTA (except for one unplanned exception at a thrift shop) has been online. Very few people in UT seem to know anything about FTA, and asking at the local satellite shops gets you lots of funny looks and no help. If you're lucky! If you're not so lucky, you'll get a guy who talks down to you and explains that there is no "free" tv up there, only the pay stuff, and you have to have years of experience and know what you're doing to set up a dish, and why would you ever mount it on a pole, 'all' the satellites are nearly straight up, and a motor?! What... ?

 

[jayelem]

and asking at the local satellite shops gets you lots of funny looks and no help. If you're lucky! If you're not so lucky, you'll get a guy who talks down to you and explains that there is no "free" tv up there, only the pay stuff, and you have to have years of experience and know what you're doing to set up a dish,

Funny ............ I don't bring up FTA much anymore, last time I did this guy told me
he had a CS 4000 , I was like cool we have something in common, I started talking , he started talking , then I was thinking ........... we have nothing in common ,he didn't know anything about linear birds all he knew was DN.

And anytime my Mom brags about the cool FTA programming with the family, she gets odd responses about how expensive the setup must be, thats after explaining no subs it's free , guess that doesn't compute with most people , when I told my uncle in Florida that I watched Cuba and he should get a system, he was like I'll inquire at the local Best Buy. LOL

 

[icstephen]

I shop almost 100% online, Sadoun is great, also depending on where you are in MN there is always Mike at Global in Wisconsin - http://www.global-cm.net/

I havent tried flea markets yet but I do see afew things (mostly Dish & D*) at ham fests also.

 

[Mr Tony]

my stepdad thought I was nuts having 4 dishes. Especially that "huge ass dish" (6 footer) and why would I wheel it out of the garage and aim it to watch TV?

When I found a game with his beloved hockey team that wasnt televised locally but was able to be seen on that "huge ass dish" he changed his tune

Most people I stay away from talking free to air just because they think its pay tv

 

[partyharty]

Every purchase I have ever made for FTA (except for one unplanned exception at a thrift shop) has been online. Very few people in UT seem to know anything about FTA, and asking at the local satellite shops gets you lots of funny looks and no help. If you're lucky! If you're not so lucky, you'll get a guy who talks down to you and explains that there is no "free" tv up there, only the pay stuff, and you have to have years of experience and know what you're doing to set up a dish, and why would you ever mount it on a pole, 'all' the satellites are nearly straight up, and a motor?! What... ?

WOW That guy sure gets around

 

[partyharty]

My biggest problem is that everytime I say something about FTA, people think I am talking about stealing programing. It seems everyone knows about the theft of DN signals but almost noone knows that there is stuff up there that you can get for free.

 

[RVD420]

I wish that FTA were more mainstream.

Most people think of FTA as Free To Steal.

It gives the hobby a bad image.

Gotta love the Traxis 3500.

Good blindscan receiver that is unhackable

 

[Tron]

Well, the fact that relatively few people know about TRUE FTA is a good thing. If everyone were to start blabbing about it, word would get around and up to the network head honchos, who would think that its wrong for anyone to be able to see anything for free. Result: encryption.

 

[Inno]

I gave up on trying to attract others to the hobby, all they ask is things like "do I get the movie channels" or "is there any XXX on there" or "yeah, I got a FTA setup and I get all the DN and Express-vu stuff when it's working". I'd rather not have to explain..........it's just easier that way. Most of what I have currently is old equipment that has been given to me from folks who were upgrading/switching satellite companies. I also have a good selection of C-band stuff left as well. I know that probably the easiest and most hassle free way to get what you want is to shop at one of the sponsors here, I've never heard a single thing said in the negative about any one of them! Definitely what I will be doing for future purchases!

 

[mastermesh]

I talk to some people about it on occassion, when they ask. I've found that most folks think that fta means stealing, and/or that it's too technical for them to ever consider. My wife has a friend at work that's asked her a thing or three... so I did a big email to explain it to them, mostly telling them to look around on this website and ask questions here as well as directly to me... they were a bit overwhelmed, but not totally... and may look in to it eventually.

I still think there's a potential for a lot of people around here to turn in to local fta installers... problem is if we get too many people doing that signals will probably all go dark and $$$ in no time.

 

[jibaro29]

I live in South Florida as well. No to long ago I found a place in Lake Worth that has an fairly decent amount of FTA equipment at a reasonable prices. Do not have a website address but here is the address Atlantic Satellite, 3355 Lake Worth Rd.(561-296-8883)