Some questions about viewing Star Choice from USA

[gravityZ]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and satellite tv in general. My wife and I are expat canucks living in the Seattle metro area and looking to get started with Star Choice. As we're heading home for the holidays, I was considering purchasing the DSR505 receiver kit from a store such as Future Shop. This kit doesn't appear to include the dish, which is provided upon installation. Does anyone know if there's a way to purchase an all-in-one kit containing dish, receiver, etc? Or would we be better to buy a Ku-band dish from an online retailer? (On that note, does anyone have experience with kusat.com?)

Thanks!
gravityZ

 

[hiker]

Future Shop should have the dishes (get a 75-E elliptical) but you would probably need to ship to Seattle yourself. I've ordered from kusat a couple of times without problems but their shipping charges are high. You can also occasionally find the dishes on eBay or get a 2 dish setup (probably overkill for Seattle) from STAR CHOICE* Reception Information

 

[bradleys]

I bought my dish from Kusat. I was very happy with their service.

The shipping charges seemed a little high, but they handle the customs hassle, so I didn't have to.

I found the dish easy to install myself.

I live in both BC and WA, so I shuttle my DSR530 back and forth during CFL and curling seasons.

 

[QCK]

I did the same with Kusat with no problems. I split time between Bama and Ontario.

 

[gravityZ]

Thanks

Thanks!

Do you need to activate the service from a Canadian phone number?

 

[bradleys]

I don't know for sure, but I would guess that yes, you do have to activate from a Canada phone number. You have to have a Canada address, so I can't imagine that they'll take a US phone number. You'll probably also have to be billed from a Canada credit card or checking account.

As I recall, you need to have the control center "hit" your receiver box after it's plugged in and aimed. So, you can't activate in Canada hours/days before you install in the US.

I think that "brokers" can fix all the billing, but I don't know anything about brokers, since I didn't need one, since I actually live up there.

 

[SatboyZ]

phone number...

Actually, if things have not changed, you do not have to be calling from a cdn. number, just provide one along with an address. A few years ago I sold a 505 to someone in Guatemala (sp?) from these forums and he just used a Vonage number to activate. He picked the address out of a phone directory. It seems that a lot of people are timid in trying to go without a broker, but it is not that hard. As far as a dish goes, if you go to an actual installer showroom (not a big box store) they can probably sell you a dish separately. I bought one locally for $65.

Take Care.

 

[daves1]

u can call from a usa number, use a usa credit card, u do need a canadian address, u need a canadian tel no, u can use a usa tel no as a secondary tel no, u can make up a canadian tel no, but use a real canadian address. u should have the receiver and dish connected ,ready to receive the hit when u call,