DISH Network/DirecTV Merger?
 

In alt.dbs.directv Mike T. wrote:

No, until you consider that "digital" is twice the cost, and not really
"digital". So what are you paying for, exactly? -Dave


The digital tier is indeed all digital. It is on top of the analog tier which
can be purchased without the digital tier.

BTW ... Comcast is offering 100% digital television now in select markets.
They do this as a digital overlay, and it requires the correct equipment to
view it. I had the Motorola 3412 DVR (which sucked by the way), and it was a
digital only receiver that utilized the digital overlay rather than the analog
channels of traditional origin.

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1

DISH Network/DirecTV Merger?...Crossposter Bill R
 

In alt.dbs.directv Bob wrote:

Doesn't work that way here in Chicago. You can't do any of your own work
during the construction. The builder installs it all, pre-drywall. And makes
a nice profit on it too.


My Uncle did it 15 or 20 years back, in his home in Glenview (or is it
Glenwood) up north a bit in the burbs. He installed coax and the builder
finished behind him. I believe it required inspection like all other wiring,
but beyond that, it is possible.

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1

Zymurgy [was DISH Network/DirecTV Merger?...Crossposter Bill R]
 

In alt.dbs.directv Zymergy wrote:

A p.s. to above.
If you build a new house make sure you ask them to run electric wires
seperate from Audio/Video cables. I know not everyone is well educated but
damn. I had to make DTV guy pull 50ft of wire he ran because he ran it
with all the electric wires. And he looked at me like I was crazy. I don't
care how insulated it is I don't want it run that way. They used cheap r6
wire to begin with. Hell I broke a line just putting a new fitting on the
end.


Curious, did you pick your name to honor the art of brewing beer? If so, then
you should be spelling it Zymurgy. I wouldn't normally pick on this .. but I
am a homebrewer and quite familiar :-)

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1

DISH Network/DirecTV Merger?...Crossposter Bill R
 

In alt.dbs.directv John Wonderly wrote:

I would hate to reward Comcrap after all those years they and their
predecessors couldn't get me a decent picture over their cheap, pos lines.


Indeed, times change. I stuck to OTA [after I moved away from my folks] until
1998. Then I got cable for the year [to get a one way cable modem .. .with a
phone uplink using MediaOne] and then finally went to DirecTV and US West DSL
in 1999 and ditched cable until this year. Times change, companies change and
their products change.

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1

DISH Network/DirecTV Merger?
 

In alt.dbs.directv Zymergy wrote:

What they need to do is offer Digital and HDTV channels cheaper than
competitors. I do care if I'm paying $70 for a package when I can get the
same for $50 from another supplier. If FIOS-TV comes in cheaper, but only
have 5 HDTV channels I won't be switching unless they come up with some
really creative pricing schemes.


What is helping DBS operators right now is that the HD programming is limitted
to begin with; there are only a handful of channels worth watching on any
regular basis. Once that list grows, only those with bandwidth resources will
be able to offer all that is available and those without will be left in the
dust. To rise to the competition, DBS operators need bandwidth resources, and
eliminating all of the redundancy between competing DBS operators will free up
significant bandwidth. This means combining forces AND moving ahead and not
supporting legacy services OR it means that additional spectrum be made
available to them.

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1

DISH Network/DirecTV Merger?...Crossposter Bill R
 

On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:37:30 -0400, Mike T. wrote:

Of course not, it requires fiber. My point was, many house builders are
already considering the telephone company to be a quaint leftover from
decades ago, and no longer necessary, so they aren't building in support for
phone services when they build.

Fair enough. But are you drawing a correlation between the reduced support
for phone services and a reduced pool of FiOS customers?

If so, I don't see the connection.

--
cc

DISH Network/DirecTV Merger?...Crossposter Bill R
 

Fair enough. But are you drawing a correlation between the reduced
support
for phone services and a reduced pool of FiOS customers?

If so, I don't see the connection.

There's a pretty direct connection. If the house is wired for service of
any kind from the phone company, then they (the phone company) have their
foot in the door. If there's no "phone" service in the building, you might
not think to call the phone company when you are shopping for television
programming. (well, readers of this ng might) If you HAVE phone service,
then the FIOS ads (for example) are going to be in your mailbox every
month. So when you are shopping for television programming (new, or
switching providers), FIOS is more likely to be something you might look
into. -Dave

DISH Network/DirecTV Merger?...Crossposter Bill R
 

"Thomas T. Veldhouse" wrote in message
...
In alt.dbs.directv Bob wrote:

Doesn't work that way here in Chicago. You can't do any of your own work
during the construction. The builder installs it all, pre-drywall. And
makes
a nice profit on it too.


My Uncle did it 15 or 20 years back, in his home in Glenview (or is it
Glenwood) up north a bit in the burbs. He installed coax and the builder
finished behind him. I believe it required inspection like all other
wiring,
but beyond that, it is possible.

Wouldn't work that way today.

DISH Network/DirecTV Merger?...Crossposter Bill R
 

In alt.dbs.echostar Bob wrote:
finished behind him. I believe it required inspection like all other
wiring,
but beyond that, it is possible.

Wouldn't work that way today.


Why? Because your builder did it for you or because you know of some
requirement by the local government or state government banning it? I suspect
the former in all honesty.

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1

DISH Network/DirecTV Merger?...Crossposter Bill R
 

On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 16:15:46 -0400, Mike T. wrote:

There's a pretty direct connection. If the house is wired for service of
any kind from the phone company, then they (the phone company) have their
foot in the door. If there's no "phone" service in the building, you might
not think to call the phone company when you are shopping for television
programming.

I disagree.

For now, Verizon's direct marketing strategy seems to be: After Verizon
completes the fiber network wiring and testing in a neighborhood, direct
mailings go out to all addresses within that install area and door tags are
hung on each door.

Additionally, UPS envelopes (yes, that little brown truck) are then sent as
a follow-up announcing the availability of Internet and (in those areas
where the video franchise has been approved) TV services.

As far as the install goes, no preexisting wiring is needed or required.
At day of install, fiber is run to the house, an optical network terminal
is installed, and cat 5 is run to the computer and (presumably) all TV
locations. Verizon also tosses in a free wireless router for the computer.
My install took two techs almost an entire day.

It is absolutely mind blowing how much money Verizon is spending on the
installation and marketing of FiOS.

Oh, and the product itself, be it Internet access or TV, is superior to
and priced at or even below its competitors.

--
cc