> The reality of services like Starband and Direct Dish is that they will NEVER truly compete against DSL or cable broadband. The primary reason is that the technology builds in a certain amount of “lag” just by virtue of the distances involved with bouncing a signal off a bird flying about 22,400 miles above the earth. For many who mainly use the net to browse the web or send mail, the latency might not be a deal breaker but for the gamers….forget about it. I won’t even go into the nightmare it is to even really implement TCP/IP over a satellite based network.
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> TCPsat is a standard that addresses the problems that come from the send ack nature of TCP and its implementation over a GEO sat system.
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> But getting back to the point, if you think that Starband or any of its ilk will ever really compete with cable or dsl, you are misinformed.
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> Additionally, the costs of PROGRAMMING are a prime consideration when setting monthly rates that will afford a profit. Considering that cable continues to produce hit after hit, who do you think the dish folks are paying so they can offer services like HBO and Showtime? The initial build of CATV plant is a pricey proposition, but the MSO here is building like mad in anticipation of increased revenue stream from HSD and telephony.
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> In the system I work in, we offer VOD, HOD, HSD, Digital Cable and more channels than you can shake a dish at. All of it is maintained by the MSO, included in the monthly bill. In the first quarter of this year, we have already bought back over 7000 dishes and reduced the dish sale rate in the division to ten percent of what it was last year.
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> Satellite providers also contribute nothing to the local economy or educational systems. I won’t waste my time detailing how much free service the MSO here gives to the school system and how much the Cable industry as a whole contributes to the school systems throughout the country by offering services like free high speed internet and special “Cable in the Classroom” educational programming.
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> > Many good cable installers become satellite installers. I’ve converted a dozen myself. When’s the last time you’ve seen a good satellite installer become a cable installer? Why would they? Half the pay for twice the headaches and ten times the paperwork?
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> > Every time I install a dish, the customer has crystal clear service and almost half the bill. I hated trying to explain to cable customers why their picture sucked. “ma’am, I’m sorry but with 50 broken ports in this area and 3 DBV at the tap, there’s not a thing I can do, you could call and complain if you could ever reach the cable company”.
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> > > > One thing is for sure in this whole mess. There are bad techs everywhere in both industries, there just happen to be more in the CATV business because there are more techs.
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> > > I AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. IT'S TRUE BUT SPEAKING FROM MY SEAT WE'VE ALEADY CREATED A 64% CHURN IN THAT STAFF. HOPEFULLY, YOU GUYS IN DBS PICK 'UM UP?
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> > > > To continue, Satellite has many advantages over cable and if it didnt, the cable companies would not be putting themselves on the verge of bankruptcy to try to upgrade their systems to catch up to the technology leaders [Sat companies].
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> > > WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT ADELPHIA! WE'VE GOT A GREAT BALANCE SHEET! WE WELCOME COMPETITION! IT KEEPS US ON OUR PROVERBIAL TOES.
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> > > > Also, the cable companies get their feeds from where? A satellite dish. How coincidental. Yes, the satellite industry is the Fastest growing media industry. The future is progression not regression.
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> > > IF YOUR GONNA MAKE A STATEMENT, KEEP AS ACURATE AS YOU POSSIBLE CAN. DON'T FORGET THE DIRECT STUDIO FEEDS THAT US ARCHAIC AND TERESTRIAL CABLE SYSTEMS ENJOY.
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> > > > As far as locals, DTV has announced that it is adding 12 new major local markets this year. So, the local issue is becoming a smaller and smaller issue, especially as the cable companies constantly increase their rates to cover their costs and keep up higher profits.
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> > > YEAH, SMALLER AND SMALLER. NOW IT'S LARGER AND LARGER. READ THE PRESS. THE COURTS ARE REVERSING PREVIOUS DECIDED UPON OPINIONS. THE LOCALS ARE ONCE AND AGAIN BEING SHUT OFF IN CERTAIN MARKETS.
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> > > > As far as the comments of constantly repairing sat eq and how expensive it is, that is a farce also. Not to mention that both DBS companies offer for an extra$5 per month, they get unlimited free service calls and eq replacement!!!!
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> > > DO YOU GUYS GENUINELY PROVIDE SAME DAY SERVICE BY A FIELD TECHNICIAN WHO ACTUALLY SHOWS UP AT YOUR DOOR? JUST CURIOUS.
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> > > > As far as cable having 35 movie channels, that wonderfull if you like watching the same thing 3 hours later on the west coast feed which half of the movie channels are.
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> > > YEPP, RIGHT ON THAT ONE
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> > > > Oh, by the way, where is the NFL package that carries all the regular seaon football games in a true digital format??? Not with the cable companies.
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> > > OH BY THE WAY, THE 2004 NFL PACKAGE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO CABLE OPERATORS. THE DBS EXCLUSIVITY AGREEMENT EXPIRES THIS COMING SEASON. I HEAR YA THOUGH, IT WAS FRUSTRATING NOT ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO YOUR FAVORITE TEAMS OUTSIDE OF YOUR RESPECTIVE MARKET AREA.
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> > > > Before you get all flustered, I am both a Sat Tech & A Cable Tech. I know the pros and cons of both and I am very upfront with cutomers about this. If a sat is not going to suit their needs then I tell them to stay with cable and visa versa. The reason most people are switching right now is because they are sick of the cable companies and all their BS. It is sad but true.
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> > > AHUH....
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> > > > There are some awesome capabilities in the works for the sat companies right now that are totally going to blow the cable companies away and the advantage will be that the cabnle companies will not be able to utilize the technoligies because of the limits that are inherent with hard line systems.
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> > > FROM ONE OF THE VISIONARIES OF TERESTRIAL BROADBAND, I SURELY WELCOME THESE NEW DISCOVERIES. YOU GUYS LIVE AND DIE BY THE EDGE OF THE BLADE. HELL, SO DID I. WE'LL JUST IMPROVE UPON THE WAYS THE DBS INDUSTRY BRINGS NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO MARKET. IF IT MAKES SENSE TO US WE'LL PLAY BUT AT OUR OWN PACE. REMEMBER, THE USA IS THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGIES UNIVERSALLY! THE OTHER AREAS, PAC RIM AND EUROPE IMPROVE UPON OUR GENIOUS. THE LEAP FROGGING WILL ALWAYS HAPPEN.
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> > > > Again, the future is satellites and any one who disagrees might as well get in their Flintstone mobile and peddle home. But for the time being, the two systems will have to coexist because it is true, cable wont be going away anytime soon.
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> > > > That is my 2 cents worth.
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> > > HEY, THAT WAS ABOUT $1.25 WORTH.......GOOD COMMENTS!
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> > > > > Well, I don't know about everybody else, but I'm not taking a beating. As a matter of fact, there's a big dish network operation right here in town. The only customers i've lost, is the non-paying ones that go to dish after they've been disconnected. Then once they find out that dish can turn them off without even notifying them, they usually come right back to cable. Then there are a couple, but they still have our basic pkg to get their local channels. So even if they o go to dish, we still get some of their money. That's why we survive, we're very creative. We didn't just turn this system on yesterday.
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> > > > > > You hardly warrant a reply. Obviously you have nothing substantial to add to the discussion or you would have. The only ones taking a beating right now are the cable companies.
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> > > > > > > Onetec, seems like you are a man with limited knowledge. Save yourself a verbal beating. Be sure you know what you are talking about.
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> > > > > > > > I hate to break it to you guys, but you can’t back any of that up. How is cable gonna crush dish’s? Quality? Nope, not even close. Price? HA! Service? We all know better than that. Smell the coffee, if cable keeps acting like it still has a monopoly, they will lose this battle
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> > > > > > > > > Your right about the cable vs. dish. A Good well maintained system will crush a dish company, But what hurts the cable companys is customer service! and thats what is hurting us,No customers no money! even after a rebuild they do nothing to make sure the customer has a great looking picture. you have to have good drops,good fittings, and a good conection all the way to the back of the TV. And without that, you don't have a good looking picture! At the price's there charging People want good service, And the bottom line is, Untill they do that, They are gona lose a lot of customers. hell you + me woulden't pay for a crappy picture either, And thats the fack! All they care about is numbers not the customer!
