I am receiving 3 Channel 7's (WTRF)

[Greg Goodfellow]

I know-I know...I promised to never post about Windjammer again. Technically, I'm not. It's now Vital. Several days after we contacted the PSC concerning losing our locals, a very young man without any ID claimed to be from Vital and made some rather interesting claims, but that's for another time. Anyway, he did say they were trying to restore local OTA's. Now, instead of receiving either WTAE or WDTV, we now receive WTRF (7.1) for both channels 4 and 5 clear as a bell, but snowy on 7. WTOV (when it can be viewed at all) is usually very grainy and just barely in color. Depending upon time of day, temperature, humidity, tarot card placement, fortune cookie and horoscope predicitions, other OTA's can barely be seen, but we usually get the blue screen of death for all stations except WTRF and WTAP. We'll give them reasonable time to correct the problem, but I'm planning to contact the PSC and Vital's people this week.

Also, our contract with DishNetwork has elapsed. We'd like to pursue DirecTV, especially if they could provide high-speed internet, especially for several networked computers simultaneously. If someone would share your history with DirecTV, especially concerning high-speed internet, we'd be most appreciative.

[JustWinBaby]

Three Channel 7's? Isn't there some law against cruel and unusual punishment?

[fearpeddler]

I've heard bad things about satelite internet service. wouldnt recommend it unless it was your only option to get highspeed...

[Greg Goodfellow]

Thanks, fearpeddler. That just confirms what I was told today. I have neighbors that have HughesNet, but I haven't heard from them how they are faring. A couple in my area just signed up for AT&T's offerings. I predict major disappointment. We're still looking at Verizon Broadband.

[Scott Reppert]

I had a Dish Network employee tell me one time: "you do not want satellite internet service, no matter who offers it". I stuck with that. I've got Verizon Broadband and it's the best VALUE...maybe not the fastest or the smoothest...but the best VALUE that I believe is out there. I do believe though that it makes a difference in the quality of your local office as to how your individualized service is...

[Big Media]

I have loads of experience with Hughes Net/Direcway. I do not recommend it. It is not, at all, worth the price and their contract is ridiculous. Once you buy in, you are stuck. Fortunate for me, corporate now handles our account so I no longer have to deal with the billing side. The speed is marginally better than dial-up and the latency is a big problem. The signal just takes too damn long to get from point to point in the stream.

However, if you are really in a bind, and you must have Hughes Net, spring for the business class. It is much more reliable and your limits are not capped the same way you are with the personal class.

[fearpeddler]

if you have access to dsl, take it, definitely better than dial-up... last time I was forced into a slow connection the only ones available were isdn and dialup, and isdn has some rediculous rates...

[Ace Purple]

I'm a big fan of DirecTV. Comcast pissed me off one too many times, and the channel selection on DirecTV blows away cable. No VOD with DirecTV (save for some internet-related stuff that I haven't delved into), but that's okay for what I get for my money.

As for internet, I have Comcast (only because AT&T doesn't offer DSL service where I live). In a funny twist, it's cheaper to have internet with a basic cable connection for the introductory period, so the seldom-used upstairs TV has Comcast bare bones cable on it.

[Greg Goodfellow]

Thanks for the internet info, folks. We're still pursuing this. As to the three Channel 7's, one is now their ABC offering. It's nice to get back one of the three nets we've lost. This cable company (Vital) does seem to be trying, but the antenna option is still on the table, and I've told them so.