Archive for July, 2009
More HD Coming For Puerto Rico
Posted by: | CommentsOn August 7th Dish Network will be officially rolling out a major channel expansion in Puerto Rico, including a new HD package that contains 33 high definition channels.
The news of this major expansion into Puerto Rico was announced to Dish Network retailers earlier in the week.
The new High Definition channels coming to Puerto Rican Dish Network customers include: A&E, Animal Planet HD, Bravo HD, Cartoon Network HD, CNBC HD+, CNN HD, Comedy Central HD, Discovery Channel HD, Disney HD, Disney XD HD, Espn2HD, Food Network HD, FX HD, HDTV HD, History HD, Lifetime HD, MTV HD, Nick HD, Spike HD, TBS HD, TLC HD and The Weather Channel HD.
Also coming soon is a 6 channel Spanish HD package and will feature channels like Discovery HD and National Geographic HD with their audio in Spanish.
Dish is also planning on introducing a new 30-inch satellite dish for use in Puerto Rico that will come complete with a printed with the flag of Puerto Rico printed on the Dish.
Dish Network claims that no one else will provide more HD to the island then they will, in addition Dish told retailers that more HD for Puerto Rico is to come.
Getting Ready For CES
The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show is still 6 months away but already I find myself getting ready for it. Last week I submitted my Alumni credentials and got myself fully registered and now I am already planning out my plan of attack when I land in Las Vegas in January.
My mind wonders of what exciting new satellite news I will hear and what new technologies I will see.
I am sure Dish Network will be there with the amazing Slingloaded ViP 922 HD DVR which they announced last year. I have been following the progress of this amazing receiver closely over the past 6 months and from what I have seen this is going to be an amazing receiver when it’s released. While Dish is hoping to have it released in time for a holiday release, I don’t believe we will see it available until after the CES show. A device this jam packed with features needs to be polished so that it really shines.
I may pick on Dish’s advertising, but honestly the Dish DVR’s are the best DVR’s on the market, it is the Dish DVR’s that keep me tied to Dish Network as no other DVR comes close.
And speaking of DVR’s I am hoping that this year we will see the long awaited DirecTV MPEG4 HD DVR with TIVO technology finally shown off. As much as I love my Dish DVR’s I know there are a lot of people who prefer the TIVO software on their DVR’s.
Back in September of 2008 DirecTV and TIVO announced this new DVR and TIVO fans everywhere have been waiting for this DVR with baited breath. I am hoping at CES we will finally get our first look at the new unit. Since being announced in 2008 there has been nothing more announced about the unit, there have been no mock up photos, no initial screen shots… nothing. Let’s hope we see this DVR at CES.
I also hope that DirecTV themselves is at CES this year. The nations #1 satellite provider has been absent from the CES show floor the past 2 years. I really hope they are there this year. I am a person who enjoys putting a face with a name and events like CES are one of the few events where I can meet face to face with the folks who make this whole industry work.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Dish network Pays $6M In Settlement With 46 States
Posted by: | CommentsDish Pays $6M In Settlement With 46 States
Resolves Allegations That Operator and Parrtners Violated Do-Not-Call Rules, Engaged In Deceptive Sales Practices
Dish network has agreed to pay $6 million in a settlement with 46 state attorneys general, resolving allegations the satellite TV provider and its third-party retailers violated do-not-call rules and engaged in deceptive and unfair sales practices.
The company also agreed to modify its marketing practices and to pay restitution to consumers who filed complaints with the attorneys general’s offices or with D*sh between January 1, 2004, and July 9, 2009.
In addition, consumers who file complaints before December 14, 2009, may be eligible for restitution if the conduct occurred within the past two years, by contacting Dish networks’s customer service center at 888-686-2388.
Dish, in a statement, said there was no finding of any violation or wrongdoing by the company and added that the states released it from the matters investigated.
“Customer satisfaction has always been a top priority for Dish network, and we continuously implement new approaches to strengthen our customer relationships,” Dish executive vice president Tom Cullen said. “We are pleased to work with the state attorneys general in a cooperative manner to enhance our products and services.”
After a multistate investigation into Dish’s practices, the satellite operator was accused of: having made telemarketing calls to consumers in violation of do-not-call rules; representing that equipment was new when, in fact, it was used or refurbished; failing to disclose all terms and conditions of their customer agreements, including the availability of rebates, credits and free offers; charging customer credit cards and debiting bank accounts without providing adequate notice and obtaining appropriate authorization; and refusing to accept responsibility for the misconduct of its third-party retailers and installers.
Under the terms of the settlement, Dish’s advertising must clearly outline whether signing up for a minimum term of service is necessary to receive an advertised price; whether penalties apply — and if so, the penalty amount — in the event a customer cancels service; all fees and cost of service, including additional charges if the customer requests more than one satellite receiver; whether local channels are available to subscribers and if premium sports packages are subject to blackouts; and all limitations on available customer rebates.
In addition, Dish must provide customers with a copy of the service contract before its satellite is installed and provide a toll-free customer service number for customers who have questions. The company also must comply with federal regulations regarding customers’ preauthorization to transfer funds from their bank accounts and ensure that its third-party retailers and installers abide by the terms of the agreement.
The 46 states are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming
Popularity: 6% [?]
Nagra 3 Enabled FTA Equipment and the Pros and Cons of each!
Posted by: | CommentsNews
We have a new site sponser, this company offers some of the BEST deals we found online for FTA Equipment, they carry everything! Finding 1 FTA Store that preety well has amazing deals, has a phone number that they always answer, an email address that is answered very quickly but more importantly is a quality place to buy from, and did we mention KILLER DEALS? Click on my signature link and browse through their products! Tell them GoodFTA Sent you! They also give FREE SHIPPING!
N3 is here, what box do i buy now?
Many people ask us our Advice on what the best FTA Receivers are to watch TV again since most Receivers are unable to get anything right now. We will below list our top recommendations as well as the Prices, and pros and cons of each one.
1) Sonicview 360 Premier/Elite/8000 HD with IHUB
In our opinion Sonicview has been the top brand for FTA Receivers for the last 2 years. We have messed around with ALLOT of FTA receivers during the course of the last 3 years. Sonicview has sexy looking units, the menu and picture quality is AMAZING, it beats most other receivers we have seen in the way the menus are setup, the guides go to almost a full week in advance. All of these Units are a full on PVR which means you can record what you watch to a USB Stick or a USB enabled Hardrive. Picture quality blows most SD receivers away.
More importantly, Sonicview has a VERY Active development team. During N2 a single Sonicview Fix would last 3 or 4 months, surviving through 7 to 12 ECMS and never miss a beat, this shows us that Sonicview is all about Quality and Performance.
Pros – USB loaded, PVRS (personal video recorder) great service and support, video tutorials, and probibly the best picture/menu design in all FTA Receivers
Cons - Their IKS technology is still in BETA, which means they are constantly doing server mantience, and releasing new files. They have grown in leaps and bounds in a very short time, and soon in the future, this will be THE IKS everyone should buy.
All prices are from our site sponser and are the best non ebay deals online we have seen.
Sonicview 360 Premier – is $109.00! through our site sponser (this is an amazing deal)
Sonicview 360 Elite – is $139.99 (this is a dual tuner PVR, also one of the best deals on the net)
Sonicview 8000 HD – is $329.99 (beats ebay in price!! I am getting one of these!)
IHUB Dongle – $99.00
if you buy both the receiver and the IHUB you save even further, usually $10.00 to $20.00 more
2) KBOX PRO with KHUB
KBOX for the last year has beat out Nfusion in every way to earn our number 2 spot for FTA Receivers with IKS. Not only do you get the Canadian and American chanels. During N2 KBOX was the most dominant IKS receiver. They went through their growing pains, but are able to get International channels, Canadian Channels and Amertican channels. The fixes are Few and Far between, so they beat out the Nfusion in terms of loading a fix in, and not having to load another one for at least a few months. The picture quality and Menus look really good. If you are into International channels, try this one!
Pros - Great picture quality, USB, PVR, International channels, and wide range of Canadian/American Channels
Cons – Went through some growing pains discontinuing the KBOX HEROES 1 and another, but did offer a sweet trade in program.
K-BOX Prodigy – $139.99 (our top pick, this is a must buy)
K-BOX Heroes Plus – $129.99 (second pick)
K-BOX K-HUB Adapter – $79.99
3) Nfusion
Nfusion was one of the first companies to offer an FTA Receiver that did not need a secondary adapter. From day one, they saw the future of IKS and ran with it, pioneering the internet servers they have the second best developed IKS solution next to KBOX. In our opinion, when Nfusion discontinued the NOVA that was a raw deal to LOTS of people that bought a NOVA, so Nfusion gets our Number 3 position. Nfusion also for the most part updates via serial cable, rather then USB, so its allot more inconvinent to update your boxes, because you physically have to move it and hook it up to your computer. Nfusion has allot of channels via IKS, but it suffers from a poorly made Graphical User Interface (GUI) and sub par picture quality. Still Nfusion is a good receiver, and takes our number 3 spot for N3 enabled FTA Receivers
Pros – PVRS, lots of channels, a pioneer in IKS, fast servers, hardly any freezing
Cons – Sub par picture quality, bad menu design, nova discontinued
Nfusion Phoenix – $199.99
Nfusion Solaris – $169.99
4) Conaxsat Nano 2 and Nano
Conaxsat is a newer brand to FTA, only out for the last two years. Since then, it has developed a very loyal following in the FTA Community. Like the Sonicview, its fixes lasted months, and survived TONS of ECMS before ever going down. Its picture quality is also truly great, beating out 75% of all Standard Def FTA Receivers. Its menu system is very intuitive. All of their receivers have built in PVRS which means you can record what you watch on TV, which is handy. The Nano is their new De-Facto Standard. The Conaxsat Nano 2, has built in ethernet, so you do not need to buy a secondary Dongle, much like the nfusion. We really recommend CNX, its prices are really low, and its a sweet receiver.
Cons – Its IKS technology is new, it doesnt have TONS of channels yet, a few hundred, it has been using I-LINKS servers though, which means they have ALL of the ADULT and ALL international channels running
PROS – Sweet picture quality, built in PVR, a good warranty program
Conaxsat Nano 2 – $179.99
Conaxsat Nano – $99.00
Conaxsat Dongle for Nano – $89.99
5) I-LINKS
This is the only receiver we are recommending that our site sponser does not carry at all! Technically this receiver is the most illegal receiver in North America, and is not even allowed to be sold! You must order it from Mexico or overseas! This being said, if you want Adult, and International channels, this is THE receiver to buy. Ilinks is a very new receiver that has come out in the last 6 months, since then, most spanish speaking people, and people living in Mexico, Central, South America have been buying this receiver in droves. People were saying this is the most dangerous receiver in FTA because it comes pre-loaded with the codes and fixes so it works as within 10 minutes of you setting it up, making it VERY user friendly. This receiver is NEXT to impossible to get, if you do get one, count yourself lucky
Pros – Adult, Internationals, Canadian, American, Amazonias, Telefonica, this is the be all end all receiver. Supported with FILES really well! Lots of extras and add-ons
Cons – Very Illegal, hard to find, hard to get!
Price – Anywhere from $150.00 to $400.00
We hope you enjoyed our total non biased information on THE n3 IKS Receivers you should buy if you want to get up and watch TV again. We recomment anything you buy, buy from our site sponser. Click on my signature link and get Free Shipping within the USA, free USB drives, and quality prices. We went with this affillite, because of the Crazy deals they offer, and they are very reliable.
The GoodFTA Admin Team.
Popularity: 53% [?]
CEO of Viewtec indicted
Posted by: | CommentsThree indicted in San Diego in attempted theft of satellite TV programs
5:08 PM | July 13, 2009
Three men have been indicted in San Diego for an alleged scheme to break the encryption code that providers of satellite television use to keep people from watching programs without paying.
Indicted by a federal grand jury were Jung Kwak, 33, of Oceanside, and Phillip Allison, 35, and Robert Ward, 54, both of Seminole, Fla.
The three allegedly conspired to hire computer hackers to break the code used by EchoStar’s DISH network. According to prosecutors, Kwak planned to use free service as an inducement to encourage people to buy a satellite receiver box from his company, Viewtech, Inc.
Kwak allegedly offered a reward of $250,000 if someone could bring him one of the “smart cards” sold by Echostar. The three have been charged under the Digital Millenium Copyright Act.
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Popularity: 8% [?]
GoodFTA FTA Video Youtube Channel
Posted by: | CommentsMany people when they buy a free to air satellite receiver such as a Conaxsat Nano, Sonicview 360 ELITE or others are in a good position to make the learning curve understand how to setup your FTA Receiver easier then ever!
GoodFTA would like to announce our new Youtube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/GoodFTA
We show you everything you need to know about setting up a FTA Receiver, Scanning your channels and loading FTA FILES on your
receiver.
We making Free to air easy by walking you through set by step from beginning to end!
This is a service we provide free of charge to the FTA Community to help provide the very best FTA Support that we possibly can.
Members of our FTA FORUM can gain exclusive benefits such as more videos, live support chat, and the largest online database of guides, tutorials, setup techniques and fta files on the planet. We cover all FTA RECEIVERS!
Join us today!
Popularity: 13% [?]
