Tired of Rogers...need a change...help needed - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

bbtfastback · 2012-04-04, 08:23 AM

Love the convenience of Rogers
Love watching sports live when I want
Love the PVRs
Love the fact that my wife can watch without coaching from me.
Hate the cost
Hate the service

My question is, what do you guys suggest for watching hockey and to a lesser extent some of the other sports. I'm not worried about TV shows, as those are more readily available and I can watch those later. But nothing replaces live sports and that's the only reason I'm staying with Rogers.

Thoughts?

cyberham · 2012-04-04, 08:47 AM

For Canadian sports, probably pay TV is your only answer. Shaw Direct Digital Lite satellite at $27.41/month (all networks in HD including TSN) is probably as cheap as you can go. For American sports (pro and college), if Ku-band FTA wild feeds don't have enough sports for you, you are an addict. If not enough, then you need C-band FTA too.

bbtfastback · 2012-04-04, 09:19 AM

Really care about hockey mainly, Blue Jays baseball and football on Sundays...

The user interface on Rogers, Bell etc is just so clean. I'm assuming FTA is getting there in terms of an interface and that channels vary?? Are there PVR functions in FTA?

Classof83 · 2012-04-04, 10:52 AM

A lot of FTA receivers have the ability to add a hard drive for PVR functionality. The interfaces aren't always as simple as Rogers / Bell, but once you understand things, it's really not that bad to use. Some receivers are a bit more difficult to use than others as well.

Kraven · 2012-04-04, 11:03 AM

BB- What's your location? Is OTA an option for your region? Am located just south of Montreal and pick up 26 HD channels with 2 antennas.

For Hockey, There is NHL Centre Ice streaming for 20$ a month during the season. My PS3 and Roku device both have it. All games, quad split screen, full PVR controls... pretty sweet.

For FTA, there is NO NFL football game you can't find on Sundays, Mondays etc. I suggest you go to http://channels.drsat.ca/ and check out the free channels and couple this w/ the wild feeds.

Again, your location is what will dictate what you have. If you live in the middle of nowhere like Cyberham then a Large dish is feasible (C band) but if you're in the middle of Toronto then it ain't gonna happen.

Cheers, K

PS- I noticed FTA is not wife friendly.

bbtfastback · 2012-04-04, 11:10 AM

I;m in Ottawa. Would need something wife friendly.

I've heard about Center Ice streaming - that's a must for sure.

Any other solutions if FTA won't work?

cyberham · 2012-04-04, 11:12 AM

Middle of nowhere?! Watch it. I'm in beautiful Halifax Regional Municipality. We get 3 high-quality (and high definition) OTA Canadian network stations (CBC, CTV, Global) on just rabbit ears.

OTA is good advice for Canadian stuff because it's no subscription and maybe better quality than alternatives. And doesn't even require high speed Internet.

I wouldn't worry about the user interface. Once you are familiar with them, they're easy. Even my old S9 has a PVR. New receivers have them too.

Kraven · 2012-04-04, 03:42 PM

This might be an easier question: What dish size would the wife approve?

Cheers, K

bbtfastback · 2012-04-05, 07:51 AM

as long as it can't be seen, doesn't matter?

Kraven · 2012-04-05, 12:43 PM

If you seriously want FTA, then its definetely going to be seen. Most of us here have dishes ranging from 3.3 to 12 feet.

For KU, 39" is ideal, for C* its minimum 6 feet.

You have a decent TV fool result for your area (and a few interesting channels not available here in MTL like CITYtv, Omni, Sun.

You might want to consider OTA... or change wives

Cheers, K

cyberham · 2012-04-05, 12:58 PM

On tvfool, I count 11 OTA digital stations receivable in Ottawa at less than 10 miles from the tower. That is likely 11 stations receivable with just pointy indoor amplified rabbit ears like I'm using. I'm 14 miles from the towers in Halifax and probably Ottawa signals are as strong or stronger than here. Following that, most can find room to install a 39" ku motorized FTA dish. Tell her she can hang laundry on it to dry and save money by not using the dryer.

DrSat · 2012-04-06, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kraven

PS- I noticed FTA is not wife friendly.

We are working on some WAF enhanced systems which should be available later on this year as this can be a significant factor when deciding whether to get an FTA system installed or not!

Stay tuned!

HDTV101 · 2012-04-09, 05:35 PM

I just gave up on the wife and moved into a tent with my BUD!

Kraven · 2012-04-09, 06:16 PM

Ah...the simple life! I approve 110%.

Living off the land, camp fire w/ beer while watching the NHL playoffs... is there anything else better in life?

Cheers, K

vondertrenk · 2012-04-11, 03:47 PM

Ahhhh
Lucky guy!

2012-04-04, 08:23 AM	#1
bbtfastback Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 46	Tired of Rogers...need a change...help needed Love the convenience of Rogers Love watching sports live when I want Love the PVRs Love the fact that my wife can watch without coaching from me. Hate the cost Hate the service My question is, what do you guys suggest for watching hockey and to a lesser extent some of the other sports. I'm not worried about TV shows, as those are more readily available and I can watch those later. But nothing replaces live sports and that's the only reason I'm staying with Rogers. Thoughts?

2012-04-11, 03:47 PM	#15
vondertrenk Rookie Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 25	Ahhhh Lucky guy! Last edited by vondertrenk; 2012-04-11 at 04:02 PM.

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2012-04-04, 08:47 AM	#2
cyberham Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 422	For Canadian sports, probably pay TV is your only answer. Shaw Direct Digital Lite satellite at $27.41/month (all networks in HD including TSN) is probably as cheap as you can go. For American sports (pro and college), if Ku-band FTA wild feeds don't have enough sports for you, you are an addict. If not enough, then you need C-band FTA too.

2012-04-04, 09:19 AM	#3
bbtfastback Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 46	Really care about hockey mainly, Blue Jays baseball and football on Sundays... The user interface on Rogers, Bell etc is just so clean. I'm assuming FTA is getting there in terms of an interface and that channels vary?? Are there PVR functions in FTA?

2012-04-04, 10:52 AM	#4
Classof83 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 882	A lot of FTA receivers have the ability to add a hard drive for PVR functionality. The interfaces aren't always as simple as Rogers / Bell, but once you understand things, it's really not that bad to use. Some receivers are a bit more difficult to use than others as well.

2012-04-04, 11:03 AM	#5
Kraven Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Shore, QC Posts: 530	BB- What's your location? Is OTA an option for your region? Am located just south of Montreal and pick up 26 HD channels with 2 antennas. For Hockey, There is NHL Centre Ice streaming for 20$ a month during the season. My PS3 and Roku device both have it. All games, quad split screen, full PVR controls... pretty sweet. For FTA, there is NO NFL football game you can't find on Sundays, Mondays etc. I suggest you go to http://channels.drsat.ca/ and check out the free channels and couple this w/ the wild feeds. Again, your location is what will dictate what you have. If you live in the middle of nowhere like Cyberham then a Large dish is feasible (C band) but if you're in the middle of Toronto then it ain't gonna happen. Cheers, K PS- I noticed FTA is not wife friendly.

2012-04-04, 11:10 AM	#6
bbtfastback Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 46	I;m in Ottawa. Would need something wife friendly. I've heard about Center Ice streaming - that's a must for sure. Any other solutions if FTA won't work?

2012-04-04, 11:12 AM	#7
cyberham Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 422	Middle of nowhere?! Watch it. I'm in beautiful Halifax Regional Municipality. We get 3 high-quality (and high definition) OTA Canadian network stations (CBC, CTV, Global) on just rabbit ears. OTA is good advice for Canadian stuff because it's no subscription and maybe better quality than alternatives. And doesn't even require high speed Internet. I wouldn't worry about the user interface. Once you are familiar with them, they're easy. Even my old S9 has a PVR. New receivers have them too.

2012-04-04, 03:42 PM	#8
Kraven Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Shore, QC Posts: 530	This might be an easier question: What dish size would the wife approve? Cheers, K

2012-04-05, 07:51 AM	#9
bbtfastback Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 46	as long as it can't be seen, doesn't matter?

2012-04-05, 12:43 PM	#10
Kraven Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Shore, QC Posts: 530	If you seriously want FTA, then its definetely going to be seen. Most of us here have dishes ranging from 3.3 to 12 feet. For KU, 39" is ideal, for C* its minimum 6 feet. You have a decent TV fool result for your area (and a few interesting channels not available here in MTL like CITYtv, Omni, Sun. You might want to consider OTA... or change wives Cheers, K

2012-04-05, 12:58 PM	#11
cyberham Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 422	On tvfool, I count 11 OTA digital stations receivable in Ottawa at less than 10 miles from the tower. That is likely 11 stations receivable with just pointy indoor amplified rabbit ears like I'm using. I'm 14 miles from the towers in Halifax and probably Ottawa signals are as strong or stronger than here. Following that, most can find room to install a 39" ku motorized FTA dish. Tell her she can hang laundry on it to dry and save money by not using the dryer.

2012-04-09, 05:35 PM	#13
HDTV101 Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,000	I just gave up on the wife and moved into a tent with my BUD!

2012-04-09, 06:16 PM	#14
Kraven Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Shore, QC Posts: 530	Ah...the simple life! I approve 110%. Living off the land, camp fire w/ beer while watching the NHL playoffs... is there anything else better in life? Cheers, K