Bell Reception in the USA discussion, Changed with New Sat, Mid 2012, See Post 1 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

zbroke · 2010-02-12, 10:10 AM

I know there have been several threads on this subject but a lot are very old (2007,2008) and with new/better technology (newer LNBs, larger/cheaper antennas,etc), I would like to to ask this community for some information:

To begin, I'm a Canadian living most of the year in Dallas,TX and still own a residence in Canada. I also happen to be a current and disgruntled Shaw Direct subscriber (because of their crappy equipment).

I gave up on Bell when I upgraded to HD 3 years ago and switched over to Shaw (*C at the time). Recently, I stumbled on a post by OnlineLC stating clear reception of the 82 bird in Nashville,TN with a 1.2meter antenna. This information is reviving my dream of getting Bell back!!!!

So is there anyone out there:
1) in or South of the Dallas/FortWorth area receiving HD channels?
2) If YES,
a) what size antenna are you using?
b) do you have a sigal on RDSHD, SRCHD, TVAHD and VHD? (Yes all french channels)

Thanks in advance

Edit by 57. Note that with the launch of the new Satellite, coverage in the US is now limited to "border states" to Canada. You may try to use a larger dish, but it may not work. Here's the footprint of the new Sat which went into service Mid-2012:

http://www.telesat.com/satellite-fleet/nimiq/nimiq-6

Here's the thread on Nimiq 6

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=152274

Many people will now consider Shaw Direct, however, please realize that they will have a new satellite in 2013 with a similar footprint, so Shaw Direct may only be a temporary solution, depending on your needs and channels that Shaw decide to put on the new Sat. Here's that thread:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=62645

ohmagic · 2010-02-12, 01:16 PM

I doubt you'll get much signal in Dallas.
The footprint of 82w has been narrowed down a huge amount to only hit Canada and the northern states. Even with a huge dish, i doubt you could get a viewable signal.

On the other hand 91w will probably give you around 70-80%.

Other than that, I suggest subbing to DirecTV or Dish Network. They have a MUCH better selection of HD channels. A lot of people would love to be in your situation and have the availability to sub to a US provider.

Hope that helps.

zbroke · 2010-02-12, 01:35 PM

Thanks ohmagic,

I'm a proud subscriber of DishNetwork but I'm also a French Canadian and love my french channels (I could not survive very long without RDSHD)...and CBC,TSN,etc.., something DishNetwork can't help me with... Shaw Direct has all the channels I need but I hate their hardware, thus the inquiry about Bell.

Nashville isn't that far north of Dallas.... so I'm still hoping someone out there has some success...

OnlineLC · 2010-02-12, 07:29 PM

If you look at the 82W footprint below, you will note that I am just outside the reception area. Dallas is considerably further South than Nashville and the footprint is also nowhere near Texas at all.

cslusarc · 2010-02-13, 04:37 AM

I'm surprised that portions of Northern Ontario have weaker signal stregnth than most other areas of "Souther" Canada.

Roman Centurion · 2010-02-13, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cslusarc

I'm surprised that portions of Northern Ontario have weaker signal stregnth than most other areas of "Souther" Canada.

That's 82's footprint. It could have something to do with the location of the satellite being almost due south of that area.

nlacasse · 2010-02-13, 02:14 PM

Hello there!

First time on this Forum.

I may be moving to Detroit in a few weeks. I d like to know how I could get a Bell Expressvu (Bell TV) system installed there?

I'm currently in Toronto with Cogeco.

what's the best way? how do I get it installed? can I use a US address?

thanks!

frontpl8 · 2010-02-13, 02:20 PM

To my knowledge bell is not allowed to install in the U.S. You may be able to get a box number in Windsor and use that , but you would have to install the system yourself. Again I don't believe this is legal, but i'm sure there must be a way. Depending what you want to watch you may be better off going OTA to pick up windsor, and pay for a US service.

kandkt · 2010-02-13, 02:39 PM

US address is a definate no-no. You will have to set up an account with a mailing address in Canada. DO NOT tell them you are in the US or connect a phone line to the receiver as they will cut off your service.

You will have to take the equipment to the US and hire a US satellite installer to hook it up for you.

ScaryBob · 2010-02-13, 04:11 PM

Just use the address of a friend or relative in Canada. That works both ways if you know someone who is so inclined. Also, don't forget that there is lots of OTA stations in the Detroit area. It's the densest broadcasting market in North America.

buckprivate · 2010-02-13, 04:15 PM

You will need a Canadian address. Use a friends if you have one. Do not connect it to a phone line. Do not call to activate your receiver(s). Bell may know you are out of the country or use a cellphone. Use their selfhelp on their website. I have hooked up other receivers this way as opposed to calling. It takes less time. Use a hotmail, gmail, etc account to receive your e-bill. No paper work. You can cancel your paper bill. Don't use an email address that makes it look like you are with an american internet provider. eg. for bell it's @bell.net or @sympatico.ca. With hotmail or gmail you can be in any country. As for paying your bill that may be harder. My bill comes out of my bank account. You can't do that in the US. Bell will know your aren't in Canada. You may be able to use a credit card (you need to find out). Or you can go to Windsor and open a bank account and have the payment taken from there.

james99 · 2010-02-13, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlacasse

I'm currently in Toronto with Cogeco.

Cogeco is in Toronto?

cslusarc · 2010-02-13, 07:27 PM

I think that Cogeco has systems in areas that surround the City of Toronto in the 905.

Roman Centurion · 2010-02-13, 08:12 PM

Not that it matters to me, but people here are giving this person tips on how to break the law - maybe not a good thing.

Contact a provider in the USA to get Dish network. Or go OTA, unless you want the cable channels.

CastleRockDays · 2010-02-13, 08:29 PM

Personally, I would just simply call up a US Cable or Satelitte company, like Comcast, Dish Network, DirecTV, etc, instead of going through Bell TV and doing it the "illegal" way.

If you were to watch TV with a US company, you could watch your TV shows without simsubs. And you would also get a wide variety of channels that aren't available in Canada, such as TNT, FX, MTV America, ESPN, Versus, Comedy Central, Disney Channel & ABC Family (for the kids :P), the original TBS, and a whole bunch more, just to name a few.

And the good thing is, you can still keep in touch with Canadian news, by simply going to CTV.ca (or any other news channel), and watch on the web

2010-02-12, 10:10 AM	#1
zbroke Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Worth,TX & Montreal,PQ Posts: 185	Bell Reception in the USA discussion, Changed with New Sat, Mid 2012, See Post 1 I know there have been several threads on this subject but a lot are very old (2007,2008) and with new/better technology (newer LNBs, larger/cheaper antennas,etc), I would like to to ask this community for some information: To begin, I'm a Canadian living most of the year in Dallas,TX and still own a residence in Canada. I also happen to be a current and disgruntled Shaw Direct subscriber (because of their crappy equipment). I gave up on Bell when I upgraded to HD 3 years ago and switched over to Shaw (C at the time). Recently, I stumbled on a post by OnlineLC stating clear reception of the 82 bird in Nashville,TN with a 1.2meter antenna. This information is reviving my dream of getting Bell back!!!! So is there anyone out there: 1) in or South of the Dallas/FortWorth area receiving HD channels? 2) If YES, a) what size* antenna are you using? b) do you have a sigal on RDSHD, SRCHD, TVAHD and VHD? (Yes all french channels) Thanks in advance Edit by 57. Note that with the launch of the new Satellite, coverage in the US is now limited to "border states" to Canada. You may try to use a larger dish, but it may not work. Here's the footprint of the new Sat which went into service Mid-2012: http://www.telesat.com/satellite-fleet/nimiq/nimiq-6 Here's the thread on Nimiq 6 http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=152274 Many people will now consider Shaw Direct, however, please realize that they will have a new satellite in 2013 with a similar footprint, so Shaw Direct may only be a temporary solution, depending on your needs and channels that Shaw decide to put on the new Sat. Here's that thread: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=62645

2010-02-13, 02:14 PM	#7
nlacasse Rookie Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 3	Moving to Detroit Hello there! First time on this Forum. I may be moving to Detroit in a few weeks. I d like to know how I could get a Bell Expressvu (Bell TV) system installed there? I'm currently in Toronto with Cogeco. what's the best way? how do I get it installed? can I use a US address? thanks!

2010-02-13, 04:11 PM	#10
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	Just use the address of a friend or relative in Canada. That works both ways if you know someone who is so inclined. Also, don't forget that there is lots of OTA stations in the Detroit area. It's the densest broadcasting market in North America. __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

2010-02-13, 04:15 PM	#11
buckprivate Rookie Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: windsor, on Posts: 1	bell tv in detroit You will need a Canadian address. Use a friends if you have one. Do not connect it to a phone line. Do not call to activate your receiver(s). Bell may know you are out of the country or use a cellphone. Use their selfhelp on their website. I have hooked up other receivers this way as opposed to calling. It takes less time. Use a hotmail, gmail, etc account to receive your e-bill. No paper work. You can cancel your paper bill. Don't use an email address that makes it look like you are with an american internet provider. eg. for bell it's @bell.net or @sympatico.ca. With hotmail or gmail you can be in any country. As for paying your bill that may be harder. My bill comes out of my bank account. You can't do that in the US. Bell will know your aren't in Canada. You may be able to use a credit card (you need to find out). Or you can go to Windsor and open a bank account and have the payment taken from there.

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2010-02-12, 01:16 PM	#2
ohmagic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: East St. Paul, Manitoba Posts: 134	I doubt you'll get much signal in Dallas. The footprint of 82w has been narrowed down a huge amount to only hit Canada and the northern states. Even with a huge dish, i doubt you could get a viewable signal. On the other hand 91w will probably give you around 70-80%. Other than that, I suggest subbing to DirecTV or Dish Network. They have a MUCH better selection of HD channels. A lot of people would love to be in your situation and have the availability to sub to a US provider. Hope that helps.

2010-02-12, 01:35 PM	#3
zbroke Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Worth,TX & Montreal,PQ Posts: 185	Thanks ohmagic, I'm a proud subscriber of DishNetwork but I'm also a French Canadian and love my french channels (I could not survive very long without RDSHD)...and CBC,TSN,etc.., something DishNetwork can't help me with... Shaw Direct has all the channels I need but I hate their hardware, thus the inquiry about Bell. Nashville isn't that far north of Dallas.... so I'm still hoping someone out there has some success...

2010-02-12, 07:29 PM	#4
OnlineLC Rookie Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 19	If you look at the 82W footprint below, you will note that I am just outside the reception area. Dallas is considerably further South than Nashville and the footprint is also nowhere near Texas at all.

2010-02-13, 04:37 AM	#5
cslusarc Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 307	I'm surprised that portions of Northern Ontario have weaker signal stregnth than most other areas of "Souther" Canada.

2010-02-13, 02:20 PM	#8
frontpl8 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Strathmore, Ab Posts: 214	To my knowledge bell is not allowed to install in the U.S. You may be able to get a box number in Windsor and use that , but you would have to install the system yourself. Again I don't believe this is legal, but i'm sure there must be a way. Depending what you want to watch you may be better off going OTA to pick up windsor, and pay for a US service.

2010-02-13, 02:39 PM	#9
kandkt Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alberta Posts: 507	US address is a definate no-no. You will have to set up an account with a mailing address in Canada. DO NOT tell them you are in the US or connect a phone line to the receiver as they will cut off your service. You will have to take the equipment to the US and hire a US satellite installer to hook it up for you.

2010-02-13, 07:27 PM	#13
cslusarc Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 307	I think that Cogeco has systems in areas that surround the City of Toronto in the 905.

2010-02-13, 08:12 PM	#14
Roman Centurion Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Kitchener, Ontario Posts: 405	Not that it matters to me, but people here are giving this person tips on how to break the law - maybe not a good thing. Contact a provider in the USA to get Dish network. Or go OTA, unless you want the cable channels.

2010-02-13, 08:29 PM	#15
CastleRockDays Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver Posts: 497	Personally, I would just simply call up a US Cable or Satelitte company, like Comcast, Dish Network, DirecTV, etc, instead of going through Bell TV and doing it the "illegal" way. If you were to watch TV with a US company, you could watch your TV shows without simsubs. And you would also get a wide variety of channels that aren't available in Canada, such as TNT, FX, MTV America, ESPN, Versus, Comedy Central, Disney Channel & ABC Family (for the kids :P), the original TBS, and a whole bunch more, just to name a few. And the good thing is, you can still keep in touch with Canadian news, by simply going to CTV.ca (or any other news channel), and watch on the web