ExpressVu to Drop DirecPC June 1st, 2005

hugh · 2004-12-02, 09:06 PM

Although not officially announced Digital Home Canada has been told that as of today Bell ExpressVu will no longer be taking orders for DirecPC.

ExpressVu tech support will continue to support the current customer base but after June 1st ALL customers will either have to move to Telesat or disconnect from the DirecPC service from BEV.

RogerRoll · 2004-12-06, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hugh

after June 1st ALL customers will either have to move to Telesat or disconnect from the DirecPC service from BEV.

Telesat?
Pardon my ignorance, but is Telesat similar? or is it 2-way like DirecWay?
Inquiring minds want to know!

Thanks!

raNdOM · 2004-12-09, 11:38 AM

Called DirecPC yesterday...
they told me that thye're closing in order to focus on TV more...
they did note that Telesat (http://www.telesat.ca) is going 2-way on May 1st/05... rumour has it that they're going to be affordable and fast.

Don't know much about other providers.

Snoman · 2004-12-10, 09:10 AM

Direct PC subs will be relocated to Anik F2's Ka band payload if they sign up with Telesat. New dish/feedhorn setup. BEV's 1 way connection was doomed to fail from the beginning with high costs and paying 2 providers for 2 way access.

raNdOM · 2004-12-12, 09:52 PM

Technically speaking those customers won't be "relocated".
If you want to go with 2 way via Telesat then you'll have to buy the equipment and have it all installed.

It's a different company so Bell can't "technically" relocate them.
The service will just cease come midnight ib tge 31st.

However you're right...
It was an interim solution at best.

macspectrum · 2005-02-20, 10:27 AM

BEV will continue to support DirecPC until June 30
I am a BEV DirecPC customer with no other choice other than dial up or satellite.
Bell ADSL is nearby but Bell has no idea when it is coming here to me.
I moved up here from Toronto and really miss my high speed.

Rumour has it that Telesat will be offering a reasonably priced alternative for 2-way satellite, but nobody will officially confirm. Neither from Bell nor Telesat.

One would think that the CRTC would give Bell hell for pulling out leaving the customer base on their own. Then I found out that ExpressVu is NOT governed by the CRTC, or so the CRTC told me.

Which part of Canadian Radtio and TELECOMMUNICATIONS doesn't fit in with Bell ExpressVu?

I have noticed that the "other" 2-way providers are using this opportunity to keep prices high and force people to sign for at least 1 year. The "other" satellite internet providers all know more than Bell ExpressVu DirecPC customers.

I hope Telesat (a BCE company) does take up the slack and offer us rural customers something better than $1500 installation and $99 per month as do the "other" 2-way satellite providers.
rumoured prices $600 for equipment and $60/month

It's all a shell game with consumers getting screwed in the middle.

If anyone has any updated info. please post or email me directly
kulykATmacspectrum.com

/end rant

Bunkhouse · 2005-02-20, 12:53 PM

i called up bell and they told me to go here: http://www.infosat.com , they are supposedly the company that will sell the service.

Plus, bell told me that the Direct PC is using about 1/2 the capacity of their 82 sat. which means that once everyone is off of there, there will be alot more room for new channels.

WildBlue is the american distributor for the service and they have already set prices.(US prices)
Values pack: 512Kbps : $49.95 per month
Select pack: 1.0Mbps : $69.95 per month
Pro pack: 1.5Mbps : $79.95 per month

macspectrum · 2005-02-27, 09:47 AM

latest update from Telesat re: DPC customers
there is some hope for us after getting royally screwed over by DirecPC/ExpressVu

http://support.telesat.ca/dpcweb/

macspectrum · 2005-02-28, 05:48 PM

Here is the latest info. I was able to "wrangle" out of a DirecPC person.

DirecPC customers will be converted by Telesat by June 30, 2005.

Pricing for BRAND NEW Telesat customers will be:
2.7 mbps downstream
1.7 mbps upstream
$50 - $60 per month
Ethernet modem + dish + installation $500 Cdn.

I find this pricing very difficult to believe as it is far below current 2-way satellite providers.

Hopefully some sort of special deal or credit will be applied to current DirecPC customers.

macspectrum · 2005-03-03, 08:15 AM

latest info. from a Telesat marketing person

512K down
128K up
$60 / month

1 M down
256K up
$90 / month

$500 for equipment, $100 for install

macspectrum · 2005-03-03, 08:17 AM

latest from Bell person in VP's office, quoting BCE President

1 M down
512 K up

$50 / month

special deal for DirecPC customers on new equipment

HammerJoe · 2005-03-03, 07:26 PM

hmmm I could live with that price...

oasisgjm · 2005-03-08, 02:07 PM

The price does seem exceedingly cheap although it could be a clever move to garner the huge rural population who are outside the umbrella of adsl and isdn. I've been waiting three years for those to reach my neck of the woods and finally gave up last year and switched to DirecPC. Needless to say I am not happy that Bell is dropping the service and even more angry that there is no action from the CRTC or government. Imagine if they decided to cut phone service for a large segment of the population. If telesat is as good as the rumours indicate I will switch and keep my fingers crossed that they won't pull the plug a year down the road.

Dman1138 · 2005-03-17, 03:08 AM

To get a good idea of what will be offered check out www.wildblue.com. This is Telesat's american partner and offers much more information on it's site then Telesat does.

macspectrum · 2005-03-17, 11:00 AM

www.wildblue.com doesn't seem to mention upload speeds

2004-12-02, 09:06 PM	#1
hugh Digital Home Founder Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 39,049	ExpressVu to Drop DirecPC June 1st, 2005 Although not officially announced Digital Home Canada has been told that as of today Bell ExpressVu will no longer be taking orders for DirecPC. ExpressVu tech support will continue to support the current customer base but after June 1st ALL customers will either have to move to Telesat or disconnect from the DirecPC service from BEV. __________________ Advertise \| Digital Home Help Forum \| Member Feedback \| Search

2004-12-10, 09:10 AM	#4
Snoman Join Date: May 2002 Location: At my computer Posts: 375	Direct PC subs will be relocated to Anik F2's Ka band payload if they sign up with Telesat. New dish/feedhorn setup. BEV's 1 way connection was doomed to fail from the beginning with high costs and paying 2 providers for 2 way access. Last edited by Snoman; 2004-12-10 at 09:14 AM.

2005-02-20, 10:27 AM	#6
macspectrum Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 101	BEV will continue to support DirecPC until June 30 I am a BEV DirecPC customer with no other choice other than dial up or satellite. Bell ADSL is nearby but Bell has no idea when it is coming here to me. I moved up here from Toronto and really miss my high speed. Rumour has it that Telesat will be offering a reasonably priced alternative for 2-way satellite, but nobody will officially confirm. Neither from Bell nor Telesat. One would think that the CRTC would give Bell hell for pulling out leaving the customer base on their own. Then I found out that ExpressVu is NOT governed by the CRTC, or so the CRTC told me. Which part of Canadian Radtio and TELECOMMUNICATIONS doesn't fit in with Bell ExpressVu? I have noticed that the "other" 2-way providers are using this opportunity to keep prices high and force people to sign for at least 1 year. The "other" satellite internet providers all know more than Bell ExpressVu DirecPC customers. I hope Telesat (a BCE company) does take up the slack and offer us rural customers something better than $1500 installation and $99 per month as do the "other" 2-way satellite providers. rumoured prices $600 for equipment and $60/month It's all a shell game with consumers getting screwed in the middle. If anyone has any updated info. please post or email me directly kulykATmacspectrum.com /end rant Last edited by macspectrum; 2005-02-20 at 10:53 AM.

2005-02-27, 09:47 AM	#8
macspectrum Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 101	UPDATE from Telesa Canada - hope for DPC customers latest update from Telesat re: DPC customers there is some hope for us after getting royally screwed over by DirecPC/ExpressVu http://support.telesat.ca/dpcweb/

2005-02-28, 05:48 PM	#9
macspectrum Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 101	latest news re: DirecPC Here is the latest info. I was able to "wrangle" out of a DirecPC person. DirecPC customers will be converted by Telesat by June 30, 2005. Pricing for BRAND NEW Telesat customers will be: 2.7 mbps downstream 1.7 mbps upstream $50 - $60 per month Ethernet modem + dish + installation $500 Cdn. I find this pricing very difficult to believe as it is far below current 2-way satellite providers. Hopefully some sort of special deal or credit will be applied to current DirecPC customers.

2004-12-09, 11:38 AM	#3
raNdOM Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ontario Posts: 34	Called DirecPC yesterday... they told me that thye're closing in order to focus on TV more... they did note that Telesat (http://www.telesat.ca) is going 2-way on May 1st/05... rumour has it that they're going to be affordable and fast. Don't know much about other providers.

2004-12-12, 09:52 PM	#5
raNdOM Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ontario Posts: 34	Technically speaking those customers won't be "relocated". If you want to go with 2 way via Telesat then you'll have to buy the equipment and have it all installed. It's a different company so Bell can't "technically" relocate them. The service will just cease come midnight ib tge 31st. However you're right... It was an interim solution at best.

2005-02-20, 12:53 PM	#7
Bunkhouse Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 430	i called up bell and they told me to go here: http://www.infosat.com , they are supposedly the company that will sell the service. Plus, bell told me that the Direct PC is using about 1/2 the capacity of their 82 sat. which means that once everyone is off of there, there will be alot more room for new channels. WildBlue is the american distributor for the service and they have already set prices.(US prices) Values pack: 512Kbps : $49.95 per month Select pack: 1.0Mbps : $69.95 per month Pro pack: 1.5Mbps : $79.95 per month

2005-03-03, 08:15 AM	#10
macspectrum Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 101	latest info. from a Telesat marketing person 512K down 128K up $60 / month 1 M down 256K up $90 / month $500 for equipment, $100 for install

2005-03-03, 08:17 AM	#11
macspectrum Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 101	latest from Bell person in VP's office, quoting BCE President 1 M down 512 K up $50 / month special deal for DirecPC customers on new equipment

2005-03-03, 07:26 PM	#12
HammerJoe Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Brunswick province of the poor Posts: 1,026	hmmm I could live with that price...

2005-03-08, 02:07 PM	#13
oasisgjm Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1	Cheap The price does seem exceedingly cheap although it could be a clever move to garner the huge rural population who are outside the umbrella of adsl and isdn. I've been waiting three years for those to reach my neck of the woods and finally gave up last year and switched to DirecPC. Needless to say I am not happy that Bell is dropping the service and even more angry that there is no action from the CRTC or government. Imagine if they decided to cut phone service for a large segment of the population. If telesat is as good as the rumours indicate I will switch and keep my fingers crossed that they won't pull the plug a year down the road.

2005-03-17, 03:08 AM	#14
Dman1138 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kingsville Posts: 25	To get a good idea of what will be offered check out www.wildblue.com. This is Telesat's american partner and offers much more information on it's site then Telesat does.

2005-03-17, 11:00 AM	#15
macspectrum Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 101	www.wildblue.com doesn't seem to mention upload speeds

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode