Is there any free satellite tv anymore ?

Old_Hickory · Jan 15, 2004

I have DirecTV,but was wondering if an individual could still get some free satellite tv programming? I was thinking of like the NASA channel and some foreign television shows and some of the agricultural programming here in the states(ie: cattle auctions etc)What kind of reciever/dish would one need to recieve programming like this ?

PineRidge · Jan 15, 2004

I have DirecTV,but was wondering if an individual could still get some free satellite tv programming? 

I guess free satellite TV depends on whom you get your test card from. No I don't use one, but I understand they unlock all the scrambled channels. I heard they were easy to get in Canada. I don't know if that is true or not.

Anyone else know more about these cards?

lonesome · Jan 15, 2004

There is still free programming available on the C-Band satellites. I not real sure how many channels are available. You will need the large dish (6-10 foot) plus a receiver. There is something like 24 satellites up there right now I believe.

Steve

Richard · Jan 15, 2004

( I heard they were easy to get in Canada. I don't know if that is true or not.

Anyone else know more about these cards? )

I've got a friend that lives in Canada. My understanding from her is she can pay $34 or $40 and obtain a "test" (or hacked?) card. I think it's an annual fee, or maybe a every time it needs replaced fee??

As I understand the situation, the signal is intended for US consumption only. The signal bleeds over into Canada and as such bombards them. Since they did not ask for it, yet are subject to it's bombardment, the courts have decided the Canadians can do what they want with the signal in their back yard (ie, convert it and use it for free)

DTV sends out its scrambler signal every so often and her card gets fried. She simply takes it to her provider and he/they swap it out for a new working card.

They get all or most all the channels and other than the price of card maintainence, they can use it for free.

I've never asked her about sending me a bundle of their cards as I suspect there would be more than one legal issue with that.

Richard

(who has always paid 100% of his DTV usage)

BobReeves · Jan 15, 2004

Direct TV kinda put the test cards out of business with the last two card swaps. Had a friend that kept up with the test cards for a while but he quit with the last card swap and I lost my sorce of info. Not sure what is going on now....

slowzuki · Jan 15, 2004

Illegal in Canada.

The real spirit of communication laws it says you are allowed to receive any radio frequency transmissions except military and it is basically up to the sender and receiver to encode things if they don't want everyone to get it.

The cable and satellite companies up here have pressured the gov. into making it illegal to receive US signals as they aren't regulated by the CRTC which tells us what we are allowed to watch (kinda like FCC in the US)

Serious fines for those who break the law too! Ridiculous I say, if you want to pay for cards and such so you can have spotty service due to the DTV blasting, let them go for it. Since we got rid of ours I've stopped watching TV mostly.