How does DirectTV know where we are?

[HD4Mark]

As I understand it the reason you can not get locals in other areas than your own besides the spot beam problem is that advertisers who pay a lot of money don't want you watching a channel where you can not see his advertisement. If you want mobile or "DNS" service you will have to fill out a waiver and send a copy of the registration for your MH or boat. They will not allow receivers with local service and DNS on the same account. They might allow suspension of receivers and let you have one with DNS after you file the waiver. That is what they told us when we had Directv in our home and wanted DNS service to travel. We went with the antenna and left the account as is for the short time back then. Now we only have Directv in the MH so our address is where we winter and we get Miami locals. When traveling back and forth it's the antenna or no local stations when we get far enough out of the spot beam for south Florida.

Be careful if you go full time and try to cancel your sticks and bricks account, they are not willing to let you out of a contract. You may be able to change it to a mobile but watch out they don't start your contract date up new.

About hacking Directv AFAIK there has been no hack since the HU (football) cards were turned off in 2004. The only compromise is people sharing an account in different homes or subscribing for someone else outside of the U.S. They do not think that stuff is funny either and will pursue you with legal action.

[falconman]

Direct TV can give you both, there are those who have it, either by grandfathering or a loophole. The FCC won't allow them to now, my question is why not. I know DTV doesn't care, they can get money for two accounts so there is no advantage to them. I'm just curious why the FCC has such a rule.

[mel s]

Originally Posted by falconman

I understand the nature of the "spot beam", but I don't understand WHY the FCC has the limitations on RV's. If I can get local channels via an outside antenna what shouldn't I be able to get them from my satellite? I can't use the DVR on the sat box when I'm outside the local channel area unless I change zip codes which then kills the local channel for my residence. Family at home wouldn't like it. It all seems rather silly to me.

falconman
1.) Local network stations want you to watch the commercials on their broadcasts via antenna or satellite.... not the commercials from far away stations via satellite.
2.) Broadcasting every local channel everywhere in the country would be a "financial hardship" for Dish network and/or DirecTV.
3.) As usual "the government" has implemented rules and regulations protecting the financial interest of "big business, (with no regard for the interests of ordinary citizens... like you and me).

BTW, if you want to watch local stations via sattelite in one area of the country while someone in your home watches the local stations via sattelite there.... you have to pay for 2 different 2 satellite program subscriptions.
IMO there is nothing silly about that....(if you want 2 different people to drive 2 different cars to 2 different places at the same time you need 2 different cars).


Mel
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