Canadian Satellite systems

[Old Fulica]

Hi
Do any of you have any experience with Bell or Starchoice satellite systems? We are thinking of changing over from Shaw cable to a satellite system. My thinking is that I can take my receiver on the road with me and buy a portable dish. I have read that Bell is easier to use but Starchoice is receivable in Mexico. Has anyone heard if internet will be available with any of these systems? I would like to hear from anyone with a satellite system and what your recommendations are.
Thanks

[WBCCI9898]

We have Bell and have had no problems in getting a signal anywhere. We have our dish installed on the roof of the trailer. We have run into a few higher end campgrounds which will not allow a portable dish sitting on the ground. The inly issue is we do not recieve all of the transponders all the time. It has not been a huge issue with us as the TV is only on during rainy days.... and when Amazing Race is on... lol

Hope this helps a bit for you.
L

[HowieE]

You Canadians are lucky. Not only do you get real news, not the managed junk we get, but you can bring your dish into the US and still get programs because your carriers supply aiming information. I can not get aiming point from Directv when I am in Canada.

I have been trying for several years to get a Canadian system to replace my Directv just to keep up on what is happening in the world.

[nairnchyz]

Hi Abbotsford , British, Columbia

We have Star Choice at home and I have never bothered doing it but I do understand you can take a receiver from your home and use it elsewhere. You do have to purchase a dish as you mentioned. I wonder how hard it is to line the dish up with a satelite. I understand trees can be a problem. One thing about a portable dish is that you could move it around a tree if the campground allows same on the ground. No doubt someone who is experienced in lining up with a satelites will respond and educate those of us who are sitting on rhe fence.
Bob

[WBCCI9898]

Aiming is no problem... all I do is look for north on the GPS in the car and away we go. I spin and tilt the dish as required... usually get 80 - 90% within a couple minutes However, you are correct if there are a number of tree's it is more difficult....

[guy99]

We spent 3 1/2 months in Mexico this winter. We were far enough south that we couldn't get dish or directv even with 1 meter dishes. All around us were lucky Canadians with Starchoice who had no problems with reception. The folks I spoke with seemed to prefer Starchoice over Bell for Mexico. Starchoice offers several sizes of dish, I think they recommend the larger ones for use in Mexico

[Happycampers]

Hello .. We have had Star Choice for 6 years and have not taken it south with us. We are about to change over to Bell Express Vu..getting sick of seeing the same shows over and over again on Star Choice..

[05ModPod]

Anybody tried this with their satellite systems?

Sling Media - Home of the Slingbox

I have heard that it is great but have not used it but may consider it for next year - when I am south for longer....

One thing is for sure I have got to find a different PHONE system than US Connect with Bell Mobility!!! and their piddly minute packages - my phone cost me over 1600.00 for 10 weeks ouyvey!!!!!!! could have bought a lot at Texas Harbor for that eh??? Flippin Ma Bell they are a GD rip off....they tell you that it will be .75cent per minute over your 100 minutes but they neglect to tell you 3 additional charges per minute on top of that - which I am about to start WWIII over on Monday.

[wheel interested]

Ouch! You could have flown back and forth for that!

[05ModPod]

Originally Posted by wheel interested

Ouch! You could have flown back and forth for that!

Ha I could have done a lot of things with that - and with Taz's $3 grand Surgery - it was a really really really expensive holiday - not to mention staying in the creme de la creme camp ground at $39 a day with no weekly discounts or monthly discounts...

So next year I will apply for camp host - actually I am doing that next week.

But sometimes just getting away is "priceless"....

[guy99]

Originally Posted by Happycampers

Hello .. We have had Star Choice for 6 years and have not taken it south with us. We are about to change over to Bell Express Vu..getting sick of seeing the same shows over and over again on Star Choice..

I had no idea that the two Canadian services provide different programming. We have had both of the US satellite providers (Dish and DirecTV). As far as I can tell they both offer the same content.

[Old Fulica]

Hi guy99
I think our 2 service providers offer the same channels. It is just that Starchoice seems to be providing better coverage for Mexico. From what I am learning, Bell doesn't like their customers to take their equipment over the border, although many people do. Maybe someone could comment on that.
Thanks to everyone else that offered advice. Now I am trying to find a Starchoice HD receiver on Craigslist.