Bell Tv

nbking wrote:
When I first heard about Bell not permitting use of their system in the USA, I called them. I was told the CRTC did not allow the system to be used outside Canada. I then called the CRTC and was told they have no interest whatsoever in where the signal is received. Still a strange situation.

I agree with nbking - that might be what Bell is telling customers but it makes no sense. CRTC cares about what is sold and broadcast in Canada - they couldn't care less what you do with your service elsewhere.

They do prevent US companies from selling services in Canada (e.g. Dish, DirecTV and co aren't allowed) but that's the extent of their power.

nbking wrote:
When I first heard about Bell not permitting use of their system in the USA, I called them. I was told the CRTC did not allow the system to be used outside Canada. I then called the CRTC and was told they have no interest whatsoever in where the signal is received. Still a strange situation.

Why am I not surprised?

The reason that Shaw doesn't work with those Roof Top Tracking Domes and Automatic setup Dishes has to do with the Skew Adjustment Mechanism.

If You have the Correct Settings downloaded and printed it takes no more than 10 Minutes to be set up with a Manual Shaw Dish and that includes hauling the Dish out from the Basement storage Compartment.

Sure would be nice to have one on the Roof and some day Somebody will cobble together an Electric Stepping Motor and Gear Drive that works for the Shaw Dish!

And as far as CRTC having anything to do with the use "Outside Canada" that is just a bunch of Bell Service! The real reason is that Ma Bell is American and won't step on the Toes of it's Partners in Crime South of the 49th!

vic46: I think you should rereard your first post. It is Bell that is outclassed! The day of roof top domes are numbered! There are 3 mfrs. of automatic roof top units( not domes) for Shaw but none for Bell! Your complaining about no domes is like saying that no current RV mfr. provides a VHS player! Within a few years all TV programming will be in HD. Satellite service providers seem to need more than one satellite to provide all of the channels. Direct uses 5 and Shaw I think is 2. Domes cannot see enough satellites. In motion TV should be bannned anyway as a driver distraction! Technology changes and many of us do have trouble adapting to the changes. Shaw will support you while in the USA and I have even heard of people in Yuma getting Shaw service reps at their site! Bell CSR's are the nastiest people. Shaw tries but their phone lines are overloaded.

Moisheh

Just a quick note for those who want to get a Shaw Direct system to go to the southern Us and Mexico. Get a .74 meter dish as opposed to the .60 meter dish. The larger dish works in the most souther parts of Mexico where the .60 meter dish only works into the very northern part of Mexico.

My automatic Winegard travller dish is .74 meters and works well everywhere. The tripod installs in PV area requirethat the dish be rotated to its highest point and on some installs we have even lifted the front legs to obtain the higher point. Others I have seen have drilled out the range of travel to increase it. There are dealers in the PV area that have Shaw direct systems to sell and service

nbking wrote:
When I first heard about Bell not permitting use of their system in the USA, I called them. I was told the CRTC did not allow the system to be used outside Canada. I then called the CRTC and was told they have no interest whatsoever in where the signal is received. Still a strange situation.

My understanding is that Bell has an agreement with Direct TV not to allow it's users to view when in the U.S. Purely a business arrangement.

Shaw/StarChoice works great everywhere in the US and into Mexico. I use a portable dish. I also have a First Strike Meter (FS1) that I use to aim the dish. I just enter the coordinates from my GPS, and the meter tells me where to point, the angle and shows the signal strength so I can lock it in. Just takes a few minutes.

Bell has an agreement with Dish Network, not Direct TV, the information below is quite helpful and explains the history of Bell TV in Canada, I have “Pasted” some of the relevant info below the link as to wikipedia’s contribution’s take on this subject, hope it is helpful to all.
Wikipedia Link
“Residential accounts are limited to a maximum of six (6) receivers per account, but each of them can be a dual tuner receiver. Therefore, up to 12 televisions can be served. Account stacking, which consists of having receivers on one account located in different locations, is contrary to the Bell TV Residential and Commercial Agreements. It is certainly not illegal, and in a worst-case scenario, service will be cancelled. This practice is detailed in CRTC Public Notice 2006-133 and 2006-134. There is no requirement whatsoever in the Regulations that prohibits a BDU (broadcast distribution undertaking) from providing service at more than one location via a single account. Bell has mostly focused on improving its satellite signal reception in Canada while seeking to prevent snowbirds from accessing this signal. The use of Bell TV services in the United States is not illegal, but it remains a controversial issue.”

moisheh wrote:
vic46: I think you should rereard your first post. It is Bell that is outclassed! The day of roof top domes are numbered! There are 3 mfrs. of automatic roof top units( not domes) for Shaw but none for Bell! Your complaining about no domes is like saying that no current RV mfr. provides a VHS player! Within a few years all TV programming will be in HD. Satellite service providers seem to need more than one satellite to provide all of the channels. Direct uses 5 and Shaw I think is 2. Domes cannot see enough satellites. In motion TV should be bannned anyway as a driver distraction! Technology changes and many of us do have trouble adapting to the changes. Shaw will support you while in the USA and I have even heard of people in Yuma getting Shaw service reps at their site! Bell CSR's are the nastiest people. Shaw tries but their phone lines are overloaded.

Moisheh

Perhaps you should reread my post. I was talking about SHAW DIRECT! My Post included the site addresses for the three roof mount antennas that will work with the SHAW satellite system, non of which are tracking. The comment about banning tracking is solely your opinion. Surely we don't need more RULES. My comment about Bell was their historic concern about Canuck's using the Bell sat system south of the US/Can border.

vic46:

I did read your post and I provided a possible explanation as to why Shaw does not have a tracking system! Neither does Directv HD.It has to do with technology changing. I guess that would make Directv outclassed as well. I dont think any present day dome would be large enough to see more than one satellite. You are living in the past. But that ancient dome would make a good fire pit where you could burn old 8 tracks and Betamax tapes!

Moisheh

I'm a longtime Snowbird and Bell customer. They like us to think it's a legality or CRTC restriction about not using their signal in the U.S.--that's baloney. It's an agreement Bell made with Dish Network about not allowing subscribers to encroach on each other's territory.
When I heard Bell was replacing its Nimiq 1 satellite with one that covers only Canada, I started researching alternatives.
Shaw has no problem with customers using their system cross border; their only stipulation is they can't send equipment to the USA. BUT, satellites run out of fuel after 12 or 13 years (that's why Bell is replacing theirs) and Shaw's is approx 10 years old now. Who's to say the same couldn't happen with Shaw not far down the road.
There are alternatives: Comcast will sign you up and lease cable boxes/DVRs with no contract. DirecTV will sell you all the equipment you need and you can use it in Canada, or put your system on vacation for six months of the year. As for Dish Network, I couldn't get a straight answer. After questioning two "agents" I was told to talk to an installer.
We're hockey fans so it's important that Centre Ice be available; no problem, everyone carries it.
Hope this helps some of you.