Shaw Direct for Canadians.

If you are a US resident then you can setup a DISH or DirecTV account. How are you going to watch Canadian hockey (everyday?) as a DirecTV subscriber? Both Shaw and Bell "used to be" the perfect answer. The reality is that Canadian TV is designed for reception in Canada for Canadian residents and US TV is designed for reception in the US for US residents.

May be time to seek other satellite options.
Dish or Direct TV might be better options for someone who wants sat TV at home and on the road. I guess you'd need a US address to make that happen, for billing. Think of the market possibilities and the money they could make if it weren't for the mutual exclusion rules they all seem to follow now.
Shaw used to be the perfect answer for a Canadian with this in mind. Now, they're no better than Bell XpressVu.
Pity.

MDKMDK wrote:
I've got the HDDSR 600 receiver, we currently get SD and HD channels at home. I assume I have the triple LNB (changed it out at home a few years ago, in prep for the new bird) if we're getting HD?
The question really is, if I were to get a Winegard Traveler mounted up top, would it come with whatever I need to see all 3 Shaw Direct birds as they currently are configured in space?
Another option we've considered is using Shaw's online streaming and just getting a cheap VPN to access it when we're away.

EDIT: If the Anik F1/F2 birds are being retired eventually, and the G1 coverage is targeted to above the 49th, I guess there's no point in getting an automatic dish mounted up top.

Shaw Direct used to be a cheaper better alternative to cable, but in the last 2-3 years they've caught up in price, and now it's pretty much a saw off for which one is better value. Their customer service was better, but even that's changing. I still like the mobility of being able to take a tripod/dish rig along and using it when we stop for a day or two, but it's hard to justify adding something that costs several thousand dollars up here to buy and install, if it won't work where I want it to work.
Thanks for your input roy/Bill. :)

Yes, the correct LNB. So anywhere you go in Canada you will be able to pick up all 3 satellites. However, the new satellite only has a spot beam that covers Canada and a bit of the N. US. So, whether you use a portable or a Trav'ler you will have the exact same success (or lack thereof).

I've got the HDDSR 600 receiver, we currently get SD and HD channels at home. I assume I have the triple LNB (changed it out at home a few years ago, in prep for the new bird) if we're getting HD?
The question really is, if I were to get a Winegard Traveler mounted up top, would it come with whatever I need to see all 3 Shaw Direct birds as they currently are configured in space?
Another option we've considered is using Shaw's online streaming and just getting a cheap VPN to access it when we're away.

EDIT: If the Anik F1/F2 birds are being retired eventually, and the G1 coverage is targeted to above the 49th, I guess there's no point in getting an automatic dish mounted up top.

Shaw Direct used to be a cheaper better alternative to cable, but in the last 2-3 years they've caught up in price, and now it's pretty much a saw off for which one is better value. Their customer service was better, but even that's changing. I still like the mobility of being able to take a tripod/dish rig along and using it when we stop for a day or two, but it's hard to justify adding something that costs several thousand dollars up here to buy and install, if it won't work where I want it to work.
Thanks for your input roy/Bill. :)

Yes, most all of Shaw is currently available in Canada, US and N. Mexico. The new satellite broadcast is spot-beamed and any programming on that satellite will only be available in Canada and the N. US. No matter what antenna/LNB setup you use the signal simply will not exist as you move South.

I have a few years of experience in the US south wintering. I can say that all channels available on the original 107 and 111 degree satellites are available into Mexico. Several of the HD channels have been moved to the new 3rd 111 satellite and are not receivable in the south. Several of those channels are still available in SD but they will eventually be discontinued as they are replaced by the HD equivalents on the 3rd sat. This is set to happen by the end of 2019 to my knowledge. You will then need a triple lnb and a 600+ series receiver as all channels will be broadcast in MPEG 4 on all 3 sats.
I have the Winegard Travler for Shaw and it works flawlessly. It uses the triple lnb.

robatthelake wrote:
Well we have had the pleasure of travelling half way across Canada from West to East and are now returning via the USA!
Naturally we brought along our Shaw Direct Receiver and have been enjoying watching our favorite shows from home!
We expected to lose some of the HD channels and so far have been surprised at how many still work here in South Dakota!
For those of us that come to Sturgis fort the Motorcycles and this weekend Ford Mustangs , I just wanted to confirm that our portable Dish is functioning quite well!
No we do not get all the HD Stations that we receive at home ,but there are SD Alternatives that are booming in here so no worries!

Which portable dish do you have, if I may ask? I have been struggling a little with this issue, and am considering the Winegard Traveler for Shaw Direct, because of the larger dish. My thinking was even in the southern US it may work. We can handle SD versus HD channels, and if the Travler will pull in SD only channels, we'd be fine with that.
Thanks.