HU or P4 Samsung SIR TS 160

[Drake]

Hi all.

I am still researching Satellite receivers. My new question is:

THe Samsung SIR TS 160 receiver for Direct TV. Does it only work with P4 or can it accept an HU card.

I ask because I am in Canada and HU seems the only way to go for me. I will have big problems getting P4 to work properly.

If it does not can someone suggest an HDTV receiver that works with the HU card.

Many thanks for all your help

Drake

[57U]

DirecTV is illegal in Canada. This thread should not go any further. (Yes, I know there are lots of Canadians who still have DirecTV, but it's been illegal for slightly over a year. Illegal topics are not to be discussed on this forum.)

[Drake]

Would you please point out the section and statute that deem DirecTV to be illegal? I would be very interested as a law abiding citizen to know what law it is that I could potentially be breaking.

[57U]

DirecTV was always "grey market" in Canada. As of April 26, 2002, there was a Supreme Court of Canada decision making it illegal to purchase or receive DTH Satellite from outside Canada. Although I was unable to find the actual "law", sample links follow regarding the decision:

http://www.ic.gc.ca/cmb/Welcomeic.nsf/0/85256a220056c2a485256ba70050f239?OpenDocument

http://www.newswire.ca/releases/April2002/26/c8935.html

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/pics/sf/letter_e.pdf
(See second page - "It is theft")

http://www.cablecastermagazine.com/article.asp?id=15438
(See the last sentence)

http://www.cablecastermagazine.com/article.asp?id=9097
(See second paragraph - grey market satellites are illegal - supreme court)

http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/CBC/2002/04/26/satellite_020426

Several suppliers of equipment have been arrested and charged. Also several "users" have been charged (the users were typicaly "heavy (commercial) users" like bars).


TORONTO, April 26, 2002 -- The unanimous Supreme Court decision that it is
illegal to sell equipment to receive satellite signals from outside Canada is
a tremendous victory for Canadian broadcasting, the President of Bell
ExpressVu, Canada's premiere satellite television broadcaster said today.
"Clearly, we are pleased by the verdict. It supports our efforts to
establish that the Radiocommunications Act accurately reflects the underlying
Canadian broadcasting policy," said David McLennan, President and Chief
Operating Officer of Bell ExpressVu.
Mr. McLennan said that the establishment and maintenance of a
broadcasting policy that ensures Canadians are able to tell their own stories
and to see programming created by and for Canadians is a key feature of our
national heritage and of government policy.
"The black and grey satellite markets were a direct threat to that
policy, Mr. McLennan said.
A survey for the Canadian Cable Television Association has estimated that
between 520,000 and 700,000 Canadians -- the equivalent of all cable
subscribers in the Atlantic provinces -- are using unauthorized satellite
systems, switching off the Canadian broadcasting system and plugging into the
U.S. network

[Drake]

Thanks for the speedy reply. I do appreciate the info and it is something to consider.

I don't mind paying for television and I would be the first person in line if DirecTV was sold in Canada--lawfully.

Aside from Hockey Night in Canada--the rest of the government funded programming that they force us to pay for does not interest me. I hope that long before the 20th remake of Anne of Green Gables or yet another version of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham is produced that we have smartened up and allowed sale of international television signals into our country.

What are we afraid of?

Drake

[57U]

Well, Rogers Cable (if you can get it) and Bell ExpressVu, if not, both intend to have about 20 HD stations by year end. Several sports stations have recently been added to the HD lineup.

Some Americans are actually jealous of the amount of SD programming and HD programming that we can get in Canada, especially at the price.

Some even subscribe to BEV. The range of programming in Canada, I think, is superior to what Americans get. We get most of the American stations, plus we get the multicultural variety Canada produces. We probably get more "international" programming than the US on our Canadian stations.

Although I'm not lining up to see the next Anne of Green Gables either, there are/were several CBC programmes that are as good as anything offered anywhere.

Made in Canada.
Da Vinci's Inquest.
This Hour Has 22 Minutes
Nature of Things
Venture

TMN offers lots of movies that are not offered on HBO - foreign films, etc.

Before you think the grass is greener, you should graze a little on both sides of the fence.

What are we afraid of? - well, we'd like to maintain some our cultural identity. The CRTC and the federal government believe this can be achieved by placing limits on the amount of American TV we get that "conflicts" with similar Canadian produced programming. If we had a market of 300 Million people, this would not be an issue, but it is an issue for most "smaller" countries that don't necessarily wish to be totally "Americanized". (not that there's anything wrong with that)