DirecPath, fka Mediaworks, and others

[nick1817]

DirecPath is DirecTv's solution in some areas to offer TriplePlay packages to MDUs. My apartment community hasn't had the conversion yet from MediaQuest to DirecPath, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with DirecPath Service and what they offer.

Currently, MediaQuest offers "Digital Cable", but it's basically 1998 Analog.

[Artwood]

My apartment complex told everyone that had dishes in common areas that they would confiscate them come January 15 no matter how unobtrusively they were located.

This was after the previous owners of the complex had been quite lax in enforcing any restrictions.

Of course they have a habit of having trees in front of patios so one isn't able to obtain line of sight to use a dish.

So I have to either return my DISH back to DISH or the apartment complex will confiscate it.

Will I still have pay DISH the remaining months on the contract for DISH service that I can't use?

The reason I got DISH in the first place was because the cable that was wired into the aprtment had the most hortrible picture quality I've ever seen.

I'm sure they want to Force everyone to have to use that horrible service because they will have no alternative.

The company they had was Mediaworks which of course now is DirecPath.

And of course I'm sure that they and the apartment owners will make more money now since they will be the only choice.

I seriously doubt that they will ever upgrade anything about the system--it's either pay big money for our crappy cable or get out!

I have a Panasonic plasma HDTV and had DISH with all the HD channels and an HD DVR and now I may have to go back not to component quality analog but COMPOSITE!

Does anyone know if DirecPath offers anything remotely equivalent to 21st century technology? Will I have to move to get HD?

I have no problem with apartment complexes not wanting to have a zillion satellite dishes around but if the rules remain as they are few people will be able to mount a dish on a tripod and will wind up being held captive by Crap systems where the only real reason for them has nothing to do with aesthetics but with gouging people with junky analog composite systems because they have no other choice!

It is quite ironic that one has to leave a "Luxury apartment Community" for a Jerry Springer trailer park where you can mount a dish to go from anaolog composite to HD!

Does anyone know about DirecPath?

What percentage of apartment or condominium communities do they service that don't have HD? Is MFH2 and MFH3 upgades that will never happen?

And no folks I don't really expect anyone to address any of my venting here--for the most part many of the people in the know here would fight to the death the right of any MDU to be as restrictive as possible so they could gouge people.

Isn't that what America is really all about?

[grizzly]

My apartment complex told everyone that had dishes in common areas that they would confiscate them come January 15 no matter how unobtrusively they were located.

This was after the previous owners of the complex had been quite lax in enforcing any restrictions.

Of course they have a habit of having trees in front of patios so one isn't able to obtain line of sight to use a dish.

So I have to either return my DISH back to DISH or the apartment complex will confiscate it.

Will I still have pay DISH the remaining months on the contract for DISH service that I can't use?

The reason I got DISH in the first place was because the cable that was wired into the aprtment had the most hortrible picture quality I've ever seen.

I'm sure they want to Force everyone to have to use that horrible service because they will have no alternative.

The company they had was Mediaworks which of course now is DirecPath.

And of course I'm sure that they and the apartment owners will make more money now since they will be the only choice.

I seriously doubt that they will ever upgrade anything about the system--it's either pay big money for our crappy cable or get out!

I have a Panasonic plasma HDTV and had DISH with all the HD channels and an HD DVR and now I may have to go back not to component quality analog but COMPOSITE!

Does anyone know if DirecPath offers anything remotely equivalent to 21st century technology? Will I have to move to get HD?

I have no problem with apartment complexes not wanting to have a zillion satellite dishes around but if the rules remain as they are few people will be able to mount a dish on a tripod and will wind up being held captive by Crap systems where the only real reason for them has nothing to do with aesthetics but with gouging people with junky analog composite systems because they have no other choice!

It is quite ironic that one has to leave a "Luxury apartment Community" for a Jerry Springer trailer park where you can mount a dish to go from anaolog composite to HD!

Does anyone know about DirecPath?

What percentage of apartment or condominium communities do they service that don't have HD? Is MFH2 and MFH3 upgades that will never happen?

And no folks I don't really expect anyone to address any of my venting here--for the most part many of the people in the know here would fight to the death the right of any MDU to be as restrictive as possible so they could gouge people.

Isn't that what America is really all about?



Actually, I'd bet that they can't do that. The one good think that congress/fcc did is essentially give you the right to put up a dish as long as it meets certain conditions....I went through a fight with my apartment management a while back that I won.

Go to the FCC web site and look through thier rules. As long as it meets the criteria that its not permanent, doesn't destroy or damage common property and is not a safety hazard, there isn't a damn thing they can do about it. Since its federal law, it overrides just about any local, state or lease agreement. I'm suire some other people will chime in too, but definitely download the regs and if they give you crap, send them a copy and tell them they are wrong.

Kevin

[Artwood]

I figure as soon as the DISH is confiscated they'll say that I'm in default on my lease.

Has anyone ever become homeless after their satellite dish was confiscated?

[nick1817]

FYI- Mediaworks is horrid. I still am waiting on some sort of "conversion" to direcPath.

[grizzly]

Ok, I know I've posted twice and both messages are gone..whats the deal?

[nick1817]

Still under the mediaworks banner, even though DirecPath is billing me.

Supposedly getting updated to "digital" by the end of summer.

I miss D*.

[evan_s]

Actually, I'd bet that they can't do that. The one good think that congress/fcc did is essentially give you the right to put up a dish as long as it meets certain conditions....I went through a fight with my apartment management a while back that I won.

Go to the FCC web site and look through thier rules. As long as it meets the criteria that its not permanent, doesn't destroy or damage common property and is not a safety hazard, there isn't a damn thing they can do about it. Since its federal law, it overrides just about any local, state or lease agreement. I'm suire some other people will chime in too, but definitely download the regs and if they give you crap, send them a copy and tell them they are wrong.

Kevin

While it is true that FFC does give some protection regarding using a dish or antenna it very specifically applies only to areas that are for your exclusive access. A balcony is the common example of exclusive access area but if that doesn't exist or can't be used for some reason there isn't any guarantee allowing you to use some other common area. ANY sort of common area is not covered by the FCC and the apartment is completely with their rights to disallow dishes in any common area. Common area does include things like the walls of the build and even the roof.

[nick1817]

I wish they would address these contract agreements then. Forcing you to use the provided Cable Co., or nothing else (due to common areas) seems a bit like a monopoly. Oh well..

[truelife]

Resurrecting an older thread to save a new thread from starting... Anyone have current experience with DirecPath in an Apartment?

Are they requiring all tenants to use a DirecTV receiver to view the channels now? I know from January and back, it was just regular analog, hook up to your TV and use your TV channels. Now, it is a receiver to be hooked up to your incoming feed?

Please let me know. I dropped DirecPath back in January.. called tonight and they said it is $29.99 a month for family package (I use to pay $12.99!!).

[nick1817]

Unfortunately, each property is different so there's no way to know. You can, in theory, put your zip into their homepage and see what services they offer. I say in theory, because god knows if its accurate property info or not.


My property is still stuck on their analog crap. And junk internet service.


I lose about 3-5 channels every time it storms.

[Rac97crawford]

My apartment complex told everyone that had dishes in common areas that they would confiscate them come January 15 no matter how unobtrusively they were located.

This was after the previous owners of the complex had been quite lax in enforcing any restrictions.

Of course they have a habit of having trees in front of patios so one isn't able to obtain line of sight to use a dish.

So I have to either return my DISH back to DISH or the apartment complex will confiscate it.

Will I still have pay DISH the remaining months on the contract for DISH service that I can't use?

The reason I got DISH in the first place was because the cable that was wired into the aprtment had the most hortrible picture quality I've ever seen.

I'm sure they want to Force everyone to have to use that horrible service because they will have no alternative.

The company they had was Mediaworks which of course now is DirecPath.

And of course I'm sure that they and the apartment owners will make more money now since they will be the only choice.

I seriously doubt that they will ever upgrade anything about the system--it's either pay big money for our crappy cable or get out!

I have a Panasonic plasma HDTV and had DISH with all the HD channels and an HD DVR and now I may have to go back not to component quality analog but COMPOSITE!

Does anyone know if DirecPath offers anything remotely equivalent to 21st century technology? Will I have to move to get HD?

I have no problem with apartment complexes not wanting to have a zillion satellite dishes around but if the rules remain as they are few people will be able to mount a dish on a tripod and will wind up being held captive by Crap systems where the only real reason for them has nothing to do with aesthetics but with gouging people with junky analog composite systems because they have no other choice!

It is quite ironic that one has to leave a "Luxury apartment Community" for a Jerry Springer trailer park where you can mount a dish to go from anaolog composite to HD!

Does anyone know about DirecPath?

What percentage of apartment or condominium communities do they service that don't have HD? Is MFH2 and MFH3 upgades that will never happen?

And no folks I don't really expect anyone to address any of my venting here--for the most part many of the people in the know here would fight to the death the right of any MDU to be as restrictive as possible so they could gouge people.

Isn't that what America is really all about?

Is off-air/ ATSC available in your area? I believe it is another FCC mandated law that apartment complexes or condo associations much offer at least two TV options. For instance a HOA or apartment complex can't lock you into using only one provider for basic network tv service. That would be a monopoly. They must offer at least two. If you have off-air in your area then you are kinda screwed because they'll tell you that is your second option regardless of the quality. But if you don't have off-air as an option then you must get a second option offered to you. i.e a satellite provider. But if At+t is in your area and offers there Uverse, well then you're screwed again.
Hope some of that helps.