Decided to bypass MDU provider

[wildpanda86]

Here is the situation, I live in an MDU Condo and got a DirectTV HD DVR a few months ago in anticipation that I would have the equipment needed to get all the new Direct TV channels. The contracted MDU provider told me that they would hopefully have the equipment needed to take advantage of the new HD programming by January- Feb of 2008.

Well I still don't have that programming!!!

This is after spending $$$ on getting the DirectTV DVR and still paying every month for an HD package of which we can only get around 10 HD channels... and this is including the local channels. To make things even worse, by next month unless we have the new equipment, I won't even be able to receive local HD channels (except as OTA) which means I got all this equipment, have been paying for HD programming each month, and will only be getting maybe 5 or so HD channels through Direct TV.

So now I say its enough!!!

I have 2 different balconies in my unit with my own personal rooftop deck that all have a view of the southwestern sky... and each room has 1-2 coaxs that can run back to the central switcher in our hallway closet... so I am guessing its just gonna be a matter of rewiring input and output coaxs at the central box.

I want to be sure that it would be OK no matter what the association says. After reading FCC rules, one part says that the association cannot enforce their rules even if there is a central dish, only if the dish I plan to put up will receive programming that the other dish can't.

My argument would be that getting my own personal DirectTV dish would allow me to get all the HD channels that the central dish can't get.

That's a sensible argument right?

[AntAltMike]

I don't have the reg in front of me, but as I recall, it says no restriction can be enforced if it prevents or unreasonably delays the reception of DBS signals, or unreasonably increases the cost of doing so.

Your building's system does not provide the signals you desire, just as it does not provide DISH network signals, so the at present, the restriction precludes you from getting those signals.

Whether forcing you to wait for a system upgrade is an unreasonable delay is subjective, but I think that delays of over 30 days have been determined to be unreasonable, so I's say you are on firm ground to install the dish on your balcony.

Why do you believe that you are about to lose the HD programming you are gettting? As far as I can tell, any system that passes the Sat B/C MPEG2 signals will also pass the Sat B/C MPEG4 signals,

[Earl Bonovich]

The upgraded systems in the MDU's should be able to receive all the signals...


But as for the OP and getting your own dish.

While the law may be on your side, possibly... border line since your building does offer "a" system.... it is your fight with the association/board/building if they pursue it with you.

And you will often have to end up in court, if you can't reach an agreement.

Honestly... I would talk to them FIRST... and explain that you want to do this as a temporary solution, via a tripod or something... until they get the upgrade done...

[wildpanda86]

I don't have the reg in front of me, but as I recall, it says no restriction can be enforced if it prevents or unreasonably delays the reception of DBS signals, or unreasonably increases the cost of doing so.

Your building's system does not provide the signals you desire, just as it does not provide DISH network signals, so the at present, the restriction precludes you from getting those signals.

Whether forcing you to wait for a system upgrade is an unreasonable delay is subjective, but I think that delays of over 30 days have been determined to be unreasonable, so I's say you are on firm ground to install the dish on your balcony.

Why do you believe that you are about to lose the HD programming you are gettting? As far as I can tell, any system that passes the Sat B/C MPEG2 signals will also pass the Sat B/C MPEG4 signals,

Recently I have been getting messages streaming on the bottom of the screen stating that my local HD channels are gonna be on a different channel and that we need the new equipment to watch it by the end of the month.

As far as unreasonable delay, after contacting the MDU provider directly multipe times, the first few times they kept saying that they where waiting for the new parts then they need to figure out how to implement it, then they said likely by Jan or Feb.

Now after speaking with them, they stated they don't have any plans to upgrade our system, and the association has not made plans to renegotiate a contract that includes upgrading.

[Earl Bonovich]

Recently I have been getting messages streaming on the bottom of the screen stating that my local HD channels are gonna be on a different channel and that we need the new equipment to watch it by the end of the month.

As far as unreasonable delay, after contacting the MDU provider directly multipe times, the first few times they kept saying that they where waiting for the new parts then they need to figure out how to implement it, then they said likely by Jan or Feb.

Now after speaking with them, they stated they don't have any plans to upgrade our system, and the association has not made plans to renegotiate a contract that includes upgrading.


If you have upgraded to an HR20/21

You will still be able to view those channels till septemeber.
Your current MDU's system, will still be able to receive the signal.

But you will not be able to receive the other new channels.