Hey Larry - have you been experiencing any of what this notice from Global
Communications' website is reporting? See below. If not, are you happy
with how everything works for you? I've been toying with idea of taking the
plunge (getting ExpresVu) for years - I've considering buying a dish system
from Ku Satellites (www.kusat.com) and getting my service through Freeway
Support Services. Is this similar to what you've done? I'd appreciate any
comments, suggestions, personal experiences you've had, if you'd care to
share them. Thanks.
A Letter sent by Freeway Support Services to their Bell ExpressVu Customers
Advice and Comment from Global Communications Follows
FREEWAY SUPPORT SERVICES 1-888-223-4702
1774 St. James Street Email
***@skyweb.ca
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H OL3 Website
www.freewaysupport.com
SICK OF SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS?
Switch to STAR CHOICE!!!
Many of our customers have become increasingly frustrated by ExpressVu's
phone check policy,
which has resulted in the temporary loss of service. We have lodged
complaints with the provider,
but due to Bell's strict policies unfortunately there is no way around the
phone checks.
If anything we anticipate the problem to worsen.
In order to eliminate this ongoing inconvenience to our valued customers, we
have negotiated a
seamless switch-out of accounts from Express Vu service to Star Choice
service. If you are
interested and would like more information please read on for further
instructions.
NOTIFY US OF YOUR INTENTION TO SWITCH SERVICES.
THERE WILL BE TWO OPTIONS YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM ON THE SWITCH OVER.
OPTION 1
** Send your existing Express Vu receiver to Freeway Support PREPAID.
** Upon receiving your receiver we will immediately send you a Star Choice
Model 305,
FREIGHT COLLECT (approximate equivalent to Bell Model 2700 or 3100).
** Your new receiver will be pre-authorized with programming of your choice.
(similar to your Express Vu package)
** Once you have installed your system the programming could take up to 24
hours to
download completely.
** There will be a one-time transaction fee of $50.00 in Canadian Funds.
OPTION 2
** We will send you a new Star Choice Model 305, FREIGHT COLLECT.
** Keep your Bell receiver until you have received and installed your Star
Choice system.
** Return the Bell system PRE-PAID to our office.
** Before shipping yo the Star Choice system we will charge your credit card
$200.00 Canadian.
Upon receiving your Bell system we will refund your credit card
$150.00 Canadian.
** Please call us when you have shipped the Bell receiver with the tracking
number.
** If we do not receive the old system within a 7-day span from the shipping
date,
no credit will be issued.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WILL COME WITH YOUR NEW RECEIVER, FOR THOSE WHO
WISH TO DO
A SELF-INSTALL. IF SELF-INSTALL IS NOT FOR YOU, CALL YOUR LOCAL SATELLITE
DISH INSTALLATION
COMPANY, PREFERABLY ONE WITH A HISTORY IN THE C-BAND BUSINESS, AS THE
TECHNOLOGY IS
CLOSELY RELATED. GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS (link on our website or call
1-608-546-2523) WILL PROVIDE
TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND INSTALLATION REFERRALS FOR A SMALL FEE.
CERTAIN GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS MAY REQUIRE DISH UPGRADES.
WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE THIS SWITCHOVER MAY CAUSE YOU, BUT WE SEE
IT AS THE
ONLY WAY TO ENSURE TROUBLE FREE FUTURE SERVICE. YOU ARE IN NO WAY OBLIGATED
TO SWITCH
OVER YOUR SERVICE. WE WILL KEEP YOUR EXPRESS VU SERVICE GOING FOR AS LONG
AS WE ARE ABLE,
PERHAPS INDEFINITELY, BUT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PREVENT THESE SERVICE
INTERRUPTIONS.
OUR STAFF IS AS FRUSTRATED AS OUR CUSTOMERS, BUT WE CONTINUE TO DO OUR BEST.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO UPGRADE YOUR SYSTEM PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION
AND PRICING.
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE NOW ABLE TO OFFER PHONE-IN PAY-PER-VIEW SERVICES WITH
STAR CHOICE.
Input from Global
Communications:
GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS CAN ASSIST YOU IN THE SETUP AND RE-CONFIGURING OF YOUR
SYSTEM TO
TRANSFER TO STAR CHOICE SERVICE. FREEWAY IS OFFERING A SUBSIDIZED METHOD
OF TRADING OUT
YOUR BASIC EXPRESS-VU RECEIVER FOR A SIMILAR RECEIVER TO RECEIVE STAR
CHOICE. WHAT MAY NOT
BE CLEAR TO SOME CUSTOMERS IS THAT THE OUTDOOR ELECTRONICS FOR THE TWO
SYSTEMS IS NOT
THE SAME, AND IT WILL BE NECESSARY IN ALL CASES TO UPGRADE TO A LARGER
ANTENNA AND A
DIFFERENT LNBF. WE ARE IN THE POSITION TO SUPPLY APPROPRIATE ANTENNAS AND
LNBFs.
THOSE ACCUSTOMED TO THE ADDED SIGNAL MARGIN PROVIDED BY BELL EXPRESS-VU
SYSTEMS USING
A 24-INCH DISH WILL FIND COMPARABLE ADDED WEATHER FADE MARGIN WHEN USING A
36-INCH DISH FOR RECEPTION OF THE STAR CHOICE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE SERVICE ON
THE ANIK F-1 SATELLITE AT 107.3.
(THIS IS CALLED A 90 CM MODEL USING METRIC TERMS). THIS IS A MUCH HEAVIER
ANTENNA THAN THE ONE
YOU HAVE BEEN USING TO RECEIVE BELL EXPRESS-VU, AND WILL ALSO REQUIRE
REPLACEMENT OF THE
WALL MOUNT BRACKET. OUR RECOMMENDED HARDWARE PACKAGE FOR USE IN ALL OF THE
LOWER 48
U.S. STATES, HAWAII, AS WELL AS MEXICO---includes a 90 cm Paraclipse Round
Offset Antenna, Ku-Band LNBF
and Wall Mount Bracket with 2-inch outside diameter mast. Cost is U.S.
$149.00 plus UPS Ground Shipping.
THOSE NEEDING RECEPTION OF BOTH ANIK F1 at 107.3 West and the ANIK E2R
satellite at 111.1 West
(which has French language, Ethnic and High Definition TV service), as well
as those outside of the
U.S. Lower 48 should contact us by phone (608) 546-2523 or E-mail
***@mhtc.net with a description
of your situation, and we can offer more specific detailed advice. If you
have an existing full service
French package or High Definition package from Express-Vu, and want a
comparable alternative, you will
need access to both Star Choice satellites. Freeway Support Services may be
able to offer a subsidized
receiver package (HDTV), but there is no direct trade-out for Bell HDTV
equipment. Contact them for details.
The satellite at 111.1 West will be replaced by a new spacecraft with
similar coverage to the present 107.3
satellite, upon successful commissioning scheduled for August (this summer).
This will expand the ability
to receive French, Ethnic and HDTV services into Hawaii, Mexico as well as
solid coverage throughout the
entire Lower 48. After this happens, we can recommend use of a 75 cm
Elliptical antenna for reception of
both satellites in all of the mentioned areas. A 90 cm antenna is still a
better choice for English only reception,
due to the increased weather margin afforded by the larger diameter, but
present ability to use a 75-Elliptical
for dual satellite reception is limited to Canada and the northern half of
the United States. Still another alternative
to provide margin in the southern U.S. is to use an even larger antenna for
Anik E2R (1.2 meters or more),
or a highly efficient large C/Ku dish (10 feet or larger recommended).
Contact us for ideas about your situation.
MIKE KOHL
GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS
(608) 546-2523
EMail ***@mhtc.net
Website www.global-cm.net
Post by Larry WeilI have an Expressvu 4700 subscribed in the US thru a broker.
I want to add Nimiq2 reception, and if possible buy the new dish in the US.
Is a Dish 500 dish and LNB the same as the dual satellite dishes sold by
Expressvu ? If so, does anyone have the aiming information (esp the skew)
from zip code 03079, though if not, the info from Boston would probably be
fine?
Thanks for your help.
--
Larry Weil
Lake Wobegone, NH