hughes hird-e86 deal at Flanners

[uplinkguy]

Since this was news to me last week, it might be for some of you as well.

They are selling the hughes stb with oval antenna and basic installation for $499.

1st observation I made after comparing it to the Sony HD100 I tried out previously:
  More stable off-air reception

I live 2 miles from WMTV and 3 miles from everybody else in Madison.  I have one row of trees in between the towers and my Radio shack bow-tie antenna sitting on top of the tv.  The Sony would lose lock from a signal strength of 98 and drop to zero repeatedly.  Stations on the community tower would not all lock up at the same time.  (35 foot difference horizontally between antennas if I remember correctly.) Moving my antenna an inch would lose one of the stations.

The Hughes box has been rock solid.  It even picked up some low-power analog stations over 15 miles away.

Well worth the trip into Brookfield for the box for myself.

Jeff B, do you want to name your price to come over to Madison to install my dish?  I have a lot of tree issues, but I think I have a few elgible locations. e-mail me at atroths@attglobal.net if you like.

BTW, I feel for you guys with no ABC, 720p looks really good on WKOW-DT.  I can also keep track of the eagle during the day when they don't have any HD loops running.

Andy

[Mike Sheahan]

I saw that deal they are running last week, and am seriously considering it.

But what do you think about waiting for the next generation of boxes that are supposed to be coming out real soon.

They are supposed to have DVI ports, and other new stuff, and with what I have heard about Dierct TV and DVI, it makes me nervous to plunk down $500 for a box without it.

[Mike Sheahan]

Well, I went to the tent sale this weekend, and picked up a E86 box for $399.  I can't believe the reception I get with nothing but a pair of rabbit ears, and not even a UHF bow tie.

I am signing up for Direct TV through Blockbuster to get the incredible deal they are offering right now.  Free install, free equiptment, including an oval dish, and 52 free movie rentals.

Now I just hope there is more real HD programming to watch locally.