Low Profile Satellite TV Antennas for Vehicles

Brian Mattis writes "CNN is reporting a new antenna system that allows SUV's, minivans and cars to receive DirecTV video and audio programming on the road. Future plans call for internet access as well. This could be a nail in the coffin of Sirius and XM radio."

Comments

Good

[56]

In-Car-Internet + 802.11b = mobile open wifi ap's

Re:Good

[fjania]

In-Car-Internet + 802.11b = soccer moms in minivans driving even worse than when they are on their cell phones

Re:Streaming audio

[BarrettAnderson]

we have a TV in our car - well worth it... those 12 hour road trips to utah would be a pain with 2 little girls in the back screaming about how they want to be there already... trust me - TV in the car is one of the best things ever to happen to this world.

Competition with satellite radio... how?

[jdreed1024]

This could be a nail in the coffin of Sirius and XM radio.

Um, how? I was under the impression that satellite radio offered audio-only programming.

First of all, most people who have TVs in vehicles have them for either a DVD player or a VCR. Sticking a movie in is going to keep the kids quiet for at least 90 minutes. Getting satellite TV only going to keep them quiet for 30 minutes at a time and encourage channel-surfing, which will drive the parents nuts.

Satellite radio offers the same audio channels and programming coast-to-coast; fewer (or zero) commercials, and entertainment you can enjoy without having to take your eyes off the road.

Don't get me wrong - I think satellite radio will crash and burn, but DirecTV for vehicles certainly won't be the death of it...

Re:Competition with satellite radio... how?

[benh57]

Ahem. This is DirecTV. They offer many digital audio only channels, as well as video: See Here. No commercials, no eye off road.

Re:Streaming audio

[Steev]

Just not in the front seat ;)

WTF?

[Guppy06]

"This could be a nail in the coffin of Sirius and XM radio"

Just like car-mounted UHF/VHF antennae drove the final nail in the coffin of FM radio?

Apples and oranges.

could be used in train

[stonebeat.org]

In california, I commute via Light Rail (Train). Now if you put one of these on train, and make it data enabled, everyone will be able to connect to the internet.

That could a good for the environment, as more people will like to travel on trains with internet connectivity.....

Reasons

[yerricde]

Am I the only one who found this enumeration a bit odd? I mean, why not just say "vehicle"?

Vans: Vans are probably close enough to minivans that the submitter didn't think it necessary to bother mentioning them.

Trucks: It may be harder to mount such an antenna on top of a pickup truck.

Buses: Buses are commercial vehicles and need a "public performance" license for the copyrighted shows.

Mopeds: Don't even think about it.

Re:Streaming audio

[geek]

It's illegal to drive without a seat belt also but that doesnt stop 10,000 people a year from doing it.

Re:Streaming audio

[Dun Malg]

It's illegal to drive without a seat belt also but that doesnt stop 10,000 people a year from doing it.

Spurious comparison. When you don't wear a seatbelt you don't drive any worse, and you suffer no consequences until you have an accident. If you have a TV in front, you drive badly, and the first time a cop pulls you over and sees that TV, you're in for a big, big fine. I guarantee that the first time someone gets ticketed for having a TV on the dash is the LAST time it'll happen. You can't say that about a ticket for no seatbelt.