Ok, thanks for explaining. I've always had the installer set up either Dish Network or DirecTV and never watched what they did. I have disconnected DirecTV and reconnected it and it went into "searching for satellite" and then did a load of something.... which I assumed was the channel list I subscribed to. So I guess what you are saying is that they filter out channels when they load on your receiver, whereas our testing has no filter so we get everything and then we filter what we want out by deleting the channel! Makies sense.
I have it all tested on my CaptiveWorks and see 119/110 channels (thanks to help on this site). I'm tweaking a little and getting favorite lists, etc. Right now I just have them in alpha order. I hesitate in dropping my paid DirecTV service as if I have company over, I don't want to explain the "scrambled channel" message or interruption of music on the music channels. I'm ok with paying for basic service, and testing the Premium Movie and PPV channels when it's just me here. I am however thinking about getting the very basic Time Warner cable for $10 bucks/month since I switched to roadrunner rather than DSL and use VOIP rather than a land line. Rarely do guests watch movies when there are here but the TV is on for "noise". If they wanted a movie, I'm sure there is a PPV on TW like there is on DirecTV/Dish Network, and I could dust off my CDs and use them for music. And if something happens where my testing fails for an extended time, all I have to do is pick up the phone an upgrade my existing subscription. Lots of options I guess.