Can I use an eastern arc dish in Seattle?

[jonnones]

Hi all. I'm new to this site and looking for some help. I live in the Seattle, WA area, and have line of sight problems reaching any of the western arc satellites from the house I just moved to. My old house had DirectTV, but they quickly determined the trees in the southern sky would prevent their service from working. I know that Dish uses other satellites, so I'm wondering if I can get Dish service pointing to the 61.5 eastern arc satellite. And if so, would I lose my local channels?

Jon

 

[Tampa8]

61.5 will get you virtually no programming, HD if you mean only 61.5. You won't get your locals. Your option could be, do you get your local channels if you use an antenna? If so, then you only need to see the 72 satellite for most all programming, but I would get both 61.5 and 72 anyways.
You will still get the locals in the guide and can record them even using an antenna. You will have to pay for the locals they are part of the packages now, but that gets you the guide info, still worth it. Then get a 722 or 612 receiver. The 612 has the antenna module built in, the 722 depending on model you get will have one, or you can add one for a low cost.

 

[jonnones]

Thanks! So if I get 72 and 61.5, I can get all available programming in HD? Meaning, the Everything Pack in HD format if I want it? But you're saying I still won't get my locals (the locals all went digital here already). Will I get other locals?

 

[Tampa8]

No you won't get any locals. Yes, you will get all programming Dish has. (other than international programming on the 118 satellite.)
But if you can get your channels off an antenna, you're good to go and as I said it will be integrated into the receiver, and should see the guide and be able to record them just like a satellite channel.
(you won't get locals because you can only get the one's you are supposed to, not other ones and your locals are not on those satellites, only on the Western satellites)

 

[harshness]

There is some question as to whether the EA dish will function particularly well in Seattle. The angles between the satellites are pretty narrow compared to the normal EA spacing.

In Miami the angle between 72.7W and 61.5W is 22.1 degrees while in Seattle, the spacing is 9.7 degrees. I'm guessing that two dishes would be required.

Then there is the nagging issue of the 10.6 degree elevation that is so often an issue in the Pacific Northwet.

 

[boba]

Yes it can be done. Is it worth doing? Probably not, with low look angles, cloud cover, trees and low signal levels you may lose signals too often to enjoy watching.

 

[jonnones]

I'm in such dismay with poor cable TV out here (terrible HD selection, service, pricing) that I'm willing to give it a try. I think I have a month to cancel for free, so I'll see how it goes. Thanks, all!