NBC Affiliates on Ku-Band Satellite (1997)

[comfortably_numb]

I’ll make a statement regarding your ‘curiosity’ about, I assume TVRO in the 1990s. You seem to be under the impression that Ku-Band reception was what the average satellite user went after, nothing could be farther from the truth. I couldn’t guess a percentage, but very few installations had Ku band capability in the 1980s and 1990s, and any Ku only reception was practically non existent, the only exceptions being commercial and some educational use. The average home satellite user used a C-Band system. ALL VCII and in the clear cable programming was on C-Band. To my knowledge, outside of message boards and BBS boards, there were NO wild feed lists for Ku-Band feeds in the 1990s. There were wild feed lists for C-Band in Orbit, OnSat, and SatelliteTV Week. You are asking questions that NO ONE REMEMBERS the answers to. If you were more interested in C-Band, and were more upfront about what you are wanting with all of this information, and didn’t try to CORRECT and second guess people who were THERE at the time, before you were probably even ALIVE, then you might get a bit more help. Frankly, the things you are asking about, no one probably even knew, and if they did, it has been 20 plus years, and no one REMEMBERS the answer to.

I remember quite a bit about the wild feeds on C-Band in the 90's because I hunted them. But our installer said there wasn't much available on Ku band when he set up our system in 1992, and he was right. So we didn't add it. JosephHolloway1998 it's time to move on, buddy. There wasn't anything you're talking about on Ku in 1998. None of it. Let it go.

 

[bobvick]

I remember quite a bit about the wild feeds on C-Band in the 90's because I hunted them. But our installer said there wasn't much available on Ku band when he set up our system in 1992, and he was right. So we didn't add it. JosephHolloway1998 it's time to move on, buddy. There wasn't anything you're talking about on Ku in 1998. None of it. Let it go.

I had C-Band since the early to mid 80’s. Didn’t add Ku band until, either 1998 or 1999, whenever those HITS feeds went on either G7 or G4, and you could subscribe to them on 4DTV. I remember that was how we first got LMN, and I believe that CBS Eye on People was on there, seems like Toon Disney was on there too. There was some Canadian stuff on Ku back in the late 80s early 90s, but, that was on a beam that I couldn’t get here in North Alabama.


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[JosephHolloway1998]

so there weren't any? (expect for KTLA Los Angeles and WPIX New York which were both flagship stations of The WB)

 

[bobvick]

so there weren't any? (expect for KTLA Los Angeles and WPIX New York which were both flagship stations of The WB)

I am not being rude or insensitive here.

Do you have some sort of mental defect or learning disability?

I am being serious, because it doesn’t seem like you can comprehend what you have been told by numerous members.

NO ONE REMEMBERS.

I do not think any of us are trying to be rude or mistreat you, but we have gone out of our way to try and have an intelligent dialogue with you, however it seems you refuse such, and are intent or obsessed with finding out EXACTLY what YOU want to know, about some extremely OBSCURE subject matter that was NEVER recorded, except by those few entities that used it.

What we are going to remember here is going to be C-BAND, and a hand full might remember a few wild feeds, but as far as occasional video goes, that would be it.


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[JosephHolloway1998]

I'm not trying to be rude or insensitive (I used to have a learning disability but soon got over it), but I'd still like to know If they carried KTLA Los Angeles & WPIX New York as their WB choices? (the Anik E2 side of Ku via VideoCipher carried those superstations in the clear)

 

[bill1]

I'm not trying to be rude or insensitive (I used to have a learning disability but soon got over it), but I'd still like to know If they carried KTLA Los Angeles & WPIX New York as their WB choices? (the Anik E2 side of Ku via VideoCipher carried those superstations in the clear)

Joseph, What does the term VideoCipher mean to you? What is the difference between C and Ku bands? Who are "they"? You're still looking at archived satellite charts from the 90's and you still don't know the difference or even what you're looking at. Please provide a link to the chart or source with this infomation you're asking about.

 

[JosephHolloway1998]

A VideoCipher is the name of analog scrambling or de-scrambling equipment for satellite and cable to reinforce TVRO equipment for programming on a subscription basis. difference between C Band and Ku Band involves allocation of the frequencies. C Band is assigned to terrestrial microwave communications (which may cause interference with the signals), while Ku Band is allocated solely to satellite communication networks. C Band frequency range is 3.7 - 4.2 GHz (37000 to 42000 MHz), Ku's frequency range was 11.7 to 12.2 GHz (11700 or 12200 MHz) theirs was higher than the C Band Frequency rate and because of that they have a shorter wavelength. I hadn't yet found a Ku Satellite Chart from 1998. But I found something closer:Global Satellite Chart--Geo-Orbit Quick-Look--Western Hemisphere--C/Ku-Band Footprints/Coverage, Specs (Design/Transponder/Bandwidth/Launch), Programming, Orbit Position/Inclination, Links but they don't have anything archived from 1997 or 98.

 

[bill1]

Now that we've cleared those things up, where do you get the idea that KTLA and WPIX were on E2 Ku in in VideoCipher "in the clear"? Those channels were in VideoCipher II, scrambled (not clear) on 87W C-Band according to the chart you provided. There were never any VCII channels on Ku Band, ever. Do you see the problems with your repetitive questions about the same thing with false information? Tell us why you think they were on Ku Band. Provide a chart or some evidence to prove yourself and then perhaps we can take you seriously. Those stations were on E2 Ku on StarChoice in DigiCiper most likely.

BTW, Did you get your drivers license yet? Did your parents ever end up driving you to the library? How many more forums are you going to ask the same questions and get the same answers?

Ku-Band Satellite channel listings (1997)

 

[JosephHolloway1998]

that was on 4DTV (C/Ku Band), which is also used as a VideoCipher system except it's compatible for HDTV, but +bill1 It takes time for me to know the difference between C Band and Ku Band, but I'm starting to get familiar with TVRO now. I'm having my dad drive me to the library tomorrow after the movie theater trip. (I guess that answers the question WGN Chicago, KTLA Los Angeles & WPIX New York City were on Anik E2 Ku), but I'd need to know which affiliates were on the NBC feeds on SBS 4 77'0 W? (B4) as I'm still looking for that Ku chart, I know Robert Smathers from the South Scanner Chart has one
link: South Scanner Satellite Services Chart, I tried contacting him via Email but he hasn't responded.

 

[bill1]

that was on 4DTV (C/Ku Band), which is also used as a VideoCipher system except it's compatible for HDTV, but +bill1 It takes time for me to know the difference between C Band and Ku Band, but I'm starting to get familiar with TVRO now. I'm having my dad drive me to the library tomorrow after the movie theater trip. (I guess that answers the question WGN Chicago, KTLA Los Angeles & WPIX New York City were on Anik E2 Ku), but I'd need to know which affiliates were on the NBC feeds on SBS 4 77'0 W? (B4) as I'm still looking for that Ku chart, I know Robert Smathers from the South Scanner Chart has one
link: South Scanner Satellite Services Chart, I tried contacting him via Email but he hasn't responded.

This should answer all of your questions. Here is the Satcodx chart from Feb 1998, it is as detailed as you will find. It has everything your asking about and more.

SATCO DX Satellite Chart: North and South America

 

[JosephHolloway1998]

I've already looked at one of those, but I'd still like to know which affiliates were on the NBC Ku feeds on SBS 4 77'0 W (B4) at the time?

 

[bill1]

I've already looked at one of those, but I'd still like to know which affiliates were on the NBC Ku feeds on SBS 4 77'0 W (B4) at the time?

The only people who would know which specific affiliate leased what satellite/transponder when would be whichever company owned SBS-4 at the time, possibly the television station themselves. I really doubt they would tell you who rented which transponder 20 years ago. It never was published anywhere or public information for that matter. On the chart it says "NBC feeds" because that was where random NBC feeds were spotted in the past and were likely to be found in the future. It only means that is where you might have found NBC feeds (not 24/7 broadcasting channels) at the time. Sort of a reference when hunting for feeds for satellite enthusiasts.

 

[JosephHolloway1998]

the other NBC feeds on GE-1 Ku 85'0 W (W6) were mainly East, Central/Pacific, Mountain, West and Skypath feeds (Rockefeller Center, NBC NewsChannel, MSNBC, News feeds, Nightly News, Late Night, SNL etc....) & Satcom K2 81'0 W (K2) was test cards all day?

 

[bill1]

the other NBC feeds on GE-1 Ku (W6) were mainly East, Central/Pacific, Mountain, West and Skypath feeds (Rockefeller Center, NBC NewsChannel, MSNBC, News feeds, Nightly News, Late Night, SNL etc....) & Satcom K2 (K2) was test cards all day?

Look at the chart. There was one transponder that was a test card used to identify the satellite. The rest of the transponders were available to anyone to rent for a fee. Are you just going to pick another satellite and ask the same question over and over?

 

[JosephHolloway1998]

Already did.

 

[primestar31]

Already did.

Joseph, here you go buddy. These should keep you busy reading for a very long time. I'll give you these link. Perhaps you can find other links to "Coop's Satellite Digest" and "Coop's Sat Facts". That's the guy who basically CREATED backyard satellite reception for us to follow. If the info is not in one of his publications, it's not anywhere.

Coop's Satellite Digest: 1979 - 1987 - TVROSat

The Old CATV Equipment Museum - Main Index

225

http://digitalcollections.library.cmu.edu/awweb/awarchive?type=file&item=419306

http://www.nmia.com/~roberts/faq

https://www.ipmall.info/sites/default/files/hosted_resources/lipa/trademarks/Satellite Home Viewer Copyright Act, Subcomm. (Nov. 19, 1987, AND Jan. 27, 1988).pdf

Any Big Dish Satellite Guys Here?

 

[JosephHolloway1998]

Nope, I've already looked at all the charts & there were no local affiliates on Spacenet 3R Ku? (S8), I looked at this C-Band Satellite Surfing vid from a month from June 1998, and just before the G4 shutdown occurred.

and I don't see Spacenet 3R (S3) on there as GE-Americom's GE-3 (W3) satellite replaced it on most of these (C-Band) systems.

 

[Titanium]

Three words: Occasional Use Transponders

On FSS KU in the late 90's, the transponders were booked as needed and not leased for 24/7 unless it was a short-term point to point distribution.

No matter what you want to hear or wish to believe... affiliate stations were not on a specific KU transponder 24/7. Please stop with your insistence that there was an alternative reality. Many of us were very active KU hobbyist during this period and your assertions are plain incorrect... Listen to those of us who were chasing feeds and backhauls... time to move along my friend!

 

[JosephHolloway1998]

Oh I see, but well I'm listening apart from NBC, the ABC feeds (including affiliates) were on Telstar 4 Ku 89'0 W (T7), which was the same feeds as the regional PBS stations (Georgia Public TV (GPTV), Florida Public TV (FPTV), Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB), South Carolina Educational TV (SC ETV) etc...), which ABC stations bought the T4 (W7) Ku satellite?

 

[Titanium]

Oh I see, but well I'm listening apart from NBC, the ABC feeds (including affiliates) were on Telstar 4 Ku 89'0 W (T7), which was the same feeds as the regional PBS stations (Georgia Public TV (GPTV), Florida Public TV (FPTV), Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB), South Carolina Educational TV (SC ETV) etc...), which ABC stations bought the T4 Ku satellite?

Please LISTEN .... No single affiliate ran an entire FSS KU transponder 24/7 in the late 90's. Might see one using ku temp to back up a failed terrestrial link, but nothing long term.

Uplink time was booked either through contract with a network contract (or priority use) transponder or on open market via a 3rd party broker.

Who used a KU uplink? Any station eng / efp truck, or uplink center that needed to backhaul a live news story or event. Almost every major market station had one or more SAT ENG truck and most regions had EFP mobile uplinks. The uplink would be used if the truck did not have terrestrial link back to the station or ingestion hub. What ABC station used T4? Look up what markets had a ENG KU truck.

The control engineer or station coordinator would book time on the satellite in advance (or immediate use if a breaking event) for a live shot or to feed tapes back to their station or for national distribution.

Have a bit more knowledge as I worked in the industry. Many years as a news stringer, segment / event production, up/downlink engineer, film / video production and booked more than a few uplinks and turns.