Nimiq 5 Launch Scheduled for September 18

[digiblur]

How much capacity gain would result in the switch to 8PSK assuming Dish only has use of 16 TPs initially? It is recognized that MPEG-4 will be used now with QPSK and will be used with 8PSK.

Switching from QPSK 5/6 to 8PSK 2/3 on a transponder gives you about 10 megabits of more throughput. So with just the 16... that's 160 megabits.

16 TPs QPSK 5/6 = 480 megabits
16 TPs 8PSK 2/3 = 640 megabits
32 TPs 8PSK 2/3 = 1280 megabits

 

[rocatman]

Switching from QPSK 5/6 to 8PSK 2/3 on a transponder gives you about 10 megabits of more throughput. So with just the 16... that's 160 megabits.

16 TPs QPSK 5/6 = 480 megabits
16 TPs 8PSK 2/3 = 640 megabits
32 TPs 8PSK 2/3 = 1280 megabits

Based on these numbers, Dish could free up at least 5 TPs at 72.7 W of the 16 they currently have use of with the change to 8PSK. This assumes Dish maintains the same resolution for SD channels that currently is provided. That would leave room for 35 HD channels at 7 channels per TP. When Dish gets use of all 32 TPs at 72.7 W, they can easily fit all the SD programming and a large number of HD channels as well at 72.7 W. This should allow Dish to use the 24 TPs it will have use of on the new satellite at 77 W to be launched in 2011 exclusively for spotbeams.

 

[digiblur]

According to an anonymous bit of information I received a couple of weeks ago Dish will move a couple of transponders from odd to even on 9/29. I'm not sure if the time table has changed or not. The others will move there after. By 10/15 they will change to 8PSK on all evens. 10/22 they will consolidate TPs due to the extra bandwidth of 8PSK.

 

[HDRoberts]

Based on these numbers, Dish could free up at least 5 TPs at 72.7 W of the 16 they currently have use of with the change to 8PSK. This assumes Dish maintains the same resolution for SD channels that currently is provided. That would leave room for 35 HD channels at 7 channels per TP. When Dish gets use of all 32 TPs at 72.7 W, they can easily fit all the SD programming and a large number of HD channels as well at 72.7 W. This should allow Dish to use the 24 TPs it will have use of on the new satellite at 77 W to be launched in 2011 exclusively for spotbeams.

I posted a similar theory. With 24 at 77 and 12 at 61.5, Dish should be able to cover the DMA packed eastern US. 36 TPs for spots on the EA, while 31 are currently used on the WA (10 at 110, 5 at 119, and 16 at 129) which has to provide MPEG2 SD and MPEG4 HD. EA simply can give the HD signal to all customers.

 

[TheKrell]

I'm still hearing 10/15 for 8PSK modulation change on the 72.7 bird... which would mean Nimiq5 would be active by then.

One wonders why they can't do that right now on 72 (and 77)?

 

[HDRoberts]

One wonders why they can't do that right now on 72 (and 77)?

Insufficient transponder power on older satellites.

 

[nelson61]

EPOCH: Tue Sep 22 23:49:11 MDT 2009 d=3554.242488960 ep=09266.24248896

Inclination: 0.2904 Degrees

34680 KM X 35800 KM

80 Degrees West ( current time)

Probably have it tracking the equator (0 inclination) by now.

 

[david_jr]

Does any of this mean that DISH will be pushing for existing customers in the east to change to an EA setup? That would mean a lot of dishes to replace and a lot of older receivers being scrapped.

 

[harshness]

Does any of this mean that DISH will be pushing for existing customers in the east to change to an EA setup?

As Nimiq 5 has no spotbeams, no additional markets should be moved to EA.

The only reason to press for EA would be to clear space on WA satellites and that doesn't seem to be a big priority at this time.

 

[mike123abc]

Does any of this mean that DISH will be pushing for existing customers in the east to change to an EA setup? That would mean a lot of dishes to replace and a lot of older receivers being scrapped.

It looks like all the older receivers will be scrapped on WA when they start the switch to 8PSK next year (according to rumor). The main reason EA exists is for LiL. It is cheaper to build more simpler satellites than huge mega satellites. It also allows for more uplink capacity to more slots with fewer uplink locations.

It is not that the Dish satellites are simple. Compared to early spot beam satellites Dish put up, they are quite a bit more complex. But, they are not nearly as complex and as expensive as the DIRECTV ones that were originally designed for internet and later converted to TV usage.

An added bonus is the better line of site 2 different arcs can provide. Many of the markets are replicated on both arcs, giving a better chance at line of site.

 

[mike123abc]

As Nimiq 5 has no spotbeams, no additional markets should be moved to EA.

While N5 does not have spots, it will allow E6 to move to 61.5 and cover for E3 and let E12 turn on more spots. It is not clear if they will do this, but it looks good if E6 can cover the dead TPs at 61.5 and allow E12 to turn more TPs over to spot. E12 spot TPs could also be used to add secondary stations to the existing markets, it is hard to say what they will do with spot capacity on 61.5.

 

[Jim S.]

They really need to do something about the Scranton market. Currently, the spotbeam with the HD locals doesn't cover the areas that have the worst, or no, OTA reception. Really useful, that. (And if you have an EA dish, you don't get the SD locals either.)

 

[nelson61]

EPOCH: Thu Sep 24 09:54:55 MDT 2009 d=3555.663141030 ep=09267.66314103

INCLINATION: 0.0692 DEGREES

35707 KM X 35841 KM

East/West Inclination Oscillation : 0.07 Degrees

East/West Eccentricity Oscillation: 0.18 Degrees

Present Location (Estimate): 83.5W

 

[digiblur]

While N5 does not have spots, it will allow E6 to move to 61.5 and cover for E3 and let E12 turn on more spots. It is not clear if they will do this, but it looks good if E6 can cover the dead TPs at 61.5 and allow E12 to turn more TPs over to spot. E12 spot TPs could also be used to add secondary stations to the existing markets, it is hard to say what they will do with spot capacity on 61.5.

That's if they have the uplink capacity to turn on those other transponders as they are sharing uplink spotbeams across two downlink spotbeams in some cases.

 

[photoman76]

TSReader is showing 100% null pids on all 16 Directv transponders at 72.5° at this time.

 

[MikeD-C05]

TSReader is showing 100% null pids on all 16 Directv transponders at 72.5° at this time.

Does that mean that DIRECTV isn't using the transponders at all ?

 

[photoman76]

The Directv transponders are still up, but there are no channels on them.

 

[nelson61]

The Directv transponders are still up, but there are no channels on them.

First solid sign that Direct may be terminating their lease.

 

[buckchow]

The Directv transponders are still up, but there are no channels on them.

Unless they had the channels off a few hours ago and turned them back on since then, DIRECTV's transponders at 72.5W still seem to be quite busy. I just checked all of them and every transponder had at least 5 channels on it, most with over 10 channels.

 

[photoman76]

It looks like something odd may be going on with TSReader at 72.5°. Attached is a sample transponder from 72.5°. No channels are shown in the PAT. Just to be sure I wasn't having a brain fart, I went to 101° and 119°. TSReader shows active Directv channels on both of those satellites. The last time I checked 72.5°, a few months ago, TSReader did show active Directv channels.