Uplink Activity 4/24/08 - 1:30AM Report 138 changes

[Voyager6]

I thought they were turning the existing conus tp's into spot beams. I didn't realize they were moving the channels to existing spot beams.

Yes, quite a few of the TP's on 61.5 have now been converted to spotbeam. However, you can re-use these TP's to send spotbeams to many different DMA's. This is the great benefit of spotbeams. By putting multiple markets on spotbeams, you can free up the dedicated CONUS TP's for other uses i.e. more national HD.

 

[zitro]

Interestingly enough, tp 17, 19, and 21 still show adequate signal strength this far south (northern VA), and my 625 still shows them without "spotbeam" in the Point Dish screen. Satellite designation went away for 19; now it's locked name not available.

My own spotbeam, 13, started acting normal. (61.5 name stays indefinitely, as does spotbeam.)

What do you have to tp 15? I'm in Northern VA as well, although 'moved' to NY. I get a lock for tp 15, but I'm wondering if we're under a different spotbeam area for tp 15 other than NY.

I tried deciphering the Rainbow 1 spotbeam map on dbstalk, but 'Area 6' doesn't match up well on the map.

 

[js6425]

Has there been any news as to when the chicago HD 61.5 spotbeam will be activated?

 

[Buzzdar]

If I am not mistaken, I thought Digi said one time there is free space right now for some national HD on 129. I cant remember how many channels he thought could be added to 129.

I would think national HD would be put on both 61.5 and 129 not just one or the other but............

with most people having either one or the other and NOT both 129 and 61.5 it would make more sence to have them all on both i would assume it would get costly to get everyone online with both and there are also ALOT of locations that cant get 129 and alot that cant get 61.5

 

[jself1982]

Where is the 138 changes like the title of this thread states?

 

[tigerfan33]

with most people having either one or the other and NOT both 129 and 61.5 it would make more sence to have them all on both i would assume it would get costly to get everyone online with both and there are also ALOT of locations that cant get 129 and alot that cant get 61.5

Yes. Right now 129 and 61.5 are still married. If one gets, the other gets.

 

[JohnH]

Where is the 138 changes like the title of this thread states?

They were mostly bloopers and were edited out.

 

[BFG]

hooray get those locals off conus

 

[TheKrell]

What do you have to tp 15? I'm in Northern VA as well, although 'moved' to NY. I get a lock for tp 15, but I'm wondering if we're under a different spotbeam area for tp 15 other than NY.

To answer the question, I am getting low 30's for 17, 19, and 21 as reported here on Apr 2.

From the other thread quoted above, here are the spotbeam capabilities for the satellite versus transponder number. We are under spotbeam 4, while NY is under spotbeam 3.

01: 1, 3, 7, 15, 17
02: 5, 9, 11, 13, 21
03: 1, 3, 7, 15, 17, 19, 23
04: 5, 9, 11, 13, 21
05: 1, 3, 7, 15, 17, 19, 23
06: 1, 3, 7, 15, 17, 19, 23
07: 5, 9, 11, 13, 21
08: 5, 9, 11, 13
09: 1, 3, 7, 9, 15, 17, 19, 23
10: 1, 3, 7, 15, 17, 19, 23
11: 5, 9, 11, 13, 21
12: 1, 3, 7, 15, 17, 19, 23
13: 1, 3, 7, 15, 17, 19, 23
14: 1, 3, 7, 15, 17, 19, 23
15: 5, 11, 13, 21
16: 1, 3, 7, 15, 17, 19, 23
17: 5, 9, 11, 13, 21
18: 1, 3, 7, 9, 15, 17, 19, 23
19: 5, 11, 13, 21
20: 5, 11, 13, 17, 21
21: 1, 3, 7, 15, 17, 19, 23
22: 5, 9, 11, 13, 21

Thanks again Mike!

Note that adjacent spotbeams do not have any transponders in common. So, if we are receiving anything under spotbeam 4 for transponder 15, then it's coming from either spotbeam area 3 (for NY) or 5 (for North Carolina).

 

[jimboeau]

does the 129 have the same amount of free space? dont think they are gonna add HD Nationals just to the 61.5?

I believe 129 has more free space than even 61.5 has.

 

[Doppy]

I'd sure like NY's CW in HD! Hope Dish launches it soon.

 

[mike123abc]

There are a few confusing items. Dish appears to use different numbering for the spot beams than the original Rainbow 1 maps used (see attached map). Also they uplink 2 spots from each uplink center. These are internal numbers, and I am sure they mean something to Dish, so when you see the map for R1, be aware that the Dish numbers are different than the numbers that appear on the map. The numbers posted above from my earlier post represent the spot TPs based on this attached map.

Also be aware that the circles are just estimates of the spots from early data on the satellite design before launch and represent approximate coverage based on a certain power level and estimated dish size.

It is also not clear what Dish will do with the space from TPs 17 (NY) and 21 (Boston). They may convert to spot beam usage. Dish will have to make a decision of more local markets verses more national HD. You will notice in the above list E12 can use TP 17 over 13 spots and TP 21 over 9 different spots. So a potential of 30 LiL HD market TPs or 12-14 national HD channels.

TP 16 cannot be used in spot beam mode, so it looks free, unless they want to move content from 19, or 23 to TP 16 to make one of them spot.

Not having AMC-14 really hurt Dish, they now have to decide between more national or more LiL HD. Right now TPs 17, 19, 21 and 23 could work in either spot beam or national content, we will have to see what Dish decides to do with them.

 

[TalonDancer]

...It is also not clear what Dish will do with the space from TPs 17 (NY) and 21 (Boston). They may convert to spot beam usage. Dish will have to make a decision of more local markets verses more national HD. You will notice in the above list E12 can use TP 17 over 13 spots and TP 21 over 9 different spots. So a potential of 30 LiL HD market TPs or 12-14 national HD channels.

TP 16 cannot be used in spot beam mode, so it looks free, unless they want to move content from 19, or 23 to TP 16 to make one of them spot.

Not having AMC-14 really hurt Dish, they now have to decide between more national or more LiL HD. Right now TPs 17, 19, 21 and 23 could work in either spot beam or national content, we will have to see what Dish decides to do with them.

If I understand the process correctly, Dish could do both: convert one of the TPs to Spot Beam for more LiL HD DMAs and use the other for a few more National HD channels. Then later, move the National HD channels to another TP or Sat when it/they became available and roll out more Lil HD.

FWIW we could probably deduce their plan if we took the time to map the spots to the existing and announced LiL HD DMAs and figure out how many, and which, TPs would be needed to complete the announced LiL HD roll out

Talon Dancer

 

[mike123abc]

If I understand the process correctly, Dish could do both: convert one of the TPs to Spot Beam for more LiL HD DMAs and use the other for a few more National HD channels. Then later, move the National HD channels to another TP or Sat when it/they became available and roll out more Lil HD.

FWIW we could probably deduce their plan if we took the time to map the spots to the existing and announced LiL HD DMAs and figure out how many, and which, TPs would be needed to complete the announced LiL HD roll out

Talon Dancer

There are other factors too. Like what if Dish is thinking ahead (gasp) and needs more TPs/market in the future to carry all the secondary stations? NY on one beam, for the big 4 channels, but they will probably want another TP to duplicate the SD versions of all the other channels in the DMA so you no longer have to point at 110/119 for them. Plus what about in the future, they will have to be able to expand the HD to all the channels in the DMA.

So perhaps you are on to something. Use of them them now in CONUS until they get more capacity then switch them over to LiL to carry all the other channels as needed in the future.

 

[zitro]

To answer the question, I am getting low 30's for 17, 19, and 21 as reported here on Apr 2.

Aha! Thanks for the thread link.

I also get low 30's for 17, 19, and 21. I actually get a 45 for tp15. Bizarre given that it seems I shouldn't get a signal. NoVA is between the NY and NC spotbeams, assuming that the NC spotbeam carries tp15 as well.

 

[DBS Commando]

Does anyone know when WPIX in HD will be released? Is it showing bandwith?

 

[JohnH]

Does anyone know when WPIX in HD will be released? Is it showing bandwith?

Bandwidth, yes.

 

[Yes616]

I'd sure like NY's CW in HD! Hope Dish launches it soon.

Bandwidth, yes.

I am wondering this too. Could it be tomorrow? I hope so as Mets games both Saturday and Sunday are on WPIX.

This would also mean NYC folks will get ALL NY METS GAMES IN HD!

 

[johnch]

Boston TP5 signal now 85

Interesting that the signal has jumped up significantly here in Boston for the locals but the screen still reads transponder instead of spot beam. Is this a software issue?

JC

 

[LER]

Interesting that the signal has jumped up significantly here in Boston for the locals but the screen still reads transponder instead of spot beam. Is this a software issue?

JC

I know that 61.5 TP 5 is spotbeam, but when I look at it in the point dish screen, it says Transponder. I suspect software, or something on Rainbow-1 is different from a dish built sat.