Whatever happened to the 1 small dish?

[Miner]

Fellas,

A couple of months ago, Charlie mentioned a migration to a single smaller dish for lots of channels in HD. He commented about Directv's dish getting larger, while Dish's would be getting smaller.

Whatever happened? When can we expect it? Hopefully it won't be with 129 wobbling around.

Miner

 

[rcdallas]

That won't happen. Dish 1000+ picks up four orbitals, one of which is FSS thus requiring the larger reflector.

 

[qwert1515]

I remember the single dish rule but I don't remember they said anything about it getting smaller.

Most locals can be seen with the 118.7, 121 or the 129 which are close to the two main satellites the 110 and the 119.

East coast still relies on the 61.5 I think.

 

[TheKrell]

I think the "one small dish" remark was in reference to two new satellites being launched by year's end, capable of carrying all programming from two new orbital locations. All mpeg-4 all the time, even for SD channels.

 

[cebbigh]

I think the "one small dish" remark was in reference to two new satellites being launched by year's end, capable of carrying all programming from two new orbital locations. All mpeg-4 all the time, even for SD channels.

I think that's right except probably by end of 2008 not 2007 like we are all hoping for. And the speculation has been more like they put the new sats to old slots and move existing sats to new slots (or maybe something altogether different ... it all gets so confusing).

 

[DishSubLA]

Yes, the "one small dish" solution is the all MPEG4 service with 2 new satellites for all HD and SD channels. Unless I missed something, it is still targeted for the 1st quarter of 2008. However, this new "relaunched" all MPEG4 Dish Network service will be for NEW customers only, at least that is the plan. So nothing will change, in the short term, for existing customers. This plan appears to be Dish's long term plan to migrate everyone over to MPEG4. You can bet that this is cheaper to Charlie than if he were to begin an all-out MPEG4 box swap. There will come a day when those of us still with MPEG2 boxes will get swapped, but not anytime too soon.

 

[seandudley]

I would assume if you have MPEG4 capable receivers you could swing your dish to the new satellites and start using them even as an existing customer. Or, will the new satellites not be compatible with a DISH 500 dish? If it isn't compatible, surely they will let existing customers pay to upgrade.. that would certainly be in their best interest.

That's cool they will be offering everything in MPEG4! I like the smaller file sizes on my DVR (and my archived recordings) acheived with MPEG4.

 

[cebbigh]

Yes, the "one small dish" solution is the all MPEG4 service with 2 new satellites for all HD and SD channels. Unless I missed something, it is still targeted for the 1st quarter of 2008. However, this new "relaunched" all MPEG4 Dish Network service will be for NEW customers only, at least that is the plan. So nothing will change, in the short term, for existing customers. This plan appears to be Dish's long term plan to migrate everyone over to MPEG4. You can bet that this is cheaper to Charlie than if he were to begin an all-out MPEG4 box swap. There will come a day when those of us still with MPEG2 boxes will get swapped, but not anytime too soon.

I hope that you are right about the 1st quarter but from what I've read on various threads on this site the first of the two new Sats is on a waiting list at Sea Launch. Charlie's announcement about the end of 2007 seems very doubtful.

 

[cebbigh]

I would assume if you have MPEG4 capable receivers you could swing your dish to the new satellites and start using them even as an existing customer. Or, will the new satellites not be compatible with a DISH 500 dish? If it isn't compatible, surely they will let existing customers pay to upgrade.. that would certainly be in their best interest.

That's cool they will be offering everything in MPEG4! I like the smaller file sizes on my DVR (and my archived recordings) acheived with MPEG4.

I plan to be up on my roof doing whatever it takes on day one once the new system is working. Anything to finally rid my system of E5.

 

[Voyager6]

I hope that you are right about the 1st quarter but from what I've read on various threads on this site the first of the two new Sats is on a waiting list at Sea Launch. Charlie's announcement about the end of 2007 seems very doubtful.

Yes, the launch of E11 has been delayed probably until Feb or March 2008. I believe that AMC-14 is still scheduled for late Dec. 2007. No word yet on the configuration for the new service. With these launch dates, 2nd quarter of 2008 to start the new service is more realistic.

 

[RockinHARD26]

Yup, Philly HD Locals are on 61.5. Need two dishes here! One thing you have to remember, some people are all talk and no show.

 

[cebbigh]

Yes, the launch of E11 has been delayed probably until Feb or March 2008. I believe that AMC-14 is still scheduled for late Dec. 2007. No word yet on the configuration for the new service. With these launch dates, 2nd quarter of 2008 to start the new service is more realistic.

That's probably about right. I wouldn't count on the new MPEG4 system sooner than that.

I think they are also doing some shuffling that will make better use of the existing system in the near term. It won't get us to a single dish option until the new system is on line, but Dish should maintain it's edge until the new system is working.

 

[ScoBuck]

Yes, the launch of E11 has been delayed probably until Feb or March 2008. I believe that AMC-14 is still scheduled for late Dec. 2007. No word yet on the configuration for the new service. With these launch dates, 2nd quarter of 2008 to start the new service is more realistic.

More than likely into the 3rd quarter actually.

Looks like Thuraya-3 is being pushed back until November now.

 

[mdonnelly]

Until Dish publicly (and not just inside a room of Dish employees and aficionados) announces that there will be a new service, I'd take the whole concept with more than a grain of salt.

 

[Miner]

Fellas,

At least it wasn't my imagination about the single, small dish for programming. The announcement was during a blurry period for me.

Been with Dish for over 10 years now, next year is ok.

Miner

 

[popzezo]

if they do this like they do all other changes... we wont know till two maybe three days... atleast thats how we get info at our depot... we found out about the 60chan to 100chan change the day before it happened

 

[Hemi 6.1]

I don't believe any of this one bit. I've never heard a word of this in any press release from E*. So untill then this is all unconfirmed BS.

 

[Dgenx321]

Yup, Philly HD Locals are on 61.5. Need two dishes here! One thing you have to remember, some people are all talk and no show.

You'll be getting a 500+ soon enough as those locals are moving to 118.7.

 

[Jim S.]

The last time I saw anything about it, Philadelphia locals weren't going anywhere and I don't remember any locals going to 118.7.