EchoStar to Launch EchoStar IX Satellite in May

[Scott Greczkowski]

EchoStar to Launch EchoStar IX Satellite in May; New Satellite to Test First Ever Ka-Band Commercial Service

http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=dish&script=410&layout=-6&item_id=390255

[Chris Freeland]

I wander what channels E* is going to place on those 32 KU FSS TP's at 121 to supplement their KU DBS at 110/119/61.5/148? Possibly additional local markets and or HD with a New Dish 750 that can see 110, 119 and 121 perhaps? ;)

[Mike123abc]

What will be even more interesting is what Dish will do with the Ka transponders. They have been very hush hush with what they plan to do with them. I hope that they are able to solve the rain fade issues with Ka.

As far as the Ku part, it is fairly limited. The transponders are 120watt, 1/2 the power of the main slot birds dish uses. And of course the are not spot. So, it is unlikely to be used for DBS, more likely FSS that the rest of the Ku sats do. Also they are not on the same frequencies that DBS uses.

[RAD]

Does Dish have the licenses to use 121 for DBS service??? I ask since the chart over on DBSForum doesn't even show a 121 slot:
http://www.dbsforums.com/

[Ken_F]

Partial repost from another thread...

DTH satellite service from KU-FSS is certainly possible, seeing that is what Primestar used. But the FSS-band transponders on E*9 will only be running at 110 watts (no double power mode available), which probably means you'd need a dish 24-30" in diameter--plus a new LNB--to receive any kind of stable/reliable signal. But more importantly, KU-FSS transponders are, by international treaty, not intended for DBS service.

According to DISH's previously announced/filed plans for the FSS transponders on E*9, they will be used for 2-way business communications and to backhaul locals. The latest Echostar IX press release, issued March 11, also implies they will be used for Alaska/Hawaii service as well; many of those customers are already using 1 meter and larger dishes, so perhaps it's not such a big leap to serve them with FSS. I don't think the FCC would look favorably on DISH using FSS for standard programming in much of the U.S., but there is a desire within that agency to improve service to Alaska/Hawaii.

[Scott Greczkowski]

Charlie mentioned the other day that some of the KU transponders could be used for HD broadcasts to Dish Network customers. He stated that people would need a slightly larger dish but that the new satellite opens up some space for them.

[Aloha]

Since Hawaii can already get, with a Primestar 30" dish , Star Choice service from the North American ku beams of Anik F1 @ 110 watts, it should not be a problem with E* 9 Ku reception

[JohnH]

You definitely will need a larger dish to get E*9 as it is only going to be 2 degrees away from Anik E1 on the one side and Galaxy 10R on the other side on the same frequencies. Funny, it sounds like they may use the same Transponder layout as the Canadian sats. Normal domestic Ku-FSS use 24(some 28) transponders and the Canadians use 32 Transponders.