Any updates on the 72.5 slot?

[yankeesfan]

I read on here a couple months ago that the 72.5 slot D* leases is up this year and they are due to return the slot to Canada. I haven't seen anything recently and as the year winds to a close I'm wondering if there's any new news. I can think of 3 possibilities,

1) D* extends the lease on 72.5 and the SD locals remain there for a few more years
2) D* prioritizes 72.5 locals on D11 (which it seems like they are doing) and then upgrades all the SD receivers in the markets to receive HD locals
3) D* moves some markets on to D11, but keeps SD locals on some other satellite.

I've been told by an installer that my 72.5 dish could come down in the fall but I realize that installers knowledge are sometimes unreliable. If D* decides to put all the locals in HD on D11, would they then replace all those markets SD receivers with Hxs or HRxs, and would they also provide non-HD channels to their respective DMAs in SD off D11? For example, in the Burlington, VT DMA, we have New Hampshire, Vermont, and Mountain Lakes PBS that I doubt D* would carry in HD, would they then provide a SD feed off of D11?

I know this is a long post but any answers or insight is appreciated.

[bobnielsen]

Another possibility which has been mentioned is that the 72.5 locals would move to 110 and 119 after the HD there shuts down.

[Tom Robertson]

The lease was due up sometime soon, I'm thinking late this year or early next. I no longer recall exactly.

When the satellite was replaced with another DIRECTV satellite, the lease was extended thru 2010, I think. (sorry, too late to remember those dates clearly.) :)

I'm pretty certain there will be no new DMA's put on 72.5, they will all go on Ka capable satellites: Spaceway 1/2 or D10/D11.

As for when will all the locals be moved off 72.5, I'm not sure. the latest press release on HD locals indicates most if not all should be launched on the Ka satellites this year. So maybe in 2009?

Cheers,
Tom

[BkwSoft]

It can't happen too soon in my opinion. Our Wausau locals are on 72.5 and the Mrs. is tired of our poor NBC OTA reception. We have a grandfathered package without locals and there is no way I'm going to add locals until I can get them with one dish.

[curt8403]

the 72.5 lease is indeed up, it will revert to canada, and the channels will be migrating to either 103 or 99 in the next 1 years time. Directv will upgrade all affected customers with the equipment needed as your market comes up for moving.

[tkrandall]

I bet Dish would like some 72.5 transponders to add to their 72.7 ones.

[curt8403]

I bet Dish would like some 72.5 transponders to add to their 72.7 ones.


I think that Dish would also like a Steam Roller and a Duck

[Tom Robertson]

the 72.5 lease is indeed up, it will revert to canada, and the channels will be migrating to either 103 or 99 in the next 1 years time. Directv will upgrade all affected customers with the equipment needed as your market comes up for moving.

Actually last year the lease was extended until December 31, 2009 (and month by month thereafter) when DIRECTV 1R was drifted to 72.5 from 101. http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/servlet/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=553806

That said, 16 months is not a long time, so its good to see DIRECTV is jolly on the spot. :)

Cheers,
Tom

[curt8403]

Actually last year the lease was extended until December 31, 2009 (and month by month thereafter) when DIRECTV 1R was drifted to 72.5 from 101. http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/servlet/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=553806

That said, 16 months is not a long time, so its good to see DIRECTV is jolly on the spot. :)

Cheers,
Tom

Oh, jolly good show eh chap? Blimey, but is it a rare pleasure to hear someone else who tries to speak English instead of American

[Johnnie5000]

I work a 72.5 market so maybe I can help.


All 72.5 locals will be converted to mpeg4 from the 99 orbital slot. DirecTV will start Dual Illumination (locals on both the 99 and 72.5) this month. The official D* schedule is:
Lincoln/Hastings, Ne ------8/20/08
Augusta, Ga--------------8/27/08
Chattanooga, Tn---------8/27/08
Johnstown/Altoona, Pa---8/27/08

From what I understand only the mp4 advanced equipment will work until software issues are resolved on the D12's to make them pick up the 99. Locals will continue to come off of the 72.5 for at least 8 months after the scheduled date to accommodate the software issue on standard IRDs, and the impending dish/IRD upgrades.

In the Chattanooga area alone, we have roughly 80-90k new dishes to put up. We have put 5-LNB Ka/Ku's up on every install for over a year now and we are getting slimline3's which will make it slightly easier. But there are only about 50 of us working the area.

There is also a general consensus from the higher ups, that nobody has any idea what the hell will happen when locals are lit up on the 99. D12's may not work, may have to wait on D13s, b-bands? etc.

[mgmrick]

How about directv tivo's will they not be able to see 99 sat? I have hacked units and use mrv all the time

[Johnnie5000]

How about directv tivo's will they not be able to see 99 sat? I have hacked units and use mrv all the time Legitimately no. Hacked ones, maybe, I've seen a few work with on the 103 with b-bands. For legal reasons, I won't get into that though.

Officially it will either have to be a HR2x, or a R22 for DVRs.

[texasbrit]

I work a 72.5 market so maybe I can help.


All 72.5 locals will be converted to mpeg4 from the 99 orbital slot. DirecTV will start Dual Illumination (locals on both the 99 and 72.5) this month. The official D* schedule is:
Lincoln/Hastings, Ne ------8/20/08
Augusta, Ga--------------8/27/08
Chattanooga, Tn---------8/27/08
Johnstown/Altoona, Pa---8/27/08

From what I understand only the mp4 advanced equipment will work until software issues are resolved on the D12's to make them pick up the 99. Locals will continue to come off of the 72.5 for at least 8 months after the scheduled date to accommodate the software issue on standard IRDs, and the impending dish/IRD upgrades.

In the Chattanooga area alone, we have roughly 80-90k new dishes to put up. We have put 5-LNB Ka/Ku's up on every install for over a year now and we are getting slimline3's which will make it slightly easier. But there are only about 50 of us working the area.

There is also a general consensus from the higher ups, that nobody has any idea what the hell will happen when locals are lit up on the 99. D12's may not work, may have to wait on D13s, b-bands? etc.

We know in general what will happen when SD locals go on 99. Some DMAs have been receiving SD locals from Directv10 at 103 for a while, and DirecTV11 at 99 will be exactly the same. D12s will not work with 99. People in DMAs with SD locals from DirecTV10 have been getting H21s with only SD activated, and R22 DVRs, both with BBCs.

[texasbrit]

Legitimately no. Hacked ones, maybe, I've seen a few work with on the 103 with b-bands. For legal reasons, I won't get into that though.

Officially it will either have to be a HR2x, or a R22 for DVRs.


Hacked or not, a DirecTiVo won't work on 103. The DirecTiVo does not have an MPEG-4 decoder. You would have to redesign the hardware.

[wideglide36]

I work a 72.5 market so maybe I can help.


All 72.5 locals will be converted to mpeg4 from the 99 orbital slot. DirecTV will start Dual Illumination (locals on both the 99 and 72.5) this month. The official D* schedule is:
Lincoln/Hastings, Ne ------8/20/08
Augusta, Ga--------------8/27/08
Chattanooga, Tn---------8/27/08
Johnstown/Altoona, Pa---8/27/08

From what I understand only the mp4 advanced equipment will work until software issues are resolved on the D12's to make them pick up the 99. Locals will continue to come off of the 72.5 for at least 8 months after the scheduled date to accommodate the software issue on standard IRDs, and the impending dish/IRD upgrades.

In the Chattanooga area alone, we have roughly 80-90k new dishes to put up. We have put 5-LNB Ka/Ku's up on every install for over a year now and we are getting slimline3's which will make it slightly easier. But there are only about 50 of us working the area.

There is also a general consensus from the higher ups, that nobody has any idea what the hell will happen when locals are lit up on the 99. D12's may not work, may have to wait on D13s, b-bands? etc.

Hi Johnnie,

Does this mean that on or about 8-27-08 Altoona should see our locals in HD?

I had a HD install a few weeks ago and the tech told me that come Sept 1, we would have our locals in HD.

Thanks

[Bob Coxner]

Hacked or not, a DirecTiVo won't work on 103. The DirecTiVo does not have an MPEG-4 decoder. You would have to redesign the hardware.

I wonder if DTV will provide free upgrades (HR2x) the same way they are doing for HR10 owners? I have 2 DTivos and I'm in a 72.5 market.

[Johnnie5000]

Hacked or not, a DirecTiVo won't work on 103. The DirecTiVo does not have an MPEG-4 decoder. You would have to redesign the hardware.
Thats what I mean by hacked. There is a company that add a mpeg4 decoders to them for an unholy expensive price (hr21 pro is cheaper). I'm not entirely sure if it's legal either. It's somthing to the effect of a mod chip for an xbox. Same basic principle at least.

Hi Johnnie,

Does this mean that on or about 8-27-08 Altoona should see our locals in HD?

I had a HD install a few weeks ago and the tech told me that come Sept 1, we would have our locals in HD.

Thanks

SD only at first. But HD is right around the corner. I've seen someone post it as going to happen on 9-15 for Altoona. Cross your fingers.
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=135825&highlight=altoona+hd

I wonder if DTV will provide free upgrades (HR2x) the same way they are doing for HR10 owners? I have 2 DTivos and I'm in a 72.5 market.

Yes. Same with upgrading older standard IRDs to whatever will be compatible. IE: phillips dsx5500 upgrade to D12, etc. Hardware incompatibilities because of locals almost always equal free upgrades.