61.5 + 105.5 + 121 = jackpot ?

[hectorshelagh2001]

Okay dish now has 105 and 121 ... and may/may not get the rest of 61.5 .... what does this all mean?

[Curtis0620]

Nothing except for Internet via satellite.

[Scott Greczkowski]

Actually Charlie said HDTV from 121 as well as service to Hawaii.

Of course this means we will need new bigger dishes to pick up 121.

[hectorshelagh2001]

Does this mean capacity for more than 500 channels? If so, I'd like them to pick up my Comcast local community access channels!

[Chris Freeland]

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski
Actually Charlie said HDTV from 121 as well as service to Hawaii.

Of course this means we will need new bigger dishes to pick up 121.

Charlie has also said 60HD channels or 60 additional local markets or a combination of both at 121, plus Internet on KA portion.

[Geronimo]

It is highly unlikely that they would be interested in cable local access channels. Even less likely that the cable companies would choose to provide them.

as for the rest of 61.5 highly unlikely that Cablevsion will give them up soon---especailly after today's announcement.

[hectorshelagh2001]

Dolan is a serious player in DBS - watch him buy D*TV then sell cablevision to Comcast.

Remember the DBS universe has only one Charlie at the moment but, that could all change if Dolan acquires DTV.'

The numero uno reason why Dolan will end up with DTV is to get back at Ergen for that lousy deal he tried to put together combining DISH's tps at 61.5 + 148 w/ Rainbow's tps at 61.5.

Gee whiz .... what ERGEN shoulda done to satisfy all parties concerned ie FCC/DOJ/DTV & Dolan would be to have added all the assets together and simply split them down the middle ... subs included.

Sorry if I'm too political but I'm really an Independant

[Ken_F]

With the radiated power of Echo*9 at 121 degrees, and the close proximity of other satellites, I tend to doubt that HDTV service could be accomplished with a dish smaller than 30".

However, according to the SES AMERICOM press release, their satellite is based on the original Lockheed Martin A2100 design, but with 24 Ku-FSS transponders and 12 Ka-band transponders. A prominent feature of the LM A2100 was its support for double-power mode, and if that feature carries over to the AMC-15, then DISH may be able to use 12 double-powered transponders with a higher FEC (say, 2/3) to support HDTV service from a dish comparable in size to the Dish500. In contrast, Echostar's E*9 satellite for launch to 121 does not support a double power mode.

The SES AMERICOM AMC-15 satellite is tentatively scheduled for launch to 105.5 degrees aboard an Ariane 5 ECA vehicle from Kourou in 2H 2004.

[spline]

?

[Ken_F]

Also, has anyone heard what the radiated power is on those Ka transponders?

[JohnH]

AMC 15 goes to 105.0 degrees west, not 105.5 degrees west. It is not a DBS bird. They are Ku-FSS transponders.

The AMC DBS bird(designated AMC 14) which will go to 105.5 degrees west is not under construction, yet. They don't have permission to deliver programming to the USA, yet. That would be needed before construction could start.

I would suspect EchoStar will only use the KA portion of AMC 15.

[Ken_F]

Thanks John, I misread the AMC15 page on SES Americom's web wite. Even so, I seriously doubt the Ka portion of the hybrid bird will be used for any satellite programming. The Ka band coverage maps for AMC15 specify EIRP levels that would likely require a >1 meter dish (based on my understanding of that spectrum).

In contrast, if the AMC15 bird can double power its KU-FSS transponders, then DTH service (for locals or HDTV) should be possible from a 24" or smaller dish.

[JohnH]

I doubt double power will be used as that probably is not allowed in that band, especially with Anik F1(Star Choice) and AMC 1(NBC Network) only 2 degrees away. 30" or larger to maintain reception from 2 degree spacing.

[Jacob S]

A satellite at 105.0 and 105.5? Wouldn't that be a cause for serious interference in itself?

[Chris Freeland]

Originally posted by Jacob S
A satellite at 105.0 and 105.5? Wouldn't that be a cause for serious interference in itself?

No, because 105.0 is using the KU-FSS band and the KA band, while 105.5 will be using the KU-DBS band of frequencies, if the FCC allows SES to use 105.5 in the US. There is a larger possibility that 105.5 would interfere with KU-DBS slot that D* owns at 101 or the KU-DBS slot that D* and E* own at 110. SES own's the 105.5 DBS slot from another Nation ( I forget which one), it will be interesting to see if the FCC will allow SES to use this slot in North America or not.