105/121 slots- should I point a dish now?

[Jeff43]

Is Dish Network testing from the 105 or 121 satellite slots now? I have a dish pointed at 61.5. I was thinking of repointing the dish to see if 105 or 121 is active now.

[Ken_F]

There is no satellite at 121, and won't be before July or August (at the earliest). There is a satellite at 105, but the chances are pretty slim of you finding it with an 18" dish. Even if you could, you'd need a new FSS LNB to get a signal.

[Darkman]

but if he finds it - i think 105 has no Dish's programming currently... Or am i wrong?

[JohnH]

At last check, could not find any signal from 105. :)

[Jeff43]

Thanks, I will just sit tight at 61.5 and wait for some news on 105/121. By the way what is a FSS LNB?

[Jacob S]

Would a Primestar LNBF work? How about one that is used for HomeSat?

[JohnH]

FSS LNBF is a Linear Polorization LNBF designed to operate in the 11.7 to 12,2 Ghz band.

Normal DBS LNBFs operate in the 12.2 to 12.7 Ghz band with Circular Polorization.

You will need a larger dish as well to get these other sats since there are other sats in the same band only 2 degrees away(sharper focus required). 30" is recommended even though the "SuperDISH" is rumored to be 26".

[JohnH]

Jacob, there were 2 types of PrimeStar LNBFs. One had separate H and V outputs, The other had 13/18 Volt switching capability on both outputs. The latter would be the preferred. The former would not switch polarities.

It is also possible that a new DISHPro LNBF(which has not been released yet) may be required to get the whole thing to work with the receivers.

[Jacob S]

Yes, I know about the two lnbf's you are talking about. The HomeSat dish had the same lnbf as the Primestar dish I believe only with the one coaxial output instead of the H and V outputs like most of the Primestar ones had. I know that there is a switch for the Primestar H and V output lnbf's that can make it work into one coax.

[pigskintoads]

I live in the Philadelphia market and I currently have a dish that is at least 26". I believe Philadelphia is one of the few markets that use this to recieve additional local channels. Would what already have be considered a super dish? In addition, how what this work for my situation. Would the dish be moved to accomadate the new sat. and would then in effect cause me to lose my expanded local channels. Would I need a different switch as well. Much confusion with Dish.

[JohnH]

Most of what you ask is not likely to be answered for some time, with any authority anyway. In any event, if they play with our "expanded local channels" they are required to fix it for free.

I do not expect much official info on this until the TechForum in July. Charlie mentioned something about a satellite being moved into location at 105 within a month or two, Not sure about the exact quote, but it did not sound like there was any reason to hurry and make changes which might not work anyway.

[Scott Greczkowski]

There is already a satellite at 105 and Dish Network is currntly leasing KU space on that satellite.

Dish does not need to move a bird to 105, nor are any of the Echostar satellite technically compatable with 105 (105 is not a DBS slot and uses lower powered KU technology)

[JohnH]

So Charlie is a liar and the satellite is not in an inclined orbit. Or they are just testing a prototype "SuperDish" and there is no need to be in any hurry, still

[Scott Greczkowski]

I see that it is inclined 0.7° I don't know if that is much of an inclination, but perhaps Americom has another bird they can move there.

The slot is not Echostar's so they can't move a bird there but Americom may have something up its sleave. ALthough the press release at Americoms site states that Echostar will use the existing satellite at 105 and a new satellite will be launched later next year which Echostar will also use.

Only time will tell.

I can't wait until the July Tech Chat that is going to be very interesting.

[JohnH]

Americom may attemp to reduce the inclination of G Star 4. The .7 degree inclination may not seem like much, but AMC 15 will not have that much and whatever satellite they start with there must be very close to the same position as what AMC 15 will be when in position to avoid significant repoints. They are dealing with a location which has sats at about 2 degrees either way from it, both of which are quite powerful.

[Jeff43]

I am looking at three slots now (61.5,110 &119) with HDTV. Will I now have to install another two dishes to receive Dish Network HDTV (105 & 121)?

[Jacob S]

That 26 inch Philly 129 dish is probably what the SuperDish is going to be like, real close to that. 129 is a lower powered satellite just as the one they are going to use at 105 and 121. I wonder if they could lease more space at 129 to provide even more channels since its obvious they can do 110, 119 and 129 from one dish as well.