Hypothetical what would happen if?

[boufa]

* this likely belongs in the General Dtv forum, sorry, if a mod could move it, it would be great.*
I don't know the right forum to ask this, and many may also be curious. I would bet Sixto will know the answer, but here it goes...

What would happen if Dtv lost a satellite? A mechanical, or electronic failure in an on orbit asset, if you will. Not lost at launch. I read previously that D12 was to be an on ground backup. Since they are launching it, and even if they kept it as a spare, it would take several months to get on orbit. What do they do in the meantime?

Is there built in on-orbit spare capacity for these kind of eventualities. I am sure that they could move channels around and beam the new information to out boxes to update them. Is there anyone else in the slots, could they buy spare capacity?

I remember, a long time ago, when everyone had simple numeric pagers, and the satellite unexpectedly died, and most of the pagers in the country were dead until they found somewhere else in space to put the signal. I am sure the Dtv's signal is a little harder to just move.

I'm not trying to scare anyone, I am just curious? (oh, and is there a D13, now or in the immediate future, or is D12 the last one for a long while?)

[JoeTheDragon]

* this likely belongs in the General Dtv forum, sorry, if a mod could move it, it would be great.*
I don't know the right forum to ask this, and many may also be curious. I would bet Sixto will know the answer, but here it goes...

What would happen if Dtv lost a satellite? A mechanical, or electronic failure in an on orbit asset, if you will. Not lost at launch. I read previously that D12 was to be an on ground backup. Since they are launching it, and even if they kept it as a spare, it would take several months to get on orbit. What do they do in the meantime?

Is there built in on-orbit spare capacity for these kind of eventualities. I am sure that they could move channels around and beam the new information to out boxes to update them. Is there anyone else in the slots, could they buy spare capacity?

I remember, a long time ago, when everyone had simple numeric pagers, and the satellite unexpectedly died, and most of the pagers in the country were dead until they found somewhere else in space to put the signal. I am sure the Dtv's signal is a little harder to just move.

I'm not trying to scare anyone, I am just curious? (oh, and is there a D13, now or in the immediate future, or is D12 the last one for a long while?)

How are there old sat doing and are they still useing them 100%?

if one of old ones do go down will it be a big thing?

can they force a dial in download of new sat maps?

[Shades228]

How are there old sat doing and are they still useing them 100%?

if one of old ones do go down will it be a big thing?

can they force a dial in download of new sat maps?

I'm sure sixto could answer this pretty quick. I know that they have some capacity open. I would guess that they would lose some channels and reduce the PPV/shopping channels before removing prime time channels that people want. There are other sats out there that could be leased temporarily however it's not something I'm sure we would want to happen. However I'm sure most companies in the DBS systems have a backup if a failure were to happen without warning but I doubt it would be painless to them and consumers.

[inkahauts]

They definitely have extra transponders that are not in use that can be turned on, on I believe all sats, so if a transponder went bad, they can flip to another. I would imagine that if they lost an entire sat without warning (I believe this is extremely rare, if its ever happened at all to anyone.. Calling all rocket scientist!) that they may have enough available extra transponders to keep all signals afloat, depending on what particular sat failed, and how many backup transponders where available that could actually be used at that location... 101 would likely be the easiest to deal with if such a thing where to happen, but the other spots, it would be far more difficult, because you can't simply turn on more bandwidth at other locations if they are already at or near max bandwidth... and 101 has the most sats at one position. All the others only have one or two IIRC...

[Ken S]

They definitely have extra transponders that are not in use that can be turned on, on I believe all sats, so if a transponder went bad, they can flip to another. I would imagine that if they lost an entire sat without warning (I believe this is extremely rare, if its ever happened at all to anyone.. Calling all rocket scientist!) that they may have enough available extra transponders to keep all signals afloat, depending on what particular sat failed, and how many backup transponders where available that could actually be used at that location... 101 would likely be the easiest to deal with if such a thing where to happen, but the other spots, it would be far more difficult, because you can't simply turn on more bandwidth at other locations if they are already at or near max bandwidth... and 101 has the most sats at one position. All the others only have one or two IIRC...

About 10 years ago one of the major satellites that carried pager data failed...here's a link...

http://news.cnet.com/Why-only-one-satellite/2100-1023_3-211443.html

[boufa]

About 10 years ago one of the major satellites that carried pager data failed...here's a link...

http://news.cnet.com/Why-only-one-satellite/2100-1023_3-211443.html

I was one of the people who lost service, and it is the basis of the question. THis is not paranoia, just curiosity. I am also wondering what is meant by Full on a satilite. For example, the fuel tank on a fire truck normally is considered empty at 75% full, that way they are always ready in a worse case scenario. Is bandwidth handled the same way, say for example that every channel added needs to have it's bandwidth allocated, and a certain amount allocated for it in reserve?

[Sixto]

Within a satellite, losing a transponder would not be a huge deal with backup transponders and the ability to move channels around.

Losing an entire satellite would be a major challenge, with most bandwidth highly utilized today.

As an example, D10/D11 (for HD) are fully utilized today:http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=1191863&postcount=2
If they lost D10 or D11 completely, there would be a need to first prioritize the channels and then find a home for the prioritized channels. They could turn on a few additional national transponders on either D10 or D11, but they'd first need to move around LiL to free up the frequencies. They'd probably also significantly cut down on part-time HD. And the Spaceways could play a major role with their inherent flexibility. They could also have 110/119 again play a major role, but there would be non-access for those with a SL3.

Many scenarios based on which satellite is lost.

[Stuart Sweet]

Moved, per the thread starter's request.

[boufa]

So we would survive, I am sure that there are plans for such things, but it would be an interesting experience.

It would be what most would consider a bad day, for the tech guys at directv .. and for the ISP that hosts this website I would image also. I found it interesting that the article that was linked above listed 99 as the prime spot for parking satellites, I also found it interesting that unexpected total systems failure of a satellite is less than 1%.

My second question has not be answered, is there a D13 in our future, is is D12 the end of the current build out cycle. (I'm sure long term there would be more, just wondering if its a 2011ish thing that being planned and built or not)

[Sixto]

My second question has not be answered, is there a D13 in our future, is is D12 the end of the current build out cycle. (I'm sure long term there would be more, just wondering if its a 2011ish thing that being planned and built or not)D12 is the only short-term satellite.

DirecTV has recently received approval for the next set of frequencies (BSS) but no contract for satellite construction has been announced yet.

Details on the future here, with 107° having since been surrendered:http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=2170966#post2170966

http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=2212701&postcount=66

[Scott in FL]

I believe the DirecTV 9S satellite which is co-located at 101.1 degrees West is the in-orbit spare for the Ku frequencies.

[rudeney]

I know that they have some capacity open. I would guess that they would lose some channels and reduce the PPV/shopping channels before removing prime time channels that people want.

!rolling

[ThomasM]

This actually happened to XM a couple years ago. The satellite covering the East Coast died and it was also the satellite feeding their terrestrial repeaters.

They had a backup satellite "parked" in a different orbital location. They sent it signals to move it into the orbital location of the failed bird and subscribers were back in service about 6 hours later.