Have Spot Beams been adjusted?

[MikeW]

I have always been able to see Phoenix, LA and Sacto spot beams. They're all dead now. I can still see Fresno/Bakersfield. Did something change today? BTW, I'm in Vegas.

[JohnH]

Spotbeam signal levels look normal here in PA.

[James Long]

I wonder how much adjustment is available on spotbeams. Typically power levels are easy to control on a satellite transponder. (More or less power, depending on power supply, the amount the customer is willing to pay, and the limit for the service.) But I can't imagine having independently steerable beams for anything other than the set point toward Hawaii.

It seems to be too much that could go wrong - and too referential to the D* rumours of them adjusting their spot beams to narrow viewership of locals to the licensed DMA. With technology (almost) anything is possible, but putting remote steering and focus controls on spotbeams would be an expensive proposition.

It is probably just atmospherics playing tricks.

JL