Transponder 5: Now on Spotbeam?

[Charles Oliva]

Transponder 5 went to zero at 4:15am EDT.

Phoenix and Charlotte, are you up?

[joblo]

In northern VA, with a Dish 500, all transponders except 4 and 5 are now reading 110 or better. Transponders 9 and 11 are strongest, reading 124. Transponder 4 is reading 101, up 20 points from yesterday. Transponder 5, which now identifies itself as a spotbeam, has varied from 89 to 96 over the past hour or so, currently reading 93.

[Richard King]

Transponder 5 = zero here in Florida this morning.

[scooper]

All transponders up in in NC this morning before I left for work..

[bryan27]

Transponer 5 is now being used for spots. Right now that is the only TP being used. One of the cities in the Carolinas and some of the Phoenix stations have been transfered to spots.

[Mark Holtz]

I just ran a check, and for me, transponders 5 and 7 are now at zero level.

[TNGTony]

If anyone in NC and Phoenix would let me know what channels made it to Transponder 5, I would appreciate it. I've updated the lthansponder chart to include known spot info. Here is where the fun begins for me. :)

See ya
Tony

[ekake2]

tp 1.5.9 = 0 7 = 0-32
in s.e. alaska mostly clear sky

[Geronimo]

5 is low but still there. Actaully went to 58 on my 3700. 4 is in the 90s.

7=111

9=115


11=104



All this from the reservation right outside DC not far from joblo.

[bryan27]

Originally posted by TNGTony
If anyone in NC and Phoenix would let me know what channels made it to Transponder 5, I would appreciate it. I've updated the lthansponder chart to include known spot info. Here is where the fun begins for me. :)

See ya
Tony

Tony, here is what is on the TP5 spots as of this morning:

8324-KASW(WB)Phoenix
8325-KUTP(UPN)Phoenix
8326-KAET(PBS)Phoenix
8327-KTVK(ind)Phoenix
8590-KDNL(ABC)St.Louis
8591-KMOV(CBS)St.Louis
8592-KSDK(NBC)St.Louis
8593-KTVI(Fox)St.Louis
8650-WSOC(ABC)Charlotte
8651-WBTV(CBS)Charlotte
8652-WCNC(NBC)Charlotte
8653-WCCB(Fox)Charlotte
8654-WWWB(WB)Charlotte
8655-WJZY(UPN)Charlotte
8657-WAXN(ind)Charlotte

[invaliduser88]

Transponder 5 was at zero last night here in Houston when I checked.

[TNGTony]

Thanks Bryan. I'm updating the list as I type.

Also E*7 is the only bird on up there right now. This is from two contributor and Charlie's statements on today's conference call.

See ya
Tony

[bryan27]

Just as an aside. Unlike DTV-4S we know where the TPs are and where the beams are and don't need endless signal reports like we did for DTV-4S.

The cities that use TP5 are:

SANF/SAC
PHOE
DAL/HOU/SAN/AUS
STL/CHI/IND/DET
GRE/RAL/CHR/ATL

The only spots that are up and active are:

PHOE
STL/CHI/IND/DET
GRE/RAL/CHR/ATL

So currently if you are not near those 3 beams you aren't going to get TP5. If you are near the other 2 beams they will be turned on at some point.

Please study the spotbeam maps before saying, my TP5 is zero in (insert area here). We already know.

(just trying to cut out the needless bable before it starts).

[Geronimo]

That is quite an area San Francisco to North Carolina.

[joblo]

Bryan,

First, thanks for all the terrific info! But I’m really curious about your source. Do you have a contact at E*? Otherwise, how can you tell from WV whether spots are active in AZ, AK, CA, etc.?

Second, from your spot and DMA maps, I see no way that Atlanta or Dallas could be considered reasonable candidates for E7 spots. Some NY, LA, Chicago stations might move to spots, but I expect all Atlanta, Dallas, and Denver stations to remain CONUS at least until E8 is operational.

Third, as was suggested in DBSForums, I don’t think we can take maps filed with the FCC as gospel. Specs can change, and the contours are only theoretical ideals, anyway. I, for one, would be very interested in signal readings near or in the predicted spot contours, just to see how well the predictions conform with reality.

[bryan27]

joblo, I have E* contacts. People that hack have sent reports, along with family and friends from around the counrty sending their reports.

E* is serving Cities and not DMAs and some are going to be in an LIL DMA but not have access to the locals. All atlanta stations may very well stay CONUS as there isn't room for all the cities on the beam and there isn't one for E-8 either. When looking at E-7 we also have to look at E-8 because many beams are duplicated on both sats, but we won't know which cities goto 119 and which stay on 110 for a while yet.

Yes, there may be deviations in the beams as presented on the filings, but we know the general coverage and reports from someone a couple 100 miles from the -5dB contour on the map stating 0 signal strength is moot as we know they are not going to get a signal anyway even if the actual signal moved slightly from what is on the map. Like the report from South Florida reporting 0 on TP5 it is obvious that it was going to 0 as there is no TP5 beam anywhere near that part of Florida. E-7 & E-8 are nothing like DTV-4S and the beams don't overlap like they do on DTV-4S.

[John Corn]

Thank you for all this useful info you provide us with bryan. :)

[Mark Holtz]

Since my 501 was recording Survivor when I got home, I had to do a check on a 301...

Well, still no signal on transponder 5, but I got signal back on transponder 7, but no indication that it was on a spot. Transponders 1,3, and 9 are getting signal. All of the Sacramento locals are still on the Conus/148.

[TNGTony]

As of 12midnight tp 7 is still ConUS.

See ya
Tony

[markh]

Here in SW Wisconsin, transponder 5 is maxed at 125 on the signal meter. I live about 40 miles west of Madison.

[Mark Holtz]

Okay, transponder 7 update..... at my location, the signal has been fluctuating wildly. In the past five minutes, the signal has gine from 52-55 to 42-46.

Okay, did a quick scan, and with the exception of transponder 5 (which is zero), most of my signal strengths have been at least 85. Got back to transponder 7, and the strength is now at 76-77.

[Mark Holtz]

Woah, now this is wild. It's now running 69-75, and it just dropped to 65. All the others are rock strong, and the sky is clear.

[Charles Oliva]

Tr.7 switched to spotbeam at 4:30am EDT

[bryan27]

Update: This is the current make-up of the TP 5&7 spots

Transponder 5
8320-KNXV(ABC)Phoenix
8321-KPHO(CBS)Phoenix
8322-KPNX(NBC)Phoenix
8323-KSAZ(Fox)Phoenix
8324-KASW(WB)Phoenix
8325-KUTP(UPN)Phoenix
8326-KAET(PBS)Phoenix
8327-KTVK(ind)Phoenix
8590-KDNL(ABC)St.Louis
8591-KMOV(CBS)St.Louis
8592-KSDK(NBC)St.Louis
8593-KTVI(Fox)St.Louis
8650-WSOC(ABC)Charlotte
8651-WBTV(CBS)Charlotte
8652-WCNC(NBC)Charlotte
8653-WCCB(Fox)Charlotte
8654-WWWB(WB)Charlotte
8655-WJZY(UPN)Charlotte
8657-WAXN(ind)Charlotte

Transponder 7
8750-WTVD(ABC)Raleigh
8751-WRAL(CBS)Raleigh
8752-WNCN(NBC)Raleigh
8753-WRAZ(Fox)Raleigh
8754-WLFL(WB)Raleigh
8755-WRDC(UPN)Raleigh
8756/8190-WUNC(PBS)

There is a report that Greenville will move to spots on May 6th and will be split between TP 5 & 7. Also be looking for these to move to TP5 shortly (between tonight and May 6th):

8594-KPLR(WB)St.Louis
8596-KETC(PBS)St.Loius
And Maybe 8597-KNLC(ind)St.Louis (it has been rumored to be moving)

Alaska and Hawaii besure to report when TP9 becomes active :)

[SParker]

spotbeam TP5 is strong as can be here in Grand Rapids, MI but TP7 is a big 0.

[TNGTony]

The great lakes spot hasn't been turned on for TP7 yet.

See ya
Tony

[SParker]

any idea which TP the GR locals will eminate from? I get a great signal from the TP5 spotbeam.

[joblo]

Originally posted by bryan27
Yes, there may be deviations in the beams as presented on the filings, but we know the general coverage and reports from someone a couple 100 miles from the -5dB contour on the map stating 0 signal strength is moot as we know they are not going to get a signal anyway even if the actual signal moved slightly from what is on the map.


Sorry, Bryan, but I disagree. I’m probably 150 miles outside the -5dB contour for the Carolina beam and my signal strength on those spot transponders has ranged from 70 to 105 over the past few days. Those spots are currently in the high 80s, with CONUS transponders ranging from 110 to 124. So if someone 50 miles further north has 0 signal on the Carolina spots, I would find that quite interesting.

One question I have about the map contours is what “-5dB” relates to. If it’s 5dB down from CONUS strength, that’s one thing, but if it’s 5dB from the maximum spot strength, that’s quite a different matter, and it may turn out that E* can provide service over a rather larger area than its initial conservative estimates would have predicted. Speaking as someone who lived with signals in the 50s and 60s for an entire winter before the new leaves forced me to move my dish to the roof, I think 80s look pretty good, and I would be plenty annoyed if E* were unwilling to sell me my locals at those strengths simply because their map said I had 5dB less signal than someone in the center of the beam.

I would like to ask, however, that those that provide signal strength reading on the spot beams also give some idea of their signal strength on the CONUS beams as well for purposes of establishing a baseline. A spot strength of 80 with CONUS strengths of 120 is very different than spot strength of 80 with CONUS strengths of 60.

[scooper]

In Youngsville (about 15 miles NNE of Raleigh) - Spot Beams 5 and 7 are 120+ (on both a 4900 Upgraded and a 2800 upgraded), while the rest of the 119 CONUS transponders range from upper 90s - 120's.

Is that better joblo ? :)

[JohnH]

And Tps 5 and 7 are now about 50-60 here in southeast Pennsylvania. In fact the DISHPlayer locks on them. Go figure with 30" dishes on the SW64 though.

[Mark Holtz]

Still zero signal on 5 and 7 for Sacramento.

[markh]

Transponder 5 is still at 125 but 7 is now at zero. On 119 the signal varies from high 80's to 122-123, depending on which transponder. That spot must be pretty hot!

[rbird]

Full signal on TPs 5 and 7 here.

Bob

[Mark Holtz]

As of this morning....

5 & 9 are now getting 0 signal. Sacramento does not get a spot beam at transponder 9, so it will remain at 0

The spotbeam at 7 has been switched on.... and I'm getting a nice, solid 125.

[bryan27]

TP9 has been activated. Lots of channel movement last night. When I get a list I'll post it. Greenville, Birmingham, San Francisco, Houston, some of Chicago have moved to spots.

joblo, the -5db contour is the range of useable signal with no interference on an 18 inch dish. The Carolinas beam probably has a more north-east signal than the map presents because of the satellite position and the Earth's curvature. The rest of the beams seem right on target with those outside the contour getting very little usable signal.

[invaliduser88]

Any ideas when the Texas spotbeam is going to be lit up? Nothing as of last night

[bryan27]

Here is what has been added to the spots last night:

Transponder 5:
8180-WLOS(ABC)Asheville
8181-WSPA(CBS)Spartanburg
8182-WYFF(NBC)Greenville
8370-KTRK(ABC)Houston
8371-KHOU(CBS)Houston
8372-KPRC(NBC)Houston
8373-KRIV(Fox)Houston
8374-KHWB(WB)Houston
8375-KTXH(UPN)Houston
8375-KUHT(PBS)Houston

Transponder 7:
8183-WHNS(Fox)Greenville
8184-WBSC(WB)Greenville
8185-WASV(UPN)Asheville
8220-KCO(ABC)San Francisco
8221-KPIX(CBS)San Francisco
8222-KNTV(NBC)San Jose
8223-KTVU(Fox)San Fancisco
8224-KBWB(WB)San Francisco
8225-KBJK(UPN)San Francisco
8226-KQED(PBS)San Francisco
8227-KICU(IND)San Jose
8494-WGN(WB)Chicago
8495-WPWR(UPN)Chicago
8496-WTTW(PBS)Chicago

Transponder 9:
8050-WJSU(ABC)Birmingham
8051-WIAT(CBS)Birmingham
8052-WVTM(NBC)Birmingham
8053-WBRC(Fox)Birmingham
8054-WTTO(WB)Birmingham
8055-WABM(UPN)Birmingham
8056-WBIQ(PBS)Birmingham

[Scott Greczkowski]

Thanks Bryan, I think I am going to give you a new title. :)

Your posts are appreciated!

[kstuart]

Bryan - can you cut and paste a complete list of Transponders 5, 7 and 9 ?

Probably best would be to make a new thread, and then edit the message as it changes.

[bryan27]

Sure, I'll make a thread called "The Current Make-up of E* spots" Then as the info changes I'll just edit it.

[Kazoo_guy]

Anyone out there have an idea what is going on?
Lost signals to most transponders 2 weeks ago, then 1 & 3 came back... and in the late afternoon 17 and a few others come up but with low signal strength.

How long do we need to wait before the bird is fully up to speed?

Do I need to do anything about the "spot beam"?
tnx

[bryan27]

Kazoo_guy, I take it you are in Canada. The signal pattern for Echo-7 is different from Echo-4 & Echo-6. The satellites aren't absolutely stationary they have a little move in their orbit.If you are on the fringe of the signal as the satellite moves your signal will go in and out as the signal pattern moves slightly.

[Kazoo_guy]

No I am not in Canada. Just assumed it was Echo-7 from previously read posts. It is 199° West.