AMC-16 Satellite Shuffle

[rocatman]

In other threads, the issue has been raised whether Dish will be able to use any or all of the Ku-band capacity on AMC-16 at 85 W because SES Americom already has AMC-9 operating both C and Ku-band at that location. The FCC link below indicates that AMC-9 will be moved to 83 W and that Dish will have access to all the Ku-band capability of AMC-16 at 85 W. The link also has some discussion of Ka-band usage at 85 W. Here is the link:

http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2004/db0907/DA-04-2884A1.pdf

As a side note, I also had a link but lost it that indicated that SES Americom wanted to move SatCom C-4 to 85 W to provide C-band service from that location. SatCom C-4 is on the move east currently so expect it to stop at 85 W. Still looking to see if there are any plans for AMC-2.

[Jacob S]

What is Dish going to use 85W for?

[James Long]

What is Dish going to use 85W for?Probably locals or eventually HD locals. They may even get into the satellite internet business again. There are plenty of uses.

JL

[Jacob S]

I read in another post where they still plan on launching their internet satellite service as initially planned in 2005. I hope they will still deliver it for $40 per month with free hardware as stated in 2003 at the Retailer meetings. Anything is due to change in time though.

[Mike D-CO5]

I read in another post where they still plan on launching their internet satellite service as initially planned in 2005. I hope they will still deliver it for $40 per month with free hardware as stated in 2003 at the Retailer meetings. Anything is due to change in time though.


I would definately jump on internet with Dish if it is $40.00 a month. I am paying over $57.42 a month w taxes just to get Road Runner. ( No Earth LInk doesn't do broadband in Nederland where I live) I would love to cut the cord to cable completely. But if Dish's internet is anything like it's satellite receivers I might better wait till it works properly ,say in 2 years.:rolleyes:

[Mike123abc]

The problem with satellite internet from geosync orbit is going to always be the lag time. Everyday there are fewer and fewer people that are not serviced by cable/dsl/wireless that would want to be served by satellite.

SWB is now doing 19.99/month DSL. Cable seems to be responding in some ways in some parts of the country by cutting rates or bundling (like CVC get cable/internet they give phone service no additional charge).

The market is getting harder and harder to compete in, the poor souls out in the middle of nowhere with no cable/dsl options are going to suffer since the satellite companies will not be able to cut prices since they will not be able to serve a large enough group of people.

I suspect that like DIRECTV, Dish suddenly uses all this new Ka capacity for LIL HD delivery.

[Richard King]

I just made the switch from Starband to Comcast cable internet and doubt VERY much that I could be tempted to switch back. The speed difference is nothing short of amazing. My main problem is the tons of popups that I am getting that Starband somehow was able to filter out. I got none with them, now, no matter what I do I get bunches of them, even on this site.

[Bobby94928]

I just made the switch from Starband to Comcast cable internet and doubt VERY much that I could be tempted to switch back. The speed difference is nothing short of amazing. My main problem is the tons of popups that I am getting that Starband somehow was able to filter out. I got none with them, now, no matter what I do I get bunches of them, even on this site.

What are you using for a browser, Richard? I'm using Mozilla Firefox and get ZERO pop-ups, unless I say it's OK to allow it through.

[chaddux]

I just made the switch from Starband to Comcast cable internet and doubt VERY much that I could be tempted to switch back. The speed difference is nothing short of amazing. My main problem is the tons of popups that I am getting that Starband somehow was able to filter out. I got none with them, now, no matter what I do I get bunches of them, even on this site.

The definitive pop-up blocker is Pop-Up Stopper Version 2.92 (not the current version). I have used it for a couple of years and, with aggressive control enabled, I got ZERO pop-ups. It takes about two-three weeks to get used to pressing CTRL when you want to open a second IE window. It's, by far, the best.

[SimpleSimon]

Richard: pop-ups generally come from spyware. I think we already had this conversation, tho.

[JohnH]

AMC-16 test locations. Ku at 82.1w. Ka after locating at 84.9w.

http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/ib/forms/reports/swr031b.hts?q_set=MAIN.file_numberC/File+Number/%3D/SATSTA2004090200164&prepare=&column=MAIN.file_numberC/File+Number

[rocatman]

AMC-16 test locations. Ku at 82.1w. Ka after locating at 84.9w.

http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/ib/forms/reports/swr031b.hts?q_set=MAIN.file_numberC/File+Number/%3D/SATSTA2004090200164&prepare=&column=MAIN.file_numberC/File+Number

I guess it won't take long for AMC-16 to be moved to 85 W from these testing locations although it seems sort of odd that you would test the Ka-band at 0.1 degrees from the final orbital location especially when the nearest Ka-band satellite is at 82 W which is closer to the test location than the final orbital location.

[Richard King]

Richard: pop-ups generally come from spyware. I think we already had this conversation, tho.Yep. Sorry to mention it here again, I guess I should confine the popup discussion to the computer forum.

[Richard King]

Atlas 5 rocket ready to haul TV satellite into Earth orbit
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av005/041215preview.html
The 196-foot tall Atlas 5 is scheduled for liftoff at 4:41 a.m. EST (0941 GMT). A two-hour, 40-minute window is available through 7:21 a.m. EST (1221 GMT), making a sunrise launch a slight possibility. Do I really want to get up at 3:00AM to drive north and take some pix? I wonder if this will be covered on the NASA Channel?

[JohnH]

Launch Coverage on C band AMC-9 Tp 4 3780 H analog.

[Richard King]

http://home.earthlink.net/~mikets28/Mywebsite/Area%20Map.html
I think I could get some VERY nice shots from point #3 on the above map. The dark sky and looking across the water with just maybe a bit of very early morning light could make for quite a shot. I just may go.

[Richard King]

I have all the parts to do a c-band install, but I don't think I could get it done in time for the launch. :lol:

[JohnH]

According to SkyReport launch coverage will also be on DISH Network channel 101.

http://www.skyreport.com/viewskyreport.cfm?ReleaseID=1549#Story2

Listed in the EPG beginning at 4 AM EST. :)

[Richard King]

Thanks John.. it is now a DVR event. Now, if I can just make myself get up early in the AM. :lol:

[JohnH]

The C band feed says coverage has been delayed at least 60 minutes.

http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av005/status.html

[Richard King]

I didn't go north because I figured there would be a weather cancellation. I set the alarm to check on it and could watch it from here, but it looks like a scrub. Overcast here, 60 miles south of the Cape. I have edited my DVR timer and am going to crash again.

[SimpleSimon]

04:07: T-4 minutes.

04:09: Stopped at -2:38.

04:13: Recycled to T-4 and holding.

04:21: One hour left in the launch window.

04:37: Resetting T-0 to 04:50MST.

04:39: Disabling 2 measurements (items 401 & 402), monitoring 3 manually.

04:41: No-go due to winds aloft.

04:46: New flight profile being generated.

04:52: Resetting T-0 to 5:07MST.

04:58: New flight profile INU load verified.

05:00: All systems go.

05:02: Disabled 2 more line items.

05:03: T-4:00 and counting.

05:05: T-2:00 and counting.

05:07: T-0:00 and liftoff.

05:09: SRB sep.

05:11: 9Kfps. Payload fairing jettison.

05:13: BECO & sep. Centaur engine start.

05:23: MECO-1 cutoff. 86 minute coast phase start.

Signing off.

[Richard King]

I watched the launch from here (about 65 miles away). The pix aren't worth posting. I was so tired I forgot to put on my long lens. :lol: I got to see it lift off and almost immediately it went into a cloud bank. I got to see it pass through several banks of clouds before clearing them and going up and onward. I wish they hadn't had the problems and could have gotten it off on time as if I were certain things would have gone well I would have gone north for the launch. Oh, well, I will have to catch the next one. I am still amazed at these things even though I have been following the space program since near day one.

[JohnH]

The C band feed says they will resume coverage about the end of the Coast Phase. It is unusual for them to provide the extended coverage.

[Richard King]

I suspect you saw the same feed that was on 101 as they said the same there. I doubt that 101 will join in the festivities though.

[JohnH]

Yep, they just missed the EchoStar connection story. :)

[JohnH]

The telecast has concluded. They were holding the champaigne until acquistion of signal is achieved. They expect that to happen shortly.