[Mark Holtz]

Okay, I did some research, and based upon the coordinates of this web page, I came to the following nearby locations.

Kazalinsk, Kazakhstan (aproximately 50 miles west):


Kzyl-Orda, Kazakhstan (about 120 miles east south east):


Current launch status report

 

[TNGTony]

Okay...so it wasn't weather...
I wonder what the "unspecified" problem was?

See ya
Tony

 

[Mark Holtz]

I'm going to have to correct the map. Wrong location (Balkasino, Kazakhstan).

 

[Richard King]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/proton/echostar8/status.html
Something wrong with the payload (satellite)

 

[Mark Holtz]

Bumping this thread up. While the SpaceFlightNow link is still stuck at June 22nd, we have a new launch date of late August.

 

[johnsmith22]

Looks like the launch is on for late august:

http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=dish&script=410&layout=-6&item_id=322430

 

[Craig Fogus]

Will this satellite help offload some of the programming on the other satellites and help with the compression which leads to poor picture quality?

 

[Mike123abc]

It should help with the compression quite a bit. There are about 16 transponders on 110 that should move to spot beams. There will be 5 transponders on 110 used for spots, so there should be a net gain of 11 transponders.

Right now most of the ATA150 is 10-12 stations per transponder, they can easily go back to 7-8 per transponder. This would give about 4 Mbit per station. About 4mbit/sec is what is needed for what most people consider excellent quality.

 

[MarkA]

Are they going to do in-orbit testing @ a seperate slot (possibly 129?) or are they just taking it straight up to 110 and hoping for the best to avoid further delays?

 

[Jacob S]

I was told by an advanced technician at Dish Network that they were going to eventually move all of the channels that were at 61.5 or some of them at least and put them on 129. I guess this is to save space on 110 and 119 slots.

 

[MarkA]

I REALLY doubt that advanced tech had a clue. Why? Two reasons:

1.) 129 is NOT setup for DBS service, so a different type of LNBF (and likely a larger dish) is needed
2.) Echostar doesn't have any space at 129 (though they were granted permission, I believe, to use it for in-orbit of E*8) - they are leasing everything they got there.

 

[andrzejpw]

yeah, 129 doesn't sound right. Dish 500 is for 110/119, right? So, I'm guessing everyone would need an extra dish?

 

[MarkA]

A new DISH, that is the advantage 129 does have - 110, 119, and 129 can all be picked up with a single trifocal dish.

 

[andrzejpw]

Gah! trifocal dishes now!

And I thought I was cool with my dish 500/extra 61.5

But you could also add a dish to go to 129, right?

 

[MarkA]

Correct, you could. But that's not what DISH is doing. BTW, DirecTV has had trifocal dishes for a long time now, but most people only use them with two LNBFs (the dish is for 101/110/119 - but there's no reason for 99% of DirecTV subs to see 110)

 

[andrzejpw]

Ahh, so dish isn't using trifocal dishes? And what's the dishpro?

 

[MarkA]

No, they aren't giving an extra DISH for 129. They ARE using a trifocal dish originally intended for Starband

DISHPro is a stacked LNBF system that eliminates the whole 13/18 Volts Odd/Even transponder thing -all transponders are sent down all the cables all the time. The only thing that has to be switched is satellites. It makes multiswitches much simpliler devices and overall eliminates much of the hassles from a satellite installation.

 

[Mark Holtz]

From another post.... (with due acknowledgement)

EVIII now scheduled for launch 1:30am ET Tuesday 8/20.

That's Monday night 8/19 for a lot of us.

 

[Jacob S]

The Dish 500 can be used for three orbital slots by adding a directv lnbf, correct? I tried this but could not get it to work. I added it next to the 110 lnbf side. (upper side on the left as you look at the dish). I tried it on both sides as a matter of fact.

 

[dlsnyder]

Maybe it's just me but every time I see EVII or EVIII mentioned in a post my mind reads EVIL. Just one of those things...