Dish Network Technology

In 1987, EchoStar appealed for a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) license with the Federal Communications Commission. Five years later, in 1992, EchoStar was provided access to geostationary orbital slot 119° West longitude for its first DBS device.

In 1996, EchoStar and Dominion Video Satellite, Inc., owner of the Sky Angel DBS service, configured an agreement where both companies work together on the same DBS satellite. FCC-licensed DBS frequencies and channels on Dominion coexist with EchoStar III (61.5° West longitude), supporting DBS frequencies and channels licensed by the FCC to EchoStar. Both companies operate independently of one another on the same DBS, and subscribers to each provider are not required to subscribe to both services. This technical agreement allows individuals the option to subscribe to both services using the same satellite receiving system.

EchoStar profited from the failed joint venture of ASkyB and MCI WorldCom in 1999 and obtained the broadcasting assets of these companies. DISH nearly doubled its capacity by adding 28 transponders at the 110°W orbital location.

Additionally, on May 1, 2005, EchoStar annexed the first ten of the 21 original Voom channels, available at a 61.5°W orbital slot position. In 2006, EchoStar appended all 21 original Voom channels.

To satisfy an FCC mandate for single-dish local-into-local service, Echostar X, the tenth satellite in Echostar's squadron, was successfully launched on February 15, 2006. By mid-May it effectively began broadcasting from the 110°W orbital location Dish Network Satellite Locations List * 61.5° - Eastern/Central/Mountain U.S. (HD Programming & Int'l) * 110° - Entire U.S./Alaska/Hawaii/Puerto Rico (Local Channels & Main core of programming) * 105° - Local Channels in specific geographical areas of CONUS * 118.7° - International programming * 119° - Entire U.S./Alaska/Hawaii/Puerto Rico (Main core of programming) * 121° - International programming * 129° - Central/Mountain/Partial Eastern U.S. (HD Programming) * 148° - Western/Central/Mountain U.S. (Local Channels & Int'l) Different types of Satellite dishes in DISH Network’s fleet.

DISH 300- the original 18” satellite antenna.

It uses one low-noise block converter (LNB) to obtain signals from the 119°W orbital location, and is commonly used as a second dish to receive additional high-definition or ethnic programming from either the 148°W or 61.5°W orbital locations. The 119°W slot is one of two primary orbital locations that provide core services.

The LNB takes a wide block (or band) of relatively high frequencies, amplifies and converts them to similar signals carried at a much lower frequency (intermediate frequency or IF). These lower frequencies travel through cables with much less attenuation of the signal, providing more signal left on the satellite receiver end of the cable.

DISH 500- a step up.

This upgraded, 20-inch satellite dish has the advantage of obtaining signals from EchoStar’s two adjacent satellite locations with a maximum 500 channel capacity for local-into-local service, nationwide programming and business services. The DISH 500 was designed for the specific purpose of being able to receive signals from both its 119°W orbital location and additional signals at the 110°W orbital location. This dual-satellite signal receiving was accomplished by an innovative dual-LNB. This technology is cost-effective and easier to engineer.

DISH 1000- national high definition TV receiver.

This dish receives signals from 110°W, 119°W and 129°W orbital locations.

SuperDISH, DISH 500+, and DISH 1000+-.

To capitalize on the dizzying array of satellite broadcasting technologies DISH Network created, the company started providing extensive ethnic programming that receives programming from lower-powered satellites broadcasting in the non-DBS portion of the FSS band. DISH Network offers specialized equipment for customers including larger dish antennas. The SuperDISH, DISH 500+, and DISH 1000+ systems receive DBS signals from both of the primary 110°W and 119°W locations (129°W for DISH 1000+) as well as lower-powered FSS signals from either 121°W (Required for KBS World), 105°W, or 118.75°W. The DISH 500+ and 1000+ systems receive circularly-polarized signals in the non-DBS portion of the FSS band - the only American satellite television service to do so.

Broadcast technology The standard MPEG-2 broadcasting was upgraded to MPEG-4 as of February 1, 2006. This new MPEG-4 technology successfully converts the bandwidth-intensive HDTV channels for better broadcasting capacity. Ultimately, DISH Network intends to convert the entire platform of its broadcasting services to MPEG-4 in order to provide more channels to subscribers.

Written by David Johnson.

Article Source: http://www.amazines.com