Echostar 15 Files with FCC for Launch

[digiblur]

Not near enough, particularly with only 2 uplink centers.

However, the most recent Dish 10-K showed an Echostar 16 sat for 61.5 that will probably be a spotbeam sat.

Given how loose the beams are, I wonder if E16 won't be capable of spots and CONUS, as it appears E15 might best be a backup to all CONUS EA (and maybe WA) sats.

2 uplink centers? E12 requires the use of more uplinks than any other bird they have, and they skimped on that a bit using one uplink center for 2 beams at times, in essence cutting down on the number of transponders downlinked on the two beams. Due to the small set of frequencies Rainbow had, they had to design it with a high reuse of uplink frequencies. I'm sure Dish would love to do away with the extra costs of these smaller uplink facilities.

Usually Dish will use Cheyenne, Gilbert, Monee, New Braunfels, Spokane, and Mt Jackson.... E12 utilizes those and some such as Jackson MS, Atlanta, St Louis, to name a few.

 

[digiblur]

This line still cracks me up:

"The satellite will be owned by DISH. DISH has agreed to
lease the satellite to EchoStar; EchoStar, in turn, will sublease the satellite capacity to DISH
while retaining control over the satellite and responsibility for the satellite’s Telemetry, Tracking
and Command functions."

and it looks like more fun is on the way:

"The affected Netherlands network is 2.5 degrees away from USA BSS networks at
61.5°W, including USA Original Plan networks. The Netherlands is required to obtain
agreement from the USA before it can implement its network. It is noted that the worstcase
OEPM degradation into USA networks at 61.5°W from the Netherland’s network is
almost 10 dB, therefore successful coordination of the NSS-BSS 59 network with USA
networks is expected to be quite difficult. This network will expire within the eight-year
regulatory time period if it is not successfully coordinated, entered into the Region 2 Plan
and brought into use."

Nice to see them also list 8PSK 3/4 FEC link budgets. Most of the time they use 2/3, but I believe there are a few 5/6 8PSK's scattered around.

 

[rocatman]

Hmmm, will E15 be the first Dish sat with a phased array?

From attachment A:

I don't believe "phased array" is the correct term. Perhaps reconfigureable antennas would be a better term. I believe AMC-14 had a phased array payload on it to test out that technology. With the capability to provide 19 super high powered CONUS TPs, I wonder if E-15 could be configured to backup E-11 at 110 W. I am also wondering if Dish has other future plans for E-15 somewhere else after E-16 is launched because one would think that E-12 and E-16 could provide coverage at 61.5 W which I believe Dish will use primarily for HD locals and dedicate a handful of TPs for international programming.

 

[HDRoberts]

2 uplink centers? E12 requires the use of more uplinks than any other bird they have, and they skimped on that a bit using one uplink center for 2 beams at times, in essence cutting down on the number of transponders downlinked on the two beams. Due to the small set of frequencies Rainbow had, they had to design it with a high reuse of uplink frequencies. I'm sure Dish would love to do away with the extra costs of these smaller uplink facilities.

Usually Dish will use Cheyenne, Gilbert, Monee, New Braunfels, Spokane, and Mt Jackson.... E12 utilizes those and some such as Jackson MS, Atlanta, St Louis, to name a few.

I thought that was one of the bottlenecks as to why more spots were not turned on. I also thought some existing uplink sites, like Gilbert, were not usable because it was not designed to be used by Dish, this it wasn't designed with their uplinks sites in mind.

One would think now that E6 is there, they clear out E12 and get busy with HD LiL if uplinks are not a problem.

 

[nelson61]

uploaded the kml embeds.

Echostar 15 61.5W TEL Conus Plus (Satkml)

Echostar 15 61.5W TWL Conus Plus (Satkml)

 

[papita]

61.5 Puerto Rico coverage

Is nice to see they considered Puerto Rico on a third sat. Hope we could get full national HD's then (with E15). Thanks for the maps!

 

[digiblur]

Is nice to see they considered Puerto Rico on a third sat. Hope we could get full national HD's then (with E15). Thanks for the maps!

You'll probably see more HD added to your package when E14 is brought online. I know some TP's over PR are first up on the ones being added.

 

[neljtorres]

You'll probably see more HD added to your package when E14 is brought online. I know some TP's over PR are first up on the ones being added.

Yup that's right!

 

[Santinelli]

Hasn't E3 been SICK for a REALLY REALLY long time? I remember a few years ago the satellite servicing 61.5 was having severe issues.....

Well, good that they are getting it up sooner than later...

 

[navychop]

Yep. It's a hurt'n puppy.

 

[cditty]

It's beyond a hurting puppy... I believe it is much worse off than Dish is letting on. In fact I would be surprised if it lasted until it's replacement is in place.

At the very least, I expect them to lose more transponders... But I am sure they are planning on that too.

 

[RVD420]

Well remember most birds have a 12 - 15 year expected useful life.

E3 was launched in 1997.

So E3 is 13 years old -+ a few months.

At least E3 didn't have all the issues E4 had (cue Sanford and Son theme)

 

[navychop]

And wasn't used for target practice. Yet.

 

[nelson61]

Anik has advanced launch to September

Plan of Russian space launches

 

[mike123abc]

Hasn't E3 been SICK for a REALLY REALLY long time? I remember a few years ago the satellite servicing 61.5 was having severe issues.....

Well, good that they are getting it up sooner than later...

Well the first replaement (AMC-15) had a launch failure, so they had to build a new one.


On another note, Dish appears to be trying to appease the Canadians more by moving all the national to 61.5/72.7 and just regional (spot) on 77. It makes good sense to do it that way.

 

[cditty]

Well the first replaement (AMC-15) had a launch failure, so they had to build a new one.


On another note, Dish appears to be trying to appease the Canadians more by moving all the national to 61.5/72.7 and just regional (spot) on 77. It makes good sense to do it that way.

I agree with that... It makes great sense.

 

[Fitzie]

Anik has advanced launch to September

Plan of Russian space launches

nelson61, thanks for the continued excellent posting.

Based on the data, it seems the E-15 sat may be operational by sometime in October, with only nominal testing of the CONUS beams needed. By listing the sat completion date as mid-May and potential launch as 7-1-2010 through September 2010, Dish seems to be on a mission to get this one up ASAP. Good news for all.

Best regards,
Fitzie

 

[nelson61]

nelson61, thanks for the continued excellent posting.

Based on the data, it seems the E-15 sat may be operational by sometime in October, with only nominal testing of the CONUS beams needed. By listing the sat completion date as mid-May and potential launch as 7-1-2010 through September 2010, Dish seems to be on a mission to get this one up ASAP. Good news for all.

Best regards,
Fitzie

And, I'd guess the Russians will do what ever is necessary to put it at the head of their launch schedule as soon as it is ready. They probably still have nightmares about AMC 14.

 

[sundude90]

So if they are going to move the core HD Channels from 61.5 over to 72.7, what are they going do with 61.5 when this new satellite is in place?

 

[digiblur]

So if they are going to move the core HD Channels from 61.5 over to 72.7, what are they going do with 61.5 when this new satellite is in place?

Just more bandwidth to go around for more HD. And by that time folks will be on pure EA or WA setups so they can move stuff around at the leisure. The hunger for HD isn't going to stop so they need all they can.