Social Feed

D
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
What does Dish do now? Suggestions here!

Brought up previously:

1. Aggresive transition of all HD MPEG2 receivers to MPEG 4
2. Hold off on LIL initiative
3. Plead for allowance of Distant Locals
4. Find a loophole in Voom contract with Rainbow Media.
209 Replies · 34800 views
B
I would think with the FCC facing the Feb 2009 Digital conversion problems that they would be fairly generous and relative agreeable to helping Dish out with thier problem. After all Dish is already all digital so the FCC won't want to cause them any problems, the FCC has their hands full with all the local channels changing over, and also dealing with educating the public. They should let Dish do what they need to do, as long as it is reasonable.
Tyralak
I would think with the FCC facing the Feb 2009 Digital conversion problems that they would be fairly generous and relative agreeable to helping Dish out with thier problem. After all Dish is already all digital so the FCC won't want to cause them any problems, the FCC has their hands full with all the local channels changing over, and also dealing with educating the public. They should let Dish do what they need to do, as long as it is reasonable.

This just shows how badly this digital changeover business has been explained. It wouldn't have anything to do with Dish, even if Dish was all analog. The digital conversion affects BROADCAST ONLY. Period. It doesn't have anything to do with cable of satellite. Only OTA broadcasters.
John Kotches
This just shows how badly this digital changeover business has been explained. It wouldn't have anything to do with Dish, even if Dish was all analog. The digital conversion affects BROADCAST ONLY. Period. It doesn't have anything to do with cable of satellite. Only OTA broadcasters.

It's nice that you're so emphatic. You're also wrong. Why are you wrong?
Must carry becomes must carry digital.

So the HD locals like PBS and CW that are broadcasting in HD but aren't part of the HD locals are going to need to be part of each HD locals package. So we've just gone from 4 to 6 HD broadcasters in the vast majority of markets. You've nowlowered your market capacity as you also have to carry any other channels that are broadcasting in SD digital. On the + side, you do get to drop the SD versions, they might add up to 1 HD channel. So you have 1 HD channel + N number of SD digitals that could convert over to HD at any time with available content.

Dish will get some transponder space back with the shutoff of the analog SD locals. Depending on where on the satellite farm these TPs are it might be only a modest drop in capacity.

If the services provider is smart, they'll allocate based on all channels becoming HD so they want have to do transponder shuffling.

Please feel free to provide the counter argument to me.
N
Not to rain on some people's parade here but:

There are lots of other launch facilities that are not 'booked up' if they had a ground spare, they could get it up if they wanted. (Wallops Island Va is just one)

Dish is not hinging their entire business on this one satellite. They have a plan B if the satellite were to fail, etc (and a plan c, d,e,...) Surely they already know what they are going to do with the bird, and how it will fit into the business model.

Charlie said himself on CNN that Dish is behind because of the lack of HD Channels. They will do whatever it takes to get themselves back in the game. We will see some new HD, and most likely it will be before the end of the next quarter. They dont have to make 'us' happy, but they do have to keep their investors happy.

I doubt that they will reveal any info on this special chat today, other than to maybe inform of the failure, and release some kind of statement. I doubt they will release their plan b now till they start instituting it.

I do look for us to start seeing some type of activity up there though as to what their plan b is going to be.

Well now that I got down from my soap box :) I say we are all doomed!!!!!
navychop
Not to rain on some people's parade here but:

There are lots of other launch facilities that are not 'booked up' if they had a ground spare, they could get it up if they wanted. (Wallops Island Va is just one)

Open your umbrella. ;)

Wallops Island has 2 problems:
1. They are limited in the size of launcher they can handle right now.
2. They are located further from the equator than say, Cape Canaveral.

Payloads are built for certain launchers that are meant for certain locations. The closer you are to the equator, the greater mass a launcher can lift into orbit. Simple physics.

Plus, a satellite doesn't just fit onto any launcher. There are mating concerns. ILS has done work on making the connection as common as possible for their Proton and Atlas launchers. But you don't just take a payload off a Proton and slap it onto a Sea Launch, for example. The physical and electrical connections are different. Plus, the vibrations, G forces and other conditions experienced during launch vary from launcher to launcher, making some launchers unsuitable for some satellites. To beat that to death, a human rated launcher has far greater reliability and redundancy but also, generally, less vibration and sometimes lower G forces.

It doesn't matter if Wallops is available, anyway. The constraints aren't usually regarding the availability of a launch site. It's the availability of the launcher itself. These rockets aren't just kept on the shelf, they're built to order. The only exception to this that I know of, for commercial satellite launches, where rockets were built on an assembly line and actually warehoused, was - ta da - the Proton. And even they don't do that any more. Matter of economics.


Yep, I agree. Of course Dish/Echostar/SES/ILS etc all have plan B, and C and every foreseeable contingency has been considered. It is amusing that some people post that these massive corporations are winging it. And they're certainly not going to help their competition by revealing their plans any earlier than they have to.
T
Open your umbrella. ;)

Wallops Island has 2 problems:
1. They are limited in the size of launcher they can handle right now.
2. They are located further from the equator than say, Cape Canaveral.

I've not checked the specs between the two, but Wallops can handle Minitaurs, but I believe they are considerably smaller than the proton. 2 went from here last year w/ satellites.
D
I've not checked the specs between the two, but Wallops can handle Minitaurs, but I believe they are considerably smaller than the proton. 2 went from here last year w/ satellites.


The minotaur is miniscule in comparison to the Proton (and other Rockets that carry communications satellites). Wallops doesnt have the capability to support large rockets.

The Minotaur can lift a 500-1000lb satellite into a transfer orbit...AMC-14 weighed 9000lb+...It wouldnt even clear the launch pad with that baby on top....
Former member 501
Scott's report of the Special Retail chat

http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-ne...cial-retailer-chat-recap-march-18-2008-a.html

look like good news.
Tyralak
It's nice that you're so emphatic. You're also wrong. Why are you wrong?
Must carry becomes must carry digital.

So the HD locals like PBS and CW that are broadcasting in HD but aren't part of the HD locals are going to need to be part of each HD locals package. So we've just gone from 4 to 6 HD broadcasters in the vast majority of markets. You've nowlowered your market capacity as you also have to carry any other channels that are broadcasting in SD digital. On the + side, you do get to drop the SD versions, they might add up to 1 HD channel. So you have 1 HD channel + N number of SD digitals that could convert over to HD at any time with available content.

Dish will get some transponder space back with the shutoff of the analog SD locals. Depending on where on the satellite farm these TPs are it might be only a modest drop in capacity.

If the services provider is smart, they'll allocate based on all channels becoming HD so they want have to do transponder shuffling.

Please feel free to provide the counter argument to me.

You're very oddly rolling at least 3 different issues into 1. What I was responding to was what I thought was a very common misunderstanding of the 2009 broadcast digital mandate. The FCC and NAB have done a piss-poor job of explaining what it means. The person to whom I was replying, clairified. However, now you're combining multiple issues into a single one. There will indeed be an increase in the number of channels carried IF the FCC demands that Dish carry all subchannels. However, you are also assuming that Dish will be forced to carry all HD feeds of every channel in every local market they provide. This is not the case. In markets where they provide HD locals, they don't even provide all the availible HD locals. For example, the San Francisco Bay Area market, is one of the larger ones, but they only carry 4 of the many channels which broadcast HD feeds. Also, you're claiming that a local broadcaster will be providing multiple subchannels in HD. They simply do not have the bandwidth to do that. Unless the broadcaster compresses the HD feeds so far beyond HD lite, that they hardly qualify as HD, you aren't going to get 6 HD subchannels from an OTA broadcaster. For example, in the Sacramento, CA market, the local PBS affiliate has 4 subchannels. When they start showing HD programming in the evening, they drop 2 of the subchannels. That clear some things up for you?
mike123abc
Dish and DIRECTV will lose the battle like they did before. They will eventually be forced to carry all the HD channels in a market. They will probably also be forced to carry sub channels. There are way too many rich companies in the broadcasting world with powerful ties to Washington. Just like with SD LiL it will only be a matter of time before something will be mandated.

Right now Dish/DIRECTV are trying to delay the process as much as possible to be able to get capacity up. DIRECTV may have capacity in the air after the next launch but on the ground they would need a lot more fiber.
Tyralak
Dish and DIRECTV will lose the battle like they did before. They will eventually be forced to carry all the HD channels in a market. They will probably also be forced to carry sub channels. There are way too many rich companies in the broadcasting world with powerful ties to Washington. Just like with SD LiL it will only be a matter of time before something will be mandated.

Right now Dish/DIRECTV are trying to delay the process as much as possible to be able to get capacity up. DIRECTV may have capacity in the air after the next launch but on the ground they would need a lot more fiber.

Exactly. It may be an eventuality, but it isn't imminent, and certainly not tied to the 2009 analog shutoff date.
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 3 views
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
Don't know if any of you have watched this series yet, it would be interesting to see if you feel this review was accurate. It was very humorous to listen to however.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tsDO3y8I2c
2 Replies · 99 views
KAB
KAB
What a "pile of slop" review! I liked the show.
  • Like
Reactions: NYDutch
Y
What a "pile of slop" review! I liked the show.
If the review is like the article, oi! Eighteen paragraphs into the review and... all they've done is not really talk at all about the actual thing they are reviewing.

Halfway into the "written" review, I know more about how the writer "thinks" than I do about what they are writing about. I understand their politics, their self-overestimated understanding of film, their inability to be funny.

Takes about 22 paragraphs to get to one that starts "Anyway, the story kicks off...". Talk about Slop! 😂
K
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
Season 2 order already in hand:

'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Renewed for Season 2, Tatiana Maslany to Guest Star in Season 1

I've not been optimistic about this show based on what I've read so far. Seems to be aimed at a younger audience. Interesting though that Tatiana Maslany will have some sort of role.
91 Replies · 3661 views
K
I'm sure I will watch at least the first episode but I am not optimistic.
Here i am over a year later and just finished season 1. Not great but not as bad as I was expecting. Did not care for the barefoot captain stuff but overall ok. Actually looking forward to see what they did for season 2.
  • Like
Reactions: MikeD-C05
MikeD-C05
Here i am over a year later and just finished season 1. Not great but not as bad as I was expecting. Did not care for the barefoot captain stuff but overall ok. Actually looking forward to see what they did for season 2.
Yeah, the foot stuff was just nasty. I kept thinking of how dirty her feet would get traipsing around shoe-less. Funny, I love being shoe less at home and never wear shoes indoors in my home for long, but seeing her laying on all her furniture with her bare feet hanging out just kind of grossed me out.
  • Like
Reactions: long_time_Dish
harshness
I kept thinking of how dirty her feet would get traipsing around shoe-less.
Where would this "dirt" come from? Dead skin and dandruff?
  • Like
Reactions: Jimbo
MikeD-C05
Where would this "dirt" come from? Dead skin and dandruff?
There would still be dirt ,dust in the future I am sure. So walking around the station like she did she would get stuff on her feet. I am sure the robot vacuum is still going to miss stuff, with all those different alien species running around there.
harshness
There would still be dirt ,dust in the future I am sure.
Where is it going to come from -- specifically?

Why do you think cleaning technology won't improve in the next few hundred years? HEPA filtration was invented as part of the Manhattan Project.
MikeD-C05
Where is it going to come from -- specifically?

Why do you think cleaning technology won't improve in the next few hundred years? HEPA filtration was invented as part of the Manhattan Project.
I don't know, but I still don't like her walking through the station or the academy with out her shoes. It looks unprofessional and very "hippy like" for someone of her status and I personally don't get off to feet, so there is that. ;)
  • Like
Reactions: long_time_Dish
osu1991
I don't know, but I still don't like her walking through the station or the academy with out her shoes. It looks unprofessional and very "hippy like" for someone of her status and I personally don't get off to feet, so there is that. ;)
Stay out of my office. I rarely have shoes or socks on in the office. My office and business is at home though :clapping
MikeD-C05
Stay out of my office. I rarely have shoes or socks on in the office. My office and business is at home though :clapping
Say, I don't wear socks or shoes in my house either. But for a captain in Star Fleet it looks bad to be walking around the academy with no shoes. Gives off 1960 Hippie vibes.
  • Like
Reactions: long_time_Dish
Jimbo
Gives off 1960 Hippie vibes.
You say that like it's a Bad thing or something ... :biggrin
  • Haha
Reactions: MikeD-C05
long_time_Dish
Well, look at the way she sat in the Captain's Chair. I didn't say the show should have been called "Captain Chair-Whore" for nothing...
  • Haha
Reactions: MikeD-C05
primestar31
Say, I don't wear socks or shoes in my house either. But for a captain in Star Fleet it looks bad to be walking around the academy with no shoes. Gives off 1960 Hippie vibes.
star trek GIF by HULU


Just sayin...
MikeD-C05
You say that like it's a Bad thing or something ... :biggrin
For a whole generation of adults it was in the 1960s and 1970s.

All In The Family Nostalgia GIF by Sony Pictures Television
All In The Family Singing GIF by Sony Pictures Television
harshness
Females wearing any clothing is unthinkable on Ferenginar.
long_time_Dish
Females wearing any clothing is unthinkable on Ferenginar.
Was never a huge of the Ferengi-centric episodes in Trek...
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne


Get it?


An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68605 Replies · 2677797 views
  • Like
Reactions: c-spand
sdfntx
Gondoliers, Shakespeares, Overseers, Playboys and Bums - Norman Greenbaum
Bobby
I Wish I Was Eighteen Again - George Burns
harshness
I Wish - Stevie Wonder
  • Like
Reactions: gms49ers
EatMyVolts
Lonesome Road -- The Wonder Who?
long_time_Dish
Lonesome Loser - Little River Band
  • Like
Reactions: gms49ers
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Love this guy's channel. Looks like Walmart has thrown in the towel when it comes to conventional car batteries.

I bought a new AGM battery from Walmart about a year ago, it is already needing replacing. I thought about just buying a regular battery but from what I've read, that might not be a smart move. Might check my Forscan program and see if I can change the battery type from AGM.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awe7kY5nvdU
15 Replies · 128 views
harshness
When you need a battery, you need a battery.

If you can wait, new technologies are on the not-too-distant horizon.

You're probably doing something wrong if you're only getting a year out of an AGM battery. Heat and infrequent charging both significantly reduce lifetime.
Jimbo
The guy in the Video, REALLY needs to TAKE a Breath ...
If he'd Slow down, you could figure out What he's testing and on what. :(
harshness
If he'd Slow down, you could figure out What he's testing and on what.
You can't view his videos passively.

I appreciate this approach to videos that take an hour to deliver a fraction of the same data.

Now, if YouTube were required to flag the AI "reviews", that would really be something.
dishstaller
You're probably doing something wrong if you're only getting a year out of an AGM battery. Heat and infrequent charging both significantly reduce lifetime.
Huh? How can I be doing something wrong.....I took out the original battery, that was 6 yrs old and put in a new one.....kinda hard to screw that up. I figure it was just a bad battery....it happens.


The biggest takeaway I got from this video was the Walmart batteries only had something like 85% of battery life left even though they were brand NEW. The ones from O'Reilly all tested 100% of life left.
Jimbo
Huh? How can I be doing something wrong.....I took out the original battery, that was 6 yrs old and put in a new one.....kinda hard to screw that up. I figure it was just a bad battery....it happens.


The biggest takeaway I got from this video was the Walmart batteries only had something like 85% of battery life left even though they were brand NEW. The ones from O'Reilly all tested 100% of life left.
And the Walmart ones mostly had very little warranty.

My last AGM (using now) I got from O Rielly's, its the Super Start ... I got the Platnium, they had several to choose from.
TRG
TRG
Huh? How can I be doing something wrong.....I took out the original battery, that was 6 yrs old and put in a new one.....kinda hard to screw that up. I figure it was just a bad battery....it happens.


The biggest takeaway I got from this video was the Walmart batteries only had something like 85% of battery life left even though they were brand NEW. The ones from O'Reilly all tested 100% of life left.
I've been buying my batteries from AutoZone. I avoid Walmart whenever possible.
  • Like
Reactions: Jimbo
dishstaller
I appreciate this approach to videos that take an hour to deliver a fraction of the same data.
That's the way I feel about it.
I hate those videos where they show themselves slowly opening up the box and unwrapping it.
His videos are probably the fastest pace test videos on Youtube.
T
He sounds like he's trying to sell me a pocket hose.

I just had to replace a car battery this week and thought I'd look into LiFePo4. Amazon has plenty of them, but all have top posts and only one 'also' has side connections (Group 75).Then I read that they're really lousy in the cold. So, an AGM, but again, almost nothing with side terminals instead of top. In researching that, I read that most mfrs in recent years have dropped side terminals and gone back to the old top posts, which is surprising to me since those are more corrosion-prone, cause the battery to need more space and are generally more hazardous. Finally I just threw up my hands and bought a regular lead-acid at Sam's Club. They had a Group 75 "Duracell" with side terminals only. It was virtually the only such battery with side posts on their shelves
arlo
Had a Die Hard in my folks cellar for over 6 years. Pulled it out, slapped it on a charger for a day. Put it in my 'Cuda and drove it around for a week of my vacation. Next year, the same. But my dad kept it topped off for me.It was a mid 80's battery in early 1990.

Flooded acid batteries like a float voltage of around 13.5-13.8 voltage.
AGM needs a float of 14.2 volts. So if you slap an AGM in where a flooded was. It never gets a full charge.
"Why do they die so fast?" Question answered. There are folks who sell voltage regulators for alternators that are designed to boost float voltage for AGM batteries.
The other way around? Flooded will gas-off a little at 14.2 volts. But seems to tolerate it pretty good.

Lithium car/bike/atv batteries. After 3 batteries in my Harley. The OEM flooded and two AGM's (before the 14.2 volt float requirement to let them live was learned). I bought a lithium for it. 4 year, no gripe warranty after having it tested by an approved store.
The thing started like Thor himself sent a bolt from the sky. Except......try to start it around freezing? Nope. Needed a heating pad.
And I usually like to park it around events in the evening with the parking light on. Looks cool like that.
We could traipse around for a few hours no worries. Hop on, fire it up, and go putt around.
Lithium? A Dakota Lithium at least. The BMS shuts it right down if it discharges below <something>.
Come back. Parking lights off. Won't start. And you know the rest. But it lasted 6 years. A lot better than 'new every two'. And the fact that powersports batteries are warranted for six, maybe nine months. Ludicrous.

I called Noco. Asked all of the right questions. Great warranty. Save some bucks ordering directly, faster service that the wally world alternative.
They addressed (or claimed over the phone) that the shut down was addressed. Sure. The BMS keeps it form being damaged. But if it is shut down because it does become low. Shut down any load (key on, parking or headlights left on) for 10-15 minutes and you get a second try to start your rig. Not a bad thing if it really works. Right?!

Exide, Interstate? Be very afraid. They ain't what they used to be. In Florida my '70 Cutlass had an Interstate (early 90') that lasted 6 years until it dropped its plates at an intersection and boiled over. In Florida, mind you. The last Interstate.....done in 2. Guys down there would suck out the acid and put water in shortly before the warranty ran out. Make it to the auto parts, get them tested. And get a new one pro rated. No more pro rating.
You can't beat an Odyssey. Napa, AC Deco (the better ones). Yup.
The mom and pop Car Quest only sells Die Hard. For a reason, the old man says. So they convinced that a Die HArd Platinum was the hot ticket for me. l will see. Stand by!

You can't cut Mr. Project Farm down. He does great tests of all sorts of things. Not sponsored and pressured to slap a little sugar on his comparisons and reviews. Compared to the Brits and Aussies with their constant overzealous and same sounding (Dave from EEVblog) rant. I like P-Farm a lot. Of course I like AvE (Boltr) too.
Reminds me to beware when wearing shorts around the garage vice.


Opinions may vary.
TRG
TRG
Pub Member / Supporter
· posted in The Chit Chat Club
I collect and play vinyl records regularly. A friend of mine told me about a record stash located inside an antique mall. So naturally I had to go go check it out.

records.webp
0 Replies · 23 views
  • Like
Reactions: Bobby
Van
Van
Last reply · posted in What's Cooking?
Who says dinner or lunch has to be the only good meals of the day?

Honey butter grits with scrambled eggs and grilled boneless pork ribs on flakey biscuits washed down with cranberry juice.
6632 Replies · 379975 views
dfergie
Speaking of waffles, I'm going to put my mini waffle iron on stove so I'll remember to make waffles in the morning... Had some last week, been awhile.
dfergie
Dos cackleberrys over easy on top of 2 corned beef hash patties fried in skillet... Chocolate milk.
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: TRG and Bobby
TRG
TRG
Cold morning today, only 32 degrees. Fired up the oven and made cinnamon rolls (from a tube) and a pot of coffee.
  • Like
Reactions: dfergie
TRG
TRG
2 egg burrito with bacon and a side of hashbrowns. Coffee.

1645.webp
TRG
TRG
Breakfast Quesadillas. Grilled flour tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, hash browns, chopped green chile, cheddar & Jack cheese and bacon. Coffee.

q.webp