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MNHTUG
Supporting Founder
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
Has anyone modified their Voom reflector/arm for using newer (D-Shaped) DP lnb's? The reflector is much larger than the D500 that we're using now for 61.5. Tried shortening the arm today but I'm not sure I got it to the correct length. If anyone has a modified and working Voom setup using DP equipment, please measure your arm and let me know the correct length. I'll buy you a pizza for your trouble.

If I had a legacy lnb on hand today, I could have compared the two side by side and had better chance to get the cut right. Signal strength is lower than the D500 dish with single lnb so something's not quite right.
13 Replies · 2573 views
MNHTUG
r10fret --

Is it possible for you to measure the length of the arm? My arm is now 12-9/16 long. Looking at your photo, I made the mistake of making the first cut at the first rib versus all the way to the end. After two cut's, it looks like I may have cut off maybe 1/8-inch too much.

If you can measure yours, I'll weld material back on to the tube and make a third cut at the correct length.

The reflector I am using is 26-inches tall and 24-inches wide. Would this be called a 24-inch reflector or a 26-inch?

This reflector is huge compared to the D500 I'm using now. After a lot of tweaking, best the larger reflector can do is about "10" less than the D500. It seems like I can move the azimuth a great deal and not affect signal strength which has me thinking I'm too short or two long.

With the screw removed, I've pulled the LNB out a little on the throat of the tube but it decreases signal strength. That alone has me thinking the arm is still too long. If someone could measure the length of the arm for this reflector, before or after the mod, I could adjust mine accordingly.
cditty
I love dish mod threads. I pass an old primestar dish on my way to work every day at an abandoned house and think of getting it. Just don't know what I'd do with it.

Good luck with your efforts.
whatchel1
They work fine

I love dish mod threads. I pass an old primestar dish on my way to work every day at an abandoned house and think of getting it. Just don't know what I'd do with it.

Good luck with your efforts.

I've used a ps dish on E* and it is a fine .65 meter dish. You just have to buy an FTA type adapter for the neck to hold the LNBF in place after removing the old ps LNBF's. BTW you have to get the focal length & height measured before you remove the old units. Thought about playing w/ 2 feeds on the dish but was too much trouble to be worth the effort.
r10fret
r10fret --

Is it possible for you to measure the length of the arm? My arm is now 12-9/16 long.

You cut at 12 9/16 or (12.5625). My metal arm length ( including the part of the metal arm underneath the yoke) is 12 5/8" (12.625) or exactly 32cm long, the screw centered at 12 1/8" or 30.8 cm, yoke begins to cover arm at 11 3/4" or 29.9 cm.

If you already cut too short maybe you can still line up the bottom of the yoke with a 11 3/4" line on the arm and then make 2 new screw holes through the plastic yoke over the remaining section of metal arm to secure the yoke at the right length. The best thing to do now is probably enlongate the screw hole and push it forward more toward the edge of the arm.
r10fret
The other vairables could be whether we have the same yoke that was made by the same company, I got mine from dishdepot in FL several years ago and never used it till about a month ago when I wanted to put a Dishpro LNB on the Voom dish for testing, I could not stand the rain fade interuptions to the weak transponders on E3 anymore.

The Voom dish I originally got new in box about 5 years ago on ebay from someone advertising 24" or 28" dishes, at one point I used it from FL for the 148 satellite (until they deorbitted it) with its original directv shaped/type LNBF and a legacy 3900 receiver.

Before I moved the Voom dish to 61.5 and added the D shapped holder I had been using a 18" dish but over the last 2 years the signals from E3 have kept droping. On a 3900 meter scale my E3 transponders went from 75 to 99 and on a 301 meter scale my signals have gone from the 40s to the 60s with the voom dish. Using same 2 year old dishpro LNBF.

Maybe you should also try swapping or replacing the LNBF.
MikeD-C05
The differences in the meter scale is because DISH equalized all meters on all receivers to be the same, but they did not change the meter scale in the dish point screen. So anything above 50 strength is considered a great signal. So what used to be 1- 100 or 125 is now 25 - 75. Anything lower than 25 isn't guarantee to stay locked in rain . So just take any meter reading you get now and add 30 points to it and it would be similar to the old meter scale.
r10fret
For example, CONUS
TP 11 @ 110, the 3900 (through a DPA) shows signal strength 125, the 301 shows 94.
TP 4 @ 61.5 3900:98 301:66,
TP 30 @ 118 3900:92 301:62.

SPOTBEAM
TP 31 @ 110 301:98 3900:125 can't go any higher to real value, which would probably be a 130, whatever a "130" means?

Have never seen the new scale meter, like on a 301, go above 99 even though it can go to 125.
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 0 views
K
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
'Rockford Files' Reboot Gets NBC Pilot Order

I grow tired of all the reboots. Most I don't bother with but will depend on the actor chosen.
22 Replies · 827 views
long_time_Dish

I wonder how they're/if they're going to do something like the answering machine message opening? It was always funny...
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Howard Simmons
I wonder how they're/if they're going to do something like the answering machine message opening? It was always funny...
I hope they can find enough Pontiac Firebirds to keep the show going.🤔
dishstaller
I wonder how they're/if they're going to do something like the answering machine message opening? It was always funny...
I had forgotten all about that part of the show. Used to really like it.
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Thought some might find this encouraging. It turned out good but I still feel a little bad about it.
Had to drop by Walmart on my way to the store this morning, I had enough time but no time to spare either. As I was walking across the parking lot I noticed an older gent pushing his buggy with a confused look on his face. I said hello as I passed but he didn't respond...something was bothering him. I kept walking and then stopped and chided myself for being in too much of a rush. I turned around and asked him if he needed some help. Turned out he had NO idea where he had parked his truck. He told what color and model and looked around...nothing. I asked him if he had tried his key fob, he wasn't sure what I was talking about and got it out and handed it to me. Hit the lock and listened for a horn like my F150 does. Nothing. Finally I hit the panic button and we heard his truck...it was on the complete other side of the parking lot. He thanked me and I went on about my business.

I felt bad however because I almost didn't stop. I was so focused on what I had to pick up that I almost just kept walking without seeing if I could help. Years ago I wouldn't have hesitated. It seems that as we age it is easy to focus more on ourselves and ignore others which is why you'll see footage of these muggings in big cities and people just walk by the wounded victim who is laying on the sidewalk.

Moral to the story: Don't let your humanity die just because so many others have allowed theirs to.
2 Replies · 29 views
T
Years ago you wouldn't have hesitated...What was your hesitation? In breaking stride to assess another's situation, which you wouldn't have done when younger? Usually it's younger people who are less observant or likely to break routine to help an old lady cross the street, etc.
TRG
TRG
Kinda reminds me of a verse from an old John Prine song.

So if you're walking down the street sometime
And spot some hollow ancient eyes
Please don't just pass 'em by and stare as if you didn't care
Say, "Hello in there, hello"


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....
68763 Replies · 2685925 views
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harshness
Message in a Bottle - The Police
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dishstaller
Knights In White Satin - The Moody Blues
Bobby
The Topical Song - The Barron Knights
dishstaller
The Logical Song - Supertramp
sdfntx
From a Logical Point of View - Robert Mitchum
Bruce
Supporting Founder Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in Internet Television (IPTV) Discussion Forum
Comcast is the first to report, with a massive 274,000 loss in video subscribers.

In the 3Q of 2016, Comcast had 21.42 million video subscribers and was the #1 provider, now at 10.39 million and is the #3 Provider, YTTV is #2 ( who also surpassed DirecTV-8 Million and Dish-under 5 Million), Charter/Spectrum is #1.

19 Replies · 738 views
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dishstaller
Got to admit I never thought I'd see the day that cable lost internet subs.
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Ronnie-
Got to admit I never thought I'd see the day that cable lost internet subs.
I think the cable companies didnt either, back when they had no real competition in their footprint.

But today, for many, maybe even most, cable isnt the only choice, or even the best.
NYDutch
I think the cable companies didnt either, back when they had no real competition in their footprint.

But today, for many, maybe even most, cable isnt the only choice, or even the best.
In my new apartment, my only choice is Spectrum due to the cost, just $30/mo for 100 Mbps service. And just the other day, I received a notice that I can have Amazon Prime at no cost through Spectrum. I already had Prime, but when I activated the Spectrum deal, I received a $75 refund on my annual subscription. I don't know how widespread the offer is being made, but it sure looks like they're trying to hang on to Internet subscribers.
ncted
All my parents had to do to get a discount on Spectrum Internet is say the words "Verizon Home Internet," and they cut the price by $30/month.
NYDutch
All my parents had to do to get a discount on Spectrum Internet is say the words "Verizon Home Internet," and they cut the price by $30/month.
I don't think they'll go below the current $30 price since it's part of a deal they have with the non- profit that owns the apartment building.
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ncted
I don't think they'll go below the current $30 price since it's part of a deal they have with the non- profit that owns the apartment building.
Yeah, I was just saying Spectrum suddenly wants to keep what customers they can.
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Tom Speer
Optimum, which bought up our previous cable company, Suddenlink (originally COX), replac ed all of their coax disdripution with Fiber several years ago. They ran new fiber links to the house, but installed RFOG (RF over glass) devices on the outside of the house, which makes the house coax system look like a cable system. They used DOCSIS modems and of course we had the same assymetric bandwidth of cable internet. When I called them a couple years ago, and said I had installed a connection to the local Fiber provideer, MetroNet, They panicked and offered me the 300 MBit "Fiber powered" cable service for $20 per month. They were bleeding customers. I cancelled my Metronet and went with the $20 deal for a year, even though I didn't like the old cable technology.

Then T-moble Fiber struck a deal with Metronet Fiber where T-mobile would take over the marketing, billing and customer relations for residential Customers. They offered a "Founders Deal" for 2 Gigabit service, symmetric speeds, for $70 per month for new customers. That included all taxes and fees and was guaranteed for 10 years. I couldn't resist. That deal is no longer offered, but I am set for 9 more years.

Now the successaor to the old local telephone company, Brightspeed has also installed a modern Fiber system in the neighborhood, but won't be getting my business. But their Fiber technology is also superior to Optimums cable based system.

With Fiber competition, the cable companies are eventually doomed.
Gary Toma
Staff member Pub Member / Supporter Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in DIRECTV Technical Resources Forum
The TPN Map Excel Presents all DIRECTV Channels:
​
National (50-States or wide/NAT+PR beams)
Local (Local-Into-Local or narrow/Spot beams)
​
Additional tabs provide:​
OTA the (Over-The-Air) Database
VOD (Video On_Demand) Records
Offline Records
Engr Records
Net Decoder a graphic presentation of all satellites and transponders
​
Domestic Satellites
@99W...... D11, D14
@101W.... D16
@103W.... D12, D15
@110W.... D5
@119W.... D8​

Understanding the TPN Map

Making Sense of the TPN Map Display Conventions
2179 Replies · 953663 views
jamieh1
Now in the Hornets and Hurricanes markets we just get the TV promise screen. But Directv still charges sports fee I am assuming.
Luckily my DTV stream package doesn't have a rsn fee. Figure DTV that always says is the leader in sports would have come to an agreement by now.
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K
Now in the Hornets and Hurricanes markets we just get the TV promise screen. But Directv still charges sports fee I am assuming.
Greenville-New Bern is $11.99 for MASN (Orioles) and Nationals
Raleigh is $11.99 for MASN and Nationals
Charlotte is $12.99 for BravesVision, MASN, Nationals and Reds

The fee in NC also includes the higher in state rate they have to pay for ACCN. Down in SC the fee is $15.99 as they are also a SEC state.
I'm not sure if they're doing it with those teams, but in some markets they also use the fee to cover the additional cost they have to pay for independents and MyNet stations that picked up full season NHL and NBA rights.

If you go to the TVPromise site, you'll likely be able to get a credit for not getting the Hurricanes and additional Hornets games that air on WITN-D2

Figure DTV that always says is the leader in sports would have come to an agreement by now.
Part of the hold out might be the packaging and price for outer areas like how the Thunder needs sports pack for other states. Hopefully they are also pushing for a guarantee from the teams that they would require whoever wins their local broadcasting rights in 2028 to negotiate with MVPDs. Commercial distribution rights are probably a factor too.

I'm guessing they got a deep discount for the Clippers based on how long it took them to officially announce ClipperVision and their KTLA simulcasts after they were basically handed a multi-year draft death penalty.

The Predators and Pistons channels are using feeds supplied by Scripps Sports

The Heat likely depends on whoever they sign for the Fort Myers DMA, as there's no point in paying a high price for the Heat just for that DMA when WPLG is streaming it for free on their app and website for viewers in the Miami DMA, and they already carry the West Palm Beach station.
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K
The Heat likely depends on whoever they sign for the Fort Myers DMA, as there's no point in paying a high price for the Heat just for that DMA when WPLG is streaming it for free on their app and website for viewers in the Miami DMA, and they already carry the West Palm Beach station.
WINK-D3 (Weather) for Fort Myers

https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-...st-partnership-with-wink-in-southwest-florida
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D
Weekly Analysis for 11/04/2026:
K
Prep for More TPN swaps

NewsMix -> ElectionHQ

MLBEI -> NBALP in the 740s

No sign of the additional CW affiliates that were added to stream a few weeks ago
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K
WINK-D3 (Weather) for Fort Myers
WINK-D3 Fort Myers is testing on the stream server
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R
WINK-D3 Fort Myers is testing on the stream server
Could be for the Heat since they have the rights to that.

Its always a surprise to see DTV carry subchannels...
K
WINK-D3 Fort Myers is testing on the stream server
It's now live on channel 654 as HEAT for the Fort Myers DMA
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zippyfrog
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
Over the past year I have been tracking the changes on Western Arc. The past 3 months have had a lot of changes that I posted in the other MPEG2 Western Arc shutdown thread. Now that 129 is (basically) out of commission, here is where Western Arc stands. This is just a national channel list, (no local channels) based off what I can see and what others have contributed. Thanks to everyone who has helped me come up with the locations of some of the channels – I would try and list all of you out, but I know I would forget someone! As has been suggested in other parts of the forum, it would be great to collect the spotbeam data for those who could contribute!

A couple of pieces of info:
  • Out of the 64 transponders between 110/119, there are currently 50 transponders that Dish is licensed to use. 22 are Spotbeams, 28 are ConUS transponders (14 transponders are licensed to DirecTV and Dish doesn't have access to them)
  • Those 28 ConUS transponders are divided as follows:
    • 10 are dedicated to National HD channels (ESPN, CNN, Disney Channel, etc). Dish is maxing out at 16 HD channels per transponder (note – in an earlier post I said there was one transponder with 17 HD channels, that was an error on my part. When I double checked my listings, one channel changed transponders). Before the transition, there was a maximum of 14 HD channels per transponder.
    • 1 transponder is dedicated to adult content
    • 2 are a mixture HD PPV Movies/4k channels
    • 3 are set aside for HD Sports channels that are only on for live games (NBA League Pass, the PAC 12 alternate channels, some PPV events, etc); 3 SD PPV Sports Channels are there as well.
    • 7 are for SD and/or music channels. Dish is maxing out at 26 SD channels per transponder thus far on the SD transponders.
    • 5 transponders on 110 I have no channels listed but Dish operates. (they are labeled as ConUS on my chart below) There are other things that could be on those transponders, like RV Distant Networks, internal testing channels, etc, that I can't see. They might be able to be used for additional content, but I am not sure exactly what is on those transponders.
There are two transponders that have lower than normal SD channels – 110, TP 21 and 119, TP 19. Previously those transponders contained the programming guides that get downloaded from the satellite when the receivers download EPG. I assume that is where the programming guides are still downloaded from, thus less channels there.

When I talk about number of channels on a transponder, all my numbers are unique channels – for example, channel 101 and 199 are the same channel mapped to two different numbers, but in terms of space, only takes up 1 channel worth of bandwidth on the transponder.

Finally, I have to give Dish a ton of credit. When it was 110/119/129, Dish had 82 transponders they were using – it took a lot to get it down to 50 transponders and figure out where all the pieces were going to go. What are the things they did to get there? Here are the things I saw:
  • During this migration from 129, Dish converted 7 ConUS transponders on 119 into Spotbeams – that is how they ended up fitting on all the HD locals that used to be on 129. (for those interested, TP 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 are the ones that used to be ConUS on 119 that are now Spotbeam)
  • Removed almost all SD duplicate channels that are offered in HD
  • Converted remaining SD channels from MPEG2 to MPEG4
  • There are also 2 subtle things that changed from the HD channel perspective
    • At the beginning of the transition, Dish decreased the number of PPV Movie channels – prior to this transition the PPV channels HD PPV movies were 502-522; now they are 502-517.
    • At the beginning of April when MLB, NBA, and NHL regular seasons were all going on at the same time and this transition began, there were a ton of games "joined in progress" for the HD feeds. That wasn't common since the days before the full time HD RSN's. The reason for that was prior to the transition, Dish had 4 transponders set aside for HD Sports – 2 transponders was the bandwidth set aside from the HD RSN's before Dish dropped the RSN's, then 2 transponders were for alternate channels. Now we are down to 3 transponders for HD sports.
255 Replies · 66652 views
zippyfrog
Dish has officially removed all the locals from 119 and they are all on 110 now. TP 02, 04, 06, 08, 10 were all functioning as Spotbeams as of last week, but now they are ConUS.

This means all 21 transponders that Dish has access to at 119 are now ConUS.
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D
Dish has officially removed all the locals from 119 and they are all on 110 now.
Might be a silly question, but does this mean ALL 29 TP's on 110 are positively spot beams now?
zippyfrog
Might be a silly question, but does this mean ALL 29 TP's on 110 are positively spot beams now?
Nope - TP 1-13 are still ConUS on 110. Which is crazy...there are so many different spotbeams on the new 110 satellite compared to the older 110 or 119. Now, someone can correct me if I am wrong on this - but aren't there two satellites at 110 right now? If so, it looks like TP 1-13 are coming from the old satellite at 110 and 14 onward are spotbeams on the new satellite.
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D
Now, someone can correct me if I am wrong on this - but aren't there two satellites at 110 right now?
Hopefully nelson61 can chime in on this one, because I'm not sure, either.
I guess the thing I'm really perplexed about, is if there are NO more locals - at least on spotbeams - on 119, then how DID they cram ALL the locals on 110 & NOT have ALL those x-ponders in SB mode by now?
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zippyfrog
Hopefully nelson61 can chime in on this one, because I'm not sure, either.
I guess the thing I'm really perplexed about, is if there are NO more locals - at least on spotbeams - on 119, then how DID they cram ALL the locals on 110 & NOT have ALL those x-ponders in SB mode by now?

Here was a comment by nelson61 last year:
EchoStar 23 (Conus beam) will still be at 110W so there can be some Conus beam coverage from 110W depending on how many transponders they use for the spots.
In the same thread, he gave all the kml files for the spotbeams to put on Google Earth, and it looks like there are a lot more spotbeams per transponder available than the old satellite. My gut is that there is just a more technilogically advanced satellite, and can handle more channels.

I would love an analysis of how many channels could be fit on all the spots!
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D
My gut is that there is just a more technilogically advanced satellite, and can handle more channels.
My only trouble with that explanation, is the fact that they are wasting at least 1 TP (TP 10, to be precise) on a local market (part of the Chicago locals are on that TP) that could be used for more CONUS channels (namely more HD!)
zippyfrog
My only trouble with that explanation, is the fact that they are wasting at least 1 TP (TP 10, to be precise) on a local market (part of the Chicago locals are on that TP) that could be used for more CONUS channels (namely more HD!)
I ran the Schedule S through ChatGPT to analyze the data quickly, and according to ChatGPT, the 16 transponders currently being used for SpotBeams on 110 is all that has been authorized by the FCC. So Dish might be using TP 01-13 for ConUS on 110 for the foreseeable future. If that is the case, Dish has a ton of space to bring in more HD channels nationally or use that bandwidth for something else.

I know my lists aren't perfect as I can't see all the test channels and behind the scenes channels, but for channels available to subscribers - there are no channels on 119 TP 01-08 and 10; and on 110, TP14 has only 4 channels. With Dish putting 16 HD channels per transponder right now, that is about 145+ slots for HD channels that are available if Dish does keep 110 as ConUS for TP 01-13.

1793870854650.webp
nelson61
Probably won't know how things are going to settle in until their next satellite is launched and in place.
Re: 110
They are down to E11, E23, and E25 at 110W
EchoStar 10 completed deorbit ahead of schedule and is something like 230 miles above geostationary.
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