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J
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
hello all,

i am a relatively new subscriber to dish network and have a 625 box. i have noticed (as have many others in these forums) that my local channels show far more evidence of mpeg2 artifacting (blocks and blurs) than national cable channels. movie channels seem to be of the highest quality. this leaves me with three questions:

1. i'm assuming that e* is devoting more bandwidth to the premium channels, and then the national channels, and then the least to the locals because the fewest people get them. is that a fair assumption?

2. if the above is true, then wouldn't it make sense that if i record "cheers" off a local channel it would take up less space on my hard drive than if i recorded it off tvland? i know that the space indicator only gives a "time remaining" indication, and as yet i haven't watched it closely enough to notice if a full 30 minutes comes off for each show, but i'm guessing that is the case. so is it padding the stream to take up the full amount of space, perhaps even re-encoding a low-bitrate stream to a high-bitrate one (which will obviously not make it look any better)? or is it actually saving that space somehow? or, i suppose it's possible that the locals get the same bandwidth but look worse because whatever mpeg2 compressor is running on them isn't able to process as fast as the one in use for the national feeds, and thus outputs a poorer quality image at the same bandwidth?

3. i know that the locals are mirrored to the broadcast channel numbers (channels 2, 11, 13 etc. in houston) from a channel number somewhere in the 8000s. is that a straight channel number swap, or is the feed potentially different (ie, coming from a different satellite), and thus possibly one feed is possibly better than another?

many thanks for any help with this. i've only used this forum for a month or two now, and it has already been of immense help to me. you guys are providing a great service here.
8 Replies · 1681 views
J
thanks for all of the info. that helps clear up my questions. if anybody has anything else to add, i'm always curious to learn more.
Bob Haller
LIL PQ can be effected by the quality or lack thereof the station, how good the backhaul is, how its collected for backhaul, direct fibre vs OTA antenna, the bandwidth allowed by E, and that varies on the fly per transponder. if a bunch of stations all on the same transponder happen to have say a basketball game, artifacting can occur.

My LIL PQ is pretty good, but occasional pixeling does occur...
Anole
compress this !

I just had a long discussion on this subject with an ex-TV engineer from Los Angeles.
He has moved away from there, but still gets LA on sat, plus gets the networks delivered by a local station.
He says LA networks are uplinked via network satellites running 8-10 megabits per second, for delivery to out of town network stations.
So, they'll have about the same satellite lag time delay Dish has. *
He was comparing that to his Dish reception, and claimed Dish was much worse.
From my study, I'd say networks are running around 2 to 2.3 mega bits per second on Dish.

The picture problems he describes, I really haven't seen.
Fade all picture to black (or maybe cut to black) tears up Dish, he says.
I edit those shows sometimes, and I sure don't see it.

I won't say he's wrong, but as an ex-tv engineer, who's worked with hi-def, I wonder how hypercritical he might be?


* He was counting maybe three seconds lag between his local station over the air, and Dish.
That, he said, was a sign that Dish probably had good encoders trying to do the right thing, making mpeg.
And the fact that they don't have good stuff coming out, was just due to crowding too much data into the transponder.
(in other words, it didn't all get through)

We surmised that maybe some little city with 100k people might get even worse compression of their locals than LA or NY, but we don't have the data to back that up.
SimpleSimon
Go to www.dishchannelchart.com or www.lyngsat.com and count the channels per transponder to see what's what.

Last I looked, Colorado Springs locals per on a TP that had a total of only 7 channels. PQ is as good as can be expected anywhere. Other DMAs might be stuffed on TPs with as many as 12 channels - that's going to dgrade things for sure.
Big Bob
SimpleSimon said:
Last I looked, Colorado Springs locals per on a TP that had a total of only 7 channels. PQ is as good as can be expected anywhere.

Unless they compress them at the POP before the backhaul to the uplink site. My guess is that Dish is saving pennies by doing some pretty heavy compression before they backhaul them. After that, it really doesn't matter if each channel is on it's own transponder, it will never look all that great.

does anyone know how dish is compressing the locals before they backhaul them? Even worse, are they compressing them before the backhaul, decompressing them and then recompressing them before uplink :eek:
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....
68756 Replies · 2684834 views
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harshness
I Can't Wait - Nu Shooz
gms49ers
Shooz - Styx
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dishstaller
Too Much Time on My Hands - Styx
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sdfntx
Time Has Come Today - The Chambers Brothers
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long_time_Dish
No Time - The Guess Who
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in DIRECTV General Forum
The following is from Reddit. -
View: https://www.reddit.com/r/DirectvStream/s/orzHBkmqQW


gemini.webp

There appears to be a new DIRECTV Gemini OTT box, the C81KW-650.

The FCC listing is partially available, and a Geekbench entry confirms it uses an Amlogic S905X5, a solid SoC for a set-top box.

I also see 4GB of RAM, and the manufacturer is SEI Robotics.

DIRECTV C81KW OTT Box - Android TV Guide

Ok found a picture of the Box too on Reddit:


View: https://www.reddit.com/r/DirectvStream/comments/1twlex0/comment/opzeqi1/
25 Replies · 1374 views
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Scott Greczkowski
I know a few people who have gotten one and I am told like most modern streaming boxes this one also has HDR on all the time.
Tom Speer
I know a few people who have gotten one and I am told like most modern streaming boxes this one also has HDR on all the time.
I only noticed that as a problem on TVs that handle HDR poorly. They don't have enough peak brightness or enough dimming zones. For instance, TCL makes three lines of TV, sort of like the old Sears model of Good, Better, Best. On my 4 or 5 year end low price model, HDR looked awful (My neighbor likes the TV now). The midrange model from the next model year ithat I have at my Lake home now looks pretty good in HDR all the time. The midrange TCL QM7 model from last year at my other home looks spectacular, as I remember. I haven't seen it for 6 months.

If I had a TV that does HDR poorly, I would configure the Gemini to disable all HDR.
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b4pjoe
I only noticed that as a problem on TVs that handle HDR poorly. They don't have enough peak brightness or enough dimming zones. For instance, TCL makes three lines of TV, sort of like the old Sears model of Good, Better, Best. On my 4 or 5 year end low price mode, HDR looked awful (My neighbor likes the TV now). The midrannge model from the next model year ithat I have at my Lake home now looks pretty good in HDR all the time. The midrange TCL QM7 model from last year at my other home looks spectacular, as I remember. I haven't seen it for 6 months.

If I had a TV that does HDR poorly, I would configure the Gemini to disble all HDR.
I agree with that. The 2 LGs that we have Gemini's on looks far better with HDR enabled then it does with HDR off.
R
I know a few people who have gotten one and I am told like most modern streaming boxes this one also has HDR on all the time.
That would be a deal-breaker for me. The Rokus default to having it on all the time but it's easy enough to change that to native. If the content is HDR it goes on. Otherwise, no.
R
I don't mind HDR being on as long as its adaptive. I don't need HDR on non-HDR content

Also, God only knows how much it'll cost to get this per month. 10 bucks a month for 3 TVs in my apartment is not worth it if I can just use my android boxes and appletv to watch
b4pjoe
I don't mind HDR being on as long as its adaptive. I don't need HDR on non-HDR content

Also, God only knows how much it'll cost to get this per month. 10 bucks a month for 3 TVs in my apartment is not worth it if I can just use my android boxes and appletv to watch
It is not adaptive. HDR is either always on or off. No in between. However with my Gemini on satellite everything looks much better with HDR on.
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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
2178 Replies · 952702 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
DirecTV Satellite Transponder Updates for Nov 04 2026

Comparison of Transponder Data for Nov 04 2026 vs Oct 28 2026:


No changes in system tables for any transponder tuning parameters.

Changes to the use of defined transponders:


2 Previously unused Transponders with current APG records::
Net 15 TID 12 Beam NAT is a National Transponder on D12@103ca, TPN 13
Net 15 TID 17 Beam NAT + PR is a National Transponder on D15@103ca, TPN 18

Stream (PID) counts:

LIVE Streams​
National​
Spot Beams​
Count​
Change​
Count​
Change​
4K​
4​
​
​
​
HD​
266​
2​
1449​
​
SD mpeg4​
144​
​
194​
​
SD mpeg2​
433​
-1​
​
​
RB​
​
​
​
​
Audio​
89​
​
​
​
Push​
26​
​
​
​
Slate​
19​
​
1​
​
​
TEST Streams​
National​
Spot Beams​
Count​
Change​
Count​
Change​
4K​
​
​
​
​
HD​
​
​
1​
​
SD mpeg4​
​
​
​
​
SD mpeg2​
​
​
​
​
RB​
​
​
​
​
Engr Work​
56​
18​
​
​
​


The PID count Excel workbook provides much more count detail.

Newly updated tables of Streams on each transponder are available in the DataDigesters TPN Grids

More details of changes in individual channels will follow in the Weekly Analysis
and Gary Toma's Domestic TPN Map Excel files
Reshuffle setup ?
Weekly Analysis soon
Enjoy
DataDigesters
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
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...
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 10 views
osu1991
Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
11 Replies · 238 views
Foxbat
James Spader gets the best lines so far. I'm enjoying this series.
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osu1991
Finished the 2nd episode tonight. I'm really liking it so far.

Still hate weekly releases though, especially the way Disney and HBO do it waiting until 8pm to premiere it.
Foxbat
Apparently I'm not a big enough nerd🤓 since I did not read every Marvel Comic Book ever published. If I had, I might be comparing the comics' version of events compared to what's transpiring in "Visionquest". So, I am enjoying the series a lot, not weighed down by previous expectations, knowing only the Avengers MCU movies and the "Wandavision" / "Agatha All Along" TV series.

I found the Mr Know-it-All channel from his discussion about "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" and he's been gleefully picking these episodes apart, referencing the Marvel comics from the 1939 on. Turns out A.I. has been around since before World War II, at least in the comics. (Robots before that, yes, yes.) This show is going back into the archives.
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Foxbat
I'm expecting the finale to basically bring Vision into play for the Doomsday movie next month.
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osu1991
annoying they went with single episodes for the last two after releasing two a week for the first 3 weeks
ewindowman
Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
Looks like dish is Bankrupt. Filling tomorrow Tuesday June 30th
451 Replies · 15472 views
nelson61
Washington Post

SpaceX has held talks with Boost's parent company EchoStar in recent months about launching its own signature wireless service through a deal with the company, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
Musk, the SpaceX CEO, has discussed the deal personally, meeting with EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen last month, according to the people. The potential deal may result in SpaceX acquiring Boost Mobile or SpaceX gaining access to its network, which it leases from AT&T and T-Mobile US, the people said.
Access to those lease agreements would be a coup for SpaceX. The back door would allow Musk to make a play for a U.S. wireless market that equity research firm MoffettNathanson estimates is worth $235 billion. But the proposed service may need consent from those carriers for the service to actually launch, the people said.
Scott Greczkowski
Washington Post

SpaceX has held talks with Boost's parent company EchoStar in recent months about launching its own signature wireless service through a deal with the company, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
Musk, the SpaceX CEO, has discussed the deal personally, meeting with EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen last month, according to the people. The potential deal may result in SpaceX acquiring Boost Mobile or SpaceX gaining access to its network, which it leases from AT&T and T-Mobile US, the people said.
Access to those lease agreements would be a coup for SpaceX. The back door would allow Musk to make a play for a U.S. wireless market that equity research firm MoffettNathanson estimates is worth $235 billion. But the proposed service may need consent from those carriers for the service to actually launch, the people said.
Can't remember where or who I saw predict this. :D

It wouldn't surprise me to see Elon soon own all of DISH / Echostar in the future.
Bruce
It wouldn't surprise me to see Elon soon own all of DISH / Echostar in the future.
Again, why would Musk want a TV Service, specially one that is losing over a million subscribers a year.

Phone service…maybe, but not TV.
Scott Greczkowski
Again, why would Musk want a TV Service, specially one that is losing over a million subscribers a year.

Phone service…maybe, but not TV.
I know he wants TV. He wants to deliver EVERYTHING to EVERYWHERE.
Bruce
I know he wants TV. He wants to deliver EVERYTHING to EVERYWHERE.
Again, if so, why would he want Dish/Sling of all the providers?

He could deliver anything without actually owning, for example, watching the Lions game in my Tesla Y on it's screen via the YT app, while on the way to my future in-laws on Sunday.
Nebugeater
Again, if so, why would he want Dish/Sling of all the providers?

He could deliver anything without actually owning, for example, watching the Lions game in my Tesla Y on it's screen via the YT app, while on the way to my future in-laws on Sunday.


Just a guess on my part but there may be some value to aquring to get all the retransmision agreements that are in place even though at some point they need to be renewed
Bruce
Bruce
Washington Post

SpaceX has held talks with Boost's parent company EchoStar in recent months about launching its own signature wireless service through a deal with the company, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
Musk, the SpaceX CEO, has discussed the deal personally, meeting with EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen last month, according to the people. The potential deal may result in SpaceX acquiring Boost Mobile or SpaceX gaining access to its network, which it leases from AT&T and T-Mobile US, the people said.
Access to those lease agreements would be a coup for SpaceX. The back door would allow Musk to make a play for a U.S. wireless market that equity research firm MoffettNathanson estimates is worth $235 billion. But the proposed service may need consent from those carriers for the service to actually launch, the people said.
If Musk really wants to buy Boost, he might get a great price once Dish Wireless is out of Chapter 11.

Boost just lost 182,000 subs in the 3rd quarter-

M
Is Dish like Iran in one way...they both will totally collapse by end of week :)
Foxbat
Other than the price, my experience with Boost is not that different than what I experienced with my years with Cricket. I will be curious to see what happens if SpaceX takes the reins.
dfergie
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
10 Replies · 176 views
teachsac
Dang. That had to hurt. I would have not handled it that well. Surprised it wasn't brought up by Heff at the challenge.
dfergie
First rule - if you get a clue follow it immediately, 2nd - keep your stuff with you in a strange place, 3rd - pay attention to your ride... (pre first - don't go if you think you might not want to stay Rob)
teachsac
Loved the tribal🤣
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dfergie
Happy with the outcome, he was annoying...