sternpry -
You talked about Dish but referred to it as D*.
D* is DirecTV. E* is Echostar, or Dish.
Yeah, I know, confusing, but that's the way 'tis.
You may also see TB*, or TurdBird, for DirecTV, because their owner, Rupert Murdoch, referred to them as such.
Stay tuned for further acronyms.