We're in the Houston area also with a similar problem. I had to look twice at your posting to make sure it wasn't a question I posted just last week. See
http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-forum/279967-satellites-does-directv-use.html. Those folks were a huge help answering my questions about DirecTV. I just worked my obstruction problem with DISH today, and I think we'll be happy staying with DISH for now.
A few years ago we were switched from DISH's 110, 119, and 129 satellites to 110, 119, and 61.5, because trees were obstructing 129. (We have two dishes - a 500 with dual LNB [110 & 119]and a 300 with single LNB[61.5].) We got most of our HD channels fine from 61.5, but over the past 6-8 months we started losing our HD channels. With the Dish Network Uplink Center (
The DISH Network Uplink Center) it was clear that dish was transferring HD channels in that eastern arc from 61.5 to 72.7. With the DishChannelChart! (
Your Page Title) tables I was able to see what channels we would receive with various satellite combinations. Today a DISH tech reoriented the single dish from 61.5 to 72.7, and now we're getting all the HD channels in our package (AT250). I'm a happy camper as long as DISH doesn't move those HD channels off of 72.7. However, if they do, we'll be switching to DirecTV.
Do you know what satellites you are using now? If you want to reconsider switching, I might be able to help you shortcut all the analysis I did.