Billings, MT HD Locals?

[ehurlbut]

Has anyone heard if Billings, MT will get HD locals on dish? I do believe that they will be the last HD locals to be picked up. I live 100 miles from there towers so OTA HD is not possible. Any news or solutions for us here in nowhere land?

 

[Laddyboy]

Check your signal strength on transponder 5 on 129W. That transponder carries the Butte locals (ABC, NBC, CBS, no Fox yet). If you get a strong enough signal to lock on, the transponder should change to be designated as a spotbeam. If so, you can "move" to that DMA. Great Falls is another possibility. Their HD locals are on transponder 13. Not knowing exactly where you are located, you should probably go to The List (link below) and look for markets in your general area. Click on the spotbeam and see a map for predicted coverage. Then see what signal strength you see for whatever transponder the market is on and whether you can lock it to a spotbeam. There's also All American Direct, but it's pricey for HD.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/thelist/index.php?search=dn129?=true

SatelliteGuys.US - Subscription 129°W

 

[dijohn76]

check out Great Falls, they probably are the closest, however, we only received CBS and ABC in HD.

 

[ehurlbut]

I am in Cody, Wy south of billings. I do get the transponder 5 to change to spotbeam but the strength is only a 9. Is that strong enough?

 

[Laddyboy]

I am in Cody, Wy south of billings. I do get the transponder 5 to change to spotbeam but the strength is only a 9. Is that strong enough?

No. You'd need have to have a larger dish.

 

[dijohn76]

Check out your signal strength on 129 satellite transponder 2-if you get a spotbeam 13 you should be able to get Casper stations.

 

[digiblur]

I am in Cody, Wy south of billings. I do get the transponder 5 to change to spotbeam but the strength is only a 9. Is that strong enough?

Check 1-16 and see which ones locak on 129 and say spotbeam. Anything like 30 or above should be good.

 

[ehurlbut]

Locked on to transponder 2 with spotbeam, strength was 75. may have to move to casper.

 

[BobaBird]

Billings was on the list to be added in 2008 which turned out to be the year of the East. I haven't seen any mention yet for 2009.

 

[bondoo0]

I feel your pain (about 150 miles from towers for me, just to the west instead of south). When I asked the GM's of the Billings stations, I got the impression it wouldn't be soon since they said they weren't even talking to Dish a few months ago. I haven't seen any positive signs since Billings was on the 2008 map that was posted, but then haven't heard anything about Billings since.

 

[Laddyboy]

Check out your signal strength on 129 satellite transponder 2-if you get a spotbeam 13 you should be able to get Casper stations.

Is Casper in HD? I only see SD listed for it.