D* E* why the letters

[vmaxept]

I have looked all over for this answer.
I have been here for a year plus.. WHY do all the posters use the assorted 'letter*' to mean DISH or DIRECT?


D* = DISH
E* = DIRECT

Is this some kind of policy that I missed?
RogerR

 

[Hemi 6.1]

Just less confusing, Less spelling.
E* =EchoStar which owned Dish Network
D* = Directv.
But feel free to spell them out if you wish. No rules against it.

 

[Mr Tony]

back when there were 4 providers, 3 ended in "star"

E* Echostar (aka Dish Network)
P* Primestar
A* Alphastar

so by process of elimination, Directv was called D*

 

[vmaxept]

DUH - thanks
I should have known that one

 

[navychop]

Every single one of us goes thru that decoding process. Then it becomes obvious and second nature.

 

[TNGTony]

There was a year-long battle on alt.dbs.echostar about the whole D* thing in 1997. I don't think there was a clear winner because D* is still in light usage compared to E*. But DSS (the combined name for DirecTV and USSB) was ruled a trademark infringement, DTV was too easily confused with digital television which was a hot topic at the time and D* (DirecTV -Star?) was just stupid and confused people due to the Dish Network name. There was never really a resolution so I always call DirecTV, DirecTV.

 

[MikeD-C05]

I spell it out because I really don't like abbreviating the names; DISH or DIRECTV.