I'm in the Amarillo, TX area and on the spotbeam map it looks like I'm in spotbeam 26. The map also shows the metro areas of Johnstown, PA/Boston, MA/Detroit, MI/Toledo, OH/Charlotte, NC/Augusta, GA/Jackson, MS/San Francisco, CA as being serviced by spotbeam 26. My question is if I were to "move" to one of these cities am I correct that the same spotbeam over Amarillo is over the other listed cities and I would be able to receive HD locals? Also is Baton Rouge, LA serviced by the same spotbeam. TIA for any assistance.
Spotbeam Question
- Thread starter moss
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Amarillo and Lubbock are on SB26. I think you have spotbeam numbers and transponder numbers confused. Spotbeams are a designated area to which signals are directionally broadcast. If you aren't within the spotbeam footprint, you won't receive the programming broadcast within that spotbeam. Transponders are the "channels" that programming is broadcast on. Satellites have a limited number of transponders. By reusing the transponder (channel) numbers within multiple spotbeams, the number of channels is effectively increased multifold. The cities you mentioned all have programming from 110W broadcast on Transponder 26, but you'll notice each is within a different spotbeam footprint. You can only receive the programming on T26 within your spotbeam which is coincidentally also Spotbeam 26.
Can I receive Norfolk, VA or Charleston, SC locals?? They are on spotbeam 2 at 110. Providence, RI is on the same spotbeam as in Boston etc. I know they are at 61.5. Just wondering.
Nope.
As the poster above said, there is a difference between spotbeams and transponder frequencies.
For example:
In the above map the "yellow" states are all different and distinct. They can re-use the color yellow several times in the map because none of the yellow states touch each other. It's the same thing with transponders and spotbeams -- they can reuse the same transponder frequencies over and over again as long as the frequencies don't overlap in adjacent spotbeam areas.
The spotbeams for VA and for RI are completely different beams, they just use the same transponder frequency.
And I thought I made it easy to figure out with the colored circles and channels on the "circle" listed below it
Does that mean I can't get the Boston locals since it's a different color state?? I live in RI. I thought you could pick out a different local package if you "move" I'm confused now. I'm a purple state. Maine and NY are too. So not sure what this means.
Thanks,
Chris
Thanks,
Chris
spotbeams cover about 200 miles...sometimes less
so the spotbeams that are within 200 miles of you **Might** work....reason I say might is a spotbeam say 150 miles away may be the far fringe of it
so the spotbeams that are within 200 miles of you **Might** work....reason I say might is a spotbeam say 150 miles away may be the far fringe of it
The state map was just an example of how you can re-use transponder frequencies the same way you can re-use colors on a map.
The spotbeam maps look like this:
http://www.dishuser.org/E10spots/e10spots.pdf
http://www.dishuser.org/e12spots.pdf
The circles represent the rough coverage area of each of the spotbeams -- if you're outside of the circle, you can't pick up the signal. You can only get locals from cities within the same circle as you.
It should be noted that the E10 map is just for SD locals on 110W, and the E12 map is only for SD/HD locals coming from 61.5W. There spotbeams for the HD locals on 129W are much tighter. You can look up the 129W spotbeams here: http://www.satelliteguys.us/thelist/index.php?search=dn129&sub=true
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