Echostar 14 update

[navychop]

I'll bet you're right.

 

[TheKrell]

I wonder if they have a way to cheaply convert an QPSK box to 8PSK?

Interesting question for us hardware buffs. I think they could convert a 301 into a 311 by swapping out the tuner module. If the form factor isn't identical already, I'll bet there are enough 301s out there to make a special run of 8PSK tuners that would be.

 

[navychop]

IIRC, that was all soldered. Could that possibly be cost effective?

 

[drdroo]

IIRC, that was all soldered. Could that possibly be cost effective?

It may be depending on if there's a pin compatible chipset to swap out. Depending on how many are out there, they could probably get such a chipset custom fabbed.

EDIT: Probably not cost effective in the US, but this kind of refurbishing work could probably be cost effective overseas.

 

[digiblur]

Don't most of the modern MPEG-2 receivers support 8PSK already? I thought I read something like that somewhere that Dish had this advantage over their competitor.

I know quite a few of the later SD DVR's are. The rebadged older 811's are. 311's etc.

I think we will start to see the higher tier channels move to 8PSK probably by the end of this year. Or quite possibly they will do it by DMA's. There are already some DMA's requiring 8PSK receivers even though they are SD MPEG2.

 

[TheKrell]

The only other possibility for saving these receivers is to ship them to another country that's still using QPSK mpeg-2. Mexico perhaps? This would need new firmware, which process is nearly free. Another possiblity is a reflash to turn them into FTA receivers.

 

[mike123abc]

Anyone want to buy 10-20 million MPEG2 QPSK boxes?

 

[digiblur]

It isn't cost effective for two truck rolls though. If they are going to go through the effort of getting a customer to 8psk they are going to go mpeg4 too. If I remember correctly in those new dma's that required 8psk they also required mpeg4 even though the channels were mpeg2.

 

[harshness]

Anyone want to buy 10-20 million MPEG2 QPSK boxes?

Bell could probably use a few.

 

[whatchel1]

time for new receiver

It's time for them to come out with a VIP 111K. Just a plain simple single tuner single output that has composte, RF, & HDMI/component out.

 

[drdroo]

It's probably cheaper just to continue with their existing receiver offerings since they've probably made enough of them now that they've justified their R&D as well as tooling expenses.

Each time you create a new product you have to pay a fair deal of up front costs to start manufacturing products. The more product you make, the more you dilute those costs.

 

[nelson61]

3/25 Epoch
Perigee increased to 25109km and inclination is down to 2.8 degrees.

3/27

35751km x 35775km with .07 inclination

One week and they are really close.

 

[DodgerKing]

It took them one week to do what it took Direct months to do. One has to question if there are any costs to doing something so quickly? Sometimes it is better to do something right vs fast.

 

[Lt Disher]

It took them one week to do what it took Direct months to do. One has to question if their are any costs to doing something so quickly? Sometimes it is better to do something right vs fast.

It probably used more fuel to get it to its current position so quickly, but I don't think there is a right vs. fast argument here. It is either at its correct position or not. It can be both right and fast.

 

[DodgerKing]

It probably used more fuel to get it to its current position so quickly, but I don't think there is a right vs. fast argument here. It is either at its correct position or not. It can be both right and fast.

Not if you greatly diminish the life span by using too much fuel

 

[Lt Disher]

Not if you greatly diminish the life span by using too much fuel

And how much fuel, pray tell, did they use? Did they GREATLY diminish the life span of the satellite? I doubt it.

 

[drdroo]

Not if you greatly diminish the life span by using too much fuel

If you compute the fuel use ahead of time in the 'expected lifespan' then it may be a non-issue.

 

[DodgerKing]

And how much fuel, pray tell, did they use? Did they GREATLY diminish the life span of the satellite? I doubt it.

I don't know. That is why my point was in the form of a question in my first post and a conditional statement in my second. Comparing 2 months to 1 week, that is a huge difference.

 

[harshness]

Sometimes it is better to do something right vs fast.

Sometimes, when you're using the right hardware, it is OK to go fast.

The SS/L FS-1300 is different in a number of respects from the Boeing 702HP. In addition to the station keeping ion setup similar to that of the 702, the FS-1300 also has a bipropellant engine for major moves. Rapidly moving the bird around doesn't deplete the ion system as always seems to be an overriding concern with rushing the Boeing birds.

 

[HDRoberts]

Anyone have the current longitude?