Dish Network in the Sky

Webmasters: You may reprint this article in its entirety, providing you leave Byline and About Author sections intact, including links to Dish Network Satellite TV. DISH Network Satellites in Sky

DISH Network has been around for over a decade now, providing digital services to millions of customers worldwide. With its most recent launch of EchoStar IX, DISH Network boasts nine state-of-the-art satellites in its primary servicing system. Ever wonder where all those satellites are?

DISH Network launched its first satellite in 1995, just three years after EchoStar was granted its first orbital slot. EchoStar I was launched from Xichang, China and placed at 119 degrees West Longitude on December 28, 1995. In March of 1996, DISH Network begins broadcasting to its customers from its very first uplink center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. EchoStar I services an area that spans western United States to Central/Mountain region.

With more than 100,000 customers, company launched its second satellite, EchoStar II from Kourou, French Guiana in South America in September 1996, just one month after opening its second service center in Thorton, Colorado. Also servicing Western United States, EchoStar II was built by Lockheed Martin and had a launch weight of a whopping 6,360 pounds. Broadcasting began two months later in November 1996.

In October 1997, EchoStar launches its third satellite, EchoStar III from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Another Lockheed Martin product, EchoStar III weighed in at over 8,000 pounds at launch and orbits at 61.5 degrees West Longitude. The satellite services Eastern United States and has double transponders of its two predecessors. Just two months later, DISH Network celebrates its millionth customer.

The Science Behind Satellites

Webmasters: You may reprint this article in its entirety, providing you leave Byline and About Author sections intact, including links to Dish Network Satellite TV. The Science Behind Your Satellite Dish

Ever wonder how your satellite system works? There’s actually quite a bit of science going on behind scenes, with several components working together to bring you that digital-quality signal. Here’s a quick look at pieces that form your satellite puzzle.

Your channel selection begins with programming sources themselves. Companies like Showtime, HBO and Starz! all create their respective programming. Channel providers then purchase rights to this programming so that they can broadcast shows via satellite. Once a provider has their programming in place, they turn their attention to broadcast center to compress and convert programming for satellite broadcast.

Your programming original arrives as a digital stream of video, which is then compressed and converted through an encoder, typically using MPEG 2 format. This format reduces overall size of video, making it possible for a satellite to broadcast hundreds of channels at same time.

Once encoded, video is then encrypted so that broadcast can only be viewed by paying subscribers. This encryption “scrambles” signal so that those without proper receiver pick up distorted and unintelligible video. After video has been encrypted, it is sent to provider’s satellite, strategically positioned in sky.