Dish Network just crapped their pants.

[Groundbeef]

I was reading in the Wall Street Journal today, and a small item caught my eye. It seems that Dish just launched a HD SAT the other day, in part to catch up with DirecTV. Ooops, seems it didn't reach the right orbit due to an "error" during launch.

This means:
1. The new HD channels Dish has been talking about are not coming out any time soon.

2. Dish engineers think they can get it into correct orbit using fuel on board. Problem is, this fuel is usually used only to "keep" a SAT in correct orbit. By using the fuel to actually move the SAT a substancial distance, they will cut the usable life of the SAT by a wide margin. If they can get it to correct orbit, it should be able to broadcast, but only until fuel runs out and it drifts away. Not good either way.

Any chance Pix was helping with the telemetry on this one. I've been amazed with his electrical engineering prowess with regards to woofers and tweeters. Perhaps he was a consultant on this launch?

[kexodusc]

I was reading in the Wall Street Journal today, and a small item caught my eye. It seems that Dish just launched a HD SAT the other day, in part to catch up with DirecTV. Ooops, seems it didn't reach the right orbit due to an "error" during launch.

This means:
1. The new HD channels Dish has been talking about are not coming out any time soon.

2. Dish engineers think they can get it into correct orbit using fuel on board. Problem is, this fuel is usually used only to "keep" a SAT in correct orbit. By using the fuel to actually move the SAT a substancial distance, they will cut the usable life of the SAT by a wide margin. If they can get it to correct orbit, it should be able to broadcast, but only until fuel runs out and it drifts away. Not good either way.

Any chance Pix was helping with the telemetry on this one. I've been amazed with his electrical engineering prowess with regards to woofers and tweeters. Perhaps he was a consultant on this launch?

That's some kinda ooopsie. You'd think putting satellites into space would be "routine work" for that industry by now. Oh well. So best case scenario - the useful life of this thing is cut down substantially if things go well, and the new HD channels are on hold for awhile...or worst case scenario - the satellite is scrap metal and there's a lot of angry customers making the switch to DirectTV.

I'd hate to be working on that team today.

[GMichael]

I was reading in the Wall Street Journal today, and a small item caught my eye. It seems that Dish just launched a HD SAT the other day, in part to catch up with DirecTV. Ooops, seems it didn't reach the right orbit due to an "error" during launch.

This means:
1. The new HD channels Dish has been talking about are not coming out any time soon.

2. Dish engineers think they can get it into correct orbit using fuel on board. Problem is, this fuel is usually used only to "keep" a SAT in correct orbit. By using the fuel to actually move the SAT a substancial distance, they will cut the usable life of the SAT by a wide margin. If they can get it to correct orbit, it should be able to broadcast, but only until fuel runs out and it drifts away. Not good either way.

Any chance Pix was helping with the telemetry on this one. I've been amazed with his electrical engineering prowess with regards to woofers and tweeters. Perhaps he was a consultant on this launch?

If Pixie had anything to do with it, he'd be saying how this new incorrect orbit is actually better than what everyone else thought was the correct orbit. If any of us had been paying attention, we would have read the memo he sent.

[Groundbeef]

That's some kinda ooopsie. You'd think putting satellites into space would be "routine work" for that industry by now. Oh well. So best case scenario - the useful life of this thing is cut down substantially if things go well, and the new HD channels are on hold for awhile...or worst case scenario - the satellite is scrap metal and there's a lot of angry customers making the switch to DirectTV.

I'd hate to be working on that team today.

According to the WSJ last quarter DirecTV added over 450,000 new subscribers. Dish Network added over 84,000 new subscribers. Yeah, this was an ooops, I've pooped my pants kinda problem.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Man, its smells in here!!!! Whew!!!!!

[Groundbeef]

Man, its smells in here!!!! Whew!!!!!

Not as bad as it does in the mission control room over at Dish. I think a collective of over 50 engineers had a mass case of poopus pantus.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Not as bad as it does in the mission control room over at Dish. I think a collective of over 50 engineers had a mass case of poopus pantus.

Poopus Pantus??? Beefous this is hilarious...LOLOL

[thekid]

I'm glass is half full kind of guy.........looks like the Navy just got another target to shoot at......... :)

[Mr Peabody]

Sorry, Chief, missed it by..... tha-a-a-a-at much.

Does this mean a price hike to buy a new satelite? It's hard to believe Direct added that many customers. When I checked them out they wanted me to buy the equipment opposed to no out of pocket expense for Dish.

[pixelthis]

I was reading in the Wall Street Journal today, and a small item caught my eye. It seems that Dish just launched a HD SAT the other day, in part to catch up with DirecTV. Ooops, seems it didn't reach the right orbit due to an "error" during launch.

This means:
1. The new HD channels Dish has been talking about are not coming out any time soon.

2. Dish engineers think they can get it into correct orbit using fuel on board. Problem is, this fuel is usually used only to "keep" a SAT in correct orbit. By using the fuel to actually move the SAT a substancial distance, they will cut the usable life of the SAT by a wide margin. If they can get it to correct orbit, it should be able to broadcast, but only until fuel runs out and it drifts away. Not good either way.

Any chance Pix was helping with the telemetry on this one. I've been amazed with his electrical engineering prowess with regards to woofers and tweeters. Perhaps he was a consultant on this launch?

actually this is one of KEX'S weekend projects.

They'll salvage what they can, get the bird to higher orbit and buy time until a replacement
can be launched, probably at the expense of the insurance company.

And you can joke all you want, its actually a miracle that the failure rate is so low for these birds, they hardly ever have trouble, amazing considering they are so complex:1:

[Groundbeef]

Sorry, Chief, missed it by..... tha-a-a-a-at much.

Does this mean a price hike to buy a new satelite? It's hard to believe Direct added that many customers. When I checked them out they wanted me to buy the equipment opposed to no out of pocket expense for Dish.

I cant remember if we had this discussion before, or if it was someone else on the board. If you just call DirecTV and ask for a price quote of service, they give you a price including the equipment.

I think if you do a full scale "price" and do a credit check with them, they waive the equipment cost if you have good/decent credit. Of course if you ever leave DirecTV you then need to return the equipment.

I paid for my HD equipment at BB because they had a pretty good sale going on, and it lowered the price of my TV by an equal amount. So it was a wash for me. ($299 for HD recieiver, $299 credit off TV)

[pixelthis]

I cant remember if we had this discussion before, or if it was someone else on the board. If you just call DirecTV and ask for a price quote of service, they give you a price including the equipment.

I think if you do a full scale "price" and do a credit check with them, they waive the equipment cost if you have good/decent credit. Of course if you ever leave DirecTV you then need to return the equipment.

I paid for my HD equipment at BB because they had a pretty good sale going on, and it lowered the price of my TV by an equal amount. So it was a wash for me. ($299 for HD recieiver, $299 credit off TV)

So you got the TV for free, right?

I mean, thats how much 32in SD SANYOS are selling for right now, right?:1:

[Groundbeef]

So you got the TV for free, right?

I mean, thats how much 32in SD SANYOS are selling for right now, right?:1:

No. The Pioneer 50" was quite a bit more than the cost of the HD receiver. However, the discount was appreciated.

[O'Shag]

Not as bad as it does in the mission control room over at Dish. I think a collective of over 50 engineers had a mass case of poopus pantus.


Ha Ha Ha! Good one!