RSSNew Satellite Takes DirecTV High Def
By David Worthington | Published April 27, 2005, 6:25 PM
Early Wednesday, a Russian-made launch vehicle blasted off and delivered the first of four next-generation DirecTV satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The satellite, christened Spaceway F1, will serve up a capacity of 1,500 local high-definition and more than 150 national HD channels throughout the United States.
Customers in 12 metropolitan markets that, according to DirecTV's estimates, make up or 32.8 percent of all U.S. TV watching households, will begin receiving transmissions of HD network programming from the satellite in fall 2005.
These markets include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, Houston and Tampa.
"With Spaceway F1's successful launch today, we enter a new era that will see the most dramatic programming rollout in our history with plans to offer local digital and HD programming to every U.S. household," said Chase Carey, DirecTV CEO.
The remaining three satellites that will further expand the network are expected to be launched within the next two years. In the coming weeks, controllers will begin deploying Spaceway F1's operational functions and other essential systems before maneuvering the satellite into its final position.
The launch comes at a time when DirecTV has begun to encounter further competition on the ground. New services from telecommunications providers that use Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) -- more plainly stated as cable TV service over broadband -- are providing consumers with new alternatives. Verizon is planning to launch a high-definition television network using its new fiber optic network.
Personally I cant wait till Verizon has fiber going directly to homes.
It will make things so much easier and faster. High def tv, phone service, and broadband internet all from one line...and only one bill to track and pay.
Not to mention if they manage to make it popular enough that people start adding cat 5 cables to their homes wiring plans like they do coax cable, then you get automatic homenetworking capabilities to boot without having to worry about wireless if you dont want.
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|The HD content is often highly compressed, rendering any advantages to the format moot.
The new band used for HD content is susceptible to cloudcover/rain artifacts. They have boosted the signal quite a bit to compensate but noone knows the real effects this will have in use. Look at current sat-- digitally broken up images, long channel changes, slight glitches that are quite grating.
Will require a new, larger dish, which will cost $60-$200 easy.
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|You have no idea what you are talking about, you obviously do not have DirecTV HD. I have ripped HD content from my HDTivo and it is in 18mb/sec which is native uncompressed video.
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|You must not have DirecTV. I have only lost service 3 times since we have signed up 4 years ago. I think that is a good. Also current HD Equipment uses that same dish. Just a new LBN. also a clear view of the southern sky is needed just like all the other DirecTV services.
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|That's pretty sweet. Can't wait till they launch the rest of the satellites.
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|if someone actually made stuff that was worth watching...
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|lol - so true
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|thus american technology has reached the abyss,now the russians are showing americans how things are done. First they resqued the International Space Station. Then the Europeans demonstrated to Boing how to build a plane. Next?
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|Read carefully....
"Russian-made launch vehicle"
The satellite was made in the USA... More specifically Palo Alto, California by Space Systems/Loral.
http://www.loral.com/inthenews/050223c.html
-and-
http://prn.newscom.com/c...tail&tr=1&row=1
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|I was about to post the same reply. Good catch.
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|It's spelled Boeing and as far as I can tell they have more orders for the new Dreamliner than Airbus does for the new monstocity that will have problems finding airports big enough to land at. 10 years from now there will still be more 747's in the air than the new A650.
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|Maybe you should read carefully: the sattelite (made in Palo Alto) is not the same thing as the launch vehicle (the rocket). Either way the rocket (Zenit 3SL) is made in Ukraine. The payload is simply attached to the rocket and launched.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenit_rocket
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|That's what konline said. Only the launch vehicle was made in Russia. The satellite, the actual device bringing us this new technology, is U.S.-made.
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|looks like I need to read more carefully also..
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|sorry dude, but you're wrong, the A380 can land at any decent airport.
the 747 in the other side is obsolete and its technology is more than 30years old !
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|lol - it's all good.
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|for all your Directv, and all HDTV news, see my website at http://hdtvtechno.netfirms.com/#Directv
& http://hdtvtechno.netfirms.com/HDTVSTB.htm
which is updated allmost everyday :-)
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