In response to the question(s) regarding the satellite slots and additional dishes....
Echostar I & II are co-located at 119 degrees west longitude. Echostar III is at 61.5 degrees west longitude, and Echostar IV is slated to be placed at 148 degrees.
What this means, is if you subscribe to services that are being broadcast on Echo III, you will need a 2nd dish, along with a signal switch ,to receive those services.Also, a software download is needed to update the receiver's unboard software to accomdate the 2nd dish setup.. Currently, only the "Sky Angel" package is the only service that will require the 2nd dish...AND, when Echo IV goes up, you will need a third dish to get certain services from that dish.
Given the worst case senario, when all of the satellites are up and running, and a consumer wants to purchase all services that will be available from DISH, you will need to have 3 dishes interconnected to receive all of the broadcasts. Personally and professionally speaking, I don't see many people being agreeable to having a dish farm on their home.
Echostar needs to get the negotiation wheels turning, and bargain for slots that are closer together. IMHO, this is the only thing they can do to make this not only logical, but more economical for the consumer.. - Jeff |
