Farewell Echostar 5
The Echostar V satellite was launched on September 23rd, 1999 to service North America from the 110 degree West Longitude orbital location. After serving for awhile at the 110 location the satellite was moved to serve at the 129 degree orbital location. Earlier this year Echostar V was moved to service Echostar’s 148 degree West Longitude location.
Earlier this week Echostar filed with the FCC to de-orbit the failing satellite. Echostar V will be put out to space pasture on August 3rd.
Echostar 5 was originally know as Sky 1 (or MCI 1) and was intended for use by a venture called American Sky Broadcasting (AskyB for short) this satellite company was a venture between MCI and News Corp. In early 1999 the satellite and the license for 110 was sold to Echostar.
The satellite has had a number of problems over the years.
In 2001 3 of the satellites traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs) went bad, forcing Echostar to flip on the spares. In July of 2001 Echostar V lost one of its three momentum wheels.
In August of 2001 the satellite lost one of its thrusters causing an outage but was quickly brought back into operation.
They lost another TWTA in the 3rd quarter of 2001 and lost the second of 3 momentum wheels, which required Echostar to use thrusters to keep the spacecraft pointing in the right direction.
Echostar V lost 7 of its approximately 96 solar array strings, then as time went on the satellite lost more. Due to the solar array failures they had to reduce the number of in use transponders on the bird in order to save energy.
In January 2003 a component failed on board which affect its ability to receiver telemetry from certain on board equipment.
At the 148 degree orbital location Echostar 5 has been servicing locals to residents of Rapid City, SD; Casper, WY and Billings, MT as well as a number of required public interest channels.
Today as Echostar gets ready to send off Echostar V on its final journey that programming has been removed from the satellite.
This will leave Echostar and Dish Network with no satellite at their 148 orbital location. At this time there I s no word if they plan on replacing the satellite. Echostar also had a license for transponder space at 157 degrees but gave up that slot a few years ago. Because of how far west the location is it may not make any sense for Dish to put another satellite in that location.
Farewell Echostar V and thanks for all the great programming you delivered over the years!
(Some technical details courtesy of http://www.sat-nd.com/failures/echo5.html and various Echostar SEC filings)
An Update On Dish Networks Platinum HD Package
We have reported in the past here in The Satellite Dish that Dish Network’s Platinum HD package was going to become free as part of the regular HD package as of August 1st. This for the most part is true and will take effect tomorrow, however I have been told by Dish Network’s Kathy Gonzalez that the Platinum HD package will remain an actual package for those HD customers currently subscribed to the package and the $10 a month charge will remain on customers bills.
The only people who will get the Platinum HD package included with the regular HD package are those customers who are new customers or existing Dish Network customers who have never subscribed to HD programming before.
Confused yet? Yeah me too.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Ra's4Day's commented:
WOW,is this guy is seriously going to “blog” the end of satellite programming, by mentioning a orbital that’s so old, it’s not even a satellite anymore it’s just a hunk of metal orbiting the earth in A GEO-FIXED SATTILITE LOCATION! Thanks Scott for such an outdated yet imaginative (rocket launchers?) report. The “old” 110 sat orbital he’s talking about, is actually now down linked from both 110 and the 119 orbital providing programming for basic programming, of course all this happened years ago but you apparently you haven’t noticed. The 148 our misinformed friend is talking about has already moved to two completely different orbital’s altogether 129 providing HD/international and the 118.7 providing international. Folks there are so many satellites orbiting the plant; it’s like a junkyard up there. As to HD fees, consider that pre-existing customers are only going to pay fees for services that they are bound by the contract that was already in place before the HD charge. But I can assure you if they chose to renew they will be subject to the same fee. So everyone stop crying…You people baffle me sometimes!!
DodgerKing commented:
So let me get this straight...Those that have been paying Dish extra money all along will be the ones who are screwed?
Reaper commented:
Clearly Dish Network is wagering that the $10 per month revenue from people that don't know about, or who can live with, this change will outweigh the revenue from those that will leave the service over this issue. Of course, it is this kind of shortsighted thinking that is causing Dish Network to hemorrhage customers while other services like DirecTV, FiOS and U-verse are gaining them hand over fist.
Red Hazard commented:
So in other words, for subscribing to HD when it first became available and putting additional money in Dish Network's coffers for several years, I am now to be punished with the $10/month fee that those who have not been paying for HD in the past will not have to pay. The title is incorrect. There will be a lot more saying farewell than 5!! Adios DN, Hello U-verse.
mrxisalive commented:
I called customer service this morning in regards to the platinum packaging and asked where the platinum channels were since I found out that they would just be included in whatever hd package you may have.
I have not added them, but I was informed that you could add them at no additional cost but that you had to request the addition since Dish wouldn't add these channels without prior consent with existing customers.
rey commented:
i love how these providers treat their current customers like garbage and treat the new ones like gold. you aren't getting anywhere by gaining new customers and losing current ones. idiots!
riffjim4069 commented:
Somewhat sad to see EchoStar V taken out of action, but the ailing satellite really needed to be taken out of our misery. As far as Dish Network's Platinum HD package...Ugh!..existing customer continue to get the shaft. What is Dish Network thinking?
RJK1977 commented:
CAN YOU SAY MORE LOST SUBSCRIBERS.....
Rob commented:
Ah... Another big 'Screw You' from Dish Network to its current customers. I'm this close to returning the favor!
