This is a rumor that just won’t quit. Unfortunately there is a lot of confusion about what’s going to happen to AT&T’s satellite service this year and detailed information is hard to find. It seems like there are still changes being made to the plans, but let’s get one thing straight:
The 101 satellite location is not going away.
The two satellites at the 101 degree location aren’t going anywhere. Yes they are old but they are still functioning perfectly and still have enough fuel for the future. There are no plans to retire any of the satellites in this location.
The confusion comes because AT&T is retiring the satellite at the 119 degree location. That satellite was used for about 20% of the standard definition local channels, plus some music and special-interest national channels. AT&T has already moved all the national content to another satellite. Fairly soon the rest of the content will simply go away.
But I’ll say it again, the 101 satellites aren’t going away, no matter what you’ve heard.
Why is this happening now?
The 119 degree satellite location was never really the right choice for DIRECTV Satellite. It’s very far west and hard to aim for. The satellite has always contained only standard definition content. Very, very few people watch SD anymore… the only people who do are marine and RV users who can’t afford or don’t want HD equipment.
All satellites have a fixed lifespan. Even though they run on solar energy, they have a fixed amount of fuel. That fuel keeps them in exactly the right place. Eventually almost all of the fuel runs out. At that point, the satellite uses the last of its fuel to move to a higher orbit where it will stay, pretty much forever.
Since the satellite at 119 is almost out of fuel, and since so few people really care about standard definition, that location is just going out of service.
Why can’t the 101 location go away?
Right now, DIRECTV satellite service relies on satellites at the 101 location for software update, guide data, and other critical services. Receivers on earth could be programmed to get that information from another satellite, but for the moment there’s no reason to do that.
So what is going to happen?
That’s the question, isn’t it? To be honest AT&T hasn’t been very clear about this, even at this point. There’s no reason to think the satellites will go away, but it’s not clear what will happen with the standard definition content.
It’s possible that some SD content could stay around, and it’s also possible that some of that capacity could be used for HD content. Although there are over 800 standard definition channels on the 101 satellites, it’s likely that fewer than 50 HD channels could fit there due to the way the satellites themselves are constructed. HD channels use more bandwidth and the satellite’s design doesn’t accommodate that very well.
At some point in the future, the satellites at the 101 location will begin to go “end of life” but there’s no indication of when that is. All I can say for now is, don’t worry, the 101 satellite location isn’t going anywhere.
Can you then explain this information???
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/01/directv-races-to-decommission-broken-boeing-satellite-before-it-explodes/
First of all that satellite was not at the 101 location. It was at the 103 location. Here’s an article I wrote at the time explaining it all. https://blog.solidsignal.com/news/atts-spaceway-1-satellite-could-explode-it-probably-wont-though/
Your article, is probably valid to someone who understands.
Yet, I guess I’m not too understanding.
DirecTV themselves told me that one of my receivers will no longer work next year due to this issue. In fact, the supervisor was very aware and informed me of the problem and offered an HD receiver (free) because of this. I even explained, that I thought to cancel my DirecTV and go to Dish and eliminate any future issues (with satellites) once he informed me of the trouble(s) coming down the road for not only DirecTV but the antenna companies like King. Which, I already dealt with the issue with them in 2017/2018 when I was informed my In-Motion King Dome would no longer work with DirecTV.
So, can you enlighten me in layman’s terms?! I’m very eager to learn more, and my ‘google research’ came up with your blog(s) as well as other findings. All very confusing to what the END result may be.
I hear you, but you’re adding together some things that aren’t the same. DIRECTV announced several years ago that they were doing away with standard definition service. They also planned on retiring the 119 satellite location, which was only used for standard definition service.
This has nothing to do with the satellite that needed to be moved in January. That was a 15-year-old satellite used for high-definition.
DIRECTV uses two different broadcast bands, while DISH uses only one. This gives DIRECTV more ability to offer high quality HD and 4K, but it also gives DISH the ability to support some hardware that doesn’t use the second broadcast band.
Most folks are happy to get a free upgrade, but I know that people with RVs have special issues. There are solutions though. I’d encourage you to call our Signal Connect division at 866-726.4182. They’ve handled more of these kinds of upgrades than anyone and can explain it.
“but you’re adding together some things that aren’t the same”
I’m sure I am.
This is why I came here, for more clarification and to try and figure out the claims from other sources and your blog. Putting two and two together, to try and get 4… without, too much more confusion. Which seems to be happening.
I actually talked to someone at “King Connect”, or as they’re known mostly for King Satellite Antennas.
He explained it to me very well. That…. (forgive me if I misquote, use the wrong verbiage, etc)
“The 101 satellite isn’t going away. And that both Dish and DTV lease channels or sockets on the satellite to broadcast from. That it’s a low band or low freq satellite that allows for smaller receive dishes/antennas (like that on a motorhome). The other HD satellites require a larger receive dish – like that used on a home because of the higher band/frequency. At this point, I can use my RVs antenna for either of the two (or three if you include Bell) as long as I use a UC1000 along with the originally only DTV antenna.
That the only thing “going away”, is DirecTV’s use of the SD Receivers and/or the SD transmission(s) from the 101 satellite.” – end quote –
Clear as mud?! haha Does that make more sense in how I explained it?
Mostly true… DIRECTV and DISH own the satellites themselves, but otherwise.
In my situation/concern… I don’t care who owns what.
Just that I get the facts straight, and learn what’s happening with;
– SD and HD signals
– 101 satellite
– DirecTV and Dish’s use of the 101 satellite
… if my posts help anyone in a similar questionable situation of using DirecTV, Dish, and/or SD signals and what they’ve been told or are reading… I’m a happy camper.
SD signals are going away. Period. This is a bigger deal with DIRECTV than DISH because DISH uses the same tech for SD and HD. So the smaller equipment for DISH still works with HD.
Neither company is abandoning the 101 location. In fact neither is abandoning any location.
Both companies continue to use that location.
Dish doesn’t use 101, and Directv has abandoned 110 and is in the process of abandoning 119.