Bell TV news - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Vulcan · 10-08-2008, 05:24 AM

1. Bell launched a new satellite about 2 1/2 weeks ago from Kazakhstan. No it's not going to get rid of compression or enble Bell to add a bunch of more stations. [That will maybe happen next year when another satellite will be launched, if it isn't all rented out to Dish Network in the States.] This new satellite is replacing the damaged and old pair of satellites at 82 degrees.

This location is where we get our HD signals from and it has been at notoriously low strength since it's launch giving us out west here, bad rain fade. Even worse for us on the coast because of poor aim angle and well lots of rain.

The good news is that most or all of our HD programming has now been switched and my signal strength has improved greatly to the point that it is now better than the signal at the 91 degree location. I'm getting 100% on many transponders and most others are in the high 90% [YMMV as I'm living on the coast and I'm using two larger dishes but my increase has been about 10 to 25%] so I'm looking forward to watching the Flames in HD this winter with little or no interruptions. To check you signal strength go to menu and press 6 - 1 - 1.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=88974

2. I haven't found any definite news on Bell carrying Flames PPV in HD but a poster over in Digital Home Canada has access to what stations are being tested by Bell and he reports what looks like Bell has alloted 877- to HDEdmonton PPV, 878- to HDVancouver PPV, and 879- HDCal to Calgary PPV. Post # 161.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...055#post807055

Also the Canucks have announced an agreement with Shaw/Starchoice and Bell to carry their HD broadcasts.

Prices for the Canucks are 12.95 for SD and 15.95 for HD and 139.95 SD and 169.95 HD for the season.

I would think a Flames announcement should soon follow.

http://canucks.nhl.com/team/app/?ser...LPage&id=19798

oh yeah sports 3 is on free this month for fishing, fight and soccer fans.

Draug · 10-08-2008, 06:26 PM

Thanks for the update Vulcan.

Good news, I guess ... but signal strength has never been an issue for me in Calgary. Even in poor weather, my signal is always in the high 80's. Perhaps 2 times in 2 years I have had dropping signal.

As I've complained about before, its the compression that bothers me. A downloaded rip from an OTA signal in the US looks better than my legit Bell. The new satellite and mpeg4 better fix it, but I have my doubts, if they are renting space to Dish.

HOOT · 10-08-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Prices for the Canucks are 12.95 for SD and 15.95 for HD and 139.95 SD and 169.95 HD for the season.

I wonder how many complain about this if the Flames do the same?

Thanks for the update!

HotHotHeat · 10-09-2008, 10:00 AM

Thanks for the update, great info. So how does that work exactly...If 91 degrees is better than 82, should you repoint your dish or does it automatically choose the better of the two?

ken0042 · 10-09-2008, 10:14 AM

No. Typically 91 has been better for signal strength than 82 because at 82 they have had satellites that were either on reduced power, or partially rented out to other companies. The other factor for us out west is that to aim at 82 you have to go through more atmosphere, so there are more things that can interfere.

The other thing is Bell doesn't have 2 orbital slots because they like to, they do it to have different programming on different satellites. So for example TSN will be broadcast from a satellite at 91, and TSN-HD will come from 82.

What I don't get is that if they can park 2 satellites in the same orbital slot, why not have 4 parked in the same slot and get rid of all this skewing and aiming for two places? I know the science behind it; the two satellites are actually several kilometres apart from each other, but because they are ~20,000 km away it appears to be the same place. Why not put 4 in the same spot?

HOOT · 10-09-2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

What I don't get is that if they can park 2 satellites in the same orbital slot, why not have 4 parked in the same slot and get rid of all this skewing and aiming for two places? I know the science behind it; the two satellites are actually several kilometres apart from each other, but because they are ~20,000 km away it appears to be the same place. Why not put 4 in the same spot?

I don't know this for fact, but I think it has to do with the transponders in the LNB. You would be trying to fit more channels per transponder which would equal a lesser quality signal...with that you mind as well watch cable *shudders*

Vulcan · 10-10-2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

No. Typically 91 has been better for signal strength than 82 because at 82 they have had satellites that were either on reduced power, or partially rented out to other companies. The other factor for us out west is that to aim at 82 you have to go through more atmosphere, so there are more things that can interfere.

The other thing is Bell doesn't have 2 orbital slots because they like to, they do it to have different programming on different satellites. So for example TSN will be broadcast from a satellite at 91, and TSN-HD will come from 82.

What I don't get is that if they can park 2 satellites in the same orbital slot, why not have 4 parked in the same slot and get rid of all this skewing and aiming for two places? I know the science behind it; the two satellites are actually several kilometres apart from each other, but because they are ~20,000 km away it appears to be the same place. Why not put 4 in the same spot?

I'm not really clear on why they can't park 4 satellites in the same slot either but I've heard that they will interfere with each other if sending out different signals on the same transponder. They are limited by government regulation to a separation of 9 degrees, although I think it's Dish, is lobbying to reduce this to 4.5 degrees. My question is why they can't use more than 32 transponders?

Right now Bell has the rights to the slot at 72 degrees [half of which is already leased out to Dish] and this is where the new satellite will be placed next year. This will be even worse than trying to get a good signal at 82 because of the lower angle and big trees in my area. A solution would be to use the 72 location for French and eastern programming.
If three satellites come into play, we will either need a second dish or a new bigger dish with three LNBs.

The one downside to this new satellite is that with what seems to be new technology to focus their beams for us Canadians, the 82s footprint has been reduced for those in the States to one or two transponders.

kermitology · 10-11-2008, 11:09 AM

Anyone have any clue why 82 is the only thing I'm receiving now?

I can't watch any SD channels because 91 is unavailable!

HOOT · 10-11-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermitology

Anyone have any clue why 82 is the only thing I'm receiving now?

I can't watch any SD channels because 91 is unavailable!

Still not working? Mine seems fine....but what channel are you trying to watch. I don't ever watch any SD channels except CNN/NFLN

Vulcan · 10-11-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermitology

Anyone have any clue why 82 is the only thing I'm receiving now?

I can't watch any SD channels because 91 is unavailable!

I'm getting a poor signal strength reading on 91 right now but it's still coming in with no problems. I'm out on the wet coast and we've got some heavy fog right now though so your conditions are probably different.

I'd first check your signal strength on 91 on each transponder. If you're getting a green signal, that will eliminate your cabling, so try doing a check switch, if that doesn't help, reboot your box by pulling the cord for a couple of minutes.

If you're getting a red signal and your weather is clear, try doing a check switch also. If that doesn't work, check your cabling and then as a last resort phone Bell.
I'm no expert, just some suggestions.

Since you're still getting 82, at least you know someone hasn't stolen your dish, as happened to one guy I read about who fell asleep watching a football game and when he woke up couldn't figure why he'd lost his picture.

edit
If you check your cabling, check from your switch to your dish on the 91 cable as this is most likely where your problem lies, although it could be your switch or LNB that is casing problems.
To check your signal strength, go to menu and press 6-1-1.

kermitology · 10-11-2008, 12:18 PM

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm in an apartment condo, so stealing the dish is probably pretty hard since it's for the whole building.

ken0042 · 10-11-2008, 01:33 PM

Are you still having issues Kermit? You were posting right about the right time to be experiencing "Solar Transit"- happens close to the equinoxes when the sun goes right behind the satellite. Should only last about 5 or 10 minutes though.

Vulcan · 10-11-2008, 06:23 PM

In regards to my first post, Bell's guide now has Flames HD PPV up on channel 879, so it looks like those with Bell will be able to watch in HD.
Vancouver's at 878. Edmonton's at 877.

Here's the Flames announcement. Pricing seems to be 15.95 per game for HD and 139.95 for the 10 game package.

http://flames.nhl.com/team/app?artic...e&service=page

kermitology · 10-11-2008, 06:26 PM

It's been happening for about a week now. I tried Vulcan's suggestions and nothing helped. I'm getting no signal from 91 whatsoever. I'll call Bell sometime. I don't watch a lot of my SD channels, but I'd like to if I wanted to.

sparky69 · 10-13-2008, 11:48 AM

well im also having problems getting 91 to. Its a clear day outside and the signal strength is at 43%

Vulcan · 10-13-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparky69

well im also having problems getting 91 to. Its a clear day outside and the signal strength is at 43%

Well it could be your cables, your switch, your LNB or your dish is misaligned or something is causing interference with your line of sight.
My guess, since you are getting some signal, is that your dish is misaligned or your line of sight is being blocked [tree branch flapping in the breeze] in some way. I'd phone Bell for their suggestions. Sometimes they can do something on their end. Also maybe you have dish care or on a one year warranty, or you rent.

kermitology · 10-15-2008, 10:46 AM

So I just talked to someone at Bell and he told me that I needed to have my receiver plugged into a phone line to get firmware updates.

Problem is, I don't have a home phone.

Draug · 10-15-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermitology

So I just talked to someone at Bell and he told me that I needed to have my receiver plugged into a phone line to get firmware updates.

Problem is, I don't have a home phone.

That isnt true at all. Well, at least with the 9200 receiver.

I havent had mine plugged into a phone ever. I've had Bell for 3 years now, and have had many firmware updates.

kermitology · 10-15-2008, 11:21 AM

Yeah I just read that on wikipedia actually..

Pretty frustrating.

HOOT · 10-15-2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermitology

So I just talked to someone at Bell and he told me that I needed to have my receiver plugged into a phone line to get firmware updates.

Problem is, I don't have a home phone.

Not true. I have had Exvu for 6 years along with no home phone for all of that and always got the updates.

They want you to have it plugged in so it's easier for you to order PPV, channel upgrades, etc.