what are spot beams and why??

Spot Beam Technology
PMG Rev. 6/18/02
Page 1 of 3
WHY SPOT BEAMS?
“Spot beams” take satellites to the next level. Spot beams enable EchoStar to deliver more local
channels to specific, precisely defined areas, improving its ability to compete with cable broadcasters.
Echo I through Echo VI satellites use beams that cover the entire nation. To provide local broadcast
coverage, channels intended for only one local market are scrambled so customers elsewhere cannot
view them. The new “spot beam” satellites are designed to aim spot beams at selected metropolitan
markets, allowing the same radio frequencies to be reused in different cities, thus increasing the
channel capacity. For example, by focusing over a very small area, like the New York City
metropolitan area, the frequency can be reused in several other places like Miami, San Francisco and
Chicago (these cities are used as examples, and will not actually share the same spot beam
frequency). EchoStar VII and EchoStar VIII are both spot beam satellites. Why do these benefit our
customers? With these two highly powerful spot beam satellites, we can direct about 50 different spot
beam “projections” to the continental U.S. and deliver a lot more local programming to those specific
areas. Each spot beam has an approximate diameter of 300 miles, making them powerful satellites!
FREQUENCY TYPES:
• Frequencies Explained: When programming from our content providers is sent (“transmitted”) to
the satellites from one of the uplink centers (Cheyenne, WY or Gilbert, AZ), the “transmission”
uses a unique radio frequency (RF) channel. It is similar to traffic lanes on a highway. Each RF
channel represents a traffic lane that keeps the signals (vehicles) from interfering with one another
en route to the satellite (this is also called “uplinking”). Unique frequencies are also used to
“downlink” programming from the satellite to the customer’s homes.
• The satellite’s “transponders” receive signals from earth on one frequency and amplify and
transmit them back to earth on a different frequency.
• On a CONUS (“CONtinental United States”) satellite, each frequency downlinks programming to
the whole United States.
• On a spot beam satellite, frequencies are re-used and downlinked to up to five different spot beam
locations (“projections”).
Spot Beam Technology
PMG Rev. 6/18/02
Page 2 of 3
Parts of a Spot Beam
Low Beam
Out, No Service
High Beam
The Spot Beam
signal gets
weaker the
farther you are
from its center.
QUANTITY OF SPOT BEAM FREQUENCIES:
• There are 5 downlink spot beam frequencies available for use on each of the two new satellites
(Echo VII and Echo VIII), and each frequency can be used in five different beams (5 frequencies x
5 beams = 25 spot beam frequencies available per spot beam satellite).
• Each beam (“projection”) carries between one and three of the different re-used frequencies,
depending on the number of programming channels needed in that DMA (Designated Market
Area). For example, City A may just use frequency 3; City B may use frequency 3 and 5.
• Each spot beam frequency can broadcast 10 - 12 programming channels (e.g. ABC, NBC, CBS,
FOX, WB, UPN)
SPOT BEAM FREQUENCIES BEING USED:
• Echo VII provides spot beams at the 119° orbital location.
• 119 spot beam frequencies: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
• Echo VIII will provide spot beams at the 110° orbital location.
• 110 spot beam frequencies: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
Spot beams have two areas:
• High beam - Center area in a spot beam
projection: customers located here will have the
strongest spot beam signal strength (nearly as
good, just as good, or better than the CONUS
signal in the area). This area is approximately 300
miles in diameter.
• Low beam or “fringe area” - Area just outside the
“high beam” area: customers located here may
have marginal signal strength, as their spot signal
will be weaker than the CONUS signal in the area.
LOCAL CITIES THAT WILL REMAIN “CONUS”
(a.k.a. “Flagship” Locals)*
Los Angeles, CA Chicago, IL
Denver, CO Atlanta, GA
Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX New York City, NY
*Only includes ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, WB, UPN and PBS.
Other channels on spots, 61.5° or 148°.
Spot Beam Technology
PMG Rev. 6/18/02
Page 3 of 3
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
• Home transponder is now transponder 11. You will use this to determine signal strength when
peaking the dish antenna. Looking at signal strength on transponders 1 through 10 will give
you an incorrect reading.
o Some transponders in 1 through 10 will show no signal at all - the customer does not
reside in that spot beam area.
o Tranponder(s) for that spot beam area may show a higher signal than a CONUS
transponder – you should never peak on a spot beam transponder.
• On the Point Dish screen, if 01 to 10 is chosen in
the “Transponder” box, the word “Spotbeam” will
be displayed instead; when transponders 11 or
higher are chosen, “Transponder” will display
above the box.
• Some spot beam projections may not cover the
full DMA (“Designated Market Area” – the FCC’s
boundary for reception of local television
signals). There are very few customers in this
situation (less than 1% of our full customer
base). See also “Note” below.
• A spot beam projection can cover more than the DMA, but only qualified customers (based on
their address (“network qualifying”)) will be able to see the local channels in that spot beam.
• Mobile customers (RV or truck customers) or customers that move to a new location that had
spot beam locals will have receivers that expect to see a particular frequency. When they
move from that DMA/spot location, their receivers will no longer be able to receive their
original local channels, nor function in the new location until they update their information with
the CSC.
NOTE:
• Some cities will include customers that are in the DMA, but might not be able to see the
spot beam (they are in “fringe” areas). Although these “fringe” customers will be listed as
“eligible” on the customer and retailer websites, they will be offered the local package by
CSRs with a warning that additional hardware may be required to receive the spot beam
satellite signals.
• Some cities include only “non-flagship” channels within the spot beam. “Flagship” channels
are ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, WB, UPN and PBS.
Point Dish/Signal
Spot Beam
Transponders
Echo VII @119
1, 3, 5, 7, 9
Echo VIII @110
2, 4, 6, 8, 10
When 01 through 10 appear in this box,
it will display “Spotbeam” instead of
“Transponder”.