Dish Network successfully launches Echostar XIV while we remember a fallen soldier
By Richard Lawler 
posted March 21st 2010 10:38AM
posted March 21st 2010 10:38AM
Sure compressing existing channels is one way to add more HD, but sending another bird in the air to increase capacity, like Dish Network's new Echostar XIV (what happened to XV? Should we be expecting another launch this year?) is certainly a preferred option. It's probably not a coincidence that we didn't see a press release until after a successful launch was confirmed, but it's currently in "geosynchronous transfer orbit." SatelliteGuys indicates we can probably expect service around the end of May, so while we toast the new satellite (video of the launch is embedded after the break) and all the HDTV it will bring, don't forget to pour out a little liquor for AMC-14.
Ummm, XIV is 14 and XV is 15 and 15 comes after 14 so it's do up next or am I missing.
Hah! XIV is 14! Nice catch M509272!
What happened to DirecTV's new satellite they launched months ago?
@ggore First of all Directv launched a satellite just to replace an existing one. Directv does not need any more satellites because the 2 that they are currently using for hd in the 99 and 103 slots are a KA band satellite. all the other satellite in use for tv on dish and direct are KU band satellite. KA band satellites have about 4 times the bandwidth of KU satellites. So the two KA band satellites have the capacity of 8 KU band satellites. This is why Directv's dish for hd is so large because the KA band satellites have a much larger footprint.
Maybe it should be filed under DUH because you can't figure out Roman numerals.
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
XIII
XIV
XV
Fix your article.
@Slappy Wag or maybe you can't figure out logic. I didn't say it was skipped, but it hasn't been mentioned ever since. The question is will they launch two satellites this year.