Dish Network satellite 129 outage knocks out HD channels nationwide - Update: Fixed!
If your Dish Network-connected TV is claiming total signal loss, then at least take comfort in the fact that you're not alone. While the company hasn't revealed exactly what the problem is, Facebook and Twitter posts indicate a "technical issue" with satellite location 129. The really bad news comes when we learned that bird is responsible for carrying many HD channels and HD locals (check the links below for a list of all channels on 129). Switching over to SD channels will let you watch (if that can really be called watching TV) most content in the short term -- DBSTalk posters advise hitting menu and selecting 1 on your remote to pull up the guide if you're having trouble. If you currently hide standard-def channels, press menu, then 8, then 1 and uncheck the "HD only" box to see the working channels for now. We'll keep checking for any updates on the situation, but for now you're on your own in a 480-line wilderness, so good luck.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Update: Dish has a new webpage up to help customers deal with the situation here, while those who can't get through on crowded helplines are advised to check out @dish_answers on Twitter.
Update 2: Dish's site linked above indicates it has "identified the issue" and estimates it will be fixed overnight.
Update 3 (9/14): According to Dish Network's official Twitter account, things should be up and running again now. Satisfied? P.S. - Another helpful DBSTalk post recommends a guide data update by pressing Menu, then 999 and then the right arrow.
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HD Channel Outage
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 13, 2011 - We are currently experiencing an interruption affecting the 129 orbital satellite location causing an HD signal outage in some areas. We have identified the issue and based on our current estimates, the situation should be corrected overnight and your HD channels should be restored in the morning. In the meantime, you can unplug your receiver from the main power source and plug it back in to see your standard definition channels. We apologize for this inconvenience.
