Hasta La Gadget!

It’s been delayed a few times already, but the high-capacity ViaSat-1 satellite is now in the process of being prepped for a new launch date: October 19th. Once in operation, it’ll bring download speeds up to 10Mbps to satellite internet customers in both Canada and the US (including Hawaii) via Xplornet and WildBlue, respectively, and serve other partners like JetBlue. Those interested can keep an eye on the source link below for a live broadcast of the launch.

Continue reading ViaSat-1 scheduled to launch October 19th, spreading high-speed satellite service across North America

ViaSat-1 scheduled to launch October 19th, spreading high-speed satellite service across North America originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sick of paying for cable TV channels you don’t watch? Reportedly some operators are looking for a way — through negotiation or regulation — to end channel bundling, where to get certain channels (like MTV) they’re compelled to pack others (like TV Land) owned by the same company into their basic lineups. According to Reuters, smaller operators like Suddenlink and Mediacom are leading the charge, while even bigger companies like Comcast, Time Warner and DirecTV are feeling squeezed in retransmission fee disputes. However, as the LA Times points out, it’s still doubtful you’ll be able to pick and choose specific channels for a cheaper bill. What may be available however are cheaper packages of smaller bundles, like the lineup shown above that Comcast is testing in certain areas. What’s stopping true a la carte programming choices? Hybrid cable and content companies, like Comcast with NBC Universal and Time Warner, and sports — someone has to pay for that billion dollar ESPN Monday Night Football deal.

Some cable companies are pushing for unbundled channels — but not for you originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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? PS – Another helpful DBSTalk post recommends a guide data update by pressing Menu, then 999 and then the right arrow.

Continue reading Dish Network satellite 129 outage knocks out HD channels nationwide – Update: Fixed!

Dish Network satellite 129 outage knocks out HD channels nationwide – Update: Fixed! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After slowing its pace of adding HD channels dramatically as of late, DirecTV has finally satisfied one of the loudest and longest running customer requests by announcing AMC-HD will come to its satellites starting September 9th. There’s still a pretty long list of channels it’s not offering yet, but if you’re on contract and just want to enjoy some Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and Mad Men (when it returns in March) in HD then today’s Facebook posting (just hours after it was dug up by the satellite sleuths at DBSTalk) is exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

[Thanks, Joe & Casey]

DirecTV adds AMC-HD next week, too bad Mad Men is still six months away originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 23:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Even though DirecTV’s website is ready to start doling out the information on its elusive Nomad TV box, a post on Gizmo Lovers digs through the available information to show just how much there is to know, and how much is still unknown. Between on a DirecTV satellite installer training video, a suggestive press release by fellow RVU member Morega and the long running rumor thread over on DBSTalk, the technology in play is certainly capable of both Slingbox style streaming and TiVoToGo sideloading, but what will actually be enabled is unclear. Once it rolls out, the Nomad will connect to multiroom capable satellite boxes via a wired network connection and transcode the video streams it pulls in for other devices like PCs and mobiles. All the other details are shrouded in rumor, regarding its use of h.264 and how much internal storage is available, but if you’re wondering whether the long delayed DirecTV will really be able to compete with Sling, Monsoon and the flood of TV-streaming iPad apps available in 2011 then hitting the source link below is a good way to get started.

More DirecTV Nomad info uncovered, but details are still fuzzy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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