Satellites I should be receiving and levels

Hi u/gregeusa. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We'd like to take a closer look into this matter for you and to get started, may I have your zip code? - Carmella, DIRECTV Community Specialist

92011

No, you're not missing anything. DirecTV doesn't use 110 or 119 anymore. The newer dishes don't receive those signals. 

Are you actually missing any channels?

Thank you for providing your zip code. We're sending you a DM to further determine what went wrong. - Carmella, DIRECTV Community Specialist

carmella, nothing is wrong. 110 and 119 aren't used any more. You're just confusing the poster.As litzdog says, newer dishes won't receive those satellites at all.

Not having any issues, not missing channels.

Asking exactly the question I wrote down.

Note: the Solid Signal people seem to be well thought of, but I suspect that the video is dated, and looking for the current list of satellites I should be receiving.

Simple, no more no less... DTV people, I appreciate the comeback but let's get some real information to the specific question.

And this information is of benefit to all, let's not go off the deep end with the private messages.

Greg

99 101 103 are the only sats you get.  101 needs to be in the high 90 on most transponders, 99/103 high 80s.

Yes, their video is dated. 

We appreciate you asking these questions, @gregeusa. Yes, the video you receive through the Satellite signal is dated.  @litzdog911, @TexasBrit and @shannon02 are right. Thanks for all your input. 

Rowena, DIRECTV Community Specialist

Yes, the complete answer to this " simple question". is much more complicated. For most people, the answers you received are correct. But you may see some very different signal levels. 

At least one transponder on 101, and all the transponders on 99s and 103s, are spobeams pointed at different parts of the country. You will see high signal levels (90s) on "your" spotbeams, and low or zero signals on many others

Some LNBs will receive the "reverse band" signals on 99cr and 103cr. These transponders were added by Directv in anticipation of wider deployment of 4k channels from broadcast stations which never happened, so they are for all intents and purposes unused. If you have an LNB capable of receiving reverse band, you will see signal levels on 99cr, these are test and engineering signals but don't carry any programming, and zero signals on 103cr.

To further complicate things, these "satellites" (99/101/103) are not satellites at all, they are locations in the sky. Directv has multiple physical satellites in some of these slots, but to you on the ground the satellites are so close to each other they look like a single satellite, and Directv moves satellites around between slots due to changes they make or to handle satellite failures.

There are threads at dbstalk which show which channels come from each physical satellite, and these are updated on a weekly basis

OK, so I should be receiving:

*101

*99(ca)

*99(cb)

*99(s)

*103(s)

*103(ca)

*103(cb)

Right?

And signal levels should be in 80s and above for the spot beams, and 90s and above for 101?

I assume the variation in some of the transponders is the "spot beams"?

That would answer the questions I have.

I'll look to see on dbstalk about the individuals spot beams.

The main reason I asked was that there was some significant variation between transponders on the same "satellite" and clearly it would be impossible to raise the low ones if the high ones were already very good.

This explains the variation. No dish alignment needed for me, virtually everything is in mid to high 90s with some 100s.

Greg

(set up and aligned dish about 10 years ago, never hurts to check)

99s/103s are the spot beams that are aimed at cities and carry the local channels, so yes they are varied as they are not pointing at your city.  The 101 is the starting point you have to dither the 99/103 sat into the 80's

Only those spotbeamed signals pointed at you will be high (typically 80-90+), many will be low or even zero. Many spotbeams overlap, particularly in the east, but you will only get programming from "your" spotbeam(s) even though you might see strong signals from others.. 

Got it... as I posted earlier...

But the statement: "you have to dither the 99/103 sat into the 80's" cannot be taken as is, you have to only pay attention to YOUR spot beams.

I joined dbstalk, and found the updated map, still will have to make sure of the transponders I want, but for example 99(ca) I think is CA for california... in any case they are all in the 90's, but it would be nice if the software ONLY displayed the YOUR transponders, or had the option.

Greg

We're glad it's now settled, thanks to @TexasBrit @shannon02 @litzdog911 and @Juniper for the answers and clarifications. - Carmella, DIRECTV Community Specialist