Understanding Satellite's - Newbie needs help :)

Hello,

I am hoping that someone much more knowledgable than myself about how the satellites work might help me understand how my current switch to HD is working. I've been a Dish customer for a few years, but just switched to HD a couple of weeks ago.

I have a 722 DVR with one HD and one SD TV connected to it. I have two SD TV's hooked to a 322 receiver. I have one dish on the roof, but do not know the model. I live in the Minneapolis area of MN. I do receive the local channels.

When I look at the system menu, I am showing a "good" signal from satellite's 119, 110 and 129.

My questions are as follows:

-- Does this mean that the system is grabbing whichever satellite it gets the strongest signal from or is it a combination of the three depending on what we are watching?

-- Which satellite would I be getting the HD signal from?

-- As more HD channels come on line, any idea if I will be okay given the current satellite's that I am looking at?

Thank you so much for any education that you can give me!

Different channels come from different satellites.

Some HD channels are on 110, but most are on 129.

119 has only a few specialty HD channels like regional sports nets and HD locals.

Any new HD channels will be on one of the three satellites you already "see".

Is there a list of where channels are?

Hit 'info' twice, it will show you what bird you're on under the date.

fred

www.dishuser.com

When you tune to a channel, the satellite receiver automatically switches to the appropriate satellite (bird) and transponder. Virtually none of the channels are duplicated on any satellite.

It takes a lot of bandwidth to transmit the HD channels and that is why DISH Network now has two satellite constellations for the eastern arc (61.5, 72 and 77) and the western arc (110, 119 and 129).

DISH Network has always had more capacity for channels than any other provider and by the look of things they will continue to do so.

When you tune to a channel, the satellite receiver automatically switches to the appropriate satellite (bird) and transponder.

What exactly is a "transponder"?