What type of satellite does DIRECTV use?
Hughes Electronics built three high-power Ku-band satellites featuring 16 120-watt transponders that operate from the 101 West longitudinal position. These satellites are among the most powerful commercial satellites ever built. The first satellite, DBS-1, was launched in December, 1993. DIRECTV sold five-sixteenths (5 transponders) of the first satellite to USSB (U.S. Satellite Broadcasting). The second satellite, DBS-2, was launched on August 2, 1994 and the third satellite, DBS-3, was launched June 9, 1995 as an in-orbit spare and to increase the channel capacity of DIRECTV. DBS-2 and DBS-3 are solely owned and operated by DIRECTV.
