DirecTV 11 phones home, HD clock starts ticking

Normally, we wouldn't go out of our way to pass along news that a recently launched satellite had phoned home, but given the nervousness felt by many after DISH Network's AMC-14 failed to reach its intended orbit, we figured we'd toss out some extra reassurance. As of early this morning, the D11 satellite made contact with a ground station in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa, signaling that it was "healthy and operating normally." Of course, there's no way to tell exactly what day the sat will begin dishing out more HD to more subscribers, but we reckon the conjecturing can officially begin. Psst... it took 81 days before DirecTV 10 began serving up HD.

[Thanks, K Shoup and syphix]

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 20th 2008 3:07PM]

Thanks "K Shoup"?

*sigh*

I posted this news on your own site @ 7:11am today...
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/03/19/directv-11-satellite-launch-deemed-a-success/comments/11124373/

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 20th 2008 3:47PM]

Got to hit us up via the Engadget HD Tips link up there -- it's not often that we get to sit idly and scroll through comments, you know. ;-)

In all seriousness, thanks though!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 20th 2008 3:34PM]

Any clue when Northwest Ohio will receive locals in HD?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 20th 2008 4:01PM]

Per DirecTV's web site no one is getting anything off this new Sat. until September.

http://dtv.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=300485

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 21st 2008 9:25AM]

You also have to remember that 81 days included a fairly serious problem that caused a delay. D* has posted "September", but that is clearly a date they are 100% they will make. So lets hope things go hitch free this time and we beat the prevouis 81 day time frame.