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GOFASTMOTORSPORTS.com by RicksSatellite |  |
January 17, 2004
It's 2004 and Gonna be Racing Time again soon. So far all of the information that I am receiving is saying that the Nascar Nextel Cup and Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck Series will be transmitting their Backhauls in the MPEG2 Digital 4:2:2 Format. The commercial MPEG2 4:2:2 receivers have still not come down in price (around 2,500.00), but it is possible to receive the MPEG2 4:2:2 feeds using a PCI card like the DST1000R (under 100.00) by Chaintech and some 4:2:2 Software.
While FOX encrypted most all of their backhaul feeds, there was usually two other feeds. One for the International audience and another for the SPEED channel for their Wednesday Replays. These feeds were also MPEG2 4:2:2 Video on C-Band and would move around to different locations during the year, including; Anik F1, AMC 4, AMC 1 & AMC 3. NBC and TNT did not encrypt their backhaul feeds and I and others were able to find up to 4 or 5 different backhauls for some races. (See Previous Race Backhauls)
I still use my Motorola 4DTV Satellite receiver to help search for the feeds. I set up one of the favorite lists with the known Backhaul and Wildfeed channels and then check these channels for signal strength by hitting Options 5 and seeing the Signal Strength Display. When I see strong signal strength and no Analog Video, then I know that something is there. For example if I am on C-Band transponder 5 which when not being used has a signal strength of 10, but when being used shows signal strength much higher like 58, I will then go to my Blind Search MPEG2 4:2:0 Satellite Receiver and input a starting freq. of 3780MHz and ending freq. of 3820MHz and then scan that freq. If there is an MPEG2 feed there, the receiver will lock it and assign it a channel. I then will hit the info button and it will display the Freq., Symbol Rate and PIDs. If the feed is in 4:2:0, then I can see the Video. If the feed is in 4:2:2, then the Blind Search receiver will let me hear the Audio, but cannot process the Video. Then I take the Parameters that the Blind Search Receiver found and go to my PC that has the DST1000R PCI Card installed it. (You need around a 1.8GHz or faster PC to be able to process the 4:2:2 Video.) While the manufacturer is getting very close to releasing their own version of 4:2:2 software, currently I have three other versions of Third Party software that works with the PCI card. I open up the program and input the Parameters and then can watch the 4:2:2 Video feeds on my PC. I also have an All In Wonder Radeon 7500 Video card and can also send the feed out of the PC to my TV. I actually send the signal out of my PC to a Channel Plus Channel modulator and put the feeds on channel 44 and then send it out to all of the TVs in my home.
Are We Having Fun Yet!
Rick Caylor
It's August 2003and time for BRISTOL!
BACKHAULS ALL OVER THE PLACE!
Since NBC has taken over the coverage of the Nascar events for the second half of the 2003 season, there have been 4 Backhauls almost every week! Be sure and check out the Previous Backhaul Page to see where the feeds have been. They have been MPEG2 Digital in the 4:2:2 Video format. The MPEG2 4:2:2 receivers are still starting in the price range of 2,500.00 and go well up from there. The prices are staying high due to the licensing issues envolved with the 4:2:2 software. However you can still us a PC card in your computer and then run the LNB line from your satellite dish to the PC LNB input of the PC card and get the software from www.dvbapps.com to be able to handle the 4:2:2 software and get the BACKHAULS again. If you have a fairly fast PC, 1.8GHz or faster, then you can do this and all for under 100.00! At first folks were using a Broad Logic Cable Modem PC card to do this, but recently, new Cards have become available, including the Twinhan VP1020 which is designed to be used as an MPEG2 satellite receiver. It even comes with an IR eye that plugs into a USB port on your PC and a Remote control. The next card coming out is supposed to be even better and it is the DST1000. Hopefully available by the first of September.
Feb. 23rd, 2003
Thanks to the Great Supporters of Gofastsmotorsports! As I continue to get busier with the growth of Ricks Satellite, My Great Friends And Customers continue to learn how to Surf for Backhauls and Wildfeeds and send their Finds to this site. After not being able to find FTA Backhauls for the Bud Shootout or Winston Cup Qualifying for the Daytona 500, information started coming into this site from Folks who Refuse to join various discussion groups, but insist on sharing their Backhaul Spots! MPEG2 Digital 4:2:2 Video Backhauls were spotted for the Rain shorten Daytona 500, as well as for the Subway 400 from Rockingham. Bill Simpson has become a Super Surfer with his 10' Satellite Dish, 4DTV, Satcruiser DSR101Plus and his Scopus 2800 4:2:2 IRD Receiver. He is also gracious enough to share his prize finds with this website.
Now you may ask, does Bill get Special Prices on satellite equipment?
The answer is HECK YES!
Keep Up the Great Work BILL!
Feb. 9th, 2003
No FTA Backhauls spotted Here for FX NASCAR Practice, Bud Shootout or Winston Cup Qualifying on FOX.
Just a couple of new encrypted feeds spotted.
No More FX for the Big Dish either. You cannot even subscribe to the channel at this time without Cable TV service, DirecTV or Dish Network systems.While there are those who wish to blame this website for the encryption of Nascar Backhaul feeds, they should keep a few things in mind.
This is America and We Have Freedom of Speech.
You are entitled to your opinion and I to mine.
This site has maintained a public counter since it has been in place, and the few visits that it receives could not be the reason for Nascar / FX / Fox to decide to encrypt their signals. When looking at the log of IP addresses of the visitors, most of the hits come from the same IP addresses again and again. There are other discussion groups where many more things have been said and done and the volume of visitors far out numbers the traffic here, that could have possibly had an effect on the Networks decisions. Many of the Networks employees are members of those groups and have easily gained access to the restricted areas. When I was a member of and participated in those groups, I abided by the rules that I agreed to upon joining. But the childlike complaining was just to much for me to continue. I have not been back to those discussion groups since August of 2002 when I posted the satellite location of the Bristol Race.
The programmers have the right to do what ever they want to do. They are the ones paying the money for the rights to televise the feeds and purchasing the Satellite time and paying the costs to get the signals out, and they must do what they feel is needed to bring the revenue back in to make a profit. Otherwise, there would be no televising of the events at all. There will always be a continuing evolution of how signals are sent from here to there. When the Nascar signals first went to digital transmissions, the signals were taken away from the vast majority of Satellite Viewers merely by the change to digital. I support the Networks by maintaining subscriptions to their channels. I do not encourage the use of Illegal Descrambling Devices. But I do try to find Free To Air Satellite Feeds while they are there and share the information with friends.
Signals will continue to come and go and be FTA and Scrambled. Many uplinkers wish for there channels to be easily available by as many means as possible. While others do all they can to hide the signals and charge as much as they possibly can for the right to view them.
I enjoy the Nascar Backhauls as much as anyone and am disappointed that they have decided to take them away if they have for good. I dislike the constant bombardment of redundant commercials, but my life does not center on this one thing and it never will. I will continue to enjoy all types of motorsports and satellite TV. The one consistent fact is that nothing will remain consistent.
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND FREE TO AIR SATELLITE FEEDS!
Rick Caylor
January 12, 2003
Well, it's almost time for another year of Exciting Racing Action. There is nothing more interesting and exciting for me than the thrill of High Speed Fast Pace Action that is offered by mankind taking on the experience of building parts and turning them into machines and making them into the best handling, fastest moving and safest equipment possible. It can be a thrilling yet very humbling experience. Driving one of these machines can be an absolute Adrenaline Rush, not to mention the absolute Dangers associated with the sport that has claimed many of my Heroes over the many years that I have been involved.
When I can't be at the Races, then I still enjoy watching the action on TV. Better yet, watching the action on a Satellite Backhaul! Now where will the Satellite Backhauls be this year and what method of transmission will the different Networks be using?
Well, with the addition of the SPEED Channel, it is likely that there will be some feeds that will continue to be analog on both C & Ku-Band frequencies, but most likely the BIG BOYS, Like Winston Cup, Busch Grand Nationals and the Craftsman Truck Series, the Backhauls will once again be transmitted by what is called MPEG2 Digital using 4:2:2 video in the QPSK Modulation Mode. At this time the cost of a Commercial receiver to be able to pick up these type of transmissions still starts at approx. $2,499.00. BitCentral.com sells the Scopus 2800IRD, which is a Basic unit that will process 4:2:2 video in the QPSK modulation mode. However it is still always possible that the uplinkers could decide to Encrypt their signals or step up to a different modulation mode which requires a more expensive receiver that can range up to 5,000.00 or more.
There are other ways to access these feeds, including some who are using a Broadlogic Cable modem card installed in their PCs. You would need to join the group known as Satfourms and then join the mpeg2 discussion group for further details and to be able to obtain the software that would be needed to use this PC card for this purpose. While some folks have had good luck with this card, others continue to have problems. It can cause the computer to lock up and then you would have to reboot to start over again. Others are able to use it for up to 30 to 45 minutes without a problem and then the video would freeze and once again have to reboot and start again.
I have a supplier who is having a dedicated PC card built to process 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 video with an 800MHz or faster processor. The first Prototype has been received and tested and had some problems and has been sent back to the R & D department for further work. I ask my supplier weekly about the development and have been told that there are still possibilities that the Prototype may be back in his hands before Daytona 2003, however there have been no promises made. I am also hopeful of being able to test one of the Prototypes myself when they come back from the R & D department. The hope is that it will not have the problems associated with the use of the Broadlogic Cable Modem Card.
Also keep in mind that last year, I have still been able to find numerous backhaul locations that used mpeg2 4:2:0 video. Those races are listed below in another update. Also that you can use a 4:2:0 mpeg2 receiver to at least access the Backhaul Audio of the feeds, even if you cannot see the Video. Depending on the type of receiver that you are using, there are different ways of doing this. It may require that you change the Video PIDs to a different value or you may be able to use the Freeze or Pause button if you receiver has one. This stops the unviewable 4:2:2 video from coming through at all, but also stops the occasional blinking in the audio or in some cases lets the audio come through that would not come through at all.
God Bless America and Free To Air Satellite Feeds and Continue to have Fun Stalking out the Backhauls and Wild Feeds.
Rick Caylor
Gofastmotorsports.com and Ricks Satellite
October 10th, 2002
There have been 4 Weeks in a row of MPEG2 4:2:0 NASCAR Winston Cup backhauls on C-Band. Add Talladega to the list.
October 3rd, 2002
There have been 3 Weeks in a row of MPEG2 4:2:0 NASCAR Winston Cup backhauls on C-Band. Loudon, Dover and Kansas.
Qualifying coverage was also shown in 4:2:0 in what I call a TIVO style format. There was a live feed showing the crew getting ready to go on the air and then they show the first few cars qualify live and then when they go to commercial break, they would keep recording the qualifying while putting up a black screen on the backhaul on both C & Ku-Band feeds. Then after the commercial break, they would roll the tape from where they went to commercial at. I would be listening to live feed from MRN and they would get way ahead of the taped delayed coverage on TNT.
On one weekend, SPEED channel had the Happy Hour coverage on Sat. and it was in 4:2:2, while the Qualifying feed and Sundays race were both in 4:2:0 on C-Band.
I don't know why there have been MPEG2 4:2:0 backhauls on C-Band the last 3 weeks. The feeds on Ku-Band have remained in the 4:2:2 format.
Well let's hope that the trend continues, but remember that I have been using my 4:2:0 receiver to listen to the backhaul audio of the 4:2:2 feeds. When TNT, SPEED or NBC go to commercial break, then I switch to the 4:2:2 feed for the backhaul audio, while also using MRN radio feed.
While the sponsors are great and I appreciate what they do to get the sport on TV. I also enjoy the beloved backhaul. Actually after watching 3 weeks of racing backhauls again, I have started to like all of the advertisers again instead of getting mad and upset everytime I see their same ads again and again. I will never understand how the companies will spend millions on the advertising budget and force feed the same spot the whole race long.
With that said, I hope their is a 4:2:0 feed for TALLADEGA!
Here is a list of LIVE 4:2:0 backhauls that I have been able to spot by surfing with a 4DTV and a MPEG2 Satellite receiver and a 10' C/Ku satellite dish.
Chicagoland - Busch Race
Chicagoland - IROC - ESPN Taping Race
Chicagoland - Winston Cup RacePikes Peak - Busch Race
Richmond - ESPN Craftsman Trucks
Loudon - Qualifying
Loudon - Winston Cup RaceDover - Qualifying
Dover - Happy Hour
Dover - Busch Race
Dover - Winston Cup RaceKansas - Qualifying
Kansas - Happy Hour
Kansas - Busch Race
Kansas - Winston Cup Race
September 7th, 2002
Richmond, VA. / While the Busch Grand National and the Winston Cup races were both transmitted in the MPEG2 4:2:2 format, the Craftsman Truck race was sent thru LIVE in 4:2:0 Video. The feed was on Galaxy 11 - 17 C-Band. ESPN aired the event tape delayed later that night.
Aug 30th, 2002
Well it was sure nice to see NBC using 4:2:0 video, but it was did not last for long.
After NBC had a Ku-Band Backhaul feed for the coverage of their first 3 NASCAR events in MPEG2 digital 4:2:0 Video, there was hope that maybe NBC would continue to do so. But it did not happen, at least so far. Since the Pikes Peak BGN race, the only Backhaul feeds that I have found were all in the 4:2:2 Video QPSK Modulation Mode. Follow this link for the locations of where the Backhauls were at, Previous Race Backhaul Locations. They are still up there, they are just using a different method of signal delivery. The New Improved MPEG2 Digital...4:2:2 Video in the QPSK Modulation Mode.
There is still Hope on the Horizon as the price of basic 4:2:2 receivers continue to come down in price, with some units as low as $2,500.00 and rumor of others in the range of $1,700.00, but not yet confirmed.
July 20th, 2002
The SKY is Going DARK!
Well, then it must be Night Time,
Because there are "FREE TO AIR" Satellite Feeds Everywhere!Well it's NBC/TNT's turn to step up to the plate again. What method of Satellite Transmissions will they be using? Well, to most everyone's surprise, there was an NBC MPEG2 Digital Backhaul that was transmitted in the 4:2:0 Video Format from Chicago. It was located on AMC 3 - 8 Ku-Band @ 11860MHz (V) SR18333. There was also a second Backhaul that was on Galaxy 3R - 22 C-Band @ 4140MHz V SR25319 that was Using 4:2:2 Video. The 4:2:0 feed also had LIVE coverage of the IROC Race that ESPN was taping, before NBC took over for the Busch Race on Saturday.
Then it was TNT's turn at New Hampshire. They also had two Backhauls. Both were in the MPEG2 Digital format Using 4:2:2 Video in the QPSK Modulation Mode. They were located on AMC 2 - 1 Ku-Band @ 11720 V SR18333 and Galaxy 11 - 8 C-Band @ 3860 V SR25319.
The price continues to come down on 4:2:2 receivers even though they are still not very user friendly. The starting price on a basic 4:2:0 receiver is now around $2,500.00.
Good Luck with Stalking the Backhauls and Wildfeeds and watch for more NBC Backhauls to be in the 4:2:0 Video Mode. I even ran across a CBS Golf Backhaul in 4:2:0 Video as well this week on Telstar 6 C-Band.
Feb. 10th, 2002
It's SPEEDWEEKS 2002 and the Goodys Dash Series, ARCA & Winston Cup have all taken a turn at Racing on the Daytona Super Speedway! After holding out a little bit of slim hope that the NASCAR people would decide to go back to an analog satellite backhaul for it's live events in 2002, all I could do was confirm that there were MPEG2 Digital Backhauls using 4:2:2 Video in QPSK Modulation mode for Winston Cup Qualifying on NBC, Saturday on AMC 1 - Tr. 10 C-Band 3900MHz V SR25319 4:2:2 Video VPID308 APID256 PCRPID8190 & the ARCA race and Bud Shoot-Out on TNT, Sunday on AMC 3 - Tr. 17 Ku-Band 12040MHz H SR18333 4:2:2 Video VPID308 APID256 PCRPID8190.
The reception was verified for me by Mark Loewe (MRFEEDS), using his Tandberg Alitea 4:2:2 Receiver. Mark has also told me before that it produces an Excellent Quality of Video.
Don't forget that you can use your 4:2:0 receiver to at least access the Audio portion of the NASCAR Backhauls besides all of the other FTA channels transmitted in the 4:2:0 format.
Hopefully the cost of MPEG2 4:2:2 Receivers will continue to come down in price. So far this year the best price that I can purchase a unit for that will process the Current Method of NASCAR Backhauls is approx. $3800.00. A Codico brand receiver. But you still must keep in mind the different modulation modes that other Networks use. 8PSK, 16QAM and different Audio options also like AC3. The higher price receivers can handle the various modulation modes but range from $5,000.00 up.
NASCAR Backhauls Remained Digital!
Dec. 27th, 2001
The NASCAR feeds remained MPEG2 4:2:2 digital format for the complete 2001 season except for a couple of Busch races which were on analog C-Band and the Daytona 500 which was on MPEG2 4:2:0 format. The sections below tell about the evolution to the 4:2:2 digital format and why I post the feeds that I find and where the feeds were located. Please do not repost the Nascar digital feed locations. Rick Caylor
NASCAR Backhauls GO Digital!
Front Page Story -- 7/5/2001
Satellite Race Fans were once again disapointed after searching the sky for a Commercial free feed of the Winston Cup and the Busch Grand National races. There were no feeds to be found -- Unless you happened to be equipped with the latest Technology available known as an MPEG2/dvb 4:2:2 satellite receiver. But even with this receiver the feeds are still very tough to locate.
As technology continues to change, all the major networks are gradually evolving to Digital transmissions. The Backhauls are still there, they are just using a different method of signal delivery. The most reliable receivers that can read these type of MPEG2/dvb 4:2:2 commercial format signals are currently selling for around $5400.00 US dollars. Many research groups and developers are working at building a consumer end receiver that can process these signals, but it all takes time. Some lower end units are becoming available for around $3,500.00, but these particulair units do not have all of the desired features to ensure reception of both FOX and TNT/NBC.
Don't give up and Keep Your Eyes on the Sky!(Rick Caylor - GOFASTMOTORSPORTS)
These feeds are not encrypted at this time, but NASCAR has taken great efforts to take away the Backhauls from the normal satellite veiwer so they can get more dollars for their TV contract. Some people believe that by letting this information out will cause NASCAR to encrypt their signal. Well to most, the signal might as well be encrypted since it requires the purchase of an additional receiver at over $3,000.00. So with that in mind, Please use your Best Judgement on who to share this information with. I have decided to share it this way because so many GOOD PEOPLE were looking for at least some information on how the signal is being delivered. I have many good friends and customers who are just learning how to use the internet and an mpeg2 receiver. It is fun and exciting to help a newbie to the hobby and help them along the road to finding Free To Air Satellite feeds. This site is intented to do just that. I am trying to help others with simular interests to get some answers to the same questions I have had and to steer them in the right direction.
The FREEDOM OF AMERICA allows us all to scan the sky!
GOFASTMOTORSPORTS.com by RicksSatellite
Last Update; 01/17/04 05:57 PM
Copyright by RicksSatellite 2002/2004
