Is big dish satellites still used?
No, all the good stuff is encrypted I’ve been told. There are two old unused ones in yards a couple of houses from me.
Most programming on big dish is encrypted now, requiring specialized (read:expensive) equipment and related fees, so there’s really no point in going that route any more.
I still use my 10 ft C-band sat dish to watch TV. Using it and a cheap 4DTV receiver I maintain a monthly 10 channel “Pick Ten” satellite subscription with the Programming Center.net (I pick 10 channels a la carte from those offered). This year Nascar racing was all on Fox network, NBC network/NBCSports channel,Fox1 and Fox2 Sports, all available in a “basic package” along with 6 or 7 other channels cost me 27.50 a month. A real bargain if you’re techy and have the space. OTA networks are in HD, but the 4DTV is wide screen Standard Def 480, for the money looks great on my 40 inch.