TRANSPONDER MONITOR

Interspace’s in-depth study of European satellite activity, compiled by Mike Fallon

Key:
D – Digital
A – Analogue

80 degreesE:
Express-6A
D – The Russian channel, TV Tsentr, appears to have left 3875MHz RHCP, SR 22910, FEC 3/4. The channel had been broadcasting here for a while in clear Secam.

62 degreesE:
Intelsat 602
A – On October 26 at 17:10 a feed for Japan’s Fuji TV was fed over 4188MHz RHCP in clear NTSC from Moscow. At the same time, Intelsat-602’s other feed transponder at 4166MHz RHCP was carrying a news bulletin for ANI India.

47.5 degreesE:
Europe*Star B
D – Several channels are testing here. On 12396MHz vertical, SR 1665, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195 Countdown TV from Italy has launched in free-to-air MPEG-2, 12398MHz vertical, SR 2359, FEC 2/3, V4194, A4195 – Magic TV, 12403MHz vertical, SR 2169, FEC 3/4, V4194, A4195 – Napoli International, 12409MHz vertical, SR 1999, FEC 5/6, V4194, A4194 – Italia Mia, 12548MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, V256 (no audio) – empty stream with the EPG ID: “TXP 1”, 12589MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, V308, A256 – empty stream EPG ID: “TXP 2” and 12726MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 2/3, V33, A34 – TeleGenova Sat. Although feed traffic from this slot is very rare some does appear from time to time. In the early hours of October 16, 12730MHz vertical, SR 3255, FEC 2/3, VPID 33, APID 34 was relaying tenpin bowling from an unknown venue in clear MPEG-2.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C
D – It has been announced that the soon-to-be-launched Turksat-2A, which is slated for a November 20 launch from Kourou, will provide two transponders for Turkish military use. 2A is configured with two fixed and two steerable beams to cover Europe, the Middle East, the Black Sea area and Central Asia in addition to Turkey itself. Turkish radio station, Kent FM, has been replaced by Radyo Oxigen on APID 681 at 11665MHz vertical. Radyo Nostalji (Nostalgia) has launched on 11025MHz vertical via APID 711. This station is not thought to be connected with the well known Russian radio channel, Radio Nostalgie.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat-W4 & Sesat
D – It appears that Anem TV from Serbia in addition to the Belgrade-based radio service B2-92 have left 12656MHz horizontal. Both channels have been absent for several days.

28.5 degreesE:
Kopernikus-DFS2
D – A DeeJay TV testcard has appeared on 12524MHz vertical, SR 2892, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in clear MPEG-2 (see also Hotbird at 13 degrees East, 11605MHz horizontal).

28.2 degreesE:
Astra-1D/2A & 2B
D – Astra-2B has now reached this slot following extensive in orbit transponder testing whilst parked at 33 degrees East. It is likely that traffic currently using Astra-1D will be switched to the new satellite over the next weeks or so. There has been some PID changes to some of the channels on 11856MHz horizontal. Sky Premier 2 is now V2309, A2310, National Geographic – V2312, A2313 and SkySport.com – V2315, A2316. Primetime Radio, from the Prime TV stable, has launched on 12324MHz vertical, APID 651. CeeTV, which offers Tamil language general entertainment programming, has started on 12402MHz vertical, VPID 2322, APID 2323. The Automotive Channel, aimed at car dealers in the UK, has launched on 11856MHz vertical, VPID 2315, APID 2316, Sky Digital Channel 903. The channel is subscription based and is only available to the motor trade. Another Sky Box Office channel, SBO 70, has launched on 12480MHz vertical, V2314, A2315. One of the streams on 12402MHz vertical is labelled “Mag” in the EPG. Last week this stream was temporarily airing some motor racing video footage, which appeared to originate from the US sports channel ESPN. One part time and one full time channel for science and art lovers are to join the Sky Digital line up soon. The Einstein Channel, which will feature programming with a science and technology theme, will stream share with S4C2 – the Welsh language channel. Artsworld is to launch on December 2. It will cost subscribers GBP5.00 per month to view programmes about film, art, jazz, classical music, opera and ballet. It is expected to appear on 12480MHz vertical where there is already an ID of “awd” in the EPG. Liberty TV have launched on 12402MHz vertical, V2316, A2317, Sky Channel 202. They air from 06:30-09:30 and 16:00-23:00 daily. The Nigerian channel MBI (Minaj Broadcasting International) has finally been added to the Sky EPG at Channel 698. The channel appears to be more stable now after they were dogged by a whole series of uplink problems throughout the summer. A Sky Box Office promo channel has replaced Sky Box Office Channel 70 on 11778MHz vertical, VPID 515, APID 644 and up at 12480MHz vertical SBO 70 has been replaced by Sky Box Office Events. UCB Cross Rhythms Radio and UCB Europe from United Christian Broadcasters are both very intermittent at present on 12110MHz horizontal with their signals coming and going. On 11739MHz vertical TVX – The Fantasy Channel has launched via PIDs V2320, A2322. It looks like the delayed launch of The Dating Channel may be coming closer. A promo for the channel has started on 11954MHz horizontal, V2308, A2310, Channel 648.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat-2A & 3A
D – On 12034MHz horizontal two channels left temporarily last week but have now returned. They were Morico TV Shopping and Al-Mustakillah TV. The new Lebanese channel, MTV, has officially launched on 11747MHz vertical, V2760, A2720 in clear MPEG-2. EuroSport France has signed a deal for carriage on the Arab Radio & Television (ART) and new Pehla digital bouquets available via Arabsat at 26 degrees East and Nilesat at 7 degrees West.

21.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat-II-F3
D – A number of new feed streams for NTL have appeared recently. 10969, 10978, 10986, 10995, 11004, 11013 and 11022MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 have all been active at times. This satellite may not be the best choice for SNG uplinking judging by the noticeable increase in pixelation in news OBs recently, many of which are fed over Eutelsat-II- F3. Over the past two weeks both Sky News and GMTV have started to make much more use of Eutelsat-W2 at 16 degrees East capacity. Live and recorded material from the scene of the Hatfield rail crash on October 17 was fed over 11048MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 for Sky News in clear MPEG-2.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H
D – Telewizija Niepokalanow, the Polish Roman Catholic channel, is temporarily off the air in 11876MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 whilst the uplink is being re-equipped. Four well known Dutch radio stations, Radio 538, Classic FM Nederland, Sky Radio and Love Radio are all to launch digital services using Astra capacity. The four will join Veronica FM and Kink FM on one of Canal Digitaal’s multiplexes (probably 12574MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6). Zee TV UK has been testing on 12422MHz horizontal via PIDs V511, A512 in clear MPEG-2. Also, Disney Channel Germany has been carrying out some tests here on VPID 255, A256. MTV France is switching in and out of encryption on 12699MHz vertical. EuroSport France has launched on 12012MHz vertical, V163, A92 in Mediaguard encoded MPEG-2.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat-W2
D – A second hop relay of some soccer action from Argentina was fed over 11142MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4 on October 30 in clear MPEG-2. The match was between Independiente and San Lorenzo.

13 degreesE:
HotBirds 1/2/3/4/5
D – Pink Plus from Serbia is encoded for most of the time but it does have a clear window from 17:45 to 18:30 every evening. The channel can be found on 12476MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 along with Radio Pink. Both channels arrive via a feed on Eutelsat-II-F3 at 21.5 degrees East, 10961MHz vertical, SR 2892, FEC 3/4. A testcard for DeeJay TV has appeared on 11605MHz horizontal, VPID 160, APID 161 in clear MPEG-2. The Kurdish language channel KurdSat has launched on the same frequency via PIDs V111, A112. An Espresso promo video loop is being played out over 12149MHz vertical, V192, A193 in clear MPEG-2. The Tamil language channel, Deepam TV, which is usually encoded is currently free-to-air on 10722, FEC 29900, FEC 3/4, V1006, A1206. The travel channel Vacaciones TV Europe has left 12092MHz horizontal. Italy’s Smau Channel has been replaced by Sat Expo Channel on 12111MHz vertical, VPID 230, APID 231 in clear MPEG-2. There is a new radio service to listen to on 12597MHz vertical in clear MPEG-2 from Radio Canada International. Viewing figures for the rather obscure Georgian TV channel TV Ajara, which occupies 12245MHz horizontal in clear MPEG-2, must have soared recently. The channels has started to air pirated newly released movies. The best time to catch one is around 19:00. The films, which are dubbed with one male voice, a la Russian and Polish dubbing efforts, still carry the original soundtracks, which can be heard beneath the dubbed voice. Some features have been aired on the channel before their UK cinema release. MCM Europe is temporarily free-to- air on 12188MHz vertical.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat-W1
D – Eutelsat-II-F4 was replaced by Eutelsat-W1 in the early hours of October 15. It is now drifting eastwards and is expected to be positioned at 33 degrees East. The signals reaching the UK from the new satellite are of very good strength with level well up on the former craft. As a consequence of the changeover there have been some frequency changes for the channel here. There is occasional feed traffic on 11005MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, the Turkish CHA feeds are now on 11581MHz vertical, SR 3000, FEC 3/4, Ege TV is on 11586 MHz vertical and Neuapostolische Kirche can be found at 11154MHz horizontal in MPEG-2 4:2:2. MKTV from Macedonia is using 12540MHz horizontal, SR 3254, FEC 2/3, VPID 308, APID 2331 for their daily transmissions and ESA TV, which carries coverage of live satellite launches courtesy of the European Space Agency can be found on 11135MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 as and when the need arises. The Italian Smau Channel has launched via an SCPC carrier at 12730MHz vertical, SR 2889, FEC 3/4, V308, A256. On October 27 at 15:15 11152MHz horizontal, SR 5631, FEC 3/4, VPID 771, APID 781, EPG: “HIGHLIGHTS” was active with a GlobeCast Espana testcard. During the same afternoon a news bulletin for the Turkish all-news channel NTV was relayed over 11014MHz horizontal, SR 4555, FEC 5/6, V33, A34, EPG “Service 1”, in clear MPEG-2.

A – Some more changes. Samanyolu TV has launched on 11622MHz vertical in clear Pal.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat-W3
D – NBA.com TV, presumably a US basketball channel, has joined the Turkish DigiTurk package on 11513MHz horizontal, SR 30000, FEC 3/4, VPID 2100, APID 2200. This channel in common with the other offerings here is encoded in Cryptoworks. Also two German TV channels, Sat 1 (V2110, A2220) and Pro Sieben Deutschland (V2109, A2218) have just started testing on this frequency. Although they were free-to-air at first they are now encoded in Cryptoworks also.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3
D – The Scandinavian movie channel, TV1000 Balticum, was free-to-air on 12034MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 3171, APID 3172 for around a week after its launch but has now encoded. The three Scandinavian soccer channels, Goal Show Danmark, Goal Show Sverige and Goal Show Norge on 11996MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 are still airing free-to- air coverage of matches. Surprisingly, there is no sign of then encoding yet. They share this multiplex with Viasat Xtra 3 and Viasat Sport Extra which are both encrypted in Conax. The new Ukrainian channel, Novy Kanal, has returned to 12689MHz vertical, SR 3977, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195 after a short break. The channel, which seems to air a large amount of children’s programmes, broadcasts in free-to-air MPEG-2. TV6 Moscow, a domestic TV channel which is available throughout Russia and the former Russian republics, has launched within the NSAB bouquet on 12380MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 55, APID 56, European beam, in clear MPEG-2. The channel is identified in the EPG as “TV6 Connova”. TV6 has also appeared on 12689MHz horizontal, SR 3100, FEC 7/8, VPID 33, APID 34, Nordic beam (see Transponder Monitor October 18 – Sirius-2/3). Viasat 3 has launched on 12380MHz horizontal, VPID 80, APID 85 in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2. On 12034MHz horizontal PIN has been replaced by a U Direct Movie Preview channel on PIDs V3151, A3152 in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2. In the Kingston TLI multiplex on 12053MHz horizontal, SR 18052, FEC 3/4 a new testcard has appeared with the caption “TRN” on PIDs V1056, A1057.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707
D – Cartoon Network Nordic is currently free-to-air on 11229MHz horizontal.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102
D – Al-Manar TV has launched on 11823MHz vertical, VPID 1004, APID 1204. As the troubles in Israel and Lebanon continue Al-Manar TV, which is run by the Hezbollah from their base in Lebanon, has announced that in the next month or so they are planning to increase broadcasting hours from the present six hours a day to 12. Also, plans are underway to extend the channel’s reach into the Americas and Australasia. PIDs have been changed for the Palestine Space Channel on 11823MHz vertical, they are now V3012, A3013. New to satellite is the Voice of Palestine, a radio station,which operates from Ramallah on APID 3014 at 11823MHz vertical. This radio station has also started on 12004MHz vertical via APID 257. Up to now Voice of Palestine was only available in the local area on Medium Wave. NBN has now left 11747MHz vertical but is still available via 12054MHz vertical. A TARAB testcard has appeared in the ART multiplex at 11900MHz vertical. As gleaned from the audio track, which is already present on the stream, this channel carries traditional Arab general entertainment and is expected to launch here in the near future. Also on 11900MHz vertical, the UK version of Cartoon Network has left the ART bouquet. Bollywood 4U Music has launched on 11900MHz vertical, encoded in Irdeto.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2A/D
D – The three French domestic radio stations, France Bleu – A943, France Info – A944 and Sophia – A945 have all returned to 12627MHz after an absence of a few days. In addition to their new short-lived outlet on Telstar-11 at 37.5 degrees West, NITV have also launched here on 11587MHz horizontal, VPID 1160, APID 1120 in clear MPEG-2. BBC News a digital stream on 11571MHz vertical, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 to relay coverage of the funeral service for Donald Dewar.

11 degreesW:
Express 3A
D – Eutelsat have said that they would be happy to welcome Serbia’s RTS TV back into their fold following the country’s move to new regime. At present RTS are using Express-3A Ku-Band digital capacity to reach their European audience and to supply terrestrial transmitters. If they were to return to one of the Eutelsat satellites reception and coverage of their signal in the target area would be greatly improved.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS-803 & NSS-K
D – US sports network ESPN seems to have launched on 11543MHz vertical, SR 29721, FEC 5/6, VPID 44, APID 45 in clear MPEG-2 via a European beam. This stream was active all day on October 29. This may of course be a prolonged feed – watch this space! WCW Wrestling – presumably the eastbound feed for Sky – was fed over 11550MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 650 in clear MPEG-2/NTSC on October 30 at 17:00.

27.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 605
D – Zee TV, the sole remaining occupant of 11665MHz horizontal, SR 30500, FEC 3/4 has left the multiplex. Zee’s service here, which was available in free-to-air MPEG-2 via VPID 1560, APID 1520, was their South African service which differed in output to the European service which can be found on Sky Digital. France 2 has joined the Plate-Forme Bretagne platform on 11600MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 627, APID 637. Surprisingly it is free-to-air despite the rest of the package being firmly encoded. Plate-Forme Bretagne is a digital terrestrial television service for Brittany in North West France. The multiplex here is used to supply terrestrial relays. PFB also use 11562MHz vertical here with seven encoded streams.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C
D – A new Spanish TV channel, Localia, has launched on 11590MHz vertical, SR 3000, FEC 3/4, VPID 1823, APID 1833 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

37.5 degreesW:
Telstar 11 & Columbia 515
D – NITV, the Los Angeles TV channel for Iranians living in Europe and the US launched on 11679MHz vertical, SR 2222, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2 via Telstar-11’s European beam last week. However after only two or three days the channel was on the move again, this time to Telecom-2D at 8 degrees West NITV recently complained that their signal which was available via Hotbird at 13 degrees East was deliberately jammed which may explain why they appeared here, in theory out of range of possible interference from Iran.

40.5 degreesW:
NSS-806
D – Radio Capital, which is based in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, has launched on 3878MHz RHCP, APID 1322 in clear MPEG-2. Argentine domestic radio station, Radio Rivadavia from Buenos Aires, is new on 4064MHz RHCP, APID 3246 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

43 degreesW:
Pas-3R & Pas-6
D – The Mexican digital bouquet on 12584MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, containing Eco, TeleHit, Galavision and TeleNovelas is still broadcasting in free-to-air MPEG-2.