TRANSPONDER MONITOR

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

Key:
D – Digital
A – Analogue

68.5 degreesE:
PAS-4 & 7
D – The replacement for PAS 4 has arrived at Baikonur in Kazakhstan in readiness for its launch aboard a Proton launcher next month. The new craft carries an impressive payload of 24 C-Band and 24 Ku-Band transponders with multiple high powered beams centred on Africa, Europe, the Indian sub-continent, Middle East, central, western and north east Asia.

53 degreesE
Gorizont 32
D – Tajik TV from the former Asiatic Russian republic of Tajikistan is currently free-to-air on 3738MHz RHCP, SR 4399, FEC 3/4. The channel may be experiencing some uplink problems as its presence here has become very erratic.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1
D – RTL 2 is free-to-air for the time being in the StarDigital package on 11469MHz vertical, SR 22500, FEC 5/6, VPID 1050, APID 1051. A feed for Show TV was carried on 12735MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 4130, APID 4131, ID: “Reji Ankara” on April 14 at 14:00 in clear MPEG-2.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat
D – A new Sitcom multiplex has opened on 12512MHz horizontal, SR 11570, FEC _ containing the Italian independents Nuvolari, Espresso and Leonardo in clear MPEG-2. During the weekend of 14/15 April occasional feed traffic for an unknown recipient from the San Marino F1 Grand Prix at Imola was fed over 12608MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 and 12648MHz vertical, SR 15000, FEC 3/4 in clear MPEG-2.

28.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F4 & Eurobird
D – More channels have joined the multiplex at 11680MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are Extreme Sport, EuroNews – complete with eight language audio tracks, Dream Line 1- 5, Online Classics, Now Channel and TBA. The CzechLink package has left its original Eutelsat-II-F4 frequency of 11554MHz horizontal. It is now available exclusively via Eurobird capacity where the signal strength has improved considerably in the UK. Czech TV are informing viewers who receive their signal via satellite that the package will be available on 11623MHz until June 3 and via their new permanent home on 12607MHz from April 17. Most of the channels in the bouquet are encoded but CT2 does have some open slots and TV3 Praha is free-to-air throughout. There is a new multiplex on 11584MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 containing 10 streams entitled Remux 1-10. At present these are still in the test phase are airing stills from Doordarshan TV World, Shop! (x4 streams) and Deepam TV (x5 streams).

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B & 2D
D – Playboy/Adult TV have left 10921MHz horizontal. These channels are still available on 12480MHz vertical. Another erotic channel, Private Girls, can be found on 10862MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6, VPID 2315, APID 2316 in Videoguard encoded MPEG-2 from midnight to 05:00. As expected Simply Money on 12129MHz vertical has made a major change in direction and has become Simply Shopping on Sky Channel 649. The new channel seems to feature exclusively American home shopping material. Game Network has joined the Sky Digital line-up. This popular genre has not been catered for before on the platform. Game Network and Energis are currently testing on 12265MHz vertical on PIDs V2305/2308, A2306/2310 respectively. Both channels are free-to-air at present. The PIDs for the BBC radio services on 11797MHz horizontal have been changed and they have moved in the Sky Digital EPG. They are now BBC Radio 1 (Ch.851) – A2316, Radio 2 (Ch.852)- A2317, Radio 3 (Ch.853) – A2318, Radio 4FM (Ch.854) – A2319, Radio 4LW (Ch.870) – A2320, Radio 5 Live (Ch.855) – A2321, Radio Scotland (Ch.866) – A2322, Radio Wales (Ch.867) – A2323, Radio Ulster (Ch.868) – A2324, BBC Asian Network (Ch.869) – A2325, BBC World Service (Ch.865) – A2326. All of these, with the exception of Radio 5 Live, are free-to-air. The other EPG moves for radio channels are; Classic FM (Ch. 856), Virgin Radio (Ch.857), Talk Sport (Ch.858), Classic Gold (Ch.859), The Mix (Ch.860), Planet Rock (Ch.861), Core (Ch.862), Capital Gold (Ch.863), XFM (Ch.864), YouthFM.com (Ch.871) and Premier Radio (Ch.873). A time-shifted version of UK Horizons has launched on 11817MHz vertical via PIDs V2334, A2437, Sky Channel 565 entitled UK Horizons +1. Hallmark UK and Star Plus are broadcasting in temporarily free-to- air MPEG-2 on 10921MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. Sky Box Office 54 has left 12363MHz vertical and has relocated to 10877MHz vertical. The Adult Channel has a new teletext service on 12480MHz vertical. Three new channels have launched on 12344MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. They are Liberty TV, Ireland’s RTE Radio One and PIN. Also on 12344MHz horizontal six new radio services have started recently. They are Classic FM UK – A2315, Classic Gold 828 – A2316, The Mix – A2317, Family Radio – A2318, Family Radio International 1 – A2319 and Family Radio International 2 – A2320. For the past week or so Sky Latest UK, Sky Sports 3, Sky MovieMax 3 and Sky Premier 3 have all been free-to-air on 11915MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. FilmFour World and FilmFour Extreme are both now encoded in Videoguard on 12168MHz vertical. The regional versions of BBC 2, which it was announced recently would be coming to Sky Digital, are to launch on April 30. MTV Dance launched on April 20 as planned. The channel, which occupies Channel 648 in the Sky EPG, is stream sharing with Nick Jr. and airs from 19:00 to 06:00 nightly. Rapture commenced round the clock broadcasting on the 20th at Channel 648.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A
D – On 11747MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 MTV Lebanon has replaced the ‘Test’ stream on PIDs V2760, A2720 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H
D – In the Canal Satellite Numerique package on 11778MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC _ Cuisine TV has changed PIDs to V165, A100. Contact TV has left this frequency and can now be found on 12012MHz vertical via PIDs V163, A92 in Mediaguard encoded MPEG-2. Radio 10 FM and Love Radio have launched on 12574MHz horizontal via APIDs 236/237 in clear MPEG-2. DOC Kardio TV has left PIDs V511, A512 at 12226MHz horizontal and has been replaced by a test card. Also on this frequency a testcard has appeared on VPID 255, APID 256 and Champions TV has launched on V1279, A1280. All of the channels here are encoded in Betacrypt. The mini-package on 12363MHz vertical containing RTM 1, ESC 1, TV5 France/Belgique/Suisse, Arte, TV7, RAI Uno, RTP Internacional and Deutsche Welle TV has closed here. It can be found now on Astra 1E at 19.2 degrees East, 10788MHz vertical in MPEG-2. The Hungarian channel, Magyar 2, has a new teletext service on 11875 MHz horizontal. A Credit Agricole promo has appeared in two different places here. It can be found on 12012MHz vertical, VPID 166, APID 104 and on 12363MHz vertical, V160, A80. Popular ex-pirate radio station Radio Caroline has secured carriage via an Astra transponder for digital broadcasts. From May 1 the station will be available on 11876MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 in clear MPEG-2. The signal will be uplinked courtesy of UPC from the Maidstone uplink facility in Kent. Radio Caroline are also talking to Sky Digital about joining the bouquet at 28.2 degrees East.
A – B1, the Berlin based terrestrial television station, has launched on 11568MHz vertical with audio via the 7.02/7.20 MHz sub-carriers in clear Pal. B1 is also available from this orbital slot in clear MPEG-2 on 12109MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Bloomberg News Radio is currently coming and going on the 7.38MHz sub-carrier at 11671MHz horizontal, the home of Sky Sports 3.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2
A – Assyria TV has left 11163MHz horizontal from where it could be seen part time. The Arabic channel, Al-Mustakillah TV, uses this frequency every Sunday between 13:00 and 15:00

13 degreesE:
Hotbird 1/2/3/4/5
D – The slightly strange music channel Krisma has returned to Hotbird. It has joined the Italian Telespazio platform on 12110MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 200, APID 201 in clear MPEG-2. The channel is only available here at night, from approximately 23:00 to 06:00. Brazil’s TV Globo has become somewhat intermittent on 12092MHz horizontal. This exciting South American channel is, at times, not present here. Five new streams have been activated in the French ABSat bouquet on 11681 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Although not broadcasting any output yet the streams are named in the EPG as Mangas, Polar, Encyclopedia, BBC World and Fashion. Video from the Napoli Channel is no longer available on 12303MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. However the stream is still active with audio on APID 253 from Slovenski Turisticni Radio (Slovene Tourist Radio). The PIDs for the Zee TV outlet in the Belgacom platform on 12476MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC _ have been changed to V910, A911. This Asian channel is now encoded after a period in the clear. 11642MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 has been carrying some occasional feed traffic of late. During the evening of April 14 live coverage of the Arsenal V Middlesborough soccer match was fed here on VPID 1760. However, the three accompanying identical audio streams were not relaying commentary from the match. APIDs 1721/1722 & 1723 had a Portuguese language programme on the left channel and commentary in English of a motorcycle race on the right channel. Romania Muzica has been replaced by Radio Romania International Open Radio on 11623MHz vertical, APID 267. Tamil Oli Radio has launched on 12380MHz vertical, APID 3532 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The US home shopping channel, Quantum 24, has returned to 11642MHz horizontal, VPID 1760, APID 1720 after a prolonged absence. Grande Fratello Replica Integrale, the Italian version of Big Brother, has left 11977MHz. Two new Italian radio services have launched on 12520MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are Ovtoreni – A107 and FM Italia 0 A108. Simay-e Azadi has launched on 12149MHz vertical, VPID 112, APID 113 in clear MPEG-2. Japan Satellite TV (JSTV) has switched to Viaccess encoding on 12597MHz vertical. HR International, a Croatian radio station, has launched on 12520MHz vertical via APID 153.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1
D – Antena 1 from Bucharest, Romania is currently free-to-air on 11024MHz vertical, SR 5631, FEC 3/4. The Turkish music channel, Pop TV, on 11019MHz horizontal has changed Symbol Rate to 2168.
A – Turkish radio channels Metro FM, Kral FM and Super FM have all left 11178MHz vertical once again.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3
D – Portugal’s RTP Internacional has vacated 11387MHz horizontal. Tamil Alai and the American Farsi Network are stream sharing on 11387MHz horizontal via APID 1060 in clear MPEG-2. The subject of jamming has reared its ugly head once again with claims from the Mojahedin, an Iranian opposition group, that the satellite signal from Simay-e Azadi (Vision of Freedom) on Eutelsat W3 was jammed by the Iranian authorities on April 17 at 12:00. Allegedly the channel’s other outlet on PAS 7 at 68.5 degrees East was also jammed on the following day at 19:30. Since this incident Simay-e Azadi has left 11596MHz horizontal at this orbital slot.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3
D – B4U Movies is once again encoded on 12453MHz horizontal, SR 18052, FEC 3/4, VPID 800, APID 801 in the Kingston TLI multiplex after a few weeks in the clear. The Arabic language Nimrooz TV and Nimrooz Radio have returned to 12110MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 52, APIDs 53/54 after a short break. RTL Television has left the Viasat package on 11881MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. New on this frequency is the Travel Channel on PIDs V5051, A5052 in encoded MPEG-2. Also present in this bouquet are TV3 Lithuania, TemTV Lithuania and TemTV Estonia. Both TemTV channels air regional versions of the Russian channel ORT in clear MPEG-2. Four new streams are active on 12303MHz horizontal, SR 25541, FEC 7/8. They are NTL Sirius 2 Tp31 to NTL Sirius 5 Tp31 on PIDs V1260.1360/1460/1560, A1220/1320/1420/1520. A dedicated racing channel for the William Hill betting shop group has launched on 12333 MHz horizontal, SR 10368, FEC 3/4, VPID 2160, APID 2322 in encoded MPEG-2. DR, the Danish state broadcaster, has signed an agreement with Viasat enabling all of the Danish TV and radio channels produced by them to be carried on the Viasat digital package from the end of this month. The channels involved are DR1 TV and DR2 TV plus radio services P1, P2 and DR Klassik. RTL Deutschland has been replaced by Travel on 11881MHz horizontal, VPID 5051, APID 5052 in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2.
A – Swedish TV4 is to leave its analogue transponder here at 11938MHz on June 1. The channel will still be available in Pal from their Thor outlet at 1 degree West.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707
A – TV4 from Sweden has started on 11389MHz horizontal in clear Pal with audio via the 6.50/7.02/7.20 MHz sub-carriers.

5 degreesW:
Telecom 2C
D – The number of store radio channels here is slowly increasing with the arrival of Trial on 12711MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 675. The new channel joins InstoreLive One – A670, Tiles FM – A671 & A673, McColls – A673 and Gfm 1 – A674.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102
D – There is a Space Toon promo being played out on 11881MHz horizontal via PIDs V1003, A1004 in clear MPEG-2 in readiness for their forthcoming launch.

12 degreesW:
Eutelsat II-F2
A – The sole analogue signal here, which was Digitaly on 12554MHz horizontal, has ceased.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12
D – Sport 1 Czechia is still temporarily free-to-air on 11120MHz vertical, SR 14810, FEC 7/8.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS 803 & NSS K
D – Live NFL was carried on the BT Brightstar stream at 11549MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 522, APID 650 with a match between France and Scotland (yes – it was American football) for Fox Sports on April 21 at 15:00. At the same time 11590MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, V2021, A2031, ID: ‘Auto 13.5MHz’ was in use for a feed encoded in Videoguard. This was probably carrying sporting material for Setanta Sport. A recording of the Miami V Charlotte NBA game was fed over the Reuters stream at 11464MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 at 07:30 on April 22 in clear MPEG-2

27.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 605
D – The ‘Cinenova Test’ stream on 11665MHz horizontal, SR 30494, FEC 3/4, VPID 1460, APID 1420 was displaying a blank screen as usual on April 21 at 15:30 but the audio stream was feeding audio from Canal+ Nederland.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C
D – The Portuguese domestic TV channel, RTP 1, is currently in the clear in the TV Cabo package on 11811MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Also free-to-air here are SIC Noticias and SIC Gold. Spanish channels Tele Cinco and Antena 3 are currently free-to-air on 11517MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPIDs 4192/4224, APIDs 4193/4225 within the Via Digital Espana bouquet.

31.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 801
D – On April 20 at 19:20 soccer from the French Cup clash between Strasbourg and Nantes was fed over 10994MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: ‘SNG TES-26 UKI325’ in clear MPEG-2. Live coverage of the Gillingham V West Bromwich soccer match was fed over 10988MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: ‘BT TES 9’ for Sky Sports in clear MPEG. Around five minutes later 10998 MHz vertical was fired up with a live feed from a French town with some kind of open air festivities featuring the compulsory accordion player and dancing. The parameters for this one were SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V308, A256, ID: ‘F00042G’.

34.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 601
D – Canadian Forces Radio 1 & 2 have launched within the multiplex on 3721MHz RHCP which is aimed at Canadian military personnel on attachments overseas. The two new radio services are using APIDs 37 and 35. Both channels are encoded in Irdeto.

43 degreesW:
PAS 3R & PAS 6
D – On April 20 at 13:00 a live feed consisting of the output from a rooftop camera in the centre of Washington DC showed the action as police investigated a suspected bomb. 12636MHz horizontal, SR 19846, FEC 7/8, VPID 1460, APID 1420 was used for the feed.

58 degreesW:
PAS 9
D – Occasional feed traffic from APTN London has been sighted here on 11477MHz horizontal, SR 26463, FEC 3/4, VPID 1360, APID 1320, ID: ‘Adhoc Channel 3’ in clear MPEG-2. EWTN has launched on 11607 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in free-to-air MPEG-2. On April 20 a new multiplex opened on 11676MHz horizontal, SR 23994, FEC 7/8 containing four streams. These were MTV – V512, A650, ID: ‘Nab1’, SkySports.com – V513, A660, ID: ‘Nab 2’, SkySports.com (with BBC World audio) – V514, A670, ID: ‘Nab 3’ and EuroNews – V515, A680, ID: ‘Nab 4’. However, on the following day these had changed to; Sky News – ID: ‘Nab 1’, Sky Sports – ID: ‘Nab 2’, BBC World – ID: ‘Nab 3’ and colour bars – ID: ‘Nab 4’.