Transponder Monitor

Compiled by Mike Fallon

Interspace’s In-Depth Study of European Staellite Activity

D=Digital
A=Analogue

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2 & 3

D The Anjuman Channel from Reminiscent Television has started on 3600MHz horizontal, SR 26665, FEC 3/4, VPID 525, APID 761 in clear MPEG-2. This Urdu language channel is also a member of the Sky Digital line-up on Astra at 28.2 degrees East.

A Occasional feed traffic for Thai Channel 11 can be found on 3892MHz horizontal in clear Pal with audio via the 6.80MHz subcarrier.

75 degreesE:
LMI 1

D The Ukrainian all-music channel OTV returned to 12620MHz vertical, SR 4490, FEC 3/4, VPID 3131, APID 3132, ID: ‘UKRKOSMOS2’ in clear MPEG-2 after a short absence last week. However, on August 23 OTV was replaced by the Ukrainian terrestrial network UT1 for one day before OTV returned once again.

72 degreesE:
PAS-4

PAS 4 has reached this position following its departure from 68.5 degrees East.

68.5 degreesE:
PAS-7 & 10

D Problems with the Chinese uplink recently have meant that only CCTV4 has been available in the Chinese package on 4090MHz horizontal, SR 13240, FEC 3/4. Usually CCTV3 and CCTV9 are also available here. As a consequence of the technical problems other Chinese bouquets on PAS-2 (169 degrees East – 3716MHz vertical), PAS-8 (166 degrees East – 3829MHz horizontal), Asiasat 3S (105.5 degrees East – 4129MHz horizontal), Asiasat 2 (100.5 degrees East – 12305MHz vertical), Intelsat 707 (1 degree West – 11174MHz horizontal), PAS 3R (43 degrees West – 4030MHz vertical), and PAS 9 (58 degrees West – 3880MHz horizontal) were all similarly affected. B4U Music and B4U Entertainment have both moved to 3836MHz horizontal from 3812MHz horizontal.

A The B Mac signal from Discovery Channel India appears to have left 3784MHz vertical.

62 degreesE:
Intelsat 602

D On 11059MHz vertical, SR 6000, FEC 3/4 an Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) testcard has appeared via PIDs V308, A256 in clear MPEG-2.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1

D BRT and Kanal 7 have both left 12676MHz horizontal, SR 7897, FEC 5/6. New on this frequency are Gold Music (test transmission) – A4352, TRT 1 test – V4690, A4691, TRT 4 test – V4722, A4723 and Lokum FM – A2030. On 12652MHz horizontal, SR 22500, FEC 5/6 TGRT has been replaced by TRT 1 in Nagravision encoded MPEG-2. Milan TV has joined the Star Digital line-up on 12689MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 7/8, VPID 4196, A4197. Ege TV is new on 11507MHz vertical, SR 3200, FEC 5/6, VPID 308, APID 256 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Radyo Ege is also present here on APID 257. Some of the programme output from Samanyolu TV is coming from a regional version of the channel entitled Samanyolu Xever on 11154MHz vertical, SR 3600, FEC 2/3, VPID 33, APID 34.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat

D TRT International is using 12695MHz vertical, SR 3029, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in clear MPEG-2. Two additional audio streams are also present here with Turkey’s external radio service, The Voice of Turkey, with programmes in Turkish via APID 4197 and various foreign languages (including English) via APID 4198.

30.5 degreesE:
Arabsat 2B

D The General Programme radio service from Bahrain has launched on 12713MHz vertical, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B, 2D & Eutelsat Eurobird

D The PIDs for Sky Travel on 10921MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6 have changed to V2310, A2313. On the same frequency Sky Box Office 18+ and Sky Box Office 55 have arrived here from 12363MHz vertical. Sky Moviemax 2 and Sky Premier 2 are new arrivals on 11914MHz horizontal via PIDs V2305/2316, A2306/2317 respectively. Sky Sports 3 has left this frequency. On 11719MHz vertical there have been several PID changes. The new parameters are Challenge TV – V2310, A2312, Trouble – V2314, A2316, Bravo – V2318, A2320, TVX Cable – V2323, A2325, TV Travel Shop – V2327, A2329, Challenge+ – V2310, A2312, Trouble+ – V2314, A2316 and Bravo+ – V2318, A2320. A Sky Movies Preview Mosaic has launched on 11934MHz vertical via VPID 515, APID 680. Sky Box Office 47 has left 11778MHz vertical and relocated to 11469MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 512, APID 640. Soccer channel Chelsea TV has officially launched on 12480MHz vertical, VPID 2319, APID 2320. Channel Health has opened on 11585MHz horizontal, VPID 2333, APID 2334 in clear MPEG-2. Sky Sports News has left 11856MHz vertical and has been replaced by British Eurosport on PIDs V2315, A2316. Disney Channel UK has moved to 10862MHz horizontal from 12090MHz vertical. Sky Box Office 1 & 2, SBO 59, SBO 18+ have all launched on 11469MHz horizontal in VideoGuard encoded MPEG-2. EWTN Radio Europe and EWTN Radio UK have officially launched on 12344MHz horizontal along with Club Asia. Star Plus has left 10921MHz horizontal and has launched on 12363MHz vertical, VPID 513, APID 651 and Sky One is new on 12070MHz horizontal, V2311, A2312. Big Blue has commenced broadcasts on 12324MHz vertical via APID 657. Pay-Per-View football channel, Premiership Plus in Pubs, has launched on 12363MHz vertical, VPID 2308, APID 2309, Sky Channel 433. Rapture TV has opened on 12226MHz horizontal. Taking Rapture’s old slot at 12188MHz horizontal is The History Channel. The Irish general entertainment channel Tara has launched on 12266MHz horizontal, VPID 2316, APID 2317 and Kiss TV has vacated 12266MHz horizontal for 12382MHz horizontal, V2314, A2315. National Geographic Adventure 1 and National Geographic UK+1 have launched on 11856MHz vertical, VPIDs 2305/2308, APIDs 2306/2309. Southampton soccer club radio station The Saint is testing on 12324MHz vertical via APID 658, Sky Ch.899 in clear MPEG-2. Sukh Sagar Radio has officially launched on 12344MHz horizontal, Sky Ch.900, APID 2333 in clear MPEG-2.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A

D Emirates Channel, Emirates FM, TV de Mauritanie and Radio Mauritanie have all left 12620MHz vertical. They have relocated to 12015MHz vertical, Emirates Channel – V2660, A2620, Emirates FM – A2621, TV de Mauritanie – V2760, A2720, Radio Mauritanie – A2721. On 11804MHz horizontal (MPEG-1.5/PowerVu) and 11996MHz horizontal (MPEG-2) BBC World Service French has been replaced by the BBC World Service Arabic stream.

21.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F3

D The Serbian channel Pink TV and Radio Pink are still switching in and out of Irdeto encryption regularly on 10962MHz vertical, SR 2892, FEC 3/4. Live feed traffic from the Reading Rock Festival was being carried on 10968MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: ‘NTL UKI 590’ in clear MPEG-2 last weekend.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H, Astra 2C

D A number of channels have switched over to the new Astra 2C. Apparently reception of the services emanating from the new craft has greatly improved in the extreme fringes of the footprint. With very modest dish sizes signal strengths in Turkey, the south of Italy, the Balkan region and much of Scandinavia have increased dramatically. The current line- up on Astra 2C transponders is: 10744MHz horizontal (Pal)- TV Puls; 10788MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6 – TV5 France/Belgique/Suisse, RTM 1 Europe, ESC 1, RAI Uno, Deutsche Welle TV, RTP Internacional, TV7, Arte Francais; 10832MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6 – IFA TV promo (for IFA Berlin); 10862MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6 – @Kokua (Data/IP service); 10964MHz horizontal (Pal) – ZDF, Oldie FM, Star*Sat Radio, Sunshine Live, Harmony FM, Radio Horeb, Radio Eviva, Hit Radio, Planet Radio; 11156MHz vertical (Pal) – Astra testcard. The Polish Roman Catholic channel, TV Niepokanalow 2, has launched on 12670MHz vertical, VPID 77, APID 78 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The German regional TV channel, Sudwest Fernsehen Rheinland-Pfalz has launched on 12110MHz horizontal, V3101, A3102 in clear MPEG-2.

A In ADR mode 88 Acht and Radio Kultur have launched on 11656MHz vertical via the 7.74 and 7.92MHz audio subcarriers.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2

D Coverage of the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix was fed over 12559MHz horizontal, SR 11264, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 for RTL in clear MPEG-2 on August 19. French terrestrial TV channel M6 has opened on 11534MHz horizontal, VPID 169, APID 114 in MediaGuard encoded MPEG-2. National Westminster Bank TV is testing in the BT Digital package on 11304MHz vertical, V2600, A2601 in clear MPEG-2.

13 degreesE:
Eutelsat Hotbird 1/2/3/4/5

D A new data stream entitled ‘REUTERS RSP’ has launched within the Polish Cyfra+ bouquet on 10892MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. On 10992MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 523, APID 751, Deejay TV has left the Stream package here and has been replaced by a testcard. There are two new channels in the Deutsche Telekom platform at 11095MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are Kurdsat – V38, A41 and a caption from Spice Platinum – V2901, A2911. The signal for Spice Platinum arrives here from the US via Telstar 12 at 15 degrees West. From Iran, IRIB Holy Qur’an Radio and IRIB World Service have launched on 12437MHz horizontal, APIDs 81 & 89 respectively. In the Greek Alpha platform Alpha Sports 107.4 FM has been replaced by 902 Aristera FM on APID 7503 at 10949MHz vertical. Canal 24 Horas, the Spanish all-news channel, has moved to 11785MHz horizontal from 11205MHz horizontal. Zee TV UK is encoded once again on 12476MHz horizontal. However, Zee Cinema remains in the clear on this frequency. German channel XXP has launched on 12265MHz vertical, V1660, A1620 in clear MPEG-2. ATN Bangla has now left 12220MHz horizontal and has been replaced by a ‘Jaswals’ testcard. ART Iqraa is currently free-to-air on 12015MHz horizontal. Italy’s D+ digital package has been renamed Tele+ Digitale. In the Greek NetMed digital package on 10930MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 Eurosport News has launched via PIDs V516, A690 and CNBC Europe has started on PIDs V513, A660. Both channels are encoded in Irdeto and have the EPG ID ‘Test’. National Geographic Channel has opened on 10930MHz horizontal, V513, A660 in Irdeto encoded MPEG-2. MTV Lebanon has departed from 12111MHz vertical.

A The audio of Eurosport is available on the back of RTP Internacional at 12726MHz vertical via the 7.38 and 8.46MHz subcarriers. TRT FM, The Voice of Turkey Turkish service and Voice of Turkey foreign language service have all returned to 10974MHz horizontal after a short break. They can be found on the 7.02/7.20, 7.56 and 7.92MHz subcarriers on the back of TRT International Europe.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1

D Turkey’s Ege TV and Ege Radyo have left 11585MHz vertical, SR 2821, FEC 3/4 and moved back to Turksat at 42 degrees East. Qualifying practice for the Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix was relayed on 10995MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID. ‘FORMULA 1 HUNGR’ in clear MPEG-2 on August 18 at 1040.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3

D Two new channels have joined the DigiTurk line-up at 11645MHz horizontal. They are Private Blue – V2107, A2214 and Playboy TV – V2112, A2225. Both newcomers are encoded in Cryptoworks. Live coverage of the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix was relayed on 11101MHz horizontal, SR 13333, FEC 7/8, ID: ‘AKK DSNG UE2’ in MPEG-2 4:2:2 for ORF Austria on August 19. Two free-to-air EBU feed streams are active at present from Macedonia as the Nato troops prepare to oversee the disarming of rebel factions. They can be found on 10974MHz vertical, SR 6666, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: ‘EBU Skopje Path 1’ and 10982MHz vertical, SR 6666, FEC 3/4, V308, A256, ID: ‘EBU Skopje Path 2’. On August 24 at 11:10 a feed from the FISA World Rowing Championship in Lucerne, Switzerland was carried on 11000MHz horizontal, SR 13330, FEC 7/8, ID: ‘FLAVIA 1E-A” in clear MPEG-2.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3

D Three new IP data streams have joined the Viasat platform on 11881MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are Metro, CD-on and ZTV-domain.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707

D A new channel entitled Urheilukanava has joined the Finnish bouquet on 11685MHz vertical, SR 11014, FEC 3/4, VPID 514, APID 648. It is currently free-to-air and is showing a promo video loop. Sub TV is new on 11689MHz vertical, VPID 512, A640 in Conax encoded MPEG-2. Norway’s NRK 1, NRK 2 and the accompanying radio services have left 12054MHz horizontal. Three Big Brother Denmark streams are active on 11676MHz horizontal, SR 26000, FEC 3/4, VPIDs 516/517/518, APIDs 672/676/680 in Conax encoded MPEG-2. ETV from Sweden has commenced test transmissions on 12303MHz vertical in MPEG-2/Conax.

A In a surprising move Canal+ Gul has launched in Eurocrypt S2 encoded D2 Mac on 12054MHz horizontal. D2 Mac is being phased out so quite why the channel has opened in that mode is unclear.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102

D Al-Mehwer has started test transmissions on 11823MHz vertical, VPID 1004, APID 1013 in clear MPEG-2.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2A/D

D The PIDs for Salutebenessere TV ( translating as ‘Health & Well-Being TV’) from Italy on 12692MHz vertical, SR 2892, FEC 3/4 have been changed to V930, A931. The channel broadcasts in free-to-air MPEG-2. ITV Sport’s coverage from the Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix was carried on 11520MHz horizontal, SR 10996, FEC 3/4, ID: ‘F1 BACKUP’ in encoded MPEG-2.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12

D A caption has appeared on 11060MHz horizontal, SR 18382, FEC 3/4, VPID 2901, APID 2911, ID: ‘EuroHits Distribution 1’ stating that from September 1 Spice Platinum, a new porn channel, will launch here and will air from 22:00-04:00. This is the eastbound feed from the United States for the channel that will be available in Europe via Hotbird capacity at 13 degrees East. The Polish terrestrial channel TVP1 is switching in and out of encryption on 11120MHz vertical and is currently enjoying some lengthy spells in the clear. In the Hallmark Entertainment platform for cable headends on 11534MHz horizontal two channels, Hallmark UK and Hallmark South Africa have departed. Radio Italia has launched on 11732MHz horizontal, APID 641 in clear MPEG-2. TV Niepokalanow 2 has appeared on 11597MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 3/4, VPID 513, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. 12599MHz vertical, SR 3617, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 is sporting a new Liberty TV testcard in readiness for a feeder service for the channel here. The signal takes a tortuous route to arrive at the intended audience. It leaves London by Trans-Atlantic fibre optic link to an earth station somewhere in the state of Maryland on the Eastern seaboard of the United States (the exact location has not been disclosed for security reasons). From there it is uplinked to Telstar 12. Liberty TV is a London based Iraqi opposition channel run by the INC (Iraqi National Congress) part funded by the United States. It is estimated that there may be up to 100,000 satellite dishes in Baghdad alone although direct satellite reception by anyone other than government officials is banned. In the north of Iraq there are probably many more satellite receivers in use by Iraqis and Kurds The Taiwanese channel Mac TV has new PIDs on 12606MHz horizontal, SR 19518, FEC 2/3 – V290, A291 and Tzu Chi TV also has new PIDs – V274, A275 on 12608MHz horizontal. 11582MHz vertical, SR 5698, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1120, ID: ‘GlobeCast NE Ad-Hoc’ has been used several times recently to feed a series of new commercials for the ITV network in free-to-air MPEG-2.

18 degreesW:
Intelsat 705

D The output from a traffic camera situated in an Italian city was fed over 10986MHz vertical, SR 6398, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34, ID: ‘ITA 41’ on August 18 at 17:40 in free- to-air MPEG-2.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS 803 & NSS K

D Golf action from the Bank of Montreal Canadian Women’s Open championship was fed over 11489MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: ‘BT WASHINGTON’ in clear MPEG-2 on August 18.

27.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 605

D Vietnam’s VTV4 has joined the RR Communications package on 10979MHz vertical, VPID 3105, APID 3106 in the clear.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C

D The Spanish channel Antena 3 is currently in the clear on 12172MHz vertical.

37.5 degreesW:
Telstar 11 & Columbia 515

D Greyhound racing from the Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park was fed over 11588MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: ‘VITEL DUBLIN-IR’ on August 18 at 20:30. On August 23 11595MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: ‘KTLI EUT2F2’ was used to feed the USA Network coverage of the NEC Golf World Championship from Ohio in clear MPEG-2.

All times in UTC unless otherwise stated.
E-mail: [email protected]

SR=Symbol Rate
FEC=Forward Error Correction
VPID=Video Programme Identifier
APID=Audio Programme Identifier