Transponder Monitor

A=Analog
D=Digital

110.5 degreesE:
Sinosat 1

D Sinosat 1 has been the victim of some piracy in recent times. During the late evening of 23 June several China Central TV channels were interrupted by a pirate transmission from the Falun Gong sect. This group’s aim is to highlight the violation of human rights issues in mainland China. During the interruption a caption was placed on screen stating ‘Falun Dafa is good’. As yet just how the group were able to break into the CCTV satellite transmissions has not been ascertained.

75 degreesE:
LMI 1

A Madagascar’s Canal 6 appears to have left 3861 MHz vertical where it had been available in clear Secam for some weeks. Also, Antananarivo 100.4FM has left the 6.80 MHz audio sub-carrier here.

68.5 degreesE:
PAS 7 & 10

D TCM UK has left the MultiChoice Africa package on 3836 MHz vertical, SR 20600, FEC 3/4 and has moved to 3715 MHz vertical, SR 20600, FEC 3/4, VPID 516, APID 644. The channel is encoded in Irdeto 2.

66 degreesE:
Intelsat 704

D Nepal TV has launched a free-to-air service on 3807 MHz LHCP, SR 4991, FEC 1/2 via 704’s North east zone beam which covers from China south to Western Australia at 39 dBW and east to the Indian sub-continent at 33 dBW.

64 degreesE:
Intelsat 804

D Two radio stations accompany Uganda Television on 3925 MHz RHCP, SR 4882, FEC 2/3, APID 35. They are Radio Uganda in Swahili and vernaculars via the left channel and Radio Uganda in English on the right channel.

62 degreesE:
Intelsat 902

D Iran’s fifth terrestrial TV channel, IRIB TV 5, has launched on 11137 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 105, APID 205.

57 degreesE:
NSS 703

D PCNE, the Chinese language channel, has launched on 11165 MHz vertical, SR 9164, FEC 1/2, VPID 2160, APID 2120 in clear MPEG-2. This stream is configured for an European beam which delivers 49 dBW to most of mainland Europe and into southern England. ETV Ethiopia continues on 3940 MHz LHCP, SR 6000, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1

D M1 TV and Radyo Cool have returned to 10980 MHz horizontal, SR 2344, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APIDs 36/35 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Cem Radyo is new on 10956 MHz vertical via APID 37. Dunya Radyo has launched on 11155 MHz vertical, SR 4553, FEC 3/4, APID 37. The PIDs for Kiss TV on 10986 MHz horizontal have been changed to V308, A256. The GOD Revival Channel has launched on 12620 MHz vertical, SR 6159, FEC 3/4 in free-to-air MPEG-2 via the Turkish beam.

40 degreesE:
Express A1R

D Transponder saturation tests have been noted on 11575 MHz vertical from this new satellite.

30.5 degreesE:
Arabsat 2B

D The Iraq Satellite Channel has moved up in frequency from 12708 MHz horizontal to 12722 MHz horizontal, SR 4340, FEC 3/4, VPID 4130, APID 4131 in clear MPEG-2.

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

D There is a new QVC testcard at 12032 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2318, APID 2319. Shop 24/7 is a newcomer at 12344 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. Abu Dhabi TV Europe is new on 11973 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 in Videoguard encoded MPEG-2. The music and comedy channel Play UK on 11817 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 is to close at the end of this year. The channel, which is part of the UKTV group owned by Flextech and BBC Worldwide has suffered from rapidly falling viewing figures. Rapture TV , which is set for a November re-launch, has been removed from the EPG. The channel had been carrying out some tests and had reappeared at Sky Ch.232 but is no longer included in the Sky Digital EPG. Perhaps not surprisingly the high brow channel Artsworld on 11778 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 is expected to close in the near future, possibly as early as late July. Artsworld had attracted just 100,000 subscribers at GBP5.99 per month. The Hindi language channel Asianet UK is carrying out tests on 11662 MHz horizontal in readiness for next months launch. It does not appear in the Sky EPG yet but can be viewed with a Sky Digibox by entering the parameters in the ‘Add Channels’ menu. The stream is identified as ‘bgnk’. Nick Toons from the successful Nickelodeon stable is to launch on 22 July. The channel is currently testing on 12360 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, ID:’nkts’. The new bingo channel entitled Avago is now included in the Sky EPG at Ch.235. The channel officially launched on 5 July. Setanta Sports, the Irish PPV sports channel, is available on 11623 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2306, APID 2307, Sky Ch.435 in Videoguard encoded MPEG-2. Setanta airs on Sundays only from 12:00 to midnight. Subscription charges range from GBP7.99 per week up to GBP49.99 for 10 weeks. There is a new Markiza TV testcard in evidence on 12643 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 129, APID 133. TV3 Praha has left the CzechLink package on 12607 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. The BBC’s latest offering, BBC Radio 1Xtra is slated for a 16 August launch. The new channel will offer a mix of Urban, Garage, R’n’B and soul music. Sky Digital are to launch the UK’s first PPV music service in the Autumn. Called MusicXclusive it will deliver music videos plus interviews for a daily fee which is yet to be announced. Troubled Home Shopping Europe (HSE) looks set to close imminently as a last ditch attempt to save the channel has reportedly fallen through. China Central Television’s English language news and cultural channel, CCTV-9, may be joining the Sky Digital line-up in the near future. Apparently talks are taking place with a view to the channel being made available to UK viewers.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A

D Radio Bahrain, Bahrain FM and Radio Bahrain General Programme have all left the Arabsat package at 12735 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4.

21.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F3

D EuroMed has been replaced by CalabriaSat at 11612 MHz horizontal, SR 2500, FEC 2/3, VPID 3105, APID 3106 in clear MPEG-2.

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

D RTL Shop has joined the RTL bouquet at 12188 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 168, APID 137 in clear MPEG-2. VH-1 Europe has been replaced by MTV Classics in the UPC Direct package at 12304 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 165, APID 100 in Cryptoworks encoded MPEG-2. The Polish channel TV Puls has moved from 10744 MHz horizontal to 10832 MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6, VPID 59, APID 60.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2

D The two Israeli radio stations, Kol Hasimha and Kol Hahesed, have left 12625 MHz vertical, SR 2221, FEC 1/2, APID 4197 where they were sharing the stream with Canal 26. The Israeli SatLink feed stream on 11141 MHz vertical, SR 3331, FEC 3/4 was active on 8 July at 17:00 with a relay of Kol Tsofaich. At 11084 MHz horizontal, SR 11312, FEC 5/6 the PIDs for MTV Italia have been changed to V33, A34. On the same frequency Radio Serena and Rete Sport are new on APIDs 39/40. RTV21 has launched a digital service on 11049 MHz horizontal, SR 3571, FEC 1/2, VPID 308, APID 256 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Also, Koha Vision is new on 11054 MHz horizontal, SR 3571, FEC 1/2, VPID 308, APID 256.

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

D Hotbird 6 is due to lift off in early August. The new craft, which will replace Hotbird 5, carries a payload of 28 Ku-Band transponders. The US based religious channels 3ABN and 3ABN Radio from the 3 Angels Broadcasting Network have left the GlobeCast multiplex on 11623 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. However, they are both still available via the Telespazio package at 12673 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Another new Italian private TV channel has launched a DTH service. CalabriaSat has joined the Hrvatska package at 12520 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 52, APID 53 in clear MPEG-2. The channel’s full name is CalabriaSat-Televisione Satellitare. An on-screen caption states ‘ http://www.calabriasat.tv sms +39 3397465718, +39 0968419525, Prove Techniche, Inizio Transmissioni Tutti i Giorni ore 20.45-02.00.’ CNNI is temporarily free-to-air in the GlobeCast bouquet at 12596 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 168, APID 112. Some of the radio stations in the Swiss bouquet at 12399 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 have changed names. The new identities are; SRG-DRS MW531 – A215, SSR-La 1ere – A217, SSR-Espace 2 – A218 and SSR-Couleur3 – A219. All are free-to- air. There is an Iranian feed stream tucked away in the IRIB package at 12437 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. The stream, on PIDs V6135, A6136, carries a caption when not in traffic with ‘Feed from I.R.I.B. Tel: +9821 216 3279’. The other occupants of the Iranian package are Jaam-e-Jam Network 1 – V160, A80; Jaam-e-Jam Network 2 – V161, A82; Sahar Universal Network 1 – V162, A84; Sahar Universal Network 2 – V163, A86; Iran News Network – V164, A88; IRIB Radio 1/Radio Qur’an – A89; Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran (VIRI) Service 1/2 – A85; VIRI 3 – A87 and VIRI 4/5 – A91. Formula 1 has been replaced by ESPN Classic on 11862 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 164, APID 96. In the GlobeCast package at 12597 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 the Voice of Russian Jewry has vacated APID 2128. The two Big Brother Hellas streams have left the Nova line-up at 10930 MHz horizontal. The Russian channels NTV International USA and NTV+ enjoyed some time in the clear last week on 11938 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 before returning to their normal Viaccess encoded state. UBC Tamil Vanoli has joined the RR Satellite Communications multiplex at 12220 MHz horizontal, SR 6161, FEC 3/4, APID 2097 in clear MPEG-2. High TV is new on 12188 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 515, APID 653. A new privately owned Morocco based TV channel is set to launch in September. The new channel, which will be known as M13, will provide general entertainment and news programmes in French and Arabic to Moroccans at home and abroad. It will become part of the Arab Radio & Television (ART) package. Radio Koper, which hails from Slovenia, has opened on 12303 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 254. It would seem that Zee TV and Zee Cinema have returned to their regime of free weekends. Both channels were free-to-air on 13 & 14 July on 12476 MHz horizontal.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1

D ModelFlat, the Big Brother clone featuring fashion models, is now free-to-air on 12613 MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 36.

A AssyriaSat has ceased analogue transmissions on 11163 MHz horizontal. The channel, which was broadcasting from 15:00-16:00 daily here, is still available in MPEG-2 on Eutelsat W3 at 7 degrees East. The Turkish channel Hakk TV, which also used 11163 MHz horizontal, has vacated the frequency too.

5.2 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3 & Astra 1A

D A new data stream has opened in the Viasat package at 11881 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 entitled PlayinTV. Several new data/IP services have joined the line-up at 11728 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are; TransCom, Xantic service 2400, M21, BizarNet, INTRASAT, UK-Service, Consumer HIS, Multicast File Transfer, Encryption, Welcome Stream, High Speed Internet, Global Announcement, File Delivery, HSI mini, Stream mini, MFTS mini and MDS mini. On 12284 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 49 there is a new ‘Aagesta’ testcard in evidence. The Ukrainian stream of Russia’s Ostankino TV has launched on 12380 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 55, APID 56 in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2.

3 degreesE:
Telecom 2A

D This slot has been busy over the last few days relaying live coverage of the Tour de France. Frequencies in use have been; 12654 MHz vertical, 12661 MHz vertical, 12685 MHz vertical, 12703 MHz vertical and 12720 MHz vertical.

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

D PPV channels Kiosk 1 – Kiosk 11 have opened on 11421 MHz horizontal, SR 24500, FEC 7/8, VPIDs 512-522, APIDs 640-680 in Conax encoded MPEG-2. The dedicated World Cup channels VM 2002 Kanal 1 on 11247 MHz vertical, VM-Biljetten promo on 12303 MHz vertical and the VM 2002 channels on 12226 MHz vertical have all closed down. NRK Europakanalen, NRK International and NRK Alltid Nyheter have left the Telenor package on 12226 MHz vertical. Also, these three Norwegian channels have all vacated 11677 MHz horizontal.

4 degreesW:
Amos 1

D The Hungarian channel Halozat TV has moved from 11337 MHz horizontal to 11421 MHz horizontal, SR 4443, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 36, ID:’HTV-RT’. MTV Ukraine has left 11384 MHz horizontal, SR 11570, FEC 3/4.

5 degreesW:
Telecom 2C & Stellat 5

D Stellat 5, the eventual replacement for Telecom 2C was successfully launched from Kourou on 5 July. Stellat carries 35 Ku-Band and 10 C-Band transponders and stems from a joint venture between France Telecom and Europe*Star. Already Stellat promo video loops have been seen intermittently on 11555 MHz horizontal, 11599 MHz horizontal and 11682 MHz horizontal in clear Pal.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102

D Coverage of the 8th Festival of Radio and TV from Cairo has been fed over 11766 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 3021, APID 3023, ID:’CH2SCR’ within the Egyptian Radio & Television Union (ERTU) multiplex. Nour Radio has replaced Lebanon Radio 5 in the Nilesat Lebanon package on 12130 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via APID 3009. The Misr Tourist Channel from Egypt has left 11843 MHz horizontal. Al Awael Channel 1/Channel 2, Al Awael Team A/Team B, Al Awael Tactical, Al Awael Beauty Shop, Al Awael Service 1/2 have all left 12149 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. A promo for the Qanaty Channel has launched on 11785 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1001, APID 1002 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Qanaty is a forthcoming children’s channel based in Dubai’s Media City.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2D & Atlantic Bird 2

A There is a solitary analogue signal here once again. Canal+ France is using 12606 MHz vertical in Secam with audio via the 7.02/7.20 MHz sub-carriers. The channel is in the clear for some of the time but is mostly encrypted in Nagravision.

11 degreesW:
Express 3A

D Russia’s All-Russia state Television & Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) have launched a new channel from the RTR stable entitled RTR Planet on 3693 MHz RHCP, SR 4026, FEC 2/3, VPID 33, APID 34 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The new channel provides programming not only from RTR but also from the Kultura cultural channel and EuroNews.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12

D The Bulgarian channel bTV on 10989 MHz vertical, SR 4031, FEC 5/6 has changed PIDs to V308, A257.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C

D Nueva Era has been replaced by TV Amistad on 12052 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. VPID 4201, APID 4202. In the Via Digital bouquet at 11851 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 BCP TV is new via PIDs V4416, A4417 in Nagravision encoded MPEG-2. 95.8 Capital FM has once again left 11771 MHz horizontal. There are some additions to the line-up in the Retevision package at 11731 MHz vertical, SR 28156, FEC 5/6. They are Antena Noticias 1, 2, 3 & 4, Antena 3 and Noticias Mosaic.

37.5 degreesW:
Telstar 11 & Columbia 515

D Following the recent furore about the open feeds from US unmanned aircraft over the Balkans being fed on 11494 MHz horizontal, SR 19496, FEC 2/3, the US Defense Department have finally conceded that the content of these feeds may indeed be classified and have therefore encoded the five streams entitled QUAD UAV – V2081, HUNTER – V3105, C-12 MARS – V4129, AIRSCAN – V5153 and P3 – V6177.

40.5 degreesW:
NSS 806

D In the Venezuelan package on 3878 MHz RHCP, SR 14330, FEC 5/6, VPID 1560, APID 1520 Meridiano TV is encoded after a period in the clear.

43 degreesW:
PAS 3R & PAS 6

D All of the channels contained in the Visat Mexico package at 12584 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 are currently free-to-air instead of their usual Viaccess 1 encoding. The bouquet contains De Pelicula – V4112, A4113; Ritmoson Latino – V4128, A4129; TeleHit – V4144, A4145; Galavision Europa – V4176, A4177 and TL Novelas Europa – V4192, A4193.

55.5 degreesE:
Intelsat 805

D The Ecuadorian TV channel Telesistema is free-to-air once again on 3436 MHz horizontal, SR 3332, FEC 3/4, VPID 768, APID 769 following several weeks of encryption. TV VAT Amazonia has opened on 3797 MHz vertical, SR 3796, FEC 3/4, VPID 337, APID 340 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

58 degreesE:
PAS 9

D A live feed from the London Stock Exchange was carried on 11477 MHz horizontal, SR 26464, FEC 3/4, VPID 1350, APID 1320 within the British Telecom package on 8 July at 10:00 in clear MPEG-2.