TRANSPONDER MONITOR

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

Key:
D – Digital
A – Analogue

83 degreesE:
Insat-2E
D – Doordarshan’s DD1, the national service, has been renamed Doordarshan World TV. The channel can be found on 3830MHz LHCP, SR 4998, FEC 3/4 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Unfortunately Insat-2E is below the eastern horizon from the UK but the footprint does reach into parts of Germany.

75 degreesE:
LMI-1
D – Sri Lankan channel Rupavahini 2 has launched on 3465MHz horizontal, SR 4323, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1120 in clear MPEG-2.

62 degreesE:
Intelsat-602
A – Live coverage of a handball game between South Korea and a Shanghai team, KDVR, was fed over 4188MHz RHCP in clear Pal on August 15 at 07:45.

60 degreesE:
Intelsat-604
A – Video footage of the emotional meetings between family members separated many years ago by the Korean North/South split was fed over 4166MHz RHCP in clear NTSC on August 15 at 08:30 from Seoul. This was followed at 09:00 by a feed on the same topic from Seoul for the German channel ARD in clear NTSC.

56 degreesE:
Most-1
D – This Russian craft has positioned here after its move from the 36 degrees East slot. 12245MHz RHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 is carrying a multiplex containing NTV+ Nashe Kino, Eurosport Rossii, Romantica, Nickelodeon Rossii, Discovery Channel Rossii, Animal Planet, RDV and the Russian radio station Serebryany Dozhd (Silver Rain). On 12226MHz LHCP, SR 22300, FEC 3/4 there are four time-shifted versions of NTV (Moscow time, +1 hour, +3 hours and + 4 hours) plus the Echo Moskvy radio channel. At 12456MHz LHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 there is Hallmark Russia, Fox Kids Russia, E! Entertainment TV, Discovery Travel & Adventure, TV 5 Europe, Muzzik and BBC World. 12476MHz RHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 is relaying NTV, TNT, RTR Kultura, Fashion TV and MTV Russia. Reception in western Russia is excellent with a dish size of 90cm plus.

53 degreesE:
Gorizont-32
D – TMT3 from the former Soviet Asiatic republic of Turkmenistan has launched on 3716MHz RHCP via PIDs V1360, A1320 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

45 degreesE:
Europestar-B
D – This satellite, which is inclined by 1 degree, has burst into life. EuropeStar-B was previously KoreaSat-2 and was stationed at 113 degrees East. Two transponders have been activated here with good reception into the UK. 12512MHz vertical (EPG: “Auto 9MHz”) and 12522MHz vertical (EPG: 422P@ML 18 MHz) have been relaying digital carriers for several days. The former frequency is carrying a Telenor UK London caption whilst the latter is displaying this message, “Europe*Star B. Test Transmission. For permanent and occasional use requirements contact: Tel. +44 (0)20 8831 4500. Fax. +44 (0)20 8831 4597. [email protected]“. The parameters for both streams are SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256.

42 degreesE:
Turksat-1C
D – Turkish music channel Kiss TV has changed PIDs on 10985MHz vertical, SR 3332, FEC 3/4. They are now V308, A256. As expected (see Transponder Monitor July 12, 2000) Bayrak Radio has launched alongside Bayrak TV from Northern Cyprus on 11111MHz vertical, SR 4555, FEC 5/6 in free-to-air MPEG-2. There are in fact two radio streams active here, sharing APID 257. The left channel is relaying one of the Turkish language channels whilst the right channel is carrying Bayrak Radio Channel 2, which has programmes in English, Greek, Arabic and German. As the Turkish authorities investigate some alleged anomalies in the operation of StarDigital, two of the digital platforms operated by the company have been switched off. 11080MHz horizontal and 11660MHz horizontal fell silent last week. StarDigital continues to use 11469MHz vertical with a restricted service. Following its departure from Turksat-1B, Kanal 1 has launched on 11166MHz vertical, SR 4129, FEC 5/6, VPID 33, APID 34. Local radio station Izmir FM is also present here via APID 35. On August 18 at 13:25 a live feed from an outside location for CNN Turk was fed over 11580MHz vertical, SR 2998, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. Curiously the EPG entry was “17AGUSTOSU UNUTMA” (the previous day’s date).
A – Despite the reluctance of Turkey to broadcast any TV or radio programmes in the Kurdish language one radio station appears to have gone unnoticed for some considerable time. The Voice of Dicle radio commenced broadcasts in 1983 via a medium wave transmitter on 1584kHz (from where it is still available via a transmitter in Diyarbakir, which is located close to Turkey’s borders with Syria and Iraq). It is also available for a much wider audience via the 8.28MHz audio subcarrier on the back of TRT 3 at 11464MHz horizontal. The Voice of Dicle relays programmes in three Kurdish dialects, Kurmanji – which is spoken in Turkey and Sorani and Zaza which are used by Iraqi Kurds.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat-W4 & SESAT
D – The parameters for KurdSat on 12690MHz vertical have been altered. They are now SR 3254, FEC 2/3, VPID 308, APID 256. In the past the Kurdish channel has also used 11013MHz horizontal but appears to have left that frequency now.

31.3 degreesE:
Turksat-1B
D – Izmir FM and Kanal 1 have vacated 11157MHz vertical and have relocated to Turksat-1C.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra-1D & 2A
D – Sky News, which was using 12207MHz vertical, VPID 2327, APID 2328, has been replaced by a new Sky service. It is a descriptive channel aimed specifically at the blind and partially sighted and gives an audible description of the EPG listings. Another new Asian offering, the Gujari Channel, has started tests on 12402MHz vertical, VPID 2322, APID 2323 in clear MPEG-2. The channel will provide a mix of programming in the Gujarati language. It has joined the Sky EPG at Ch.693. Audio channels Planet Rock and WRN 1 Europe have launched on 12402MHz vertical via PIDs A2330 and 2331 respectively. Down at 12110MHz horizontal Classic FM, Classic Gold and Core have all vacated the frequency. Sky Sports Extra is new on 12324MHz vertical, VPID 2313, APID 2314. Sky Business, who provide The Medical Channel and The Pub Channel are to launch The Automotive Channel in October. As the name suggests it will provide detailed information to the retail car trade. U Direct Films Channel 14 on 12402MHz vertical has been replaced by U Direct Sport at Ch 820 in the SKY EPG. Music audio channel The Mix has launched on 12402MHz vertical, APID 2325. The U Direct Movies Preview channel has moved from 12109MHz to 12402MHz vertical, VPID 2328, APID 2329, EPG Ch.800. MBI Europe from Nigeria appear to be encountering some technical problems again. The channel recently returned to 11973MHz vertical after a prolonged absence due to a fault with their feeder into Europe via PAS-3R C-Band capacity. Once again MBI has disappeared from Astra-2A. 12244MHz vertical is relaying a curious free-to-air video loop showing a promotional film about the south coast resort town of Brighton. The stream does not load when carrying out a search on this frequency with a Sky Digibox but does appear when using a free-to-air MPEG DVB receiver. The parameters are; SR 27494, FEC 2/3, VPID 2341, APID 2342, EPG: “UPMY4”.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat-2A & 3A
D – Libya and Tunisia are to jointly launch a new satellite channel which will be based in Tunis. Both Arabsat and Nilesat capacity will be used for the channel which will provide news and current affairs programming.

21.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat-II-F3
A – The sole analogue signal here comes from the newly returned to satellite TV Shqiptar from Albania. The Balkan TV service plus Radio Tirana are using 11556MHz horizontal in clear Pal for their evening broadcasts from 18:30-20:30 daily. TV Shqiptar was previously using Eutelsat-W2 capacity.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H
D – Canal Satellite Numerique has started to use 12012MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 with a mosaic channel on VPID 1645, APID 1960. This replaces the Ifn testcard which has been in evidence here for some time. The French domestic radio station Radio Classique has replaced Hector FM on 12324MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 1960 in the Les Radios package. The new PPV service from Germany’s Premiere World has launched on several frequencies. It has been entitled Superdom and is currently using 11758MHz horizontal – Superdom 1 & 2, 12032MHz horizontal – Superdom Info & Superdom 5, 12070MHz vertical – Superdom 3 and 12090MHz vertical – Superdom 4. The parameters for all of these frequencies are SR 27500, FEC 3/4. All of the channels are encoded in Betacrypt. Canal+ France on 11856MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 160, APID 80 is currently free-to-air. Also, Poland’s TV4 is in the clear on 11992MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 165, APID 98.
A – Zee TV’s analogue service on 10786MHz vertical is to close on September 1. The channel is running frequent info-commercials advising viewers to switch to digital reception equipment and re-subscribe to their MPEG service via Astra at 28.2 degrees East.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat-W2
D – There are still several free-to-air Italian TV channels available in the Telespazio multiplex on 12608MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are Cinquestelle – V1760, A1720, Rete Capri – V1860, A1820 and Italia 9 – V1360, A1320. La Chaine Africaine seems to have left the Globecast digital platform on 12380MHz horizontal. The main evening news bulletin from the Belgrade based Studio B Television is fed over OBN (Open Broadcasting Network) on 11131MHz horizontal in clear MPEG-2 from 17:35 daily. The Israeli radio station Reshet Alef has replaced Voice of Hope on 12578MHz vertical, APID 35. All of the ENEX Luxembourg feed streams have been very busy over the past week with numerous feeds from Murmansk in the wake of the Russian nuclear submarine, the Kursk, disaster. On August 16 the ENEX “A” stream on 12507MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 was displaying this message, “SNG truck of NTV Russia is operational in Murmansk, tape and live feed. No editing. For bookings call ENEX”. On the same day at 11:35 a string of feeds for various world broadcasters beginning with a live piece to camera by a NTV correspondent were fed over the ENEX “E” stream at 12546MHz horizontal from a hill overlooking the naval dockyard in Murmansk. On August 18 at 1500 the main evening news bulletin from NTV Russia was played out in its entirety in real time on the ENEX “A” stream. A video still of a large motor cruiser was carried on the ENEX “B” stream at 12516MHz horizontal on the same day at 15:05. The EPG info read “Telepuerto de Arganda”, indicating the source of the feed as the Spanish earth station situated near to Madrid. At the same time the ENEX “C” stream (12523MHz horizontal) was being used to feed voiceovers to pre-recorded news items on the Kursk for Sky News from Murmansk. At 1519 the stream cut to colour bars overlaid with “RTL Television MOSKAU”.

13 degreesE:
Hot Birds 1/2/3/4/5
D – The French channel, RFO Sat, is currently free-to-air on 10910MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 120, APID 130. The Spanish channel Retelsat is switching in and out of encryption on 12092 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Fox Sports Europe and Fox Sports Russia are free-to-air at the moment on 10723MHz horizontal, SR 29990, FEC 3/4. A Radio Framboise test transmission is occupying a stream on 12475MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 3000. A new digital platform from Greece under the Nova banner has launched on 10930MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. It contains Quantum 24 – V514, A670, testcard – V512, A650, Cartoon Network – V513, A660, Mad TV – V515, A680 and NET – V516, A690. All of these are encoded in Irdeto with the exception of Quantum 24. Network Satellite Radio has taken the place of Business Radio on 12188MHz vertical, APID 661 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The APID for 102.5 Hit Radio has been changed to 254 on 11623MHz vertical. The French, Belgian and Swiss version of TV5 has launched on 10796 MHz vertical, VPID 920, APID 930 encoded in Viaccess. A new French radio station, La Voix des Pays, has launched within the Television par Satellite multiplex on 10911MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 934. The Iranian channel, Sahar Universal Network, has started on 12437MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 165, APID 90 in clear MPEG-2. The Eternal World Television Network (EWTN) has launched a Spanish language audio track via APID 1301 on 10723MHz horizontal, SR 29990, FEC 3/4. CNN is testing on 10930MHz horizontal, VPID 513, APID 660 in Irdeto encoded MPEG-2. Zee TV has launched on 12476MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 910, APID 911 in clear MPEG-2. However, it is likely to encrypt very soon. This is the European version with programmes in parallel with the service available via Sky Digital on 28.2 degrees East as opposed the other free-to-air Zee outlet on Intelsat-605 at 27.5 degrees West which carries Zee Africa. Los Angeles based National Iranian TV has launched on 11623MHz vertical via PIDs V223, A243. In the Italian D+ bouquet on 12341MHz vertical Radio Monte Carlo, Radio Radio and Radio 101 are all currently free-to-air. Animal Planet and Discovery Channel have joined the Polish Cyfrowy package at 12322 MHz horizontal. Reality TV (as seen within the Dutch UPC package) and Info Dokument has started on 12360MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Both channels are encoded in Nagravision. Caribbean music channels Mizik Tropical and Mizik Radio were both absent from their usual slot on 12476MHz on August 18 but had returned by the following day.

7 degreesE:
EUTELSAT-W3
D – Radyo Mydonose is a new addition to the DigiTurk line up on 11658MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4, APID 2503. The EBU feed streams have undergone some parameter changes. Those that were using Symbol Rate 13844 have changed to 13333 and the streams that were SR 6854 are now 6666. Virtually all of the EBU’s feed traffic is now utilising MPEG-2 4:2:2.

5 degreesE:
Sirius-2/3
D – Nickelodeon is carrying out test transmissions on 12453MHz horizontal, VPID 1056, APID 1057 in clear MPEG-2. The Mediagate multiplex is growing on 11556MHz horizontal. In addition to the Turkish channel TGRT – V3510, A3520 and Team TV from Italy – V3610, A3620 BBC World has now joined on VPID 3710, APID 3720. There are also three FSP Mediagate testcards on VPIDs 3210, 3310, 3410, APIDs 3220, 3320, 3420.

3 degreesE:
TELECOM-2C
D – A feed from the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix for Japan’s Fuji TV used 12529MHz vertical, SR 12776, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256 in free-to-air MPEG-2 on August 13.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat-707
D – A new Bulgarian TV channel has joined the multiplex on 12169MHz horizontal, SR 28000, FEC 7/8, VPID 516, APID 656 in clear MPEG-2. It is the terrestrial channel TV Sedjem Dni (7 Days TV) which appears to air mostly soap operas and dramas. In the Norwegian digital package on 12322MHz horizontal an NRK Tegnsprak caption has appeared on VPID 516 in clear MPEG-2.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat-101
D – Nilesat-102 was successfully launched aboard an Ariane 44LP rocket on August 17 at 23:16. The new Egyptian craft, the second in the series, carries 12 Ku-Band transponders which will operate in the DBS band (12100-12500MHz). The channel bandwidth of all the transponders is 33MHz. Nilesat-102 will co-locate with the original Nilesat-101 at this slot, directly above the Gulf of Guinea to the south of Liberia. The same Ariane flight also carried BrasilSat-B4 which will be geostationary at 92 degrees West where it will take over duties from the ageing BrasilSat-A2. It has a payload of 28 C-Band transponders.

8 degreesW:
Telecom-2A/D
D – Occasional relays of Switzerland’s Tele 24 can sometimes be found on 11673MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195, EPG “Tadiran Scopus” in free-to-air MPEG- 2. Live coverage of the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix for ITV Sport was fed over 12533MHz vertical, SR 6854, FEC 7/8 and 12603MHz vertical, SR 20150, FEC 3/4 in clear MPEG-2 during the afternoon of August 13.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS-803 & NSS-K
D – Canal+ Horizons can sometimes be seen in the clear on 3650MHz RHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. The French channel remains encrypted however via their other outlet on Hotbird at 13 degrees East (11398MHz vertical).

43 degreesW:
PAS-3R & PAS-6
D – The Fox Sports Middle East multiplex moved on August 18 from 12568MHz horizontal to 12576MHz horizontal, SR 19850, FEC 3/4. At 14:35 on August 16 the CBS New York stream on 12636MHz horizontal, SR 19846, FEC 7/8, VPID 1160, APID 1120 was displaying a “Fox Washington” caption over colour bars.

53 degreesW:
Intelsat-706
A – The Moroccan commercial TV channel, 2M, which is usually encrypted has been free-to-air for the last few days on 3675MHz RHCP in Secam.