Transponder Monitor

Key:
Digital – D
Analogue – A

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2&3
D During the afternoon of January 25 a live shot of the Sydney skyline at night from a fixed camera was fed over 3682MHz horizontal, SR 4998, FEC 3/4, VPID 4096, APID 4097 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The ID tag was “MPEG Test Service”. By the following day the stream had switched to a testcard overlaid with “Mediasat-Syd”.

68.5 degreesE:
PAS 4 & 7
D The RR Communications digital package for Pehla on 11524MHz horizontal, SR 13000, FEC 3/4 which contains Fox News, Star Plus, Star News and Star Gold, and the Asian music channel, Channel V, is currently free-to-air.

A Sima-yeh Moghavemat, the Iranian opposition channel, has left 11169MHz horizontal and moved to 11463MHz horizontal in clear Pal. It has also switched from European beam to Middle East beam. Sima-yeh Moghavemat is also available for European viewers via Eutelsat-II-F3 at 21.5 degrees East and Sirius at 5 degrees West. This PAS-4 outlet is used to deliver the signal to European earth stations for uplinking.

47.5 degreesE:
Europe*Star B
D The Bulgarian channel TV 7 Dni has left 12563MHz vertical.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & 2A
D The Turkish channel, TeleOn, in the StarDigital bouquet on 11469MHz horizontal, SR 22500, FEC 5/6 is sporting three language audio streams. These are Turkish – A1001, English – A1002 and German – A1003. BRT 1 and Bayrak TV are stream sharing on 11111MHz vertical, SR 4555, FEC 5/6 in clear MPEG-2. Kanal 6 has launched on 10980MHz vertical, SR 4688, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2 via Turksat’s West beam.

A ATV Avrupa (Europe) has replaced ATV Turkey on 10966MHz vertical in clear Pal via the West beam.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & SESAT
D The Serb channel BK Sat on 12710MHz vertical has changed parameters. They are now; SR 3002, FEC 2/3, VPID 4194, APID 4195. As covered in Transponder Monitor January 17 the channel continues to air live Premier League soccer matches in the clear.

28.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F4
D Home shopping channel HOT Italia has commenced test transmissions on 12711MHz vertical, SR 2892, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195. Presumably the new channel will use Eutelsat-II-F4 capacity to supply another outlet on Hotbird.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 1D/2A, 2B & 2D
D The new Astra-2D, which had been testing at 24.2 degrees East, is now in position here and is due to go on-line on February 1, when it will take over from Astra-1D. Astra-2C is scheduled for launch with Proton in June this year. It will carry a payload of 32 transponders, which will operate in the frequency ranges 10700-11200 and 11700- 12200MHz. On 12324MHz vertical there is a new radio service testing entitled The Storm. Sky Business Channel, which airs from 19:00-03:00 on 12363MHz vertical, has changed PIDs to V2308, A2309. As mentioned in Transponder Monitor January 17, E4 did join the Sky Digital line-up following a last minute deal. The channel launched on 12168MHz vertical, Sky Channel 205 on January 18 and has joined Sky’s basic Family Package. On 11758MHz horizontal under the EPG banner “C5 WS Test” the stream is currently running CineNova programming. This stream should switch to widescreen output for Channel 5 in the near future. CNN Radio has launched on 12051MHz vertical, APID 2328 in clear MPEG-2. On 11895MHz vertical Nickelodeon Jr. and Sci-Fi Channel has swapped PIDs. They are now V2315, A2317 and V2312, A2314 respectively. Einstein TV, the technological and science channel, has launched on 12129MHz vertical, VPID 2313, APID 2315. The channel airs from 18:00-00:00 Mon-Fri and 08:00-21:00 weekends. The Baby Channel is due for a Spring launch. The channel will join the Sky Digital line-up but will remain free-to-air. It will broadcast 24 hours a day with programmes on fertility, pregnancy, early learning, beauty and family finance.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A
D Zen TV is new on 3875MHz LHCP, SR 5609, FEC 2/3, VPID 37, APID 38 in free-to-air MPEG-2 (see also Nilesat at 7 degrees West). Saudi TV Channel 2 has replaced the Somali TV Network/Radio Television Djibouti on 11747MHz vertical, VPID 2060, APID 2020. Saudi General Arabic Service 2 has started on APID 2021. Saudi TV Channel 2 has vacated 12034MHz horizontal, VPID 4860, APID 4820 and has been replaced by Oman TV. Oman Radio can be heard via APID 4822.

A PSC – The Palestinian Space Channel has left 12536MHz vertical, from where it had been available in free-to-air Pal.

21.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F3
D Serbian channels, Pink Plus and Radio Pink are free-to-air once again on 10961MHz vertical, SR 2892, FEC 3/4. On January 17 at 08:00 a live feed from a north Wales hotel where the so called Internet twins are staying was fed over 11078MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 for GMTV. The ITN core feed on 11096MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 is currently in MPEG 4:2:0 instead of the usual MPEG 4:2:2.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H
D Astra-1K is due to lift off from Kazakhstan in December of this year. The new craft, which will replace Astras-1A/1B and 1C, is the heaviest satellite to have been built in Europe so far, weighing in at an impressive 5,200 kilograms. E! Entertainment TV Polska has launched on 12382MHz horizontal, VPID 160, APID 80 in Cryptoworks encoded MPEG-2. TV 3 Praha from the Czech Republic has started on 11876MHz horizontal, VPID 168, APID 96 in MPEG-2/Cryptoworks. Hungary’s Magyar 2 TV has also opened on 11876MHz horizontal, V171, A102 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

A TV Shop Europe has left 11671MHz horizontal. Sky Radio from the Netherlands has vacated the 7.38 and 7.56MHz audio subcarriers on 11318MHz vertical. A tape loop here advises listeners to re-tune to 12574MHz horizontal where the station is available in clear MPEG-2.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2
D Live coverage of a soccer match between Galatasaray and Leverkusen was fed over 12561MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4 in clear MPEG-2 on January 16 at 14:00. On January 27 at 19:00 live boxing from Munich was carried on 11044MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 4112 for the German platform Premiere World. Second hop Brazilian football was in evidence on January 28 at 19:00 when the Madureira-Vs-Flumurence match was fed over 11688MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 in free-to-air MPEG-2. At the same time another second hop feed, the NBA game between Knicks and Lakers was being carried on 11134MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V308, A256, ID: “LTP DSNG1”. The first hop for this game was via Intelsat- K at 21.5 degrees West.

13 degreesE:
Hot Birds 1/2/3/4/5
D Erotic channels 123Sat and 69XTV are stream sharing on 11623MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 230, APID 250. 123Sat airs from 05:00-21:00 whilst 69XTV can be seen from 21:00-05:00 daily. Both channels are still available in Pal on 11585MHz vertical. Pink Plus and Radio Pink are currently free-to-air on 12475MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. The parameters for BVN TV on 12520MHz vertical have changed to SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 214, APID 213. Tamil and Sinhalese language Deepam TV is encoded once again on 10723MHz horizontal. EuroMed is the name of a new multi-lingual channel slated for launch in the next few days. Initially the channel will broadcast in just Italian and Arabic with many more language streams to follow. 3ABN Radio from Three Angels Broadcasting, a US based religious broadcaster, has launched on 11623MHz vertical, APID 251 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Family Radio International 2 has commenced regular programming on 12475MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 966. BBC World on 12597MHz vertical has reverted to it’s normal encoded state following a short period in the clear. Radio Beograd 1 has joined RTS Sat on 12188 MHz vertical, APID 667. Wella TV is new on 12265MHz vertical, VPID 1560, APID 1520. There is a new testcard in evidence on 12558MHz vertical, V6916, A6917 overlaid with “Il Sole 24h”.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1
D Kanal 7 from Turkey on 11105MHz horizontal has changed parameters to SR 6510, FEC 2/3, VPID 33, APID 34. Star Spor and Star 1, 2 & 3 have all vacated 11131MHz vertical. They are still available via Turksat-1C at 42 degrees East. The PIDs for Pop TV and Radyo Eksen on 11019MHz horizontal have changed to V308, A256/257. Portuguese football from the Sporting Braga-Vs-E.Amadora match was fed over 11088MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4196, ID: “Occasional Service” in clear MPEG-2 on January 26 at 20:00. On the 27th action from the Swimming World Cup in Paris was fed over 11097MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 from 15:30. Also on the 27th, live coverage of the FC Porto-Vs-Belenensis football game was relayed on 11144MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 771, APID 781 in clear MPEG-2 at 16:00. A first hop feed from the World Snowboarding Championship being held at Madonna di Campigno in the Italian Alps was fed over 11070MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 513, APID 256, ID: “CBC 6.111 3/4 TES-39”. This was for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3
D Marco Polo and Italian News Network are new on 11638MHz horizontal, VPIDs 3400/3500, APIDs 3403/3503. Both channels are encoded in Mediaguard and Irdeto.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3
D A new Baltic digital platform has launched on 12642MHz vertical, SR 9402, FEC 3/4. It contains TV3 Latvia – V5001, A5002, ORT Estonia – V5021, A5022 and ORT Lithuania – V5031, A5032. Down at 11881MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 TV6 nature World, TV6 Action World and Nickelodeon Scandinavia are switching in and out of encryption. National Iranian TV has opened another outlet, this time on 12455MHz horizontal, SR 18051, FEC 3/4, VPID 133, APID 132 in clear MPEG-2. In the Merlin Communications multiplex at 12111MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 a new test card from TV Nimrooz has appeared on PIDs V52, A53 in clear MPEG-2. TV 6 Moskva has left 12689 MHz horizontal from where it had been available in free-to-air MPEG-2.

A Bloomberg TV UK, The History Channel and Sweden’s TV8 have left 11823MHz in D2MAC.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707
D Dantoto Racing, the horse racing service for Scandinavia, is now encoded in Conax on 11677MHz horizontal. As “Big Brother” mania continues to sweep Europe there is another country to add to the list. Denmark’s version of the programme has three streams active on 11676MHz horizontal, SR 25995, FEC 3/4, VPIDs 516/517/518, APIDs 672/676/680 under the IDs “Big Brother DK1”, “Big Brother DK2” and “Big Brother DK3”. All three are encoded in Conax.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102
D A new channel aimed at young Arabs has launched within the Showtime bouquet on 11862 vertical. Zen TV is produced by a joint venture between Future TV in Lebanon and the Dubai Media Centre (see also Arabsat-3A at 26 degrees East)

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2A/D
D VTV4 from Vietnam is now encoded in Conax on 11556MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4071, APID 4072. NTV Turkey can be seen on the same frequency via PIDs V4171, A4172 in clear MPEG-2. ItaliaSat launched on 12687MHz vertical, SR 1879, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in free-to-air MPEG-2 late last week and was promptly replaced by Videomarket a day later. Videomarket airs from 21:30-23:30 Fridays and 08:45-11:45 and 14:00-18:00 weekends only. Live coverage of the Aston Villa V Newcastle match in the FA Cup for Sky Sports was fed over 12515MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 in clear MPEG-2 during the evening of January 17. The Heineken Cup rugby match between St Francais and Pau was carried on two streams here on January 27 at 14:00 for one of the French networks. Both 11609MHz horizontal and 11690MHz horizontal, SR 6283, FEC 7/8, VPID 4194, APID 4195 relayed the game in clear MPEG-2. The Alloa versus Aberdeen soccer game was fed on 12514MHz vertical, SR 11800, FEC 3/4 on January 27 from 14:00 in free-to-air MPEG-2. A widescreen feed of the Rochdale-Vs- Leyton Orient soccer match was fed on 11521MHz horizontal, SR 11797, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 on January 28 at 11:30.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12
D Los Angeles based National Iranian TV (NITV) are using Telstar-12 capacity at 12612MHz horizontal, SR 3254, FEC 1/2, VPID 4160, APID 4120 for the eastbound feed for Europe. Curiously the signal here is encoded. In the UPC package Avante, Innergy, Expo 24×7 and Reality TV are occasionally free-to-air on 11124MHz horizontal. Showtime Turkey has launched on 11060MHz horizontal via PIDs V2301, A2310 , encoded in Cryptoworks.

18 degreesW:
Intelsat 705
D On January 15 at 19:45 a live feed of the Italian soccer game between Rimini and Lanciano in Serie C was fed over 11159MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 in clear MPEG-2 for RAI.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS-803 & NSS-K
D There is a new African offering here. CRTV from Cameroon in West Africa has launched on 4055 MHz RHCP, VPID 125, APID 135 in clear MPEG-2. This is a direct relay of CRTV’s domestic service from Yaoundé, the country’s capital city. CRTV Radio National Service is also here on APID 145. At 15:00 on January 15, City TV from Bogata, Columbia was fed over 11463MHz vertical, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 640 in free-to-air MPEG-2 for a short while. Also on the 15th live PGA golf from the Tucson Open was relayed on 11590MHz vertical, SR 20145, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1120 on GlobeCast Channel 1. The feed ID was “Golf Channel Feed”. The Bordeaux V Marseille football match was fed over 11607MHz vertical, SR 6109, FEC 3/4, VPID 2021, APID 2031 in clear MPEG-2/NTSC on January 26 at 20:00. At 00:00 on January 27 two of the GlobeCast streams on 11590MHz vertical were carrying live NBA basketball games. Channel 1 (V1160, A1120) was airing the Hawks V Wizards game whilst Channel 2 (V1260, A1220) showed the Celtics V Suns game. Live horse racing from France was relayed on 11627MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 2021, APID 2031, ID: “GCPOCC1” in clear MPEG-2/NTSC on January 28 at 14:40. The NBA game between Knicks and Lakers was fed over 11488MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 650, ID: “BT Washington” on January 28 at 19:00. Live coverage of the Phoenix Golf Open was relayed on GlobeCast channel 3, 11590MHz vertical during the evening of January 28 in clear MPEG-2.

27.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 605
D On 11665MHz horizontal a CineNova testcard has appeared via PIDs V1460, A1420.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C
D On January 16 at 20:00 a feed from the scene of the El Salvador earthquake was fed over 12006MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID “FLY1_ATLAS” for TVE. Also on the 16th, a Spanish basketball match between Cordoba and Manresa was fed over 11574MHz vertical, SR 5787, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: “TSA M 57 TVE SEVILLA” at 20:30. On the 28th at 16:00 another Spanish soccer game, Algeciras v Almeria, was carried on 11574MHz vertical with the same parameters and an identical ID. At the same time 11565MHz vertical, SR 5787, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: “TSA M54 TVE SEVILLA” was relaying the Badajoz V Huelva game for TVE.

31.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 801
A A live relay of the Grimsby V Wycombe Wanderers football match was fed over 10965MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID “9MZ, PAL, 1 RS232” for Sky Sports on January 16. On the same day these matches were also available; Crewe V Cardiff – 10957MHz vertical and Notts County V Wimbledon – 10966MHz vertical (before the Grimsby game). Both of these were also for Sky Sports. Wycombe Wanderers were in action again on January 27 when their match against Wolverhampton Wanderers was fed over 10966MHz vertical for Sky Sports.

34.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 601
A A live feed from El Salvador showing the devastation there following the recent earthquake was fed over 4166MHz RHCP in clear NTSC at 17:55 on January 15.

37.5 degreesW:
Telstar 11 & Columbia 515
D British EuroSport has left 11534MHz vertical and has been replaced by a test card.

40.5 degreesW:
NSS-806
D On 3875MHz RHCP, SR 18329, FEC 5/6, VPID 1160, APID 1120, Venezolana de TV (VTV) from Venezuela is currently free-to-air. In the Argentinian package on 3636MHz horizontal, SR 13797, FEC 5/6 Afrodita is once again broadcasting in MPEG 4:2:2 on VPID 3080, APID 3081 after a short period in clear MPEG 4:2:0. On the same frequency Movie Top on VPID 3040, APID 3041 is encoded again after several days in the clear.

43 degreesW:
PAS-3R & PAS-6
D The Mexican Televisa package on 12584 MHz vertical which contains Eco, Galavision, Telenovelas, Ritmo Son and TeleHit is sometimes available in clear MPEG-2. At other times the bouquet is encoded.

55.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 805
D Panamericana TV has launched on 4119MHz horizontal, SR 4080, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2.