Transponder Monitor

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

D = Digital
A = Analogue

80 degreesE:
Express 6A
D: Russia’s TV Tsentr can be found on two streams here at times. TV Tsentr uses 4125 MHz RHCP, SR 22915, FEC 3/4, VPID 160, APID 80. However, occasionally the channel also appears via PIDs V162, A88 on the same frequency.

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2&3
D: Some more channels have joined the Unitel package on 3480 MHz horizontal, SR 26667, FEC 2/3. They are Tele Liban, Nile Drama, Nile Variety, Syrian Satellite Channel, SIC Internacional Portugal and Radio Damascus. Unfortunately all of these are encoded.

75 degreesE:
LMI 1
D: Radio Lanka appears to have left the Sri Lankan bouquet on 3430 MHz horizontal, SR 5750, FEC 3/4 where it had been available in clear MPEG-2.

74 degreesE:
Insat 3C
A: Insat 3C was launched on January 23 from Kourou. The craft is now in position and two analogue services are already present here. Doordarshan Gyandarshan, the educational network, can be seen on 4165 MHz horizontal with audio via the 5.50 MHz sub-carrier and Doordarshan North East (Assamese language service) is using 4125 MHz horizontal. These two transponders are configured for the Indian Beam which tightly encompasses India, the eastern side of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

68.5 degreesE:
PAS 7 & 10
D: Five feed streams have launched on 4064 MHz horizontal, SR 19846, FEC 7/8. They are SVR1 – V1160, A1120; SVR2 – V1260, A1220; SVR3 – V1360, A1320; SVR4 – V1460, A1420 and SVR5 – V1560, A1520. SVR1 was displaying the familiar Tower Broadcast Centre animated caption on February 16 at 14:00 before cutting to a live relay of the Borussia Dortmund-v- Schalke soccer match from Germany in free-to-air MPEG-2. On February 21 SVR2 started to relay Shopping on the Box in clear MPEG-2.

62 degreesE:
Intelsat 902
D: The Iranian TV channel Jaam-e-Jam TV Network 3 has launched at 11050 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 2/3, VPID 289, APID 290 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

60 degreesE:
Intelsat 604
D: In the Russian digital platform on 11520 MHz vertical, SR 17500, FEC 3/4 Radio Mayak FM has been replaced by Radio Mayak 24 via APID 664. Mayak FM is the mainstream version of the station with a mix of music and news bulletins whereas Mayak 24 is the all-news service. Other occupants of this bouquet are Kanal 31 – V514, A652 and NTV – V515, A653. This multiplex uses Intelsat 604’2 East Spot beam which provides a signal level of 43 dBW in European Russia and 36 dBW to Norway in the north to western Turkmenistan in the south.

45 degreesE:
Europe*Star 1
D: Maharishi Open University has been replaced by Maharishi Veda Vision on 11550 MHz vertical, SR 13244, FEC 1/2, VPID 768, APID 769. Also in this package five additional streams are carrying Maharishi Veda Vision test transmissions on PIDs V771/773/775/777/779, A770/772/774/776/778. This multiplex uses Europe*Star’s Indian beam which is tightly aimed at the Indian sub-continent at 53 dBW in the centre tailing off to 49 dBW through Pakistan, Nepal and Tibet.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1
D: The Turkish channel TeleOn is now stream sharing with Star 2 on 12652 MHz horizontal, SR 22500, FEC 5/6, VPID 1000, APID 1001 in the StarDigital package. TeleOn now airs from 05:00-17:00 and Star 2 from 17:00-05:00. Both channels are available in free-to-air MPEG-2.

A: As with their digital outlet TeleOn is transponder sharing with Star 2 on 11725 MHz horizontal in clear Pal.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat
D: The TuscanySat promo channel appears to have left 12702 MHz vertical,

28.5 degreesE:
Eurobird
D: Several channels have changed PIDs on 11507 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. The new parameters are: Kerrang! – V2322, A2323; Magic – V2325, A2326; Smash Hits – V2311, A2321; Animal Planet+1 – V2314, A2315; Discovery Home & Leisure – V2317, A2318 and Fox News – V2320, A2321. Shopping on the Box has started on 11546 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2308, APID 2308 in clear MPEG-2. Also on this frequency Thomas Cook TV is now encoded in Videoguard on PIDs V2309, A2310.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B & 2D
D: From one of the major American sports networks, ESPN Classic is testing on 12344 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2345, APID 2346 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The new channel does not yet appear in the Sky Digital EPG but can be obtained by going through the ‘Add Channels’ procedure in a Sky Digibox. Until encryption ESPN Classic can also be received using a FTA DVB receiver. Six new channels have appeared on 11817 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. They are UK Horizons – V2318, A2324; UK Drama – V2305, A2307; Play UK – V2319, A2322; UK Gold 2 – V2310, A2315; UK Horizons+1 – V2326, A2328 and UK Food – V2308, A2309. All are encoded in Videoguard. Simply Home is testing on 12129 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2319, APID 2320. Sky has decided to revamp the EPG positions for all 22 of the home shopping channels in their line-up. The new channel numbers are; 630 – QVC, 631 – TV Travel Shop, 632 – TV Travel Shop 2, 633 – Shop!, 634 – PIN, 635 – Ideal World, 636 – ScreenShop, 637 – Shop America, 638 – Travel Deals Direct, 639 – Simply Shopping, 640 – Best Direct, 641 – Simply Health & Fitness, 642 – Simply Jewellery, 643 – Simply Holidays, 644 – Home Shopping Europe, 645 – Simply Music, 646 – TV Warehouse, 647 – bid-up.tv, 648 – Thomas Cook TV, 649 – TelSell, 650 – Let’s Go Shopping and 651 – Auction World. In readiness for the launch of the 2002 F1 Grand Prix season next weekend a new channel, F1 Digital+, is testing on 12148 MHz horizontal, Sky Channel 434. This will be the interactive PPV channel for the events which will start with the Australian Grand Prix at a cost of GBP12.00 for the qualifying practice and the race itself. Following the sudden disappearance of Asia 1 TV, Sonali TV and Lashkara a short while ago it seems that all of the channels from the Reminiscent Television stable are in trouble. Anjuman TV, Gujari TV and CEE(i) TV have also been removed from the Sky Digital line-up in the past few days. A new Christian radio station, Family Radio, has launched at Ch.909 in the EPG.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A
D: Arabic Classics FM 103.7 has replaced Kuwait’s Main Arabic Service on 11747 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 4322.

A: The Kuwaiti Main Arabic service was replaced temporarily last week by Arabic Classics FM 103.7 on 4167 MHz RHCP via the 8.20 MHz audio sub-carrier. However, almost immediately Arabic Classics was ousted by Holy Qu’ran Radio. Once again Nile News and Al-Mehwer TV are transponder sharing on 3802 MHz RHCP in clear Pal with audio via the 6.60 MHz sub-carrier. Nile News airs from 10:00-23:00 with Al-Mehwer on air throughout the night. Radio station Sout Al-Khaleej 100.8 FM has left the 8.20/8.40 MHz sub-carriers on the back of Qatar TV at 12521 MHz horizontal.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1B,C & E-H, Astra 2C
D: Tele Cinco has joined the line-up in the Spanish Canal Satelite Digital package on 11934 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V163, A92 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Tele Cinco is also available via Hispasat at 30 degrees West, 11891 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. RMF FM, which switched to Cryptoworks encoding for a short while is now free-to-air again in the Polish Cyfra+ bouquet at 11876 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 110. A radio service for Canadian military personnel overseas, Canadian Forces Network, has launched on 12610 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6 via APID 51in clear MPEG-2.

A: The SES promo video loop is currently being played out on some eight transponders here in free-to-air Pal. They are 10979 MHz vertical, 11082 MHz horizontal, 11097 MHz vertical, 11156 MHz vertical, 11171 MHz horizontal, 11538 MHz vertical, 11553 MHz horizontal and 11671 MHz horizontal.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2
D: New York based all-news radio station, WCBS NewsRadio 88, is still absent from the CBS multiplex at 11188 MHz horizontal, SR 5631, FEC 3/4, APID 4197.

A: Zeitouna TV, which had been provided by a digital signal on 11022 MHz horizontal, has switched to analogue with a clear Pal outlet on 11178 MHz vertical. The channel airs from 19:40-21:10. The transmission is preceded with an APTN London testcard.

13 degreesE:
Hotbird 1/2/3/4/5
D: Television X – The Fantasy Channel has left 12476 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 435, APID 436 in the Belgacom multiplex and has been replaced by colour bars. Over the weekend of 16/17 February both Zee TV and Zee Cinema on 12476 MHz horizontal were free-to-air. However by 18 February they were once again encoded in Irdeto. Bangla TV has once again replaced the CNL promo channel in the RR Satellite Communications digital platform at 12220 MHz horizontal, SR 6161, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V1057, A1058. In common with the outlets on Arabsat at 26 degrees East, Arabic Classics FM 103.7 has been replaced by the Kuwait Main Arabic Service on 12654 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 1421. A new channel in the Italian Stream package at 11881 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 entitled Canale Degli Innamorati (Channel for Sweethearts) is currently in the clear on VPID 517, APID 700. The channel is very similar to TxtMe TV in the Sky Digital line-up at 28 degrees East with on-screen SMS text messaging. In the Alpha Digital platform for Greece on 10949 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 Alpha Cinema 2 has commenced test transmissions in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2 in readiness for their imminent launch via PIDs V7460, A7461. BET International has left the GlobeCast package at 12597 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. BET’s eastbound feed from the US on Telstar 11 at 37.5 degrees West has also disappeared. Gay TV has started tests on 12149 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 36, APID 37, home of the Sitcom World bouquet for Italy, in free-to-air MPEG-2. TRT Dish Asia Network in the GlobeCast bouquet at 11623 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 228, APID 248 is currently free-to-air. This channel appears to provide programmes in the Bengali language. MTV Italia has left the Viacom platform at 11242 MHz vertical. Paok TV has joined the Alpha Digital package on 11304 MHz horizontal, SR 30000, FEC 3/4, VPID 891, APID 892 in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2. In the same bouquet CNNI has been replaced by CNBC Europe on VPID 895, APID 896. After a long period in the clear Hallmark Entertainment Russia has encoded in PowerVu on 12460 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1
D: The Romanian channel Antena 1 and Romantic FM on 11024 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 1110, APIDs 1211/1213 now appear to be encoded in PowerVu full time. Both services have been enjoying some lengthy free-to-air periods of late.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3
D: A new audio stream has been fired up in the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) multiplex on 11324 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 1/2. The ident for the channel is ’06 GIVE ME 26 TWO 3′. It can be found on APID 455 (right channel). This multiplex relays BFBS services for Cyprus, Germany, Middle East, Europe, Gibraltar, Bosnia, Kosovo, UK, Northern Ireland, Atlantic, Belize and the Falkland Islands. The Turkish channel ATV has opened in the DigiTurk platform on 11617 MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4, VPID 2101, APID 2201 in Cryptoworks encoded MPEG-2.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3 & Astra 1A
D: There are now five free-to-air TV channels available in the Ukrainian package on 11766 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are Novy Kanal – V6101, A6102; TET – V6111, A6112; Enter-Film – V6131, A6132; Inter – V6141, A6142 and Enter – V6151, A6152. Also, Gala Radio can be heard here via APID 6113. On 11785 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 there are four Viasat Xtra channels in test mode on PIDs V2301/2311/2321/2331, A2302/2312/ 2322/2332. Presumably these will be used for soccer and major sporting event feeds. Radio Realitatea has joined Realitatea TV on 12700 MHz vertical, SR 3400, FEC 3/4 via APID 4197 in clear MPEG-2. Playboy TV and Spice have been replaced by Private Blue in the Kingston/TLI bouquet at 12453 MHz horizontal, SR 18056, FEC 3/4, VPID 1056, APID 1057 in Conax encoded MPEG-2.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707
D: STV Finland, Radio Finland and Radio Suomi have all left the Canal Digital package on 12226 MHz vertical, SR 28000, FEC 7/8. Five data channels have left 12226 MHz vertical, namely Mastermind, Renault, Dynamic Upload, Slideshow and Navigator. New here are three Big Brother Norge streams on VPIDs 515/516/517, APIDs 640/656/660 in Conax encoded MPEG-2. TV Nova appears to have left the Bulgarian multiplex at 12169 MHz horizontal, SR 28000, FEC 7/8, VPID 512, APID 640. This stream has been relaying a testcard for several days. BBC Prime is encoded in Conax once again following a short period in the clear in the Slovak package at 11540 MHz, SR 26000, FEC 3/4, VPID 514, APID 648.

5 degreesW:
Telecom 2C
A: French radio station Frequence Mousquetaire has left the 6.40 MHz audio sub-carrier on the back of M6 at 12522 MHz vertical.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102
D: Arabic Classics FM 103.7 has launched on 11823 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 3051 in clear MPEG-2. Occasional feed traffic for MTV can be found on 11900 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 3011, APID 3012, ID:’TEST10′. Showtime Network are about to start a movie PPV service and eleven Home Cinema streams have been activated on 11977 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are named in the EPG as Home Cinema 1-10 and Home Cinema Preview Channel. The preview channel is free-to-air but the remaining channels are encoded in Irdeto.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2D & Atlantic Bird 2
D: More channels have joined the new visAvision bouquet on 11343 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are RAI Uno – V1301, A1302; RAI Due – V1351, A1352 and RAI Tre – V1401, A1402. NTV, NTV+Nashe Kino, BK063Sat and HRT1 have all left the multiplex. Down at 11304 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, another visAvision transponder, HRT1, BK063Sat, NTV+ Nashe Musica and Kino Klassika have all launched on PIDs V2151/2201/2501/2551, A2152/2202/2502/2552 respectively. visAvision provides a satellite DTH service for some of the estimated 10 million people residing in Germany whose first language is not German.

11 degreesW:
Express 3A
D:The two Mediaset feed streams from Rome which previously used Intelsat 901 capacity at 18 degrees West have switched to this Russian satellite. 11583 MHz vertical, SR 12854, FEC 3/4 is carrying the two streams entitled ‘AOR 002’ and ‘EXP 001’ on PIDs V33/36, A34/37 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

18 degreesW:
Intelsat 901
D: The Mediaset feed streams which occupied 10967 MHz vertical, SR 19196, FEC 3/4 have moved to Express 3A at 11 degrees West.

27.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 605
D: The Thai TV Global Network promo channel has been replaced by a promo for Channel New Life in the RR Satellite Communications multiplex at 10979 MHz vertical, SR 9000, FEC 3/4, VPID 1057, APID 1058 in clear MPEG-2.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C
D: Via Mundial has left 11811 MHz vertical for 11931 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4176, APID 4177 in the Via Digital package. The channel is encoded in Nagravision. In the Via Digital line-up on 11891 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 8096, APID 8097 Viver Vivir is temporarily free-to-air. Canal 47 Sevilla has left 11771 MHz horizontal, SR 28120, FEC 5/6, VPID 4201, APID 4202. The channel was displaying a caption here last week advising viewers to retune to 11615 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4210, APID 4202 where it continues to broadcast in free-to-air MPEG-2.

31.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 801
D: Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS) and Radio Sénégal Internationale have left 3715 MHz RHCP, SR 4882, FEC 2/3 from where they have been available in free-to-air MPEG-2 for some time. The other remaining African channels using Intelsat 801 capacity are Radiodiffusion Télévision du Mali on 3645 MHz RHCP, SR 5750, FEC 1/2 and AIT Nigeria on 3830 MHz RHCP, SR 4340, FEC 3/4. The African beam is centred on Sudan and reaches from Zimbabwe in the south to southern Germany in the north at 38 dBW. The footprint does extend into the UK at levels of 32-35 dBW, requiring a dish size of 3 to 5 metres. Another African country which is likely to implement a satellite DTH service is Angola. Televisao Popular de Angola (TPA) plan to launch an international version of the state run TV channel in April which will reach viewers in Europe as well as Africa. Although no satellite carriage deal has been announced as yet, a probable contender would be Intelsat 801.

37.5 degreesW:
Telstar 11 & Columbia 515
D: The familiar Trans Atlantic feed of BET on Jazz has left 11673 MHz vertical, SR 6109, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 from where it had been carried in free-to-air MPEG-2 for some considerable time.

40.5 degreesW:
NSS 806
D: Cadena Nacional has launched in the Bolivian package on 3920 MHz RHCP, SR 18000, FEC 3/4, APID 1422 in clear MPEG-2. Canal Sur has encoded in PowerVu again on 3665 MHz LHCP, SR 3300, FEC 5/6, VPID 1160, APID 1120 following a period in the clear.

45 degreesW:
PAS 1R
D: China’s CCTV4 has launched on 11495 MHz horizontal, SR 4410, FEC 3/4, VPID 3160, APID 3120 on the North African/European beam. This covers all of Europe at 49 dBW and North Africa at 43-47 dBW.

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