Transponder Monitor

72 degreesE:
PAS 4

D Feed traffic from/to ART’s Beirut bureau uses 11532 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’ART-BEIRUT’ in encoded MPEG-2. 12727 MHz vertical, SR 14330, FEC 5/6 is used by the IP provider SkyVision as a hub for their Internet backbone.

68.5 degreesE:
PAS 7 & 10

D The SenTech/Vivid multiplex is well received in the south east of the UK with a modest dish size of just 1.2 metres. The package, on 12722 MHz vertical, SR 26656, FEC 1/2 contains four TV channels, SABC 1 – V256, A257; SABC 2 – V260, A261; SABC 3 – V264, A265, e-tv – V272, A273 plus these radio stations; Phalaphala FM – A769; Ikwekwezi FM – A770; Munghana Lonene FM – A771; 5 FM – A772; Radio Sonder Grense – A773; Thobela FM – A774; Lesedi FM – A775; Motsweding FM – A776; Umhlobo Wenene FM – A777; Ukhozi FM – A784; Radio 2000 – A785; SAFM – A786; Lotus FM – A787; YFM – A788; Metro FM – A789; Radio Pretoria – A790; Ligwalagwala FM – A791; Classic FM – A792; Deutsche Welle Radio – A793; Radio Pulpit – A800; Good Hope FM – A801; Trans World Radio – A802 and TransAfrica – A803. 12716 MHz vertical, SR 17805, FEC 5/6 carries the S.A. Broadband IP Service. On 25 May at 14:00 a live feed of a soccer match between Botswana and Mali was fed over 12645 MHz vertical, SR 6625, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 250, ID:’GAF BOTSWANA’ in clear MPEG-2. Big Brother South Africa has launched on 3863 MHz vertical, SR 20600, FEC 3/4, VPID 2036, APID 2035 in Irdeto 2 encoded MPEG-2. RTB International has vacated 11081 MHz horizontal.

64 degreesE:
Intelsat 906

D The Greek channel Alpha TV can be found on 11524 MHz horizontal, SR 3906, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The signal in the south east of the UK is very good with the European spot beam delivering 53 dBW. An encoded audio signal is present on 11544 MHz horizontal, SR 4030, FEC 3/4, APID 256, ID:’NYC-MNCD001′. 11529 MHz horizontal, SR 3910, FEC 3/4, V308, A256, ID:’ALPHA TV-SNG 1′ relayed an encoded feed for Alpha TV on 25 May at 17:40.

57 degreesE:
NSS 703

D Three of the Star TV channels use 11185 MHz vertical, SR 14000, FEC 3/4. They are Star Plus UK – V512, A640, Star News UK – V513, A644 and Fox Sports Middle East – V514, A648. All are encoded in Videoguard as these are the feeders for the Sky Digital platform. A Satlink Israel caption is present on 11142 MHz vertical, SR 5046, FEC 2/3, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in clear MPEG-2. Radio Rossii [Russia’s Radio] has launched on 10995 MHz horizontal, SR 4120, FEC 3/4 via APID 290 alongside Telekanal Rossiya Altay. This transponder is configured for the Kazakh beam, which is centred on Kazakhstan and the countries bordering the Caspian Sea at levels of 48-49 dBW and extends to the Northern Arabian Gulf, Iran and the eastern Black Sea at 40 dBW.

45 degreesE:
Europe*Star 1

D Frequent live reports from the lower slopes of Mount Everest for BBC News on the 50th anniversary of the first ascent can be seen on 11657 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195, ID:’UKI’ in clear MPEG-2. When now in action the stream carries this caption; ‘BBC UKI-993-SIGNAL GENERATOR. EVEREST BASE CAMP 17600FT’.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1

D Live horse racing from Ankara, Turkey was fed over 11484 MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, V33, A34 in clear MPEG-2 on 21 May at 12:30. PTV World is being fed over the RR Satellite Comms multiplex at 12612 MHz vertical, SR 3906, FEC 7/8, VPID 33, APID 34, ID:’RR FEED 1′ in clear MPEG-2. 12730 MHz horizontal, SR 3906, FEC 7/8, V308, A256, ID:’BILGE DSNG’ is displaying colour bars overlaid with ‘EAS NETTERA TEST’. Kanal A and Ask FM are new on 11158 MHz vertical, SR 3150, FEC 5/6, VPID 33, APIDs 34/35. The Georgian channel Imedi TV occupies 12604 MHz vertical, SR 3718, FEC 5/6, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in free-to-air MPEG-2. TRT Gap Radyosu can be heard on 11083 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, APID 817 alongside TRT FM – A915, TRT RADYO 4 – A916 and TRT Turizm Radyo [Tourist Radio] – A917. Marmara TV is carrying out test transmissions on 12633 MHz horizontal, SR 4800, FEC 5/6 via PIDs V308, A256 in clear MPEG-2.

A Bayrak TV International, TRT International, TRT FM and Voice of Turkey have all left 11093 MHz vertical.

40 degreesE:
Express A1R

D Ukraina i Svit can be seen on 11608 MHz vertical, SR 3750, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2.

39 degreesE:
Hellas Sat 1 & 2

D Hellas Sat 2 has now reached this geostationary slot. Transponder tests have been sighted on 11053 MHz vertical and 12606 MHz vertical with good signal strengths into the UK.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat

D The Polish channel TV Centrum can be found on 12530 MHz vertical, SR 3100, FEC 7/8, VPID 128, APID 129 in free-to-air MPEG-2. On 24 May at 13:10 a live relay of the Pakistani channel PTV World was carried on 11512 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, V544, A680, ID:’ NON-CAT THAILAND’ in clear MPEG-2. The Kazakhstan-based CaspioNet has left 11053 MHz and has re-located to 11144 MHz vertical, SR 2892, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in clear MPEG-2.

30.5 degreesE:
Arabsat 2B

D Sudan TV and Radio Sudan have launched on 12525 MHz horizontal, SR 3000, FEC 3/4, VPID 1660, APID 1620 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Radio Omdurman Holy Qur’an Service can also be heard here via APID 1622. A new country to implement satellite DTH TV, Eritrea, has launched EriTV on 12660 MHz horizontal, SR 3000, FEC 3/4, VPID 100, APID 101. The channel is also using Arabsat capacity at the 26 degrees East slot. Radio Dal opened last week on 12620 MHz vertical and also at 12730 MHz vertical. MBC FM has vacated 12722 MHz horizontal.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B & 2D & Eurobird 1

D The BBC have switched all of their channels to Astra 2D.They are using 10773 MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6 and 10802 MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6. Apparently a number of viewers [in the UK] have complained at the loss of some or all of the BBC channels following the move. CNBC are to launch a new business channel for the Middle East this month. The new channel, which will be based in Dubai and called CNBC Arabiya, will broadcast in Arabic. Apart from possibly Arabsat or Nilesat carriage the channel is also expected to join the Sky Digital line-up. Chart Show TV have launched a new music/kids channel entitled Toons & Tunes. It has joined the Sky Digital EPG at Ch.627. The new Sikh religious channel, Amrit Bani, has officially launched and appears at Ch.926 in the EPG. The Icelandic channels, RUV Sjonvarpid and Stod 2 have vacated 10729 MHz vertical.

25.8 degreesE:
Arabsat 2D

D Dubai Arabic AM on 11590 MHz horizontal, SR 6000, FEC 3/4 is occasionally replaced by Dubai Arabic 93.9 FM. Eritrea’s EriTV has launched on 11623 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 2160, APID 2120. Eritrean state radio service, Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, is expected to join the TV service here in the near future. Somalia TV has opened on 11623 MHz vertical too via PIDs V2260, A2220. The channel appears to be on air for just one hour a day from 17:00 but this should increase soon.

23.5 degreesE:
Astra 3A

D The highly therapeutic fish video, which is a video loop of tropical fish swimming in an aquarium, is now free-to-air on 12524 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1311, APID 1312, ID:’S39 D450 TP G1′.

21.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat 2 F3

D Pleasure TV has launched on 12725 MHz vertical, SR 2441, FEC 3/4, VPID 3105, APID 3106.

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

D RUV Sjonvarpid and Stod 2, the Icelandic channels, have left 12226 MHz horizontal. Following the end of this year’s Cannes Film Festival TV Festival has left the French Canal Satellite Digital package at 11856 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2

D Recorded video material on the recent spate of suicide bombings in Israel was fed over the ENEX B stream at 12517 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID RR-SNG ISR-018′ on 23 May at 08:00. On the same day 12524 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID:’UKI 784 C1 4.2.2′ carried an interview in Russian at 08:10. After the feed the stream cut to colour bars overlaid with ‘SKY NEWS DSNG UKI 784-SKY NEWS’. A live interview with the Bournemouth Football Club manager before the team’s match with Lincoln City was carried on 11177 MHz horizontal, SR 5640, FEC 3/4, V308, A256, ID:’BT TES-34 2 Audio’ on 24 May at 12:20. Live action from the Le Mans Motorcycle Grand Prix in France was fed over 10991 MHz horizontal, SR 12812, FEC 7/8, VPID 34, APID 256, ID:’TELESPAZIO ITA40′ also on the 24th at 12:30 for the Italian channel Italia 1.

13 degreesE:
Hotbird 1/2/3/4/6

D Made in Italy has officially launched within the Telespazio package on 12111 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 250, APID 251. TV Colombia has been replaced by Argentina’s Telefe Internacional again on 11179 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 639, APID 640. The Saudi opposition TV channel, Al-Islah, claims that following pressure from the Saudi authorities on the French government who in turn pressured Eutelsat the channel has been forced to cease using Hotbird capacity and has moved to Eutelsat Sesat at 36 degrees East, 11136 MHz horizontal, SR 4883, FEC 2/3. Al-Islah is run by the London-based Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1

D At 06:48 on 21 May the Chinese state channel, CCTV-1, was being played out on 12529 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V512, A640, ID:’SATLINK’ in free-to-air MPEG-2. On 24 May at 08:25 11051 MHz vertical, SR 2918, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’TGRT ANKARA*MERKEZ’ was displaying a TGRT testcard. A live shot from a locked-off camera on the Palestine Hotel in central Baghdad was fed over 10978 MHz vertical, SR 4167, FEC 5/6, V308, A256, ID:’APTN BAGHDAD PATH 2′ on 24 May at 11:00. Live coverage from the World Championship Table Tennis finals in Paris was relayed on 11010 MHz horizontal, SR 5703, FEC 3/4, V512, A4112, ID:’GCR/F.35/11MB PAL’ in clear MPEG-2 on 24 May at 11:00. A live match feed for Real Madrid TV was sighted on 10966 MHz horizontal, SR 5640, FEC 3/4, V512, A4112, ID:’FTR/F.41/1/11MB PAL’ on the 24th at 19:15.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3

D There has been plenty of EBU feed activity here as usual. On 21 May at 07:01 11080 MHz horizontal, SR 6853, FEC 7/8, VPID 32, APID 33 was active displaying this caption; ‘PATH 1 LIMA. IFB: +41227172956 EBU BAGHDAD’ in clear MPEG-2 4.2.2. At the same time 11162 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V4194, A4195 was carrying colour bars overlaid with ‘JCS JERUSALEM +972 2 6701762’. Following the devastating earthquake in Algeria an EBU feedpoint was established on 11042 MHz vertical, SR 6666, FEC 7/8 in MPEG-2 4.2.2. When not active with feed traffic an ‘ENTV ALGER’ caption was displayed. A feed for the Polish programme ‘Kawa CZV Herbata?’ for TVP was fed over 11133 MHz vertical, SR 5697, FEC 3/4, V33, A256 on 23 May at 04:10. Live and recorded video footage of Paul McCartney’s recent trip to Russia was fed over 11070 MHz horizontal, SR 6666, FEC 7/8, V512, A4112, ID:’SWE005′ in MPEG-2 4.2.2 on 23 May at 09:10. Two EBU streams from the Cannes Film Festival have been up on 10986 MHz horizontal, SR 13333, FEC 7/8, VPIDs 513/514, APIDs 4114/4112, ID:’CH07 2′ and ‘CH07 3’. At 17:00 on the 23rd a caption on 11107 MHz vertical, SR 6666, FEC 7/8, V512, A4112, ID:’GBBC2′ stated ‘BBC TV MERSEYSIDE. BBC M/SIDE NEWS TV STUDIO. 0151 7940936. INTERNAL 40936.’ over colour bars. A little later the stream cut to a report of a small explosion in Toxteth, Liverpool for the BBC regional programme ‘North West Tonight’. This same frequency was in use the next day at 08:05 when the Flemish language channel VRT was being played out. It was Eurovision Song Contest time again on 24 May and from the early morning rehearsals from this years venue in Riga, Latvia were carried on 11107 MHz vertical, SR 13343, FEC 7/8, VPID 512, APID 4112, ID:’LVLT21′ in MPEG-2 4.2.2. During the evening of the 24th this was the primary EBU feedpoint for the contest. Live soccer from the Canaries was fed over 11098 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V260, A112, ID:’JUAN GCEMS’ on 24 May at 18:25 in 4.2.2. Also on the 24th, at 18:30, action from the Bilbao-v-Racing soccer game in Spain was carried on 11610 MHz horizontal, SR 27531, FEC 3/4, V773, A783, ID:’BILBAO-RACING’. Video from a fashion show was played out on 11060 MHz vertical, SR 13333, FEC 7/8, ID:’ATORF1′ on the same day at 20:40 in 4.2.2. On the audio stream a loop played ‘This is the programme sound circuit from the Austrian Broadcast Corporation, Vienna’ in English and German. 11023 MHz horizontal, SR 6671, FEC 7/8, V512, A4112, ID:’CHEVC2′ carried NTV [Russia] video on 25 May at 11:55 with TV audio on the left channel and ‘ARD Studio Moscow – programme circuit channel 2′ via the right channel. On 31 May at 15:25 a live feed for the Polish channel TVP was carried on 11126 MHz vertical, SR 5703, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 36, ID:’Service 2′. At the same time 11107 MHz vertical, SR 4441, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’UKI252/MSK 7/D’ was active with colour bars overlaid with ‘EBU SPTG 300’ in MPEG-2 4.2.2.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2 & 3, Astra 1A

D Redbuttonraces, the racing info channel, is available in free-to-air MPEG-2 on 11843 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, V6241, A6242. ESPN Classic Sports Italia has launched on 12111 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 5/6, VPID 351, APID 352 in the Kingston Inmedia multiplex.

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

D A promo for the BBC Food Channel has launched on 11325 MHz horizontal, SR 24500, FEC 7/8, VPID 517, APID 656 in the Canal Digital package. In the Bulgarian bouquet at 12169 MHz horizontal, SR 28000, FEC 7/8 a Diema 2 testcard is a newcomer on PIDs V523, A724.

5 degreesW:
Telecom 2C & Atlantic Bird 3

D A live shot of two commentators at a French rugby match for France 2 was fed over 11151 MHz vertical, SR 6117, FEC 3/4, V4194, A4195, ID:’DIGISAT PATH 2′. Interestingly the camera was fixed on the commentary team and no shots of the actual game were seen. Live coverage of the Brescia-v-Modena soccer game in Italy was fed over 11609 MHz vertical, SR 11734, FEC 5/6, V3601, A3604, ID:’PGM-FLY4′ on 24 May at 13:45. The Persian News Network has commenced test transmissions on 12711 MHz horizontal, SR 30000, FEC 5/6, VPID 258, APID 259 in clear MPEG-2. MBC USA, Al-Arabiyah and MBC FM have all vacated 11604 MHz horizontal. Daystar TV and TCT World have left 12675 MHz horizontal and have re-located to Atlantic Bird 1at 12.5 degrees West.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102

D A number of new channels have joined the Orbit multiplex at 11938 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are; The Arabic Series Channel – V312, A314; CNN International – V318, A588; Music Now – V520, A522 plus 20 audio channels.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2D & Atlantic Bird 2

D 12726 MHz horizontal, SR 4214, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’F3 OUEST 16MBITS’ was active on 24 May at 10:18 when a feed was being set up from Le Mans, France for the France 3 programme ‘L’Hebdo Football’.

12.5 degreesW:
Atlantic Bird 1

D Live coverage of the Indianapolis ‘Indy 500’ race was fed over 11014 MHz horizontal, SR 20150, FEC 3/4, VPID 1260, APID 1220 from 15:00 on 25 May in clear MPEG-2. The left audio channel carried race commentary whilst the right channel delivered natural audio. Al-Arabiyah and MBC FM are new on 11155 MHz horizontal, SR 3255, FEC 2/3, VPID 515, APIDs 643/681 in clear MPEG-2 following their move from Atlantic Bird 3 at 5 degrees West.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12

D The Jaam-e-Jaam Network has launched within the ADTH multiplex on 12595 MHz horizontal, SR 31830, FEC 3/4, VPID 84, APID 85 in clear MPEG-2.

22 degreesW:
NSS 7

D Live and full coverage from a Nascar motor racing meeting in Charlotte, N.Carolina was fed over 11693 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V512, A650, ID:’BTNW WASH STREAM 1′ in clear MPEG-2 on 24 May at 17:00. Three new EBU transatlantic streams have started on 10964 MHz horizontal, SR 13333, FEC 7/8 in MPEG-2 4.2.2.. They are C3 – V33, A36, C4 – V49, A54 and C5 – V65, A72. All three are carrying an ‘EBU WSHT’ caption over colour bars.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1B/C/D

D Spain’s Canal 4 Castilla y Leon TV channel has joined the line-up on 11731 MHz horizontal, SR 28120, FEC 5/6, VPID 601, APID 602 in free-to-air MPEG-2. In the Telefonica Servicios Audiovisuales [TSA] package at 11931 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 Televida has been replaced by the Brazilian channel Record International on PIDs V4810, A4811 in free-to-air MPEG-2. BCN Barcelona has started test transmissions on 11731 MHz horizontal, SR 28120, FEC 5/6, APID 331 in the Retevision bouquet.

43 degreesW:
PAS 3R & PAS 6

D At 19:30 on 25 May a live feed from Spain at the scene of a political rally by the PSOE [Partido Socialista Obrere Espanol] was carried on 12700 MHz horizontal, SR 4753, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’TSS 1 P2′ in free-to-air MPEG-2.